National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 6, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Air Force, 30th Space Wing Civil Engineer Environmental Flight, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals (File No. 14187); and NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, WA, has applied for a major amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 782-1812 for research on marine mammals.

On March 16, 2009, the NMFS published its proposed regulations to govern the take of marine mammals incidental to training activities conducted within the U.S. Navy's Cherry Point Range Complex for the period of May 2009 through May 2014. The Federal Register notice indicated that written comments were due by April 6, 2009, which allowed 21 days for public input. In response to a request from the Marine Mammal Commission, NMFS has decided to extend the public comment period by 7 days, to April 13, 2009, which allows 28 days for public input.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 85 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The proposed regulations would amend the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program to remove a restriction that prohibits certain catcher/ processors from participation in directed groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area in July. This action is necessary to improve flexibility and reduce operating costs for catcher/processors that participate in the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, and other applicable law.