National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Surveys Along the Oregon and California Coasts: Correction
Document Number: 2013-31201
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS incorrectly published a second notice in the Federal Register on December 23, 2013, requesting comments on the proposed issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NMFS had published the first notice in the Federal Register on October 30, 2013, requesting comments from the public for 30 days. The comment period closed on November 29, 2013. The notice that should have published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2013, was the notice of issuance of an IHA.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Surveys Along the Oregon and California Coasts
Document Number: 2013-31196
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) at the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring surveys.
Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; Catch and Effort Limits for the U.S. Participating Territories
Document Number: 2013-31195
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-12-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council proposes to amend the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. If approved, Amendment 7 would establish a management framework and process for specifying fishing catch and effort limits and accountability measures for pelagic fisheries in the U.S. Pacific territories (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). The framework would authorize the government of each territory to allocate a portion of its specified catch or effort limit to a U.S. fishing vessel or vessels through a specified fishing agreement, and establish criteria, which a specified fishing agreement must satisfy. The framework also includes measures to ensure accountability for adhering to fishing catch and effort limits.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-31174
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Joint VMS/Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-31173
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Ad Hoc SBRM Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 2014 Commercial Summer Flounder Quota Adjustments
Document Number: 2013-31070
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is announcing the commercial summer flounder state quotas for fishing year 2014. The 2014 summer flounder specifications were established in December 2012. This notice incorporates any previously unaccounted for overages from fishing year 2012 and any known overages to date from fishing year 2013. These commercial state quotas may change as a result of a recent stock assessment and a recommendation by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Revisions to Headboat Reporting Requirements for Species Managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Document Number: 2013-31069
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues this final rule to implement the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Generic Charter Vessel/Headboat Reporting in the South Atlantic Amendment (For-Hire Reporting Amendment). The For- Hire Reporting Amendment amends the following Fishery Management Plans (FMPs): the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region and the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council); and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Resources of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council) and the South Atlantic Council. This final rule modifies the recordkeeping and reporting requirements for headboat owners and operators who fish for species managed by the South Atlantic Council through the previously mentioned FMPs. These revisions require fishing records to be submitted electronically (via computer or internet) on a weekly basis or at intervals shorter than a week if notified by the NMFS' Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Science and Research Director (SRD), and prohibits headboats from continuing to fish if they are delinquent in submitting reports. The purpose of this final rule is to obtain timelier fishing information from headboats to better monitor recreational annual catch limits (ACLs), improve stock assessments, and to help obtain 100 percent compliance with reporting in South Atlantic fisheries.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Rockaway Delivery Lateral Project off New York, January 2013 through January 2014
Document Number: 2013-31065
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We have received an application from Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to expanding a natural gas pipeline system off the coast of New York from April 2014 through August 2014. Per the Marine Mammal Protection Act, we are requesting comments on our proposal to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Transco to incidentally harass by Level B harassment only, seven species of marine mammals during pile driving and removal operations.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-31043
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a joint public meeting of its Skate Oversight Committee and Skate Advisory Panel on January 15, 2014 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.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-31039
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The workshop will be held January 14-17 at the Hilton Hotel, 500 West Third Avenue, Katmai/King Salmon, Anchorage, AK.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-31038
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a webinar of the Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committee (SESSC).
