National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2014-2016 Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery, including an annual catch limit and total allowable landings. This action establishes the allowable 2014-2016 harvest levels and other management measures to achieve the target fishing mortality rate, consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector for red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2014 fishing year through this temporary rule. Based on the 2013 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) overage, this rule reduces the red grouper bag limit in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from four to three fish (within the current four-fish grouper aggregate bag limit) and reduces the length of the red grouper recreational fishing season in the Gulf EEZ by the amount necessary to ensure landings do not exceed the recreational annual catch target (ACT) for the 2014 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS implements recreational post-season AMs by reducing the bag limit for red grouper in the Gulf EEZ from four to three fish effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 5, 2014, until the recreational sector is projected to meet the recreational ACT. NMFS projects the recreational sector will reach the recreational ACT under the three fish bag limit by September 16, 2014. Therefore, the recreational sector for red grouper in the Gulf EEZ will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, September 16, 2014, through the end of the fishing year, December 31, 2014, unless further notification is published in the Federal Register. These actions are necessary to protect the Gulf red grouper resource.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application submitted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt participating vessels from the following types of fishery regulations: Minimum fish size restrictions; fish possession limits; prohibited fish species, not including species protected under the Endangered Species Act; gear- specific fish possession restrictions for the purpose of collecting fishery dependent catch data and biological samples; and the prohibition from fishing in year-round groundfish closed areas. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on Exempted Fishing Permit applications.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Executive Committee will meet in a closed session via webinar.

We have partially approved 17 sector operations plans and contracts for fishing year 2014, providing allocations of Northeast multispecies (groundfish) to these sectors, and granting 20 regulatory exemptions. Approval of sector operations plans is necessary to allocate quotas to the sectors and for the sectors to operate. The Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan allows limited access permit holders to form sectors, and requires sectors to submit their operations plans and contracts to us, NMFS, for approval or disapproval. Approved sectors are exempt from certain effort control regulations and receive allocations of groundfish based on their members' fishing history.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Electronic Monitoring (EM) workgroup will meet in Anchorage, AK.

The SEDAR assessment of the Caribbean Red Hind will consist of several workshops and a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Mid-Atlantic Council (Mid-Atlantic Council) will host a meeting of the Council Coordination Committee (CCC) consisting of the eight Regional Fishery Management Council (RFMC) chairs, vice chairs, and executive directors and its subcommittees in May 2014. The intent of this meeting is to discuss issues of relevance to the Councils, including: budget issues, MSA reauthorization, habitat issues, allocation working group report, bycatch and IUU certification, climate change, enforcement activities, Council Operational Guidelines, other topics of concern to the RFMC, and decisions and follow-up activities.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for recreational greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2014 fishing year through this temporary final rule. This rule reduces the Gulf greater amberjack 2014 recreational annual catch target (ACT) (equal to the recreational quota) to 862,512 lb (391,229 kg) and reduces the 2014 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) to 1,031,512 lb (467,886 kg), based on the 2013 recreational ACL overage. These actions are necessary to reduce overfishing of the Gulf greater amberjack resource.

NMFS issues this final rule to implement an annual catch limit (ACL), harvest guideline (HG), annual catch target (ACT), and associated annual reference points for Pacific sardine in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast for a one-time interim harvest period of January 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014, and to set annual harvest levels, such as overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limit (ACL), for Pacific sardine for the whole calendar year 2014. These specifications were determined according to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and reflect the recent 6-month change to the starting date of the annual Pacific sardine fishery from January 1 to July 1. The 2014 ACT or maximum directed HG is 19,846 (mt). Based on the seasonal allocation framework in the FMP, this equates to a first period (January 1 to June 30) allocation of 6,946 mt (35% of ACT). This rule also establishes an adjusted directed non-tribal harvest allocation for this period of 5,446 mt. This value was reduced from the total first period allocation by 1000 mt for potential harvest by the Quinault Indian Nation as well as 500 mt to be used as an incidental set aside for other non-tribal commercial fisheries if the 5,446 mt limit is reached and directed fishing for sardine is closed. This rule is intended to conserve and manage the Pacific sardine stock off the U.S. West Coast.

NMFS has partially approved Framework Adjustment 51 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP), and this final rule implements the approved measures. This action sets catch limits for groundfish stocks, revises the rebuilding programs for Gulf of Maine cod and American plaice, modifies management measures for yellowtail flounder, and revises management measures for the U.S./ Canada Management Area. Although not part of Framework 51, this action also sets fishing year 2014 trip limits for the common pool fishery and announces 2014 accountability measures for windowpane flounder. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and achieve the goals and objectives of the Groundfish FMP. The approved measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.

