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

Re-Establishing the Sanctuary Nomination Process
Document Number: 2014-13807
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
With this final rule, NOAA re-establishes the process by which communities may submit applications to have NOAA consider nominations of areas of the marine and Great Lakes environments as national marine sanctuaries. Communities, in this context, are defined as a collection of interested individuals or groups (e.g., a friends of group, a chamber of commerce); local, tribal, state, or national agencies; elected officials; or topic-based stakeholder groups, at the local, regional or national level (e.g., a local chapter of an environmental organization, a regionally-based fishing group, a national-level recreation or tourism organization, academia or science-based group, or an industry association). Through this nomination process, NOAA is seeking to give communities an opportunity to identify special marine and Great Lakes areas they believe would benefit from designation as a national marine sanctuary. There is no requirement for who may nominate an area for consideration; however, nominations should demonstrate broad support from a variety of stakeholders and interested parties. This rule contains the criteria and considerations NOAA will use to evaluate national marine sanctuary nominations, describes the process for submitting national marine sanctuary nominations, and promulgates the regulations necessary to implement this action. If NOAA determines a nomination adequately meets the final criteria and considerations, it may place that nomination into an inventory of areas for the NOAA Administrator, as delegated from the Secretary of Commerce, to consider for designation as a national marine sanctuary. As such, NOAA is not designating any new national marine sanctuaries with this action. In issuing this rule, NOAA replaces the currently inactive Site Evaluation List with a new process for communities and other interested parties to work collaboratively and innovatively in their submission of national marine sanctuary nominations. The re-opening of the sanctuary nomination process was supported by the majority of the nearly 18,000 comments NOAA received on its proposed rule issued June 28, 2013.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Framework Adjustment 3
Document Number: 2014-13611
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-06-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Framework Adjustment 3 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan would establish a process for setting river herring (alewife and blueback) and shad (American and hickory) catch caps for the herring fishery. In addition, this action would set these catch caps for the 2014 and 2015 fishing years. This action is consistent with Herring Amendment 5, which addresses river herring catch and allows for river herring and shad catch caps to be implemented through a framework. This action would allow the Council to set river herring and shad catch caps and associated measures in future years through specifications or frameworks, whichever is appropriate. Catch of river herring and shad includes both bycatch (discards) and incidental catch that is retained.
International Whaling Commission; 65th Meeting; Announcement of Public Meetings
Document Number: 2014-13801
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-12
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This notice announces the date, time, and location of the public meeting being held prior to the 65th International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Cooperative Charting Programs
Document Number: 2014-13703
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-12
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Taking of Threatened or Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Issuance of Permit
Document Number: 2014-13683
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-12
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS plans to issue a permit for a period of three years to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, taking of three stocks of marine mammals listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the Hawaii deep-set and shallow-set longline fisheries. In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS must issue this permit provided that it can make the determinations that: The incidental take will have a negligible impact on the affected stocks; a recovery plan for all affected stocks of threatened or endangered marine mammals has been developed or is being developed; and as required by the MMPA, a take reduction plan and monitoring program have been implemented and vessels in the Hawaii deep-set and shallow-set longline fisheries are registered. NMFS has made a preliminary determination that incidental taking from commercial fishing will have a negligible impact on the endangered humpback whale, Central North Pacific (CNP) stock; sperm whale, Hawaii stock; and false killer whale, Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular stock. Recovery plans have been completed for humpback and sperm whales, and a recovery plan has been initiated for MHI insular false killer whales. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft negligible impact determination and on the proposal to issue a permit to vessels that operate in these fisheries for the taking of affected endangered stocks of marine mammals.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 12-Month Finding on Petitions To List the Great Hammerhead Shark as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Document Number: 2014-13621
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-11
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, announce a 12-month finding on two petitions to list the entire population of great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran), the northwest Atlantic population, or any distinct population segments (DPSs) of great hammerhead sharks, as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have completed a comprehensive status review of the great hammerhead shark in response to these petitions. Based on the best scientific and commercial information available, including the status review report (Miller et al., 2014), we have determined that the species is not comprised of DPSs and does not warrant listing at this time. We conclude that the great hammerhead shark is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range and is not likely to become so within the foreseeable future.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited Species Donation Program
Document Number: 2014-13599
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-11
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces the renewal of permits to SeaShare, authorizing this organization to distribute Pacific salmon and Pacific halibut to economically disadvantaged individuals under the prohibited species donation (PSD) program. Salmon and halibut are caught incidentally during directed fishing for groundfish with trawl gear off Alaska. This action is necessary to comply with provisions of the PSD program and is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2014-13377
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Atlantis California Current Ecosystem Model will be reviewed by a panel composed of representatives from the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee, the Center for Independent Experts, and NMFS. The review session is open to the public.
