National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 2,637 nm\2\ (9,045 km\2\), south of Rockland, Maine, for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).

Notice is hereby given that the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service [Dr. Nancy Thompson, Responsible Party], 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, has been issued a permit to conduct research on, and import/export specimens collected from, marine mammals.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Dr. Glenn VanBlaricom (Dr. VanBlaricom) for the take of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to the assessment of black abalone populations at San Nicolas Island (SNI), CA.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

NMFS announces that 100 percent of the Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has been harvested, and that the Administrator, Northeast (NE) Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is prohibiting the harvest, possession, and landing of GB yellowtail flounder by all federally permitted vessels within the entire U.S./Canada Management Area, and maintaining the Eastern U.S./ Canada Area closure to limited access NE multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) vessels for the remainder of the 2007 fishing year (through April 30, 2008). This action is being taken under the authority of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), is required by the regulations implementing Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and is intended to prevent over-harvest of the TAC for GB yellowtail flounder during the 2007 fishing year.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the BSAI.

Notice is hereby given that Michael Etnier, Ph.D., Box 353100, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98227, has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and possess marine mammal specimens for the purposes of scientific research.

NMFS announces a meeting, via teleconference, of the General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in February 2008. Meeting topics are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA) we, NMFS and FWS (Services), advise the public of our intent to collaborate with the State of California in gathering information necessary to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/ EIS) on the anticipated Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). The BDCP is being prepared through a unique collaboration of state, Federal and local agencies, of the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) intends to apply for Incidental Take Permits (ITP) from the Services based upon the BDCP in 2009 according to the planning schedule. At the same time, the Services would provide Biological Opinions and Incidental Take Statements (ITS) to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for their participation and implementation of the BDCP. A goal of the BDCP is to meet the requirements of the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCPA), California Fish and Game (CDFG), and provide the basis for DWR to apply for an ITP pursuant to CDFG Code. However, in the event that the BDCP does not meet the requirements of the NCCPA, DWR may alternatively seek an ITP under Section 2081 of the California Endangered Species Act, California Fish and Game Code 2050 et seq. These incidental take authorizations would allow the incidental take of threatened and endangered species resulting from certain covered activities that will be identified through the planning process, including those associated with water operations of the California State Water Project, as operated by DWR, and the Central Valley Project, as operated by Reclamation.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 2,251 nm\2\ (7,720 km\2\), southeast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by pot catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet ([gteqt] 18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod allowable catch (TAC) specified for pot catcher vessels [gteqt] 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA in the BSAI.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Research Steering Committee (Committee) in February, 2008 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 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.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) intends to prepare a DEIS to assess the impacts on the natural and human environment of the management measures proposed in its draft Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP).

This notice calls for nominees for one non-federal position to the U.S. Delegation to the Intersessional Meeting on the Future of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that will be held in March, 2008, in London, England. The non-federal representative selected as a result of this nomination process is responsible for providing input and recommendations to the U.S. IWC Commissioner representing the positions of non-governmental organizations.

The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) is still seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Chumash Community member and alternate, and Tourism alternate. Applicants are chosen based upon: Their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, views regarding the protection and management of marine resources, and the length of residence in the communities located near the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve in a volunteer capacity for 2-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

The NMFS is giving notice that we have prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that analyzes impacts on the environment from the potential authorization to the States of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington (states) to lethally removal certain California sea lions that are feeding on at-risk salmon and steelhead stocks below Bonneville dam on the Columbia River. This authorization would be pursuant to Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The states have requested authorization to lethally remove individually identifiable California sea lions having a significant negative impact on the decline or recovery of several populations of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the draft EA for review and comment before NMFS makes a final decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact.

NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the 2008 A season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the harvest of the 2008 A season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2007 and 2008 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two applications for scientific research permits from the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), one from CDFG Region 1 and one from CDFG Region 3. The permits would affect federally threatened Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, endangered Central California Coast coho, threatened California Coastal Chinook salmon, threatened Northern California steelhead, threatened Central California Coast steelhead, threatened South-Central California Coast steelhead, and endangered Southern California steelhead. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit application for review and comment.

Notice is hereby given that Joseph R. Mobley, Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2528 McCarthy Mall, Webster 404, Honolulu, HI 96822 has withdrawn his application for an amendment to his existing scientific research permit.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a series of public scoping meetings regarding a proposed Comprehensive Allocation Amendment, Amendment 17 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the South Atlantic, Amendment 18 to the Snapper Grouper FMP for the South Atlantic, and commercial allocation of the South Atlantic king mackerel quota. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold public hearings to allow for input on Amendment 1 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Tilefish Fishery.