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

NMFS proposes a regulation to implement the annual harvest guideline (HG) for Pacific mackerel in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast. This HG is proposed according to the regulations implementing the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and establishes allowable harvest levels for Pacific mackerel off the Pacific coast. The proposed total HG for the 2010-2011 fishing year is 11,000 metric tons (mt) and is proposed to be divided into a directed fishery HG of 8,000 mt and an incidental fishery of 3,000 mt.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the 2010 crab and halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances assigned to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands trawl limited access sector to the Amendment 80 cooperative in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the Amendment 80 cooperative to fully harvest their 2010 groundfish allocations.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee will hold a public meeting.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service publishes this notice to announce that for those grants issued in fiscal year 2007 that are due to expire on September 30, 2010, NOAA may extend the financial assistance award period for up to six additional months, providing for a potential maximum award duration of three years and six months.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for shallow-water species by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the fourth seasonal apportionment of the 2010 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl shallow-water species fishery in of the GOA.

NMFS announces that, effective 0001 hours, September 14, 2010, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) of Atlantic herring in or from Management Area 1B (Area 1B) per trip or calendar day until January 1, 2011, when the 2011 total allowable catch (TAC) becomes available, except for transiting purposes as described in this notice. This action is based on the determination that 95 percent of the Atlantic herring TAC allocated to Area 1B for 2010 is projected to be harvested by September 14, 2010. Regulations governing the Atlantic herring fishery require publication of this notification to advise vessel permit holders that no TAC is available for the directed fishery for Atlantic herring harvested from Area 1B.

Notice is hereby given that George Church, Ph.D. (Applicant), Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston MA 02115, has applied in due form for a permit to receive bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) cells for scientific research.

NMFS is reallocating projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to American Fisheries Act catcher/processors and the Amendment 80 cooperative in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. These actions are necessary to allow the 2010 total allowable catch of Pacific cod established for trawl catcher vessels to be harvested.

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

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings, October 4-12, 2010.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing to create a research area within the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS, or Sanctuary). A research area is a region specifically designed for conducting controlled scientific studies in the absence of certain human activities that could affect the results. NOAA proposes to prohibit fishing, diving, and stopping while transiting in the proposed research area.

The purpose of this document is to advise eligible state, local, territory and tribal governments, regional ocean partnerships, institutions of higher learning, and non-profit and for-profit organizations (requirements described in full announcement) that NOAA is soliciting proposals for competitive funding for Regional Ocean Partnerships that include or emphasize regional Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) efforts. This competition is focused on advancing effective coastal and ocean management through regional ocean governance and the goals for national ocean policy set out in the July 2010 Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, which includes a national CMSP Framework. The Regional Ocean Partnership Funding Program (ROPFP) will support two categories of activities: (1) Implementation of activities that contribute to achieving the priorities identified by Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) while also advancing CMSP as envisioned in the national CMSP Framework; and (2) ROP Development and Governance Support for administration and operations of existing ROPs, and for start-up costs of those regions beginning ROPs. Eligible entities must submit to NOAA full proposals on or before December 10, 2010, in order to participate in this Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 funding opportunity. Total anticipated funding is approximately $20,000,000 and is subject to the availability of FY 2011 appropriations. Additional funds of approximately $10,000,000 from NOAA or other Federal agencies may be used for FY 2011 or multi-year awards from this competition. The start date on proposals should be the first day of July, August or September, but no later than October 1, of 2011. Statutory authority for this program is provided under Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1456c (Technical Assistance).

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the C season allowance of the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.

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.

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.

Notice is hereby given that Sea World, LLC, 9205 South Park Center Loop, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819 [Brad Andrews, Responsible Party] has been issued a permit to import one pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) for public display.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a one-year Letters of Authorization (LOA) to take marine mammals incidental to the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures (EROS) in the Gulf of Mexico.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the 2010 pollock incidental catch allowance (ICA) to the directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2010 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP).

NMFS has received a request from the Knik Arm Bridge Toll Authority (KABATA), in coordination with the Department of Transportation Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction of a bridge across Knik Arm, named the Knik Arm Crossing, Alaska, over the course of five construction seasons; approximately spring 2013 through autumn 2017. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of the KABATA's application and request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and inviting information, suggestions, and comments on the KABATA's application and request. NMFS has reviewed KABATA's request, including the information in its application, and determined that it is adequate and complete in accordance with 50 CFR 216.104(b)(1).

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 the third Assessment Webinar Stage 2 webinar for SEDAR 24.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the fourth seasonal apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA has been reached.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel, in September, 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.

NMFS has received an application from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) of the University of California for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a low-energy marine seismic survey. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to SIO to take, by Level B Harassment only, 21 species of marine mammals during the specified activity.

This final rule establishes eligibility requirements and procedures for reviewing and approving community development plans for western Pacific fisheries. The intent of this final rule is to promote the participation of island communities in fisheries that they have traditionally depended upon, but in which they may not have the capabilities to support continued and substantial participation.

Notice is hereby given that James T. Harvey, Ph.D., Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039, has been issued a major amendment to Permit No. 555-1870-01.