Department of Commerce May 25, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee (SSLMC) will meet in Juneau, AK.

NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center will sponsor a workshop to address the stock structure of cod in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Scotian Shelf and Southern New England regions. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) in Portland, ME will organize and host the meeting scheduled for June 12-14, 2012.

NOAA announces the public release of the Final SEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, and NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 Environmental Review Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. Since completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) in April of 2009, substantial changes to the proposed action are being considered by NOAA within portions of the project area containing the 2.5-acre property currently occupied by Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) and managed by NOAA under long-term lease from the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). These newly proposed actions were not previously analyzed in the Final EIS/EIR and involve additional demolition activities, substantial excavation and grading, installation of a geohazard soil stabilization system, structural upgrade to remaining structures, and other site alterations. These proposed actions were deemed necessary by NOAA based on additional geotechnical information and design recommendations received since approval of the Final EIS/EIR. A Draft and Final SEIS evaluated each environmental topic addressed in the Final EIS/EIR, and focused on the newly proposed action and its potential effects to the human environment. The No-Action Alternative was analyzed and assumes the newly proposed actions would not be implemented. Comments on the Draft SEIS were received during a 45-day public comment period that ended October 31, 2011. The Final SEIS evaluates and responds to these comments. An opportunity to comment on the Final SEIS is provided for 30 days following this Notice of Availability.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued three Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to take marine mammals by harassment, incidental to the U.S. Navy's training activities within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), Jacksonville (JAX), and Cherry Point (CHPT) Range Complexes to the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, 1562 Mitscher Avenue, Suite 250, Norfolk, VA 23551-2487 and persons operating under his authority.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Research Set-Aside Committee, Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Committee, and its Surfclam, Ocean Quahog Committee will hold public meetings.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Habitat Committee (HC) will hold a meeting, which is open to the public, to discuss habitat issues related to Council-managed fisheries.