Draft Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammals-Acoustic Threshold Levels for Onset of Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts
Document Number: 2013-30951
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on behalf of NMFS and the National Ocean Service (referred collectively here as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)), announces the availability of draft guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal species under NOAA's jurisdiction. The guidance provides updated received levels, or thresholds, above which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either temporary or permanent) for all underwater anthropogenic sound sources. NOAA solicits public comment on the draft guidance.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Establish Funding Responsibilities for the Electronic Logbook Program
Document Number: 2013-30949
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS establishes funding responsibilities for an upgrade to the shrimp electronic logbook (ELB) program as described in a framework action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Fishery Management Council (Council). Newer and more efficient ELB units have been purchased by NMFS for the Gulf shrimp fleet and are available for installation on Gulf shrimp vessels. Therefore, NMFS establishes a cost-sharing program to fund the ELB program. NMFS will pay for the software development, data storage, effort estimation analysis, and archival activities for the new ELB units, and selected vessel permit holders in the Gulf shrimp fishery will pay for installation and maintenance of the new ELB units and for the data transmission from the ELB units to a NOAA server. The purpose of these changes is to ensure that management of the shrimp fishery is based upon the best scientific information available and that bycatch is minimized to the extent practicable.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Extension of Emergency Fishery Closure Due to the Presence of the Toxin That Causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Document Number: 2013-30945
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This temporary rule extends a closure of Federal waters for one year, through December 31, 2014. It also expands the list of species prohibited for harvest under this closure to include gastropods, commonly referred to as whelks, conchs, and snails. This temporary rule, first published in 2005, has been subsequently extended several times at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This action also includes a correction to exclude the Federal waters west of 70 degrees West longitude.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 27
Document Number: 2013-30943
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 27 (Amendment 27) 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 (South Atlantic Council). Amendment 27 and this final rule extend the South Atlantic Council's management responsibility for Nassau grouper into the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ); increase the number of allowable crew members to four on dual-permitted snapper-grouper vessels (i.e., vessels holding a South Atlantic Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit for Snapper-Grouper and a commercial South Atlantic Unlimited or a 225-Pound Trip Limit Snapper-Grouper Permit) that are fishing commercially; remove the prohibition on retaining any fish under the aggregate bag limit for grouper and tilefish or the vermilion snapper bag limit by captains and crew of federally permitted for-hire vessels; modify the snapper-grouper framework procedures to allow acceptable biological catch levels (ABCs), annual catch limits (ACLs), and annual catch targets (ACTs) to be adjusted via an abbreviated framework process; and remove blue runner from the FMP. The purposes of this final rule are to streamline management of Nassau grouper, improve vessel safety for dual-permitted vessels, implement consistent regulations regarding captains and crew retention limits for snapper- grouper species, expedite adjustments to snapper-grouper catch limits when new scientific information becomes available, and minimize socio- economic impacts to fishermen who harvest and sell blue runner.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7
Document Number: 2013-30643
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-12-26
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
On August 22, 2013, NMFS published a notice of public hearings for Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP), which included 10 public hearings. Due to the government shut down and NMFS' inability to respond to constituents on this complex rule during that time frame and based on the comments received to date requesting an extension due to the complexity and interplay of the measures covered in the DEIS, NMFS extended the comment period for this action until January 10, 2014. To provide an additional opportunity for interested members of the public from all geographic areas to submit verbal comments, NMFS will host a public hearing conference call and webinar. In this notice, NMFS announces the date, time, and call-in information for the conference call and webinar for management measures proposed in Draft Amendment 7. On August 21, 2013, NMFS published the proposed rule for Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan to control bluefin incidental catch (landings and dead discards) in the pelagic longline fishery, enhance reporting in all categories, and ensure U.S. compliance with the ICCAT- recommended quota.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
Document Number: 2013-30694
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) intends to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze management alternatives to be included in Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 40). Amendment 40 will consider alternatives to define private and for-hire components of the recreational red snapper fishery and allocate red snapper resources between these components. The purpose of Amendment 40 is to increase the stability for the for-hire component, provide a basis for increased flexibility in future management of the recreational sector, and reduce the chance for recreational quota overruns which could affect rebuilding of the red snapper stock. The purpose of this NOI is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS, as specified in this notice. The Council will continue to take comments on this action as it develops Amendment 40. The next Council meeting where public comment is scheduled will be February 3-7, 2014, at the Westin Galleria Houston, 5060 W. Alabama Street, Houston, TX 77056.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-30645
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a joint public meeting of its Monkfish Committee and Monkfish Advisory Panel on January 10, 2014 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.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2013-30624
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued Permit 16344 to Dr. Jerri Bartholomew, Oregon State University, Corvalis Oregon.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-30552
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Trawl Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Technical Advisory Committee (GEMTAC) will hold a work session, which is open to the public.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-30551
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a meeting, which is open to the public.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; U.S. Navy Training and Testing Activities in the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area
Document Number: 2013-30245
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Upon application from the U.S. Navy (Navy), we (the National Marine Fisheries Service) are issuing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT) Study Area from December 2013 through December 2018. These regulations allow us to issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the Navy's specified activities and timeframes, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.
