National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 20, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene its Socioeconomic Panel (SEP).

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene its Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposes to amend its regulations governing the licensing of private Earth remote sensing space systems under Title II of the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992, 15 U.S.C. 5621 et seq. (the Act). The proposed amendments update the regulations to reflect: The new U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Policy issued in April 2003, experience gained since August 2000 with respect to the licensing of commercial remote sensing space systems, and improvements that take into account public comments received on the regulations. The proposed amendments will allow NOAA to more effectively license Earth remote sensing space systems and help to ensure their compliance with the requirements of the Act.

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the Pennsylvania Coastal Management Program. The Coastal Zone Management Program evaluation will be conducted pursuant to section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, (CZMA) and regulations at 15 CFR Part 923, Subpart L. The CZMA requires continuing review of the performance of states with respect to coastal program implementation. Evaluation of Coastal Zone Management Programs requires findings concerning the extent to which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its Coastal Management Program document approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and adhered to the terms of financial assistance awards funded under the CZMA. The evaluation will include a site visit, consideration of public comments, and consultations with interested Federal, state and local agencies and members of the public. A public meeting will be held as part of the site visit. Notice is hereby given of the date of the site visit for the listed evaluation, and the date, local time, and location of the public meeting during the site visit. The Pennsylvania Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will be held July 11-15, 2005. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2005, at 7 p.m. at the Philadelphia Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Copies of a state's most recent performance reports, as well as OCRM's notification and supplemental request letters to the state, are available upon request from OCRM. Written comments from interested parties regarding this Program are encouraged and will be accepted until 15 days after the public meeting. Please direct written comments to Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East- West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. When the evaluation is completed, OCRM will place a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final Evaluation Findings. Notice is hereby given of the availability of the final evaluation findings for the Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program (CMP); and the South Slough (Oregon) and Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas (Florida) National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs). Sections 312 and 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), as amended, require a continuing review of the performance of coastal states with respect to approval of CMPs and the operation and management of NERRs. The territory of the Virgin Islands was found to be implementing and enforcing its federally approved coastal management program, addressing the national coastal management objectives identified in CZMA Section 303(2)(A)-(K), and adhering to the programmatic terms of its financial assistance awards. South Slough (Oregon) and Guana- Tolomato-Matanzas (Florida) NERRs were found to be adhering to programmatic requirements of the NERR System. Copies of these final evaluation findings may be obtained upon written request from: Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, or Ralph.Cantral@noaa.gov, (301) 713-3155, extension 118.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a scientific research and enhancement permit application relating to Pacific salmon. Permit 1530 would be issued jointly to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nez Perce Tribe through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (Applicants) to operate the adult fish trap at Lower Granite Dam. The proposed actions are intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. It is also intended to facilitate collection of broodstock to supply an artificial propagation program designed to enhance the propagation and survival of threatened Snake River fall chinook salmon.

NMFS is announcing workshops that will demonstrate proper sea turtle handling, resuscitation, and release techniques for vessel operators using bottom longline (BLL) gear to catch sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico. The workshops will also summarize the current regulations pertaining to safe handling and release protocols and requirements for possession and use of mitigation equipment for sea turtles and other protected resources.