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2014-13376
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR 39 assessment of the HMS Smoothhound Sharks: A Data Workshop; a series of Assessment webinars; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2014-13375
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR 41 assessments of the South Atlantic stocks of red snapper and gray triggerfish will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: a Data Workshop; a series of Assessment webinars; and a Review Workshop. This notice is for a webinar associated with the Data portion of the SEDAR process. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Missile Launch Activities at San Nicolas Island, CA
Document Number: 2014-13320
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a letter of authorization (LOA) has been issued to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, U.S. Navy (Navy), to take three species of seals and sea lions incidental to missile launch operations at San Nicolas Island (SNI), California, a military readiness activity.
International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Fishing Restrictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Whale Shark Conservation Measures
Document Number: 2014-13267
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-06-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS proposes under the Tuna Conventions Act to implement a resolution of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) intended to conserve whale sharks (Rhincodon typhus) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). This proposed rule, if adopted, would prohibit setting a purse seine net on a whale shark, and would require certain measures to protect whale sharks in the event that a whale shark is encircled in a purse seine net. This proposed rulemaking is necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Off the Atlantic States; Amendment 5
Document Number: 2014-13257
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery off the Atlantic States (FMP) (Amendment 5), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This rule revises the annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for the commercial and recreational sectors of dolphin and wahoo, and updates the framework procedures for the FMP. In addition, Amendment 5 revises the acceptable biological catch (ABC) values and recreational annual catch targets (ACTs) for dolphin and wahoo. The purpose of Amendment 5 and this rule is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) within the dolphin and wahoo fishery, and to minimize any negative socio- economic impacts to the affected fishing participants, to the extent practicable, in accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
Document Number: 2014-13237
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the: Administrative Policy, Joint Coral/Habitat Protection, Red Drum, Advisory Panel Selection, Reef Fish, Shrimp, Data Collection, Outreach and Education and Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Management Committees; and a meeting of the Full Council. The Council will also hold a formal public comment session.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings and Meetings
Document Number: 2014-13236
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public hearings to obtain input from fishers, the general public and the local agencies representatives on the Draft Comprehensive Amendment to the U.S. Caribbean Fishery Management Plans (FMPs): Annual Catch Limit Control Rule. Immediately following, the Council will hold scoping meetings on the Scoping Document that addresses the Timing of Accountability Measure-Based Seasonal Closures in all the U.S. Caribbean FMPs. These are separate actions, each of which would amend the Council FMPs for the Reef Fish Resources, Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates, Spiny Lobster, and Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dates and Addresses: The Public Hearings and Scoping Meetings will be held on the following dates and locations: In Puerto Rico: June 23rd, 20147 p.m.-10 p.m.Holiday Inn Ponce & Tropical Casino, 3315 Ponce By Pass, Ponce, Puerto Rico. June 24th, 20147 p.m.-10 p.m.Doubletree by Hilton San Juan Hotel, De Diego Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico. June 25th, 20147 p.m.-10 p.m.Club N[aacute]utico de Arecibo, Rd. 681 Km 1.4, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. June 26th, 20147 p.m.-10 p.m.Mayaguez Holiday Inn, 2701 Hostos Avenue, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. June 30th, 20147 p.m.-10 p.m.Asociaci[oacute]n de Pescadores Unidos de Playa H[uacute]cares de Naguabo, Naguabo, Puerto Rico. In the U.S. Virgin Islands: June 23rd, 20147 p.m.-10 p.m.Windward Passage Hotel, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. June 24th, 20147 p.m.-10 p.m.Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Construction Activities at the Children's Pool Lifeguard Station at La Jolla, California
Document Number: 2014-13213
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an IHA to the City of San Diego to take small numbers of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to construction activities at the Children's Pool Lifeguard Station in La Jolla, California.
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings; Correction
Document Number: 2014-13211
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) announces a change in the dates for its Advisory Panel (AP) Meeting and change in agenda for the 116th Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting and 160th Council Meeting.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; U.S. Navy Missile Launches From San Nicolas Island, California
Document Number: 2014-13084
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Upon application from the U.S. Navy (Navy), Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), we (the National Marine Fisheries Service) are issuing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to missile launches from San Nicolas Island (SNI) from June 2014 through June 2019. These regulations allows us to issue a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the Navy's specified activities and timeframes, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to a Wharf Construction Project
Document Number: 2014-12906
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction activities as part of a wharf construction project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Navy to incidentally take marine mammals, by Level B Harassment only, during the specified activity.
