Department of Commerce August 24, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is transferring a portion of its 2020 commercial bluefish quota to the State of Rhode Island. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for Virginia and Rhode Island.

Through this temporary rule, NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the red snapper recreational sector private angling component in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) off Texas for the 2020 fishing year. Based on information provided by the State of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), NMFS has determined that the 2019 Texas regional management area private angling component annual catch limit (ACL) for Gulf red snapper was exceeded. Therefore, NMFS reduces the 2020 private angling component ACL of Gulf red snapper for the Texas regional management area. This reduction will remain in effect through the remainder of the current fishing year on December 31, 2020, and is necessary to protect the Gulf red snapper resource.

Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in October, November, and December of 2020. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and to maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2020 and will be announced in a future notice.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 137th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Pelagic and International Standing Committee, Executive and Budget Standing Committee, and 183rd Council meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a meeting.

The Department of Commerce (Department) solicits comments on a proposed Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Order. The purpose of the proposed order is to strengthen the position of the concrete masonry products industry in the domestic marketplace; maintain, develop, and expand markets and uses of concrete masonry products in the domestic marketplace; and promote the use of concrete masonry products in construction and building. The proposed order allows a Concrete Masonry Products Board (Board) made up of industry members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to develop and implement programs of research, education, and promotion. The funding of the Board's activities and programs will be through assessments paid by manufacturers of concrete masonry units. The initial assessment will be $.01 per concrete masonry unit sold. The Secretary will hold a referendum among eligible manufacturers to determine whether they favor the implementation of the proposed order. The order only will go into effect if the referendum results in the affirmative vote of a majority of those voting and also a majority of the block machine cavities in operation by those voting. This proposal also announces the intent of the Department to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a new information collection request (ICR) to support implementation of the program.