National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration January 17, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will hold a methodology review meeting to evaluate and review fishery independent visual survey methodologies, using remotely operate vehicles (ROVs), for nearshore groundfish species off the states of Oregon and California. The meeting is open to the public.

NMFS is extending the period for submission of nominations for appointment to a new Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) task force to support its advisory work for the Secretary of Commerce on living marine resource matters. The task force will provide expert advice on the generation, delivery, and use of electronically reported data from private recreational anglers to assist NMFS in fulfilling its mission activities. NMFS will appoint the members in consultation with MAFAC and they will serve for a term of up to two (2) years. The extended comment period closes on February 21, 2020.

NMFS has received a request from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) and Eni US Operating Co. Inc. (Eni) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to ice road and ice trail construction, maintenance, and operation in Alaska's North Slope, over the course of five years (2020-2025). As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take and requests comments on the proposed regulations. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.