Department of Commerce June 19, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action revises the 2020 regulations for guided Pacific halibut sport fishing in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2A, 2C, and 3A. The revised regulations supersede the vessel application deadline previously published in Section 15 Paragraph 9, and guided halibut sport fishing management measures previously published in Section 29 of the 2020 annual management measures. No other regulations of the 2020 Pacific halibut management measures are changed by this action. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on behalf of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes regulations governing the Pacific halibut fishery that have been recommended by the IPHC and accepted by the Secretary of State. The revisions in this action are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut and further the goals and objectives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one Incidental Take Permit application and one Enhancement of Survival Permit application for Sierra Pacific Land & Timber Company's (SPL&T) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA). The HCP/SHA has been submitted pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) and Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. NMFS has also prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) describing the potential effects of NMFS' proposed issuance of the Permits associated with the submitted HCP/SHA. SPL&T is the largest private forestland owner in the state of California, with ownership currently encompassing approximately 1.64 million acres of timberland throughout the northern and central portions of the state. Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) is the authorized representative and manager of SPL&T lands. Rivers and streams on portions of SPL&T lands in the Trinity River and Sacramento River basins provide habitat for anadromous salmonids, including species listed under the ESA. NMFS is furnishing this notice in order to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on these documents. All comments and other information received will become part of the public record and will be available for review.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel will hold a meeting.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the University of Connecticut contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would allow participating vessels to collect undersized and egg-bearing lobsters to conduct an endocrine disruption study. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.