National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As part of the process for the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator approval of proposed sector operations established under Amendment 16 to the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), sectors are required to submit operations plans and sector contracts, and request an allocation of stocks regulated under the FMP for each fishing year (FY). This action is to provide interested parties an opportunity to comment on 19 FY 2011 proposed sector operations plans and contracts. Although NMFS received 22 proposed sector operations plans and contracts for approval, only 19 of the 22 sector operations plans and contracts are being considered for approval because 3 sectors, the Massachusetts Permit Bank Sector, the New Hampshire Permit Bank Sector, and the Rhode Island Permit Bank Sector, were unable to fulfill the roster requirements, and, therefore, were excluded from consideration.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the A season allowance of the 2011 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The SEDAR 21 assessments of the HMS of sandbar, dusky, and blacknose sharks will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: A Data Workshop, a series of Assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS is closing the commercial and non-commercial fisheries in the main Hawaiian Islands fishery for seven deepwater bottomfish species (``Deep 7'' bottomfish) as a result of reaching the total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2010-11 fishing year.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society (SGRLPS) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, four species of marine mammals during aircraft operations, and lighthouse renovation and light maintenance activities on the St. George Reef Light Station on Northwest Seal Rock (NWSR) in the northeast Pacific Ocean, from the period of February 18, 2011, through April 30, 2011, or during the period of November 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene its Law Enforcement Advisory Panel in conjunction with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission's Law Enforcement Committee.

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the Mission-Aransas (Texas) National Estuarine Research Reserve. The National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation will be conducted pursuant to sections 312 and 315 of the CZMA and regulations at 15 CFR part 921, subpart E and part 923, subpart L. Evaluation of a National Estuarine Research Reserve requires findings concerning the extent to which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its Reserve final management plan 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. 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 dates of the site visit for the listed evaluation and the date, local time, and location of the public meeting during the site visit. Date and Time: The Mission-Aransas (Texas) National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation site visit will be held April 11-15, 2011. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 5 p.m. local time at the Bay Education Center, 121 Seabreeze Drive, Rockport, Texas.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Scallop Plan Team will meet March 7-8, 2011 in the Council Office at the Old Federal Building.

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.

On December 10, 2010, we, NMFS, published a proposed rule to list the Beringia and Okhotsk Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of the bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). As part of that proposal, we announced a public comment period to end on February 8, 2011, and then extended the comment period to March 25, 2011. NMFS has received requests for public hearings on this issue. In response, we announce that public hearings will be held at three locations in Alaska (Anchorage, Barrow, and Nome) to provide additional opportunities and formats to receive public input.

NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the southern zone to 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day. This trip limit reduction is necessary to maximize the socioeconomic benefits of the quota.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Habitat/MPA/Ecosystem Committee in March, 2011 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 proposed rule that would implement a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would increase the commercial and recreational quotas for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2011 fishing year, provided that NMFS determines the total allowable catch (TAC) was not exceeded in the 2010 fishing year. This rule also proposes minor revisions to codified text, including revisions to the definition of ``actual ex- vessel value,'' extending the maintenance window for the Gulf individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs, and removing obsolete codified text for Gulf grouper. The intended effect of this proposed rule is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) for Gulf red snapper without increasing the risk of the red snapper resource experiencing overfishing, allow for better functioning and enforcement of the Gulf IFQ programs, and to implement a technical correction to the regulations.

NMFS issues this proposed rule that would implement a regulatory amendment (Regulatory Amendment 10) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would remove the snapper-grouper area closure implemented through Amendment 17A to the FMP. The intended effect of this proposed rule is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) for the fishery and minimize socio-economic impacts to snapper-grouper fishermen, without increasing the risk of the red snapper resource experiencing overfishing.

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 ONMS is seeking applicants for the following seats on the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary advisory council (council): Citizen- at-Large seat, two (2) Recreational/Commercial Fishing seats, Heritage Tourism seat, and Economic Development seat. 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 2-year terms, pursuant to the council's Charter.

The purpose of the Gulf Spill Restoration Planning PEIS is to identify restoration types and establish a programmatic framework and procedures that will enable the Trustees to expedite the selection and implementation of restoration projects to compensate the public and the environment for loss of natural resources and services from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that began on April 20, 2010, Mississippi Canyon Block 252 (``the Oil Spill''). The Trustees will prepare a PEIS that will evaluate a range of restoration types that could be used to compensate the public for the environmental and human use damages caused by the Oil Spill. The Trustees seek public involvement in the scoping process and development of the PEIS. This notice explains the scoping process the Trustees will use to gather input from the public. Comments on what the Trustees should consider in the PEIS may be submitted in written form or verbally at any of the public scoping meetings; or may be submitted in written or electronic form at any other time during the scoping process.

We (NMFS) announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list Alabama shad (Alosa alabamae) as threatened or endangered and designate critical habitat under the ESA. We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted.

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applicants for the following vacant seat on the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (council): Education Alternate. 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 2-3 year terms, pursuant to the council's Charter.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a scientific research permit application request relating to salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and conservation efforts.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will hold a meeting, via conference call, of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) and Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory subpanel (CPSAS). The meeting is open to the public.

This proposed rule would change the advance notification period for in-season closure of the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep-7 bottomfish fishery to seven days from the current 14 days. The intent of the proposed change is to enhance administration of the fishery.

We (NMFS) announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Texas pipefish (Syngnathus affinis) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), in cooperation with the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a webinar for Council members and the public to review and consider recommendations from the NEFSC Science and Research Director and Northeast Regional Administrator regarding the allocation and prioritization of at-sea observer coverage for April 2011 through March 2012. A draft report was delivered to both the New England and Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Councils in January, 2011 and is available online at https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/fsb/SBRM/2011/2011-SBRM-Sea- Day-Analysis-Prioritization.pdf.