Department of Commerce November 23, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-30276
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS previously published, on September 16, 2011, a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) and fishery management plan (FMP) amendment that would consider catch shares for the Atlantic shark fisheries. The comment period in the NOI ends on March 1, 2012. In this notice, NMFS announces the dates and locations for five upcoming scoping workshops to provide the opportunity for public comment on various design elements for potential catch shares programs in the Atlantic shark fisheries. Additionally, NMFS is extending the comment period to March 31, 2012, to provide additional opportunities for the five Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, and other interested parties to comment on the consideration of catch shares.
Marine Mammals; File No. 16479
Document Number: 2011-30275
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that The Pacific Whale Foundation [Responsible Party: Gregory Kaufman; Principal Investigator: Daniela Maldini], 300 Maalaea Road, Suite 211, Wailuku, HI 96793, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Marine Mammals; File No. 15274
Document Number: 2011-30273
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Dan R. Salden, Ph.D., Hawaii Whale Research Foundation, 52 Cheshire Drive, Maryville, IL 62062 to conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Marine Mammals; File No. 16314
Document Number: 2011-30270
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Jennifer Lewis, Ph.D., Tropical Dolphin Research Foundation, Aventura, FL to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Electronic Dealer Reporting System Workshop
Document Number: 2011-30268
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
On June 28, 2011, NMFS published a proposed rule that considered requiring, among other things, Federal Atlantic swordfish, shark, and tunas dealers (except for dealers reporting Atlantic bluefin tuna) to report commercially-harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack (BAYS) tunas to NMFS through one centralized electronic reporting system. This electronic reporting system would allow dealers to submit Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tuna data on a more real-time basis and more efficiently, which will reduce duplicative data submissions from different regions. NMFS proposed to delay the effective date of the electronic reporting requirements until 2012 in order to give sufficient time for dealers to adjust to implementation of the new system and the additional requirements. In this notice, NMFS announces the date and location for an upcoming workshop in the Caribbean area in order to introduce the new reporting system to HMS dealers. NMFS will announce additional workshops in a future notice.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management in the Gulf of Alaska Pollock Fishery; Amendment 93
Document Number: 2011-30267
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). Amendment 93, if approved, would establish separate prohibited species catch (PSC) limits in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). NMFS would close the directed pollock fishery in those areas if the applicable limit is reached. This action also would require full retention of salmon in the Central and Western GOA pollock fisheries until an observer is provided the opportunity to count the number of salmon and to collect scientific data or biological samples from the salmon. This action is necessary to minimize Chinook salmon bycatch in the GOA pollock fishery to the extent practicable while preserving the potential for the full harvest of pollock total allowable catch within PSC limits. Amendment 93 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
Order Relating to Xun Wang
Document Number: 2011-30222
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings/Workshop
Document Number: 2011-30211
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold an online webinar to review and critique its groundfish stock assessment process in 2011. The online Groundfish Stock Assessment Process Review Workshop webinar is open to the public.
Request for Comments on Eliciting More Complete Patent Assignment Information
Document Number: 2011-30140
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is considering several changes in practice designed to encourage a more complete record at the USPTO of patent assignments. The USPTO invites the public to provide comments on methods the USPTO can employ to collect more timely and accurate patent assignment information both during prosecution and after issuance.
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