National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration July 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NOAA Fisheries announces four inseason actions in the ocean salmon fisheries. Inseason action 1 modified the commercial fishery in the area from Cape Falcon, Oregon to Humbug Mountain, Oregon, and from Humbug Mountain, Oregon to the Oregon/California Border. Inseason action 2 modified the recreational fishery in the area from Cape Falcon, Oregon to Humbug Mountain, Oregon. Inseason action 3 modified the commercial fishery in the area from U.S./Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon. Inseason action 4 modified the commercial fishery from U.S./Canada Border to U.S./Mexico Border.

NMFS announces the cancellation of the Federal moratorium on fishing for Atlantic coastal sharks in the State waters of New Jersey. NMFS canceled the moratorium, as required by the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act), based on the determination that New Jersey is now in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks (Coastal Shark Plan).

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The application may be viewed online at: https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/previewopenforcomment.cfm

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 17A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper- Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. The amendment proposes to establish a rebuilding plan for red snapper, specify a proxy for the fishing mortality rate that will produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), specify the optimum yield (OY), specify the value for the minimum stock size threshold (MSST), and specify an annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measures (AMs) for red snapper. Amendment 17A would also prohibit harvest and possession of red snapper in or from Federal waters of the South Atlantic and in or from state waters for vessels holding a Federal snapper-grouper permit, and implement an area closure that extends from southern Georgia to northern Florida where all harvest and possession of snapper-grouper would be prohibited (except when fishing with black sea bass pots or spearfishing gear for species other than red snapper). Additionally, Amendment 17A would require the use of non-stainless steel circle hooks north of 28[deg] N. lat. and require a monitoring program for South Atlantic red snapper. The actions contained in Amendment 17A are intended to end overfishing of South Atlantic red snapper and rebuild the fishery.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the NOAA Science Advisory Board. The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined in the agenda below.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene public meetings.

This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that in the Northeast Region, wolffish is in an overfished condition. In the South Atlantic Region, red grouper is subject to overfishing and is in an overfished condition.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings, August 16-19, 2010.

The ONMS is seeking applicants for the following seats on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Member and alternate seats for Conservation; alternate seats for Education, Mobile Gear Commercial Fishing, Whalewatching, and At-Large. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve two- and three-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter. The Council consists also of three state and three Federal non-voting ex-officio se ats.

The National Weather Service's (NWS) Strategic Plan (the Plan) for 2011-2020 sets the course for the agency's mission, a vision of the future, the societal outcomes that NWS aims to realize, and the actions the agency must take. The Plan establishes the framework to better meet the needs of Americans and to respond to some of the Nation's most urgent challenges. The Plan derives from NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan and is the result of a collaborative endeavor among employees, NOAA and NWS management, and private sector, research and operations partners. NWS invites comments on the contents of Plan, including mission statement, vision of the future, goals, objectives, and strategies.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Red Crab Committee in August, 2010 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this joint group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

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 86 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This proposed action would add a Pacific cod endorsement on licenses issued under the License Limitation Program (LLP) in specific management areas if those licenses have been used on vessels that met minimum recent landing requirements using non-trawl gear, commonly known as fixed gear. This proposed action would exempt vessels that use jig gear from the requirement to hold an LLP license, modify the maximum length designation on a specific set of fixed gear licenses, and allow entities representing specific communities to receive a limited number of fixed-gear licenses with Pacific cod endorsements. This proposed action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Fishery Management Plan, and other applicable law.

NMFS is correcting a temporary rule to adjust the 2010 fishing year (FY) Trimester 2 and 3 Loligo squid quotas. The rule contained a numerical error in the metric value of the revised Trimester 3 quota. The correct value for the revised Trimester 3 quota of 23,743,619 lb is 10,770 mt.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Whiting Advisory Panel in August, 2010 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the North Inlet/Winyah Bay (South Carolina) National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Pennsylvania Coastal Resources Management Program.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Ad Hoc Data Collection Advisory Panel.

NMFS has received a complete and adequate application from the Exploratorium for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to pile driving during the Exploratorium's relocation project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is proposing to issue an IHA to the Exploratorium to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, four species of marine mammals during the specified activity within a specific geographic area and is requesting comments on its proposal.

NMFS has received two applications from Bluewater Wind (Bluewater) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to pile driving associated with installation of two meteorological data collection facilities (MCDFs); one each off the coast of Delaware and New Jersey. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to Bluewater to incidentally harass, by Level B Harassment only, eight species of marine mammals during the installation of both MDCFs. The IHA would be effective from October 1- November 15, 2010.

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 announces a 5-year review of the Baiji/Chinese River Dolphin/Yangtze River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate and it is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on the Baiji/Chinese River Dolphin/Yangtze River Dolphin that has become available. Based on the results of this 5-year review, we will make the requisite finding under the ESA.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch by catcher/processors participating in the rockfish limited access fishery in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch allocated to catcher/processors participating in the rockfish limited access fishery in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The SEDAR assessment of the South Atlantic stock of red snapper will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: a Data Workshop, a series of Assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. This is the twenty-fourth SEDAR. This is notice of additional Assessment Webinars for SEDAR 24. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS closes the northern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (``trophy'') BFT for the remainder of 2010. Fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing large medium and giant BFT (measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or greater) north of 39[deg] 18' N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ) is prohibited effective at 11:59 p.m., July 18, 2010. This action is being taken to prevent overharvest of the 2010 Angling category quota northern area subquota for large medium and giant BFT.