National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration August 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the NOAA Administrator and the Co-Chairs of the Ocean Policy Committee (OPC) announce the establishment of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP). The ORAP shall advise the OPC on certain ocean science and research policies, procedures, priorities, and other appropriate matters. The ORAP charter shall terminate two years from the date of its filing with the appropriate U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Committees unless earlier terminated or renewed by proper authority. Notwithstanding section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Advisory Panel shall terminate on January 1, 2040. This notice also requests nominations for membership on the ORAP.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2022 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

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.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS is issuing an IHA to Vineyard Northeast, LLC (Vineyard Northeast) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment, marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore from Massachusetts to New Jersey, including the area of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas OCS-A 0522 and OCS-A 0544 (Lease Areas) and along potential offshore export cable corridor (OECC) routes to landfall locations.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This meeting will be held both in-person and with a webinar option. Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Protected Resources Committee will hold a public meeting via webinar.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a three-day in-person meeting of its Standing, Reef Fish, Socioeconomic, and Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Climate Change Taskforce (BSFEP CC) will meet September 15, 2022.

The MAFMC's Spiny Dogfish Committee will meet via webinar to develop recommendations for 2023 Spiny Dogfish specifications.

NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates up to 1,500 metric tons (t) of the 2022 bigeye tuna limit for American Samoa to U.S. longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and fisheries development in American Samoa.

Notice is hereby given that Ann Zoidis, Cetos Research Organization 51 Kebo Ridge Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received 17 scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon, and eulachon. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The applications may be viewed online at: https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

Notice is hereby given that NOAA is establishing a national marine sanctuary advisory council for the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, which was designated on August 16, 2021. The council will provide advice and recommendations to ONMS regarding the sanctuary management plan and will serve as liaisons between the sanctuary and constituents and community groups. ONMS is adding the new council to the list of established national marine sanctuary advisory councils. ONMS solicits applications to fill council seats on an as needed basis and is seeking applicants for seats on the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. This notice contains web page links and contact information for the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary and application materials to apply for the newly established advisory council.

NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from Texas Sea Grant. If granted, the EFP would authorize the testing of new bycatch reduction device (BRD) designs in the commercial shrimp fishery in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The Better BRDs for the Gulf Shrimp Fleet Project is a collaborative effort amongst Louisiana Sea Grant, Texas Sea Grant, NOAA Restoration Center, and NMFS to restore finfish populations impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (MC252) through the development and certification of new BRDs for the commercial shrimp industry throughout the Gulf.

NMFS has received a request from Orsted Wind Power North America LLC (Orsted) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to high resolution geophysical (HRG) site characterization surveys in coastal waters from New York to Massachusetts in the areas of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas OCS-A 0486, 0487, 0500, and along potential export cable routes (ECR) to landfall locations between Raritan Bay (part of the New York Bight) and Falmouth, MA. 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-time, 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 authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Partial Coverage Fishery Monitoring Advisory Committee (PCFMAC) will meet September 12, 2022.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued two IHAs to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to incidentally harass marine mammals during in-water construction activities associated with the North Jetty Maintenance and Repairs Project in Coos Bay, Oregon. There are no changes from the proposed authorizations in these final authorizations.

The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) solicits public comments on draft revisions to the Guidelines for Preparing Stock Assessment Reports Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (NMFS Procedural Directive (PD) 02-204-01).

NMFS is prohibiting retention of ``other rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2022 ``other rockfish'' total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI has been reached.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Kamchatka flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2022 Kamchatka flounder initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the BSAI.

Notice is hereby given that Robin Baird, Ph.D., Cascadia Research Collective, 218\1/2\ West Fourth Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory entities will hold online and in-person public meetings.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued two consecutive IHAs to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to incidentally harass marine mammals during in-water construction activities associated with the Sand Island Pile Dikes Repairs Project in the Columbia River. There are no changes from the proposed authorizations in these final authorizations.

Notice is hereby given that The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965 (Responsible Party: Dominic Travis), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on six species of cetacean.