National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces the availability of a revised authorization to the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho (states) for lethal removal of individually identifiable predatory California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in the vicinity of Bonneville Dam to minimize pinniped predation on Pacific salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon. This authorization is pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

The Council's Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Monitoring Committee will meet via webinar to develop recommendations for future MSB specifications.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Joint Advisory Panel and Plan Develop Team to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) will hold a webinar, which is open to the public.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Skate Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management will hold a public meeting to solicit comments as part of the performance evaluation of the Delaware Coastal Management Program.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to target and missile launch activities on San Nicolas Island (SNI), California for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Point Mugu Sea Range (PMSR). Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. The Navy's activity is considered a military readiness activity pursuant to MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Surfclam and Ocean Catch Share Program Review Oversight Team will hold a public meeting.

NMFS has received a request Duck Point Development II, LLC. (DPD) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental pile driving and removal activities during construction of a second cruise ship berth and new lightering float at Cannery Point (Icy Strait) on Chichagof Island near Hoonah, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

NMFS proposes new Illex squid specifications, while maintaining previously approved longfin squid and butterfish specifications for the 2019 fishing year. NMFS previously set specifications for all three species for 2018-2020 but proposes to increase the 2019 Illex squid acceptable biological catch by 2,000 mt based on updated scientific advice. No changes to the previously approved 2019 longfin squid or butterfish specifications are proposed in this action. This action is necessary to specify catch levels for the Illex squid fishery based on updated information on allowable catch levels and to provide notice that NMFS is maintaining the previously approved longfin squid and butterfish specifications. These proposed specifications are intended to promote the sustainable utilization and conservation of the squid and butterfish resources.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup via webinar.

The SEDAR Steering Committee will meet to discuss the SEDAR process and assessment schedule. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The SEDAR 62 assessment of the Gulf of Mexico gray triggerfish will consist of one in-person workshop and a series of webinars.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management will hold a public meeting to solicit comments on the performance evaluation of the South Carolina Coastal Management Program.

This final rule implements the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, this final rule implements portions of the Catch Sharing Plan and management measures that are not implemented through the International Pacific Halibut Commission. These measures include the recreational fishery seasons and management measures for Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available.

NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year for Limited Access General Category vessels. Regulations require this action once NMFS projects that 100 percent of the Limited Access General Category total allowable catch for the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area will be harvested. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the 2019 total allowable catch allocated to the Limited Access General Category Fishery.

This rule approves Northeast multispecies sector operations plans and grants regulatory exemptions for fishing years 2019 and 2020, approves the formation of a new sector, and allocates annual catch entitlements to approved sectors for fishing year 2019. Approval of sector operations plans and contracts and allocation of annual catch entitlements is necessary for sectors to operate. This action is intended to allow limited access permit holders to form sectors, as authorized under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, and to exempt them from certain effort control regulations to improve the efficiency and economics of sector vessels.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) Renewal to the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) to harass marine mammals incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring surveys along the Oregon and California Coasts.

NMFS has received a request from Avangrid Renewables, LLC for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey investigations associated with marine site characterization activities off the coast of North Carolina in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0508) (the Lease Area) and the coastal waters off North Carolina and Virginia where one or more cable route corridors will be established. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting via webinar of its Reef Fish Advisory Panel (AP).

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting via webinar of its Standing, Reef Fish, Red Drum and Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Climate and Communities Core Team (CCCT) will hold a webinar, which is open to the public.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Team will meet May 6, 2019 through May 7, 2019.

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list Northern California (NC) summer-run steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as an Endangered distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted. We will conduct a status review of NC summer-run steelhead to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information pertaining to this species from any interested party.