National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding regarding a petition to list the global populations of right whales with the common name Black Whale as a single species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). This action is required by section 4(b)(3)(A) of the ESA. After review, we find the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.

NMFS closes the commercial fishery for deep-water grouper (misty grouper, snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, warsaw grouper, and speckled hind) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. NMFS has determined that the deep-water grouper quota for the commercial fishery will have been reached by June 2, 2007. This closure is necessary to protect the deep-water grouper resource.

The NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State's Department of Ecology and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Suquamish Tribe of Indians, Muckleshoot Tribe of Indians (all agencies and Indian Tribes are collectively referred to as the ``Trustees'') are providing notice of their efforts to plan restoration projects to compensate for injuries to natural resources in the Lower Duwamish River (River). The Trustees seek damages from potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to restore, rehabilitate, replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources and services injured by the release of hazardous substances. The Trustees will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to identify and address the environmental impacts of the injuries, and they seek public involvement in development of a Draft Restoration Plan (RP). This notice explains the scoping process the Trustees will use to gather input from the public. Comments on what the Trustees should consider in the PEIS and RP may be submitted in written form or verbally at a public scoping meeting.

Notice is hereby given that Andre Landry, Sea Turtle and Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 5007 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77553, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1526.

On August 11, 2006 NOAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a network of marine zones within the state and federal waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS or Sanctuary). State waters in the Sanctuary extend from the shoreline of the islands to approximately 3 nautical miles from shore. Federal waters of the Sanctuary extend from the offshore extent of state waters to the Sanctuary's outer boundary. In this final rule, NOAA is issuing final regulations for the federal-waters portion of the Sanctuary. NOAA has decided to defer a final decision and seeking additional comment on the state-waters portion of the Sanctuary pending action by the State of California to extend the boundaries of several existing state-waters zones to the three mile state-federal-waters boundary. Marine zones are discrete areas that have special regulations differing from the regulations that apply throughout or above the Sanctuary as a whole. The purpose of these zones within the federal waters of the Sanctuary is to further the protection of Sanctuary biodiversity and complement an existing network established by the State of California in October 2002, and implemented in April 2003, under its authorities. Two types of zones are being established by this action: Marine reserves and marine conservation areas. All extractive activities (e.g., removal of any Sanctuary resource) and injury to Sanctuary resources are prohibited in all marine reserves. Commercial and recreational lobster fishing and recreational fishing for pelagic species are allowed within the marine conservation area, while all other extraction and injury are prohibited. This action establishes approximately 110.5 square nautical miles of marine reserves and 1.7 square nautical miles of marine conservation area in the federal waters of the Sanctuary. As part of this action, NOAA is also modifying the terms of designation for the Sanctuary, which were originally published on October 2, 1980 (45 FR 65198), to allow for the regulation of extractive activities, including fishing, in marine reserves and marine conservation areas, and a slight modification to the outer boundary of the CINMS.

Notice is hereby given that Dr. Paul Nachtigall, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, has been issued a permit to conduct research on three captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and one false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens).

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will hold a work session to finalize documentation for the Chinook and Coho Fishery Regulation Assessments Models (FRAM), and to plan work projects for 2007 and beyond. The meeting is open to the public.

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

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Standard Operations, Policy, and Procedures (SOPPs) Committee, Economics Committee, Personnel Committee (Closed Session), Snapper Grouper Committee, Shrimp Committee, Mackerel Committee, Joint Spiny Lobster Advisory Panel and Committee, Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program Committee, Joint Habitat and Ecosystem- based Management Committees, Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Joint Executive and Finance Committees, and a meeting of the full Council. The Council will also hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), including subcommittee meetings of the SSC's Biological Subcommittee and Socio-Economics Subcommittee. Public comment will be taken concerning agenda items for the SSC meetings. In addition, the Council will hold a meeting of the LAP Program Exploratory Workgroup, a public comment session regarding a request by the Bluewater Fishermen's Association for an Exempted Fishery Permit for longline vessels, and a public comment session regarding approval of Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to establish a series of marine protected areas in the South Atlantic Region.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Whiting Advisory Panel, in June, 2007, 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 NMFS has received nine scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon. 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 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.

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.

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.

NMFS announces the availability of the Draft Revised Recovery Plan ( Draft Revised Plan), dated May 2007, for the western and eastern distinct population segments (DPS) of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). NMFS is soliciting review and comment on the Draft Revised Plan from all interested parties. Due to continued and substantial public interest in the recovery plan to-date, NMFS is releasing an updated version of the Draft Revised Plan for additional review and written comments.

Notice is hereby given that Mystic Aquarium has been issued an amendment to scientific research and enhancement Permit No. 42-1642-03.

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the Education seat on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council). Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve 2-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

NMFS will present a public workshop on the proposed program to implement the Amendment 80 Program (Program) for potentially eligible participants and other interested parties. The Program would implement a limited access privilege program (LAPP) for specific groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). At the workshop, NMFS will provide an overview of the proposed Program, discuss the key proposed Program elements, and answer questions. NMFS is conducting this public workshop to provide assistance to fishery participants in understanding and reviewing this proposed Program.

NMFS publishes a temporary rule to prohibit any vessel from participating in either the mothership, catcher-processor or shoreside delivery sector of the directed Pacific whiting (whiting) fishery off the West Coast in 2007 if it does not have a history of sector-specific participation in the whiting fishery between January 1, 1997, and January 1, 2007. This rule is intended to prevent serious conservation and management problems that could be caused by new entrants in 2007 and to maintain the status quo while the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) addresses the issue of increased effort in the whiting fishery through an amendment to the Pacific Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the long term.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application for a permit from Thomas R. Payne and Associates, Arcata, California (Permit 1610). This permit would affect the Southern California (SC) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) distinct population segment (DPS), Northern California (NC) steelhead DPS, Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead DPS, California Coastal (CC) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Evolutionarily Significant Population (ESU), Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) ESU, and CCC coho salmon ESU. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit application for review and comment before a final approval or disapproval is made by NMFS.

The SEDAR assessments of the South Atlantic stocks of greater amberjack and red snapper will consist of a series of three workshops: a Data Workshop, an Assessment Workshop, and a Review Workshop. This is the fifteenth SEDAR. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Notice is hereby given that Robert A. Garrott, Ecology Department, Montana State University, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii).

Notice is hereby given that Brent Stewart, Ph.D, J.D, Hubbs- SeaWorld Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA, 92109, has applied for a permit to conduct reseach on crabeater (Lobodon carcinophaga), Ross (Ommatophoca rossii), leopard (Hydruga leptonyx), and Weddell (Leptonychotes weddellii) seals in Antarctica.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Habitat/Marine Protected Area (MPA)/ Ecosystem Advisory Panel and its Habitat/MPA/Ecosystem Committee, in June, 2007, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic to 300 lb (136 kg) per trip in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the South Atlantic golden tilefish resource.