2014 Annual Determination for Sea Turtle Observer Requirement
Document Number: 2013-30541
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is providing notification that the agency will not identify additional fisheries to observe on the Annual Determination (AD) for 2014, pursuant to its authority under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Through an AD, NMFS identifies U.S. fisheries operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Ocean that will be required to take observers upon NMFS' request. The purpose of observing identified fisheries is to learn more about sea turtle interactions in a given fishery, evaluate existing measures to prevent or reduce prohibited sea turtle takes, and to determine whether additional measures to implement the prohibition against sea turtle takes may be necessary. Fisheries identified in the 2010 AD (see Table 1) remain on the AD for a five year period and are therefore required to carry observers upon NMFS' request until December 31, 2014.
Appointments to a Recreational Fisheries Working Group by the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Document Number: 2013-30523
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Applications are being solicited for appointment to a Recreational Fisheries Working Group of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will be appointed by MAFAC in consultation with NOAA and will serve for an initial term of up to two years, with the option to apply for re-appointment. The term would begin in February 2014. Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in one or more of the following: The management or business of recreational fishing and/or fisheries science; a well-informed background in recreational fisheries issues; an operational knowledge of federal agencies and interactions with the Fishery Management Councils and/or regional and state partners; and be able to fulfill the time commitments required for up to one annual meeting, and conference calls quarterly.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Change to Start of Pacific Sardine Fishing Year
Document Number: 2013-30512
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Each year, NMFS implements regulations that set the annual quota and management measures for the Pacific sardine fishing year. NMFS proposes to change the starting date of the annual Pacific sardine fishery from January 1 to July 1. This would change the fishing season from one based on the calendar year to one based on a July 1 through the following June 30th schedule. No other changes to the annual allocation structure are being made and the existing seasonal allocation percentages will remain as specified in the FMP; as would the current quota roll-over provisions. The purpose of this change is to better align the timing of the research and science that is used in the annual stock assessments with the annual management schedule. To enable this transition in fishing years, this action also would establish a one-time interim harvest period for the 6 months from January 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans
Document Number: 2013-30478
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the adoption of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plan for the South-Central California Coast Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), which spawn and rear in coastal rivers from the Pajaro River to Arroyo Grande Creek, California. The Final South- Central California Coast Steelhead Recovery Plan (Final Recovery Plan) is now available.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Surveys Along the Oregon and California Coasts
Document Number: 2013-30471
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has received an application from the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Study of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) at the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring surveys. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to PISCO to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during the specified activity.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Bait and Tackle Store Cost-Earnings Survey
Document Number: 2013-30456
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Foreign Fishing Vessel Permits, Vessel, and Gear Identification, and Reporting Requirements
Document Number: 2013-30455
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
Document Number: 2013-30366
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category daily retention limit from the default limit of one large medium or giant BFT to two large medium or giant BFT for the January 2014 subquota period ((i.e., from January 1 through March 31, 2014, or until the available subquota for the period is reached, whichever comes first). This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments, and applies to Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels when fishing commercially for BFT.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council); Public Meetings
Document Number: 2013-30343
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a series of recreational angler participation sessions around the Gulf coast.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery; 2014-2016 Fishing Quotas
Document Number: 2013-30313
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This final rule implements the commercial quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2014, 2015, and 2016. The quotas are unchanged from the quotas for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 fishing years. This action sets allowable harvest levels of Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs, prevents overfishing, and allows harvesting of optimum yield. This action also continues to suspend the minimum shell size for Atlantic surfclams for the 2014 fishing year.
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2014 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
Document Number: 2013-30312
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-12-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS proposes annual catch limits for 2014 Pacific Island bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem fisheries, and accountability measures to correct or mitigate any overages of catch limits. The proposed catch limits and accountability measures support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program: Intent To Find That Oregon Has Failed To Submit an Approvable Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program
Document Number: 2013-30297
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invite public comment on the intent of the two agencies to find that Oregon has failed to submit an approvable Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. The Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