This notice sets forth the schedule of a forthcoming meeting of the DoC NOAA National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee (NCADAC). Time and Date: The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at a time to be determined. Please check the National Climate Assessment Web site at https://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/assessment or the NOAA NCADAC Web site https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/NCADAC/Meetings.html for the exact date and time. Place: This meeting will be a conference call. Public access and materials will be available at the office of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, Conference Room A, Suite 250, 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20006. The public will not be able to dial into the call. Please check the National Climate Assessment Web site for additional information at https://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/ assessment. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 5- minute public comment period. 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 two minutes. Written comments should be received in the NCADAC DFO's office by Wednesday, April 30, 2014 to provide sufficient time for NCADAC review. Written comments received by the NCADAC DFO after Wednesday, April 30, 2014 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 special accommodations may be directed no later than 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 to Dr. Cynthia Decker, SAB Executive Director, SSMC3, Room 11230, 1315 East- West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Matters To Be Considered: Please refer to the Web page https:// www.nesdis.noaa.gov/NCADAC/Meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting agenda, when available.

The spring meeting of the Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) on March 4-5, 2014, was canceled due to a winter storm warning and temporary, weather-related closure of Washington, DC-area offices of the Federal Government. The meeting has been rescheduled for May 1-2, 2014, with a revised agenda. As originally planned, the Committee will meet with its Technical Advisors to discuss matters relating to ICCAT, including the 2013 Commission meeting results; research and management activities; global and domestic initiatives related to ICCAT; the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act-required report on any identification of countries that are diminishing the effectiveness of ICCAT; the results of meetings of the Committee's Species Working Groups; and other matters relating to the international management of ICCAT species. There will also be a closed session consultation to discuss the amendment of ICCAT's Convention.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a meeting, which is open to the public.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its American Samoa Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC) to discuss fishery management issues in the Territory of American Samoa. Hearings to receive public input on the Council action to modify the boundaries of the American Samoa Large Pelagic Vessel Area closure (LPVA) will also be held.

The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings.

Notice is hereby given that Terrie M. Williams, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Ocean Health, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, CA 95060, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptonycotes weddellii).

NMFS proposes to change criteria for submission, approval, surrender, revision, and receipt of a Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP) or Federal Processor Permit (FPP) application form; allow the use of a valid legible copy in place of an original FFP or FPP; remove unnecessary FFP and FPP application form descriptions and contact information from regulation; clarify when an FFP or FPP is required; and make minor modifications to FPP regulations. This action is necessary to reduce industry costs of complying with fishing and processing permit regulations and NMFS' administrative costs of maintaining and updating permit application regulations and forms. This action would provide efficiency, flexibility, and clarity concerning FFP and FPP requirements. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws.

Notice is hereby given that the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC; Responsible Party, Tara Jones, Ph.D.) 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).

On March 18, 2013 (78 FR 16622), NOAA proposed to prohibit the introduction of introduced species into the state waters of Gulf of the Farallones and Monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries (GFNMS and MBNMS, respectively). On March 27, 2014 (79 FR 17073) NOAA proposed to amend the March 2013 proposed rule to allow GFNMS and MBNMS to authorize certain introduced species of shellfish from commercial mariculture projects in all state waters of the sanctuaries. The comment period on this amendment closed on April 11, 2014. In response to significant public interest in this amended proposed action, NOAA is re-opening the public comment period until May 5, 2014.

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the Massachusetts, Texas, and Michigan Coastal Management Programs. The Coastal Zone Management Program evaluations will be conducted pursuant to section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (CZMA) and regulations at 15 CFR part 923, Subpart L. The CZMA requires continuing review of the performance of states with respect to coastal program implementation. Evaluation of a Coastal Management Program requires findings concerning the extent to which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its Coastal Management Program document approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and adhered to the terms of financial assistance awards funded under the CZMA. The evaluations will include a public meeting, consideration of written public comments and consultations with interested Federal, state, and local agencies and members of the public. 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 date, local time, and location of the public meeting. Date and Time: The Massachusetts Coastal Management Program public meeting will be held on Thursday, June 5th at 4:30 p.m. local time at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 2nd Floor Conference Room D, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114. A picture ID is required for building entry. The Michigan Coastal Management Program public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4th, at 5:00 p.m. local time at Lansing Community College-West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, Room M119Section 1, Lansing, Michigan, 48917. The Texas Coastal Management Program public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4th, at 5:00 p.m. local time at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Natural Resources Center, 6300 Ocean Drive, Room 1003, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412.

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 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Pelagics Plan Team (PPT), in Honolulu, HI, to discuss fishery issues and develop recommendations for future management.

NMFS has received an application from BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. (BP) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a shallow geohazard survey in Foggy Island Bay, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, during the 2014 open water season. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to BP to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during the specified activity.