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2014 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Golden Tilefish
Document Number: 2014-13070
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic for the 2014 fishing year through this temporary rule. Recreational landings from 2013, as estimated by the Science and Research Director (SRD), exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for golden tilefish. Furthermore, information from 2014 recreational landings indicates that landings are projected to reach the recreational ACL on June 7, 2014. To account for the 2013 ACL overage and to prevent an ACL overage in 2014, NMFS closes the recreational sector for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on June 7, 2014. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2014 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper
Document Number: 2014-13069
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic for the 2014 fishing year through this temporary rule. Average recreational landings from 2011-2013 exceeded the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for snowy grouper. To account for this overage, this rule reduces the length of the 2014 recreational fishing season. Therefore, NMFS closes the recreational sector for snowy grouper on June 7, 2014. This closure is necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.
Schedules for Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops
Document Number: 2014-13068
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in July, August, and September of 2014. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and to maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2014 and will be announced in a future notice.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management in the Gulf of Alaska Non-Pollock Trawl Fishery; Amendment 97
Document Number: 2014-13066
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-06-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 97 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). If approved, Amendment 97 would limit Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) in the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) non-pollock trawl fisheries. This action would establish separate Chinook salmon PSC annual limits for the non-pollock trawl catcher vessel (CV) and catcher/processor (C/P) sectors and a seasonal limit for the C/P sector. The CV sector PSC limit would be further divided between vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program and vessels not participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program. If a sector reached its seasonal or annual Chinook salmon PSC limit, NMFS would prohibit further directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish by vessels in that sector for the remainder of the season or fishing year. This proposed action would also establish salmon retention and discard requirements for vessels, shoreside processors and stationary floating processors participating in the non-pollock groundfish fisheries. The combination of these retention requirements will enable accurate reporting of salmon in eLandings at the processor. Salmon accounting at a processor may assist the industry in tracking and cooperatively managing its Chinook salmon PSC. This action is necessary to minimize the catch of Chinook salmon to the extent practicable in the Western and Central GOA non-pollock trawl fisheries. Amendment 97 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System; Regulations To Certify and Integrate Regional Information Coordination Entities
Document Number: 2014-13034
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program Office, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issues this final rule to implement provisions of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (ICOOS Act). Among other things, the ICOOS Act directs the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) to develop and approve certification criteria and procedures for integrating regional information coordination entities (RICEs) into the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (System). This rule accomplishes that goal. This rule also implements the provisions of the ICOOS Act establishing that certified entities integrated into the System are, for the purposes of determining liability arising from the dissemination and use of observation data, considered part of NOAA and therefore their employees engaged in the collection, management, and dissemination, of observation data in the System receive the same tort protections for use of that data as Federal employees.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting; Correction
Document Number: 2014-13030
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a three-day meeting, June 17 through 19, 2014, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2014 Limited Commercial and Recreational Fishing Seasons for Red Snapper in the Southern Atlantic States
Document Number: 2014-13014
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has determined that limited commercial and recreational fishing seasons can occur in 2014. Therefore, NMFS announces the commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs) for red snapper in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the 2014 fishing year, the opening and closing dates of the 2014 recreational fishing season, and the opening date of the 2014 commercial fishing season through this temporary rule. The 2014 commercial ACL is 50,994 lb (23,130 kg), gutted weight, and the 2014 recreational ACL is 22,576 fish. Based on NMFS projections, the recreational fishing season in 2014 will be open for three consecutive weekends, starting July 11, 2014, and consist of 3 days the first two weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and 2 days the third weekend (Friday and Saturday). The commercial fishing season in 2014 will open on July 14, 2014, and NMFS will monitor commercial harvest in-season and close the commercial sector when the commercial ACL is reached or projected to be reached by filing an in-season closure notification with the Office of the Federal Register. This temporary rule is necessary to announce the limited fishing seasons for South Atlantic red snapper to provide socio- economic benefits to snapper-grouper fishermen and communities that utilize the red snapper resource while at the same time allowing red snapper to rebuild to sustainable levels.
