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

The Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) announces two upcoming open session virtual meetings of its Species Working Groups, to be held June 22 and June 25, 2020.

This announcement provides notice that the decision record reopened on June 5, 2020, and closed on June 5, 2020, for an administrative appeal filed with the Department of Commerce (Department) by WesternGeco requesting that the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) override an objection by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean.

In accordance with applicable federal regulations, notice is hereby given that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Office for Coastal Management approved the final environmental assessment of a proposed boundary expansion for the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in Watsonville, California. NOAA determined that the boundary expansion would not have significant environmental impacts and, therefore, issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The final environmental assessment describes the alternatives considered, including the preferred alternative to add nine parcels to and remove one parcel from the existing approved boundary, which would result in a net increase of 299.773 acres in size to the boundary. NOAA prepared a draft environmental assessment to analyze the effects of the requested changes and solicited public comment before approving the request [84 FRN 57702]. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of NOAA's approval of the boundary expansion and of the availability of the final environmental assessment.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) Bluefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Bluefish Advisory Panel.

NMFS announces the withdrawal of the Federal moratorium on fishing for Atlantic menhaden in the waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia. NMFS withdraws the moratorium, as required by the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act), based on its determination that Virginia is now in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Committee via webinar 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.

NMFS announces that the dates for the Atlantic Shark Identification workshops originally scheduled for May 7, 2020, in Ronkonkoma, NY, and for June 11, 2020, in Manahawkin, NJ have been changed to August 20, 2020, and September 17, 2020, respectively. Also, NMFS is rescheduling the Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops originally scheduled for on, Key Largo, FL on May 1, 2020; and Kenner, LA on May 4, 2020. The dates for these workshops have been changed to July 13, 2020, and July 27, 2020, respectively. The workshop times and locations remains unchanged: 12 p.m.-4 p.m. for the Atlantic Shark Identification workshops; and, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for the Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops. Atlantic Shark Identification workshops are mandatory for federally-permitted Atlantic shark dealers. Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops are mandatory for shark and swordfish limited-access permit holders who fish with longline or gillnet gear. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2020.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes this notice to solicit comments on the draft 2020-2040 NOAA Education Strategic Plan (Plan). NOAA received broad legislative authority from Congress through the America COMPETES Act (2007, 2010) and the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (2017) to conduct, develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal and informal education activities at all levels to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public and other coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in ocean and atmospheric science and policy careers. The legislative authority requires NOAA to develop a 20 year plan that is updated every 5 years. This Plan updates the goals for NOAA Education established in the 2015-2035 Education Strategic Plan. NOAA is seeking broad public review of the Plan and encourages all stakeholders and users to review the Plan and provide comments. All comments received will be reviewed and considered in the final drafting of the Plan.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) to take marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Study Area. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue regulations and subsequent Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to the Navy to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS will consider public comments prior to issuing any final rule and making final decisions on the issuance of the requested LOAs. Agency responses to public comments will be provided in the notice of the final decision. The Navy's activities qualify as military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA).

NMFS received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for the Renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to target and missile launch activities on San Nicolas Island (SNI). These activities are identical to those covered in the current authorization. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, prior to issuing the currently active IHA, NMFS requested comments on both the proposed IHA and the potential for renewing the initial authorization if certain requirements were satisfied. The Renewal requirements have been satisfied, and NMFS is now providing an additional 15-day comment period to allow for any additional comments on the proposed Renewal not previously provided during the initial 30-day comment period. The Navy's activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting via webinar of its Groundfish Recreational 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.

NMFS announces a public meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) to advise the U.S. Commissioners to the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) on July 7, 2020. Meeting topics are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

This announcement provides notice that the deadline for issuing a decision has been extended by 15 days in the administrative appeal filed with the Department of Commerce (Department) by WesternGeco requesting that the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) override an objection by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a joint public meeting via webinar of its Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management (EBFM) Committee via webinar 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 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a four-day webinar meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of Mexico fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the following: Information and Education Committee; Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Citizen Science Committee; Executive Committee; and Mackerel Cobia Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal public comment session and meeting of the Full Council (partially Closed Session). Due to public health concerns associated with COVID-19 and current travel restrictions, the meeting originally planned for Key West, FL will be held via webinar.

NMFS announces one inseason action in the 2020 ocean salmon fisheries. This inseason action modified the commercial salmon fishery in the area from the U.S./Canada border to Leadbetter Point, WA.

NMFS proposes to implement annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine (hereafter, Pacific sardine), for the fishing year from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. The proposed action would prohibit most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Pacific sardine harvest would be allowed only in the live bait fishery, minor directed fisheries, as incidental catch in other fisheries, or as authorized under exempted fishing permits. The incidental harvest of Pacific sardine would be limited to 20 percent by weight of all fish per trip when caught with other stocks managed under the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan or up to 2 metric tons per trip when caught with non-Coastal Pelagic Species stocks. The proposed annual catch limit for the 2020-2021 Pacific sardine fishing year is 4,288 metric tons. This proposed rule is intended to conserve and manage the Pacific sardine stock off the U.S. West Coast.

NMFS has received a request from Mayflower Wind Energy LLC (Mayflower) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to site characterization surveys off the coast of Massachusetts in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0521) and along a potential submarine cable route to landfall at Falmouth, Massachusetts. 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 closes the northern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action is being taken to prevent further overharvest of the Angling category northern area trophy BFT subquota.

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) to Power Systems & Supplies of Alaska (PSSA) to incidentally harass, by Level A and B harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities associated with the Ward Cove Cruise Ship Dock Project near Ketchikan, Alaska.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting via webinar of its Herring Advisory Panel via webinar 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting via webinar of its Groundfish Committee 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) Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Technical Team (Team) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public.