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

Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce has approved the revised management plan and expansion of the boundary for the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Great Bay Reserve was designated in 1989 pursuant to section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1461. The reserve has been operating under a management plan approved in 1989. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise their management plan every five years. The submission of this plan fulfills this requirement and sets a course for successful implementation of the goals and objectives of the reserve. The mission of the Great Bay Reserve is to promote informed management of the Great Bay estuary and estuarine habitats through linked programs of stewardship, public education, and scientific understanding. The management plan establishes goals consistent with the reserve's mission. These goals cover three general areas: (1) Protect and improve habitat and biological diversity within the boundary of the Reserve, (2) improve decisions affecting estuarine and coastal resources, and (3) promote education, stewardship, and scientific research focusing on estuarine ecosystems. Organized in a framework of programmatic goals and objectives, the Great Bay Reserve's management plan identifies specific strategies or actions for research, education/interpretation, public access, construction, acquisition, and resource protection, restoration, and manipulation. Overall, the plan seeks to accomplish the mission of the reserve by facilitating scientific research, encouraging stewardship, and addressing the local education and outreach needs. Specifically, stewardship is encompassed under resource protection, habitat restoration, and resource manipulation plans. These plans address reserve efforts to evaluate natural and anthropogenic processes that affect the reserve and its habitats, support for research and monitoring of important resources, restore and protect natural habitats and to actively educate the public to inform resource management. Research and monitoring support independent research projects within the reserve and its vicinity with resources and background data. Staff and visiting researchers conduct monitoring and research within the boundaries of the reserve and Great Bay watershed and use GIS to map critical habitats. Research and monitoring results are made available to others and are translated to public and private users through education, training and outreach programs. Education at the reserve targets a wide variety of audiences including students, teachers, adults, resource users and coastal decision-maker audiences. The reserve's comprehensive approach to education including a K-12 education program, outreach and a coastal training program are designed to increase knowledge about estuaries for target audiences. Public access at Great Bay Reserve includes improving and enhancing water access to facilitate the implementation of reserve programs. Also, the reserve will reduce impacts on natural resources and maximize public outreach by designating specific areas (i.e., boardwalks) and create guidelines for public access. Administration at the reserve includes supporting the staffing and budget necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of the plan. The administration of the Great Bay Reserve is a collective effort involving the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, other state or local agencies and organizations, and the Reserve Advisory Committee. An established administrative framework implements and coordinates Reserve programs under the plan. The boundary expansion incorporates additional open water and salt marsh in Little Bay and up to the first dams of five of the seven tidal rivers, namely: Bellamy River, Oyster River, Lamprey River, Squamscott River, and Winnicut River. Additional upland includes parcels purchased through the Nature Conservancy (TNC) on behalf of the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership and transferred to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and the rest of the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The expansion provides a broader and more representative diversity of wetland and water habitats. The new boundary of the reserve includes tidal freshwater riverine, emergent and forested wetland communities that are necessary to protect the ecological units of the natural estuarine system for research purposes.

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Recreational Diving; Maritime Archaeological Research; Conservation; Heritage Tourism; and Citizen- At-Large. 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.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Research Steering Committee (Committee), in October, 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.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program Exploratory Workgroup in North Charleston, SC.

NMFS announces that it is considering and seeking public comment on the potential implementation of management measures in the Federal American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery compatible with recommendations for Federal action as specified in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (ISFMP). These management measures may include: 100 percent mandatory dealer reporting requirements for Federal American lobster dealers; implementation of an American lobster maximum size limit (maximum carapace length restriction) in several Lobster Management Areas (LMA); and, revision to the definition of a V- notch for protection of egg-bearing female American lobsters in several LMAs in the Federal American lobster fishery. NMFS is considering implementation of these management measures based on ISFMP actions taken by the Commission in response to recommendations provided in the most recent peer-reviewed lobster stock assessment, completed by the Commission in December 2005.

NMFS implements new management measures for the monkfish fishery approved in Framework Adjustment 4 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This framework eliminates the control rule for determining management measures established by Framework Adjustment 2 to the FMP, and establishes target total allowable catch (TAC) levels, trip limits, and days-at-sea (DAS) allocations for the final 3 years of the monkfish rebuilding plan. The intent of this action is to replace the Framework 2 control rule with measures consistent with the stock rebuilding goals established in the original FMP, and in accordance with Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requirements. NMFS is publishing this action as an interim final rule in order to provide the opportunity for additional public comment because the approval of Framework 4 was based, in part, on the consideration of the integrated monkfish stock assessment, which was not available during the original public comment period. This action also contains three changes to address incorrect cross-references or duplicate regulatory text.

NMFS issues a proposed rule that would revise the seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and halibut fisheries. The proposed rule would strengthen gear standards for small vessels and eliminate certain seabird avoidance requirements that are not needed or not effective. This action is necessary to revise seabird avoidance measures based on the latest scientific information and to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and associated costs.

The Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) will meet September 20, 2007.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the C season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.

NMFS advises interested parties of Washington Department of Natural Resources' (WDNR) application for an incidental take permit (ITP), pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The requested 50-year permit would authorize the incidental take of covered species associated with WDNR's management of the State's Commercial Geoduck Fishery in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. NMFS is requesting comments on the permit application and on whether the proposed Geoduck Fishery Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) qualifies as a ``low-effect'' HCP. The HCP is available for public review.

Notice is hereby given that Ann Zoidis, Cetos Research Organization, 11 Des Isle Avenue, Bar Harbor, Maine, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals in Hawaii and the Gulf of Maine.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will hold a work session by telephone conference, which is open to the public, to finalize products for the October 24-25, 2007, Salmon Methodology Review meeting.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Trawl Individual Quota Committee (TIQC) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl and vessels using jig gear to catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear and vessels using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). These actions are necessary to allow the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the 2007 pollock incidental catch allowance (ICA) to the directed fisheries in the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP).

NMFS is opening directed fishing for 12 hours for shallow- water species by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA to resume.

NMFS issues a final rule to implement Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). Amendment 80 (hereinafter the ``Program'') primarily allocates several Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) non-pollock trawl groundfish fisheries among fishing sectors, and facilitates the formation of harvesting cooperatives in the non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processor sector. The Program establishes a limited access privilege program (LAPP) for the non-AFA trawl catcher/processor sector. This action is necessary to increase resource conservation and improve economic efficiency for harvesters who participate in the BSAI groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the FMP, and other applicable law.

The Department of Commerce's Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration has renewed the charter for the Science Advisory Board (SAB) for a 2-year period, through August 8, 2009. The SAB is a federal advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463).

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for an incidental take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The duration of the proposed Permit is 5- years. This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of the permit application and of the associated draft environmental assessment (EA) before a final decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact and the permit is made by NMFS. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA.

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).

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.

Notice is hereby given that Molly Lutcavage has been issued a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1557.

Notice is hereby given that Gary Matson, Matson's Laboratory, LLC, PO Box 308, 8140 Flagler Road, Milltown, MT 59851, has applied in due form for a permit to receive, import and export specimens for scientific research.

A Groundfish Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel will hold a work session which is open to the public. The STAR Panel will review new assessments for the southern portion of the black rockfish stock and blue rockfish off California, as well as rebuilding analyses for seven overfished West Coast rockfish species.