National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration December 15, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2016-30182
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this notice announces that NMFS intends to obtain information necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for salmon and steelhead hatchery programs currently operating in the Upper Willamette River Basin of Oregon. NMFS is also requesting public review and comment on four Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for evaluation and determination under Limit 5 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) rule for threatened salmon and steelhead. The HGMPs specify the propagation of hatchery spring Chinook salmon released in the North Santiam, South Santiam, McKenzie, Middle Fork Willamette, Coast Fork Willamette, and Molalla Rivers. NMFS provides this notice to: (1) Advise other agencies and the public of its plans to analyze effects related to the action, and (2) obtain suggestions and information that may be useful to the scope of issues and alternatives to include in the EIS. This notice further serves to notify the public of the availability of the four HGMPs for comment prior to a decision by NMFS on whether to approve the proposed hatchery programs.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2016-30181
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that the Confederated Colville Tribes have submitted a Tribal Resource Management Plan (Tribal Plan) to NMFS pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under Tribal Plans promulgated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Tribal Plan specifies artificial propagation, harvest, and research and monitoring activities in the Okanogan River basin and portions of the upper Columbia River. This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of the proposed evaluation of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) as to whether implementation of the Tribal Plan will appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of ESA-listed Upper Columbia River Spring Chinook salmon and steelhead. This notice further advises the public of the availability for review of a draft Environmental Assessment of the effects of the NMFS determination on the subject Tribal Plan.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2016-30180
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Tulalip Tribes have submitted six Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans, to be considered jointly, to NMFS pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under Limit 6 of the 4(d) Rule for salmon and steelhead promulgated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The plans specify the propagation of three species of salmon in the Snohomish River basin of Washington State. This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of the proposed evaluation of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) as to whether implementation of the joint plans will appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of ESA- listed Puget Sound Chinook salmon and Puget Sound steelhead. This notice further advises the public of the availability for review of a draft Environmental Assessment of the effects of the NMFS determination on the subject joint plans.
Draft 2016 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports; Correction
Document Number: 2016-30171
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, published a notice of the availability of the draft 2016 Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in the Federal Register on October 11, 2016. Subsequent to soliciting public comment on the draft 2016 SARs, we became aware that due to technical errors in converting between electronic formats, the draft Atlantic SARs contained incorrect information in some instances. We have corrected these errors and through this notice we announce the availability of revised draft Atlantic 2016 SARs for public comment through the end of the original 90-day comment period.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans
Document Number: 2016-30163
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, announce the extension of the comment period for the Proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River Steelhead (Proposed Plan) published on October 27, 2016. The Proposed Plan addresses the Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha) evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), which is listed as threatened under the ESA, and the Snake River Steelhead (Onchorhynchus mykiss) distinct population segment (DPS), which is listed as threatened under the ESA. The geographic area covered by the Proposed Plan is the lower mainstem Snake River and its tributaries, as well as the mainstem Columbia River below its confluence with the Snake River. As required under the ESA, the Proposed Plan contains objective, measurable delisting criteria, site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the Proposed Plan's goals, and estimates of the time and cost required to implement recovery actions. We are soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Proposed Plan. The close of the comment period is being extendedfrom December 27, 2016, to February 9, 2017to provide additional opportunity for public comment.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2016 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Gray Triggerfish; July through December Season
Document Number: 2016-30137
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements accountability measures for commercial gray triggerfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial landings for gray triggerfish will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) (commercial quota) for the period July through December by December 16, 2016. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic EEZ on December 16, 2016. This closure is necessary to protect the gray triggerfish resource.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plan for Oregon Coast Coho Salmon ESU
Document Number: 2016-30126
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the adoption of a Final Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plan (Plan) for the Oregon Coast Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) which is listed as threatened under the ESA. The geographic area covered by the Plan is the Pacific Ocean and freshwater habitat (rivers, streams and lakes) from the Necanicum River near Seaside, Oregon, on the northern end to the Sixes River near Port Orford, Oregon on the south. The objective of the Plan is to provide a guidance framework for restoring the threatened Oregon Coast Coho Salmon ESU to the point where it no longer needs the protections of the ESA. As required under the ESA, the 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 Plan is now available.
Notice of Availability of Draft Scientific Assessment for Public Comment
Document Number: 2016-30102
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is publishing this notice on behalf of the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) to announce the availability of a draft assessment, the Climate Science Special Report, for a 45-day public review, collected comments will be carefully reviewed by the relevant chapter author teams. Following revision and further review, a revised draft will undergo final Federal interagency clearance. Context: The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is mandated under the Global Change Research Act (GCRA) of 1990 to conduct a quadrennial National Climate Assessment (NCA). Under its current decadal strategic plan (https://go.usa.gov/3qGU4), USGCRP is building sustained assessment capacity. The sustained assessment supports the Nation's ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to risks and potential impacts brought about by global environmental change. As part of the ongoing NCA process, a Climate Science Special Report is being developed to inform the assessment. The last NCA from 2014 (NCA3: https://nca2014.globalchange.gov) and the process to develop it provided a foundation for subsequent activities and reports. This special report provides an update to the physical climate science presented in the 2014 National Climate Assessment (NCA). Specifically, the special report updates Chapter 2 and Appendices 3 and 4 of the 2014 NCA (http:/ /www.globalchange.gov/nca3-downloads-materials). The report provides updated climate science findings and projections, and is an important input to the authors of the next quadrennial NCA, expected in 2018.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2016-30088
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a two- day meeting of its Joint Ad Hoc Reef Fish Headboat and Ad Hoc Red Snapper Charter For-Hire Advisory Panels.
Marine Mammals; File No. 20455
Document Number: 2016-30083
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that Randall Wells, Ph.D., Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236 has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) for scientific research.
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