Department of Commerce May 23, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the January 5, 2007, final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Louisiana Regional Restoration Planning Program (RRP Program). The ROD has been written pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR part 1505.2), and the NOAA Administrative Order on implementing environmental review procedures (NAO 216-6). The ROD is a concise statement of the management planning and environmental impact analysis process completed, the alternatives considered, and the basis for the selection of preferred alternative. The notice of availability for the final PEIS was published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2007, with the close of the mandatory waiting period on February 20, 2007. No comments were received on the final PEIS. It is the decision of the NOAA, along with the Department of the Interior and the State of Louisiana, to implement the Louisiana RRP Program using the methods evaluated in the PEIS. Because the analysis is programmatic in nature, site and injury-specific features will dictate which restoration alternatives are most appropriate for individual injuries. All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the RRP Program alternative selected have been adopted.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Standard Operations, Policy, and Procedures (SOPPs) Committee, Economics Committee, Personnel Committee (Closed Session), Snapper Grouper Committee, Shrimp Committee, Mackerel Committee, Joint Spiny Lobster Advisory Panel and Committee, Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program Committee, Joint Habitat and Ecosystem- based Management Committees, Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Joint Executive and Finance Committees, and a meeting of the full Council. The Council will also hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), including subcommittee meetings of the SSC's Biological Subcommittee and Socio-Economics Subcommittee. Public comment will be taken concerning agenda items for the SSC meetings. In addition, the Council will hold a meeting of the LAP Program Exploratory Workgroup, a public comment session regarding a request by the Bluewater Fishermen's Association for an Exempted Fishery Permit for longline vessels, and a public comment session regarding approval of Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to establish a series of marine protected areas in the South Atlantic Region.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Whiting Advisory Panel, in June, 2007, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).