National Estuarine Research Reserve System
Document Number: 2014-12929
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing a thirty day public comment period for the Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision. The Waquoit Bay Reserve revised plan will replace the plan approved in 2006. The revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; the research & monitoring, education, training, and stewardship goals of the reserve; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility development to support reserve operations. The revised management plan will serve as the guiding document for the 2,804 acre Waquoit Bay Reserve for the next five years.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
Document Number: 2014-12917
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2014 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. NMFS is adjusting the quotas and announcing the revised commercial quota for each state involved. NMFS is also correcting the 2014 summer flounder quota for the State of New Jersey to account for quota transfers to date.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Seabird Monitoring and Research in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, 2014
Document Number: 2014-12904
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has received an application from Glacier Bay National Park (Glacier Bay NP) to take marine mammals, by harassment incidental to conducting seabird research from July through September, 2014. The proposed dates for this action would be July 22, 2014 through September 30, 2014. Per the Marine Mammal Protection Act, we are requesting comments on our proposal to issue an Authorization to the Glacier Bay NP to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, one species of marine mammals during the specified activity.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Sea Grant Program Application Requirements for Grants, for Sea Grant Fellowships, and for Designation as a Sea Grant College or Sea Grant Institute
Document Number: 2014-12892
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; For-Hire Telephone Survey
Document Number: 2014-12840
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 106
Document Number: 2014-12829
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-06-03
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 106 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for review. Amendment 106 to the FMP would allow the owner of an AFA vessel to rebuild or replace that vessel and would allow the owners of AFA catcher vessels that are inactive or obsolete to remove those vessels from the AFA fishery. This action is necessary to bring the FMP into conformity with the AFA as amended by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Coast Guard Act), and to improve vessel safety and operational efficiency in the AFA fleet. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the AFA, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region; Amendment 8
Document Number: 2014-12655
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-06-03
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) (Amendment 8), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would expand portions of the northern and western boundaries of the Oculina Bank habitat area of particular concern (HAPC) (Oculina Bank HAPC) and allow transit through the Oculina Bank HAPC by fishing vessels with rock shrimp onboard; modify vessel monitoring systems (VMS) requirements for rock shrimp fishermen transiting through the Oculina Bank HAPC; expand a portion of the western boundary of the Stetson Reefs, Savannah and East Florida Lithotherms, and Miami Terrace Deepwater Coral HAPC (CHAPC) (Stetson- Miami Terrace CHAPC), including modifications to the shrimp access area A, which is proposed to be renamed ``shrimp access area 1''; and expand a portion of the northern boundary of the Cape Lookout Lophelia Banks Deepwater CHAPC (Cape Lookout CHAPC). In addition, this proposed rule makes a minor administrative change to the names of the shrimp fishery access areas. The purpose of this rule is to increase protections for deepwater coral based on new information for deepwater coral resources in the South Atlantic.
Science Advisory Board (SAB)
Document Number: 2014-12732
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the NOAA Science Advisory Board. The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined in the section on Matters to be considered. Time and Date: The meeting is scheduled for Monday June 23, 2014 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Marine Mammals; File No. 14450
Document Number: 2014-12680
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 14450-01 has been issued to the National Marine Fisheries Service's Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 [Principal Investigator: Dr. Keith Mullin].
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Gulf of Mexico Blacktip Shark Fishery
Document Number: 2014-12670
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is closing the commercial blacktip shark fishery in the Gulf of Mexico region. This action is necessary because projections indicate that the commercial landings of Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks for the 2014 fishing season could reach 80 percent of the available commercial quota as of June 3, 2014.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Gulf of Alaska Ecosystem Indicator Selection
Document Number: 2014-12668
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2014-12654
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a three-day meeting, on June 17-19, 2014, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To List Five Species of Sturgeons as Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act
Document Number: 2014-12626
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, issue a final determination to list five species of foreign sturgeon as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We updated the status reviews of the species to include additional information regarding the species and conservation efforts being made to protect them. We considered governmental and public comments on the proposed listing rule. We have made our determination that Acipenser naccarii (Adriatic sturgeon), and A. sturio (European sturgeon) in Western Europe, A. sinensis (Chinese sturgeon) in the Yangtze River basin, and A. mikadoi (Sakhalin sturgeon) and Huso dauricus (Kaluga sturgeon) in the Amur River Basin/Sea of Japan/Sea of Okhotsk region, should be listed as endangered species. We will not designate critical habitat because the geographical areas occupied by these species are entirely outside U.S. jurisdiction, and we have not identified any unoccupied areas in the U.S. that are currently essential to the conservation of any of these species.
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
Document Number: 2014-12615
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of its 116th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and its 160th Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. The Council will also convene meetings of the Social Science Planning Committee (SSPC), Marine Planning and Climate Change Committee (MPCC), Advisory Panels (AP), Fishing Industry Advisory Panel (FIAP), Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee (FDCRC) and the Council's Pelagic Standing Committee and Executive and Budget Standing Committee.
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Document Number: 2014-12597
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of two forthcoming meetings of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined in the agenda below.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Coastal Household Telephone Survey
Document Number: 2014-12592
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast Region IFQ Programs
Document Number: 2014-12591
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
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