National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) announces changes in the dates that the Merizo community and Guam Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC) meetings will be held.

Notice is hereby given of a public meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force. The meeting will be held in Washington, DC This meeting, the 27th bi-annual meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, provides a forum for coordinated planning and action among federal agencies, state and territorial governments, and nongovernmental partners. Please register in advance by visiting the Web site listed below. This meeting has time allotted for public comment. All public comment must be submitted in written format. A written summary of the meeting will be posted on the Web site within two months of its occurrence.

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 that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 18A to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 18A) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. The amendment proposes actions to update the current rebuilding strategy for black sea bass, modify the current system of accountability measures for black sea bass, limit effort in the black sea bass component of the snapper-grouper fishery, and improve fisheries data reporting in the for-hire sector of the snapper-grouper fishery.

This document contains corrections to a final rule published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2011, to implement the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 (CE-BA 2) for the South Atlantic region. The final rule adds Appendix E to part 622, however, a final rule to implement Caribbean actions, published in the Federal Register on the same day (December 30, 2011), also adds an Appendix E to part 622. This rule corrects the final rule for CE-BA2 by removing ``Appendix E'' wherever it occurs, and adding in its place ``Appendix F.'' This rule also renumbers footnote 7 in Table 1 as footnote 5.

NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the southern zone to 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day. This trip limit reduction is necessary to maximize the socioeconomic benefits of the quota.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue a final rule to revise the current critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) by designating additional areas within the Pacific Ocean. This designation includes approximately 16,910 square miles (43,798 square km) stretching along the California coast from Point Arena to Point Arguello east of the 3,000 meter depth contour; and 25,004 square miles (64,760 square km) stretching from Cape Flattery, Washington to Cape Blanco, Oregon east of the 2,000 meter depth contour. The designated areas comprise approximately 41,914 square miles (108,558 square km) of marine habitat and include waters from the ocean surface down to a maximum depth of 262 feet (80 m). Other Pacific waters within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) were evaluated based on the geographical area occupied by the species, but we determined that they were not eligible for designation, as they do not contain the feature identified as essential to the conservation of the species. The total estimated annualized economic impact associated with this designation is estimated to range between $188,000 and $9.1 million U.S. dollars.

Notice is hereby given that a major amendment to Permit No. 15126-01 has been issued to NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory (Responsible Party: Dr. John Bengtson, Director), Seattle, WA.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Surfclam, Ocean Quahog and Tilefish Committee, its Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee, and its Spiny Dogfish Committee will hold public meetings.

Notice is hereby given that Matson's Laboratory, LLC (Gary Matson, Responsible Party), P.O. Box 308, 8140 Flagler Road, Milltown, MT 59851, has applied in due form for a permit to receive, import, export, possess, and conduct analyses marine mammal specimens for scientific research.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two scientific research permit application requests relating to salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research activities are intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and conservation efforts.

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 2012 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

On October 21, 2011, NOAA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to revise the regulations for the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (76 FR 65566). This notice re-opens the public comment period stated in that proposed rule until March 9, 2012.