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

NMFS announces the adoption of a Final Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plan for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) (Final Recovery Plan). This ESU includes all naturally spawned coho salmon populations between Punta Gorda, California and Cape Blanco, Oregon, as well as coho salmon produced by three artificial propagation programs: The Cole Rivers Hatchery, Trinity River Hatchery, and Iron Gate Hatchery. As required by the ESA, the Final Recovery Plan contains objective, measurable delisting criteria, site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals, and estimates of the time and costs required to implement recovery actions. The Final Recovery Plan is now available. In addition, informative public meetings will be held.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS) and ad hoc Lower Columbia River Natural Coho Workgroup (LRC Workgroup) will hold a public work session in Portland, OR. The meeting is open to the public, but is not intended as a public hearing. Public comments will be taken as time allows.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using pot gear and catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher/processors (C/P), Amendment 80 (A80) C/Ps, and C/Ps using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

NMFS issues this final rule to supplement the regulations implementing Amendments 26 and 29 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). Amendment 26 established an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the red snapper commercial sector of the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Amendment 29 established a multi-species IFQ program for the grouper and tilefish component of the commercial sector of the reef fish fishery in the Gulf EEZ. This final rule specifies procedures for closing an IFQ account and modifies requirements for IFQ landing transactions, landing notifications, and offloading. The purpose of this final rule is to enhance the monitoring, enforcement, and review of the IFQ programs as specified in Amendments 26 and 29 to 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 2014 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of its 117th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and its 161st Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. The Council will also convene meetings of the Council's Education Steering Committee, Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee, Pelagic Standing Committee, and Executive and Budget Standing Committee.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) implementing regulations, we hereby give notice that we have issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (Authorization) to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (Lamont-Doherty) a component of Columbia University, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (Foundation), to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in the northwest Atlantic Ocean off the North Carolina coast from September 15 through October 31, 2014.

NMFS is announcing an extension to the public comment period for the amended permit to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, take of two stocks of marine mammals listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), by the California (CA) thresher shark/ swordfish drift gillnet fishery (>14 in mesh) and the Washington (WA)/ Oregon (OR)/CA sablefish pot fishery. On August 25, 2014, NMFS solicited comments from the public 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. NMFS is extending the comment period for 30 days.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to take, by harassment, small numbers of seven species of marine mammals incidental to pile driving associated with the USCG's Station Monterey waterfront repair project in Monterey, California, between June 1, 2015, through September 1, 2015.

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 approves the Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision. The revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; the research, education, training, and stewardship goals of the reserve; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility development to support reserve operations. The Waquoit Bay Reserve Management Plan revision will replace the plan approved in 2006. The Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts National Estuarine Research Reserve takes an integrated approach to management, linking research, education, training, and stewardship functions to address high-priority issues, including the impact of climate change on estuarine ecosystems; connections between watershed land use and water quality; assessment of ecosystem response to natural variability and human impacts; and understanding and enhancing ecosystem services of coastal habitats. Since the last management plan, the reserve implemented its core programs, expanded its monitoring infrastructure to establish a groundwater monitoring program and a Salt Marsh Observatory; enhanced its facilities with energy efficiency installations, campus building improvements, and updated educational exhibits; and furthered land conservation in the reserve's watershed. This management plan includes a boundary expansion of 23 acres. The lands consist of the 11.4-acre Caleb Pond parcel on the northeast corner of Waquoit Bay as well as the addition of 12.4 acres to the Quashnet River lands. The Caleb Pond parcel is the largest single undeveloped parcel on Waquoit Bay and contains an upland coastal pine- oak forest habitat with fringing salt marsh and a connecting stream that contains diadromous fish runs of American eel and has historically supported an anadromous river herring run. The parcel is especially suitable for educational purposes and creates 40 acres of contiguous protected lands across the head of Waquoit Bay. The Quashnet River land parcel expands important contiguous and unfragmented habitat that is valuable as wildlife habitat and corridor, as well as increases protection of terrestrial, groundwater, and aquatic systems. This parcel is appropriate for education, recreation, and upland research purposes. The revised management plan will serve as the guiding document for the 2,804 acre Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for the next five years. The Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan revision can be viewed at https:// www.waquoitbayreserve.org/about/management-plan/. Comments can be provided to the reserve manager at waquoit.bay@state.ma.us.

Through this action NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California. This action is necessary because the adjusted non-tribal directed harvest allocation of approximately 7,274 metric tons (mt) for the second harvest allocation period from September 15, 2014, through December 31, 2014, has been projected to have been reached. The allocation for the second period increased from the initial assigned allocation primarily as a result of the release to the non-treaty sector of 2,500 mt by the Quinault Indian Nation and the coastal treaty tribes from overall the treaty set-aside of 4,000 mt. From the effective date of this rule until December 31, 2014, Pacific sardine may be harvested only as part of either the live bait or tribal fishery or incidental to other fisheries; the incidental harvest of Pacific sardine is limited to 45-percent by weight of all fish per trip. Fishing vessels must cease fishing (be at shore and in the process of offloading) at or before the effective date of this closure.

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.

Notice is hereby given that John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research Collective, Waterstreet Building, 218\1/2\ West Fourth Avenue, Olympia, WA 89501, has been issued a minor amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 16111-01.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814 [Responsible Party: Michael Tosatto], has applied in due form for a permit to take hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Penaeid Shrimp Workshop Group.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings.

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 2014 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, we, NMFS, hereby give notification that the National Marine Fisheries Service has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Glacier Bay National Park (Glacier Bay NP), to take marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to conducting seabird monitoring and research activities in Alaska, September 2014.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will conduct a question and answer session via webinar with NMFS's Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP).

NMFS has received an application from the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to a proposed Central Bay Operations and Maintenance Facility Project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to WETA to incidentally take, by Level B Harassment only, marine mammals during the specified activity.

In cooperation with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council announces its intent to prepare an amendment to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan and to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to analyze the impacts of any proposed management measures. This notice also announces a public process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to summer flounder fisheries in the Greater Atlantic region. This notice is to alert the interested public of the scoping process, the development of the amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, and to provide for public participation in that process.

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.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) training activities in Virginia and North Carolina, from June 2015 through June 2020. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing our receipt of the Navy's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and inviting information, suggestions, and comments on the Navy's application and request.

NMFS is soliciting nominations to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as established by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). NMFS is also soliciting nominations for technical advisors to the Advisory Committee's species working groups.

NMFS adopts a final rule to implement Amendment 106 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP). Amendment 106 is necessary to bring the BSAI FMP into conformity with the amendments to the American Fisheries Act (AFA) in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Coast Guard Act). This rule allows the owner of an AFA vessel to rebuild or replace an AFA vessel without any limitation on the length, weight, or horsepower of the rebuilt or replacement vessel when the rebuilt or replacement vessel is operating in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This rule also allows the owner of an AFA catcher vessel in an inshore cooperative to remove the vessel from the cooperative and assign the Bering Sea pollock catch history of the removed vessel to one or more vessels in the cooperative. This action is also intended to improve vessel safety and operational efficiency in the AFA fleet by allowing the rebuilding or replacement of AFA vessels with safer and more efficient vessels and by allowing the removal of inactive catcher vessels from the AFA fishery. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the AFA, the BSAI FMP, and other applicable laws.