National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460 (Dr. Howard C. Rosenbaum, Principal Investigator) has requested an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 31-1741/MA081663.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene one public meeting of the Ad Hoc Shrimp Effort Working Group (SEWG).

NMFS is closing directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the third seasonal allowance of the 2006 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in the BSAI.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the second seasonal apportionment of the 2006 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA.

NMFS announces consideration of proposed rulemaking to control future access to the New England small-mesh multispecies (whiting) fishery. The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has indicated that limited access may be necessary to control participation in the fishery at a level that reduces the risk of overcapitalization and constrains fishing to a level that minimizes the risks of overfishing or creating an overfished stock, as defined by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act) and the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This announcement alerts interested parties of potential limitation on future access, commonly referred to as limited access, to discourage speculative entry into the fishery while the Council considers how access to the fishery should be controlled during the upcoming development of Amendment 14 to the FMP. By this notification, NMFS reaffirms, on behalf of the Council, that March 25, 2003, may be used as a ``control date'' to establish eligibility criteria for determining levels of future access to the fishery.

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement Amendment 13C to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). Amendment 13C proposes management measures to end overfishing of snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass and measures to allow moderate increases in recreational and commercial harvest of red porgy consistent with the rebuilding program for that stock. For the commercial fisheries, this proposed rule would establish restrictive quotas for snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass and, after the quotas are met, prohibit all purchase and sale of the applicable species and restrict all harvest and possession to the applicable bag limit; establish restrictive trip limits for snowy grouper and golden tilefish; require at least 2-inch (5.1-cm) mesh in the back panel of black sea bass pots; require black sea bass pots to be removed from the water after the quota is reached; change the fishing year for black sea bass; increase the trip limit for red porgy; establish a red porgy quota that would allow a moderate increase in harvest; and, after the red porgy quota is reached, prohibit all purchase and sale and restrict all harvest and possession to the bag limit. For the recreational fisheries, this proposed rule would reduce the bag limits for snowy grouper, golden tilefish, and black sea bass; increase the minimum size limit for vermilion snapper and black sea bass; change the fishing year for black sea bass; and increase the bag limit for red porgy. The intended effects of this proposed rule are to eliminate or phase out overfishing of snowy grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, and black sea bass; and increase red porgy harvest consistent with an updated stock assessment and rebuilding plan to achieve optimum yield.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Sea Scallop Survey Advisory Panel in June, 2006 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.

Notice is hereby given that Sea World, Inc., 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, Florida 32821, has applied in due form for a permit to import three beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) for the purposes of public display.

This final rule implements Framework Adjustment 18 (Framework 18) to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). The following management measures are implemented by this rule: Scallop fishery specifications for 2006 and 2007 (open area days-at-sea (DAS) and Scallop Access Area trip allocations); scallop Area Rotation Program adjustments; and revisions to management measures that would improve administration of the FMP. In addition, a seasonal closure of the Elephant Trunk Access Area (ETAA) is implemented to reduce potential interactions between the scallop fishery and sea turtles, and to reduce finfish and scallop bycatch mortality.

NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) proposes to amend three fishery management plans (western Pacific omnibus amendment) to include fisheries in waters around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA). These amendments would establish new permitting and reporting requirements for vessel operators targeting bottomfish species around the PRIA to improve understanding of the ecology of these species and the activities and harvests of the vessel operators that target them. It would also establish new permitting and reporting requirements for vessel operators targeting crustacean species and precious coral around the CNMI and PRIA.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS has revised its conservation plan for northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus). The goal of the draft plan is to promote the recovery of northern fur seals to their optimum sustainable population levels. NMFS solicits public comments on this draft conservation plan.

Notice is hereby given that permits to conduct research and/or enhancement activities on captive Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) have been issued to the following organizations: File No. 455-1760: The Waikiki Aquarium, 2777 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815 (Dr. Andrew Rossiter, Responsible Party). File No. 116-1786: Sea World, Inc., 7007 Sea World Dr., Orlando, FL 32821 (Brad Andrews, Responsible Party). File No. 898-1764: Sea Life Park Hawaii, 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, HI 96795 (Dr. Renato Lenzi, Responsible Party).

NMFS has received an application from GX Technologies, Inc of Houston, TX (GXT) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a marine geophysical program, including deep seismic surveys, on oil and gas lease blocks located on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) waters in the Chukchi Sea. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to GXT to incidentally take, by harassment, small numbers of several species of marine mammals between June and November, 2006 incidental to conducting seismic surveys.

Notice is hereby given that Blair Witherington, Ph.D., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Melbourne Beach Field Laboratory, 9700 South A1A, Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951 has been issued a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1506.

Notice is hereby given that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, USA (CNMI), Division of Fish and Wildlife, [Sylvan Igisomar, responsible official] P.O. Box 10007, Saipan, Mariana Islands, 96950 has been issued a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

NMFS announces the suspension of the primary season for Pacific whiting (whiting) fishery for the shore-based sector south of 42[deg] N. lat. at 1800 hours local time (l.t.) May 25, 2006. ``Per trip'' limits for whiting will be reinstated until 0001 hours June 15, 2005, at which time the primary season for the shore-based sector will be open coastwide. This action is authorized by regulations implementing the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which governs the groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 2006 allocation levels.

The NOAA, USFWS, and NPS collectively announce the availability of their Records of Decision (RODs) for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Natural Resource Restoration Plan. NOAA, USFWS, and NPS are members of the natural resource trustee council planning and implementing natural resource restoration under the terms of the final settlement of litigation against the Montrose Chemical Corporation and other defendants. NOAA is the lead Federal agency, and USFWS and NPS are cooperating Federal agencies. The final EIS was released to the public for 30 days after the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on November 11, 2005. The ROD documents the selection of Alternative 2 (the preferred alternative) in the final EIS.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a public meeting of the Ad Hoc Grouper Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Advisory Panel (AHGIFQAP).

Notice is hereby given that Alden Research Laboratory, Inc. (Edward P. Taft, Responsible Party), 30 Shrewsbury Street, Holden, MA, 01520, has applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

Notice is hereby given that Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Christine M. Gabriele, Principal Investigator) P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826, (File No. 945-1776) has been issued a permit to conduct scientific research.

In a document published in the Federal Register on April 24, 2006, NMFS announced its intention to re-open the scoping process and accept further comments on the recommendations contained in Amendment 6 to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass (Amendment 6). NMFS originally conducted scoping on the matter in 2003, but decided to re- open the scoping process and accept further comments due to the passage of significant time and the availability of new information. The intent of this document is to announce the extension of the public comment period from May 26, 2006, to June 26, 2006.

This document contains an extension to the comment period for a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed issuance of an incidental take and scoping meetings. The original notice was published May 17, 2006.

Notice is hereby given that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce, has designated certain lands and waters of the Mission Aransas estuary in Texas as the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve On May 3, 2006, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. USN (Ret.), signed a record of decision and a findings of designation for the Mission- Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Texas pursuant to section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1461, and its implementing regulations at 15 CFR part 921. The Reserve duly received certification from the State of Texas Coastal Coordination Council that Reserve designation is consistent to the maximum extent practicable with its program. A copy of the official Record of Decision is available for public review from NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management at the address below.