Department of Commerce September 9, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This proposed rule would implement a Seabird Avoidance Program in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery. The proposed rule was recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in November 2013 and is specifically designed to minimize the take of ESA- listed short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus). A 2012 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion required NMFS to initiate implementation of regulations within 2 years mandating the use of seabird avoidance measures by vessels greater than or equal to 55 feet length overall (LOA) using bottom longline gear to harvest groundfish. The seabird avoidance measures, including streamer lines that deter birds from ingesting baited hooks, are modeled after a similar regulatory program in effect for the Alaskan groundfish fishery.

Notice is hereby given of a change in a public meeting that NMFS will host to elicit scientific information related to the designation of Steller sea lion critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To accommodate participation by individuals who cannot attend the meeting in person, NMFS will make the meeting available via a webinar. NMFS will also host a second public meeting to elicit scientific information related to the designation of Steller sea lion critical habitat and will accept written submissions of relevant scientific information.

NMFS is closing the fisheries for commercial blacknose sharks and non-blacknose SCS in the Gulf of Mexico region. This action is necessary because the commercial landings of Gulf of Mexico non- blacknose SCS for the 2014 fishing season could exceed 80 percent of the available commercial quota as of September 5, 2014, and the fisheries are quota-linked under current regulations.

This action corrects the Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) in a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on Thursday, August 14, 2014, to amend regulations of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to reinstate reporting requirements for the 2014 BE-10, Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad. Benchmark surveys are conducted every five years; the prior survey covered 2009.

NMFS is proposing to codify type-approval standards, specifications, procedures, and responsibilities applicable to commercial Enhanced Mobile Transceiver Unit (EMTU) vendors and mobile communications service (MCS) providers seeking to obtain and maintain type-approval by NMFS for EMTU/MTU or MCS, collectively referred to as vessel monitoring system (VMS), products and services. This proposed rule is necessary to specify NMFS procedures for EMTU/MTU and MCS type- approval, type-approval renewal, and revocation; revise latency standards; and ensure compliance with type-approval standards.