National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Since 1912, a series of nautical charts of the Intracoastal Waterways, produced by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and, subsequently, NOAA, have depicted an Intracoastal Waterway Route, a ``recommended route'' known to recreational boaters and commercial mariners as ``the magenta line.'' Coast Survey originally added the line to the charts to show the best route through the Intracoastal Waterway but it has not been consistently maintained since its last comprehensive update in 1936. Aware of safety concerns, NOAA's Office of Coast Survey is removing the ``recommended route'' from NOAA nautical charts. We are also issuing a Local Notice to Mariners, advising caution in using the line in charts where it has not been removed. The Office of Coast Survey invites written comments about whether NOAA nautical charts should depict a recommended route through the Intracoastal Waterways.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received four scientific research and enhancement permit applications and one permit modification request relating to anadromous species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research activities are intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The applications and related documents may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/ previewopenforcomment.cfm. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (916) 930-3706 or fax (916) 930-3629.

The SEDAR 35 assessment of Caribbean Red Hind will consist of: a Data Workshop; a series of Assessment Webinars; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS issues regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act) to establish a catch limit of 3,763 metric tons (mt) of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) for vessels in the U.S. pelagic longline fisheries operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) for each of the calendar years 2013 and 2014. The limit does not apply to vessels in the longline fisheries of American Samoa, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Once the limit of 3,763 mt is reached in 2013 or 2014, retaining, transshipping, or landing bigeye tuna caught in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), which comprises the majority of the WCPO, will be prohibited for the remainder of the calendar year, with certain exceptions. This action is necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party.

This announcement provides notice that the Department of Commerce (Department) has received a ``Notice of Appeal'' filed by Mark Smolinski (Appellant) requesting that the Secretary override an objection by the New York Department of State to a consistency certification for a proposed project in Sterling, New York. Addresses and Dates: You may submit written comments concerning this appeal or requests for a public hearing to NOAA, Office of General Counsel, Oceans and Coasts Section, Attn. Gladys Miles, 1305 East-West Highway, Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or via email to gcos.comments@noaa.gov. Comments or requests for a public hearing must be sent in writing postmarked or emailed no later than October 23, 2013.

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.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), published on December 7, 2012, a proposed rule to list 66 species of reef-building corals (59 in the Pacific and seven in the Caribbean) and to re- classify two species already listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) from threatened to endangered and requesting information related to the proposed action. We are announcing a 6-month extension of the deadline for final determinations for all of the 68 proposed corals. Based on comments received during the public comment period, we find that substantial disagreement exists regarding the sufficiency and accuracy of the data and analyses relevant to the 68 proposed listing determinations. Accordingly, we are extending the deadline for the final listing decisions for 6 months to solicit additional data. We believe that allowing an additional 6 months to evaluate and assess the best scientific and commercial data available would better inform our final listing determinations.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of the ABC Control Working Group (SSC) and Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).

NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of shortraker rockfish in the BSAI has been reached.

NMFS adopts as final with some changes an interim final rule published April 17, 2013, which reorganized the regulations implementing the fishery management plans (FMPs) for the Southeast Region, NMFS, and amended references to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) information-collection requirements. The new part 622 contains regulations implementing management measures contained in the FMPs for the following domestic fisheries in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic: Caribbean coral, Caribbean reef fish, Caribbean spiny lobster, Caribbean queen conch, Gulf red drum, Gulf reef fish, Gulf shrimp, Gulf coral, Gulf and South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics, Gulf and South Atlantic spiny lobster, South Atlantic coral, South Atlantic snapper-grouper, South Atlantic shrimp, Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, South Atlantic golden crab, and South Atlantic pelagic sargassum. The intended effect of this final rule is to improve the organization of these regulations and simplify their use.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is amending the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP to address bluefin tuna management due to recent trends and characteristics of the bluefin fishery. This action is necessary to meet domestic management objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act including preventing overfishing, achieving optimal yield, and minimizing bycatch to the extent practicable, as well as the objectives of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) and obligations pursuant to binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). NMFS takes these actions to reduce bluefin dead discards and account for dead discards in all categories; optimize fishing opportunities in all categories; enhance reporting and monitoring; and adjust other aspects of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP as necessary. The proposed measures include Allocation measures, Area- Based measures, Bluefin Quota Controls, Enhanced Reporting measures, and other measures with respect to how the various quota categories utilize quota. In the proposed rule that published on August 21, 2013, NMFS announced the end of the comment period as October 23, 2013, which allowed an approximately 60-day comment period. Given the length and complexity of the rule, and to provide additional time for constituents to consider the proposed rule in light of any new recommendations adopted by ICCAT at its November 2013 meeting, NMFS is extending the comment period for this action until December 10, 2013, to provide additional opportunities for public comment.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 27 (Amendment 27) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 27 would extend the South Atlantic Council's jurisdiction for management of Nassau grouper into the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ); increase the number of allowable crew members to four on dual-permitted snapper-grouper vessels (i.e., vessels holding a South Atlantic Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit for Snapper-Grouper and a commercial South Atlantic Unlimited or a 225-Pound Trip Limit Snapper-Grouper Permit) that are fishing commercially; remove the prohibition on retaining any fish under the aggregate bag limit for grouper and tilefish or the vermilion snapper bag limit by captain and crew of federally-permitted for-hire vessels; modify the snapper-grouper framework procedures to allow acceptable biological catch levels (ABCs), annual catch limits (ACLs), and annual catch targets (ACTs) to be adjusted via an abbreviated framework process; and remove blue runner from the FMP.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the C season allowance of the 2013 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

In accordance with regulations issued under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended, we hereby give notification that we, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), have issued four 1-year Letters of Authorization (Authorizations) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to take marine mammals by harassment incidental to their military readiness activities associated with the routine training, testing, and military operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) sonar within the northwest Pacific Ocean and the north-central Pacific Ocean.

Notice is hereby given that Blair Witherington, Ph.D., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 9700 South A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL, 32951, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 14726-01.

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 2013 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), NOAA announces the appointment of members who will serve on the NOAA's PRB. The NOAA PRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES) Senior Level, Scientific and Professional members and making written recommendations to the appointing authority on retention and compensation matters, including performance-based pay adjustments and awarding of bonuses. The appointment of new members to the NOAA PRB will be for a period of two years.

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 National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee (NCADAC) was established by the Secretary of Commerce under the authority of the Global Change Research Act of 1990 to synthesize and summarize the science and information pertaining to current and future impacts of climate. Time and Date: The meeting will be held October 1, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and October 2, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. These times are subject to change. Please refer to the Web page https:// www.nesdis.noaa.gov/NCADAC/ for changes and for the most up- to-date meeting agenda. Place: The meeting will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton located at 1201 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20005. Please check the Web site https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/NCADAC/ for confirmation of the venue and for directions. Status: Seating will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Members of the public must RSVP in order to attend all or a portion of the meeting by contacting the NCADAC DFO (Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov) by September 23, 2013. The meeting will be open to public participation with a public comment period; October 1, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. (check Web site to confirm time). The NCADAC expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five (5) minutes. Individuals or groups planning to make a verbal presentation should contact the NCADAC DFO (Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov) by September 23, 2013 to schedule their presentation. Written comments should be received in the NCADAC DFO's Office by September 23, 2013 to provide sufficient time for NCADAC review. Written comments received by the NCADAC DFO after September 23, 2013 will be distributed to the NCADAC, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Dr. Cynthia Decker (301-563- 6162, Cynthia.decker@noaa.gov) by September 23, 2013.

This proposed action would implement revisions to the boundaries of the Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) that is closed to vessels fishing groundfish with bottom trawl gear. This proposed rule would affect the limited entry bottom trawl sector managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) by liberalizing RCA boundaries in order to improve utilization of target species.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public.

NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc (Foundation). If granted, the EFP would authorize the applicant, with certain conditions, to collect and retain limited numbers of specimens that would otherwise be prohibited from possession and retention. This study, to be conducted in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic, is intended to characterize catch and bycatch within the shrimp fisheries of the Gulf and South Atlantic.

Notice is hereby given that Wessley Merten, Marine Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico, Mayag[uuml]ez Campus, PO Box 9000, Mayag[uuml]ez, PR 00682, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial or educational photography of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), and killer whales (Orcinus orca) in waters off Puerto Rico.

This notice responds to Section 209 of the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-461, 33 U.S.C. 1128), which requires the Secretary of Commerce to solicit nominations at least once a year for membership on the National Sea Grant Advisory Board, a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice on the implementation of the National Sea Grant College Program. To apply for membership to the Advisory Board applicants should submit a current resume as indicated in the ADDRESSES section. A cover letter highlighting specific areas of expertise relevant to the purpose of the Board is helpful, but not required. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer. This notice also sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the National Sea Grant Advisory Board. Board members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, education and extension, science and technology programs, and other matters as described in the agenda found on the National Sea Grant College Program Web site at https://seagrant.noaa.gov/WhoWeAre/ Leadership/NationalSeaGrantAdvisoryBoard/ AdvisoryBoardUpcomingMeetings.aspx.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings in Anchorage, AK.