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

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) Joint Spiny Dogfish Committee and Advisory Panel will hold a meeting via webinar.

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). Amendment 20 would modify the FMP to create the structure and management details of the trawl rationalization program for the limited entry trawl fishery. Amendment 21 would modify the FMP to allocate the groundfish stocks between trawl and non-trawl fisheries and within trawl fisheries. The trawl rationalization program (Amendments 20 and 21) is intended to increase net economic benefits, create individual economic stability, provide full utilization of the trawl sector allocation, consider environmental impacts, and achieve individual accountability of catch and bycatch.

Notice is hereby given that Raymond Carthy, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110485, Gainesville, FL 23611-0450 has been issued a modification to scientific research Permit No. 10022.

NMFS issues this action to amend the emergency regulations published on May 6, 2010, to revise the portion of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that is closed to all fishing, due to the evolving nature of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The initial closure was applicable May 2, 2010 through 12:01 a.m., local time, May 12, 2010. This revised fisheries closure supersedes the original closure and is effective from May 7, 2010 through 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17, 2010, unless conditions allow NMFS to terminate it sooner. The revised closure is implemented for public safety.

The Arctic has profound significance for climate and functioning of ecosystems around the globe. The region is particularly vulnerable and prone to rapid change. Increasing air and ocean temperatures, thawing permafrost, loss of sea ice, and shifts in ecosystems are evidence of widespread and dramatic ongoing change. As a result, critical environmental, economic, and national security issues are emerging, many of which have significant impacts for human lives, livelihoods, and coastal communities. Though NOAA has numerous and diverse capabilities that support these emerging issues, a strategic approach that leverages NOAA's existing priorities and strengths, as well as those of our national and international partners, is needed. This document provides a high-level framework and six strategic goals

NMFS received an application from Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to offshore exploration drilling on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to Shell to take, by Level B harassment only, 12 species of marine mammals during the specified activity.

On March 18, 2010, we, NMFS, announced the release of the Draft Recovery Plan for Central California Coast coho salmon (Draft

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 SEDAR 24 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. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

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 Data Workshop component of SEDAR 24. Notice of the Assessment Process and the Review Workshop will be made at a later date. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

By this final rule, NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the 2010 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California and the 2011 salmon seasons opening earlier than May 1, 2011. Specific fishery management measures vary by fishery and by area. The measures establish fishing areas, seasons, quotas, legal gear, recreational fishing days and catch limits, possession and landing restrictions, and minimum lengths for salmon taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (3-200 NM) off Washington, Oregon, and California. The management measures are intended to prevent overfishing and to apportion the ocean harvest equitably among treaty Indian, non- treaty commercial, and recreational fisheries. The measures are also intended to allow a portion of the salmon runs to escape the ocean fisheries in order to provide for spawning escapement and to provide for inside fisheries (fisheries occurring in state internal waters).

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received five 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 applications may be viewed online at: https:/ /apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/previewopenforcomment.cfm

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Ad Hoc Regulatory Deeming Workgroup (Workgroup). The meeting is open to the public.

Notice is hereby given that the University of Florida, Aquatic Animal Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610 (Ruth Francis-Floyd, Responsible Party) has applied in due form for a permit to receive, import and export marine mammal specimens for scientific research.

This notice announces the dates, times, and locations of the public meetings being held prior to the 62nd annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.

This notice is a call for nominees for the U.S. Delegation to the June 2010 International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual meeting. The non-federal representative(s) selected as a result of this nomination process is(are) responsible for providing input and recommendations to the U.S. IWC Commissioner representing the positions of non-governmental organizations. Generally, only one non-governmental position is selected for the U.S. Delegation.

This action corrects the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to a final rule published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2010, which erroneously waived the 30 day delay in effective date. A 30-day delay in effectiveness will allow fishermen to come into compliance with the terms of the rule, as was originally intended, without compromising any other aspect of the fishery. NMFS will not enforce the requirement that owners be onboard vessels unless otherwise required by statute or regulation.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Observer Advisory Committee (OAC) will meet in Seattle, WA.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Joint Skate Committee and Advisory Panel, in May, 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 issues this advance notice of proposed rulemaking to announce that it is developing procedures to implement provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act for imports of fish and fish products. NMFS is seeking advance public comment on the development of these procedures and on the types of information to be considered in the process.

Notice is hereby given that a document entitled, ``Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Bayou Verdine Site, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana'' (Final DARP/EA), has been approved by the State and Federal natural resource trustee agencies (the Trustees). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the lead agency publishing this notice in the Federal Register on behalf of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior (USFWS/DOI); Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The Final DARRP/EA is now available to the public. The document describes the Trustees' assessment of natural resource injuries and resource services losses in the upper Calcasieu Estuary due to past releases of hazardous substances from two facilities situated in the upper Calcasieu Estuary, in Calcasieu Parish, LA, that are presently owned and operated by ConocoPhillips Company and Sasol North America Inc. (collectively, the ``potentially responsible parties'' or PRPs). The Final DARP/EA identifies the restoration project that the Trustees have chosen for use to restore resources and services to compensate the public for assessed losses. The project selected by the Trusteesthe Sabine Unit 99 Restoration Projectwill create over 14 new acres of marsh, enhance the ecological functioning of approximately 247 acres of existing marsh, and increase the expected functional lifespan of these marshes. The restoration site is within the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, within the Calcasieu Estuary.

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.

In accordance with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Act), NMFS, upon a delegation of authority from the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that the State of New Jersey has failed to carry out its responsibilities under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks (Plan) and that the measures New Jersey has failed to implement and enforce are necessary for the conservation of the shark resource. This determination is consistent with the findings of the Commission on February 4, 2010. Pursuant to the Act, a Federal moratorium on fishing, possession, and landing of all shark species indentified in the Commission Plan is hereby declared and will be effective on July 30, 2010. The moratorium will not be withdrawn by NMFS until New Jersey is found to have come back into compliance with the Commission's Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 3333 North Torrey Pines Court, La Jolla, CA 92037-1023, has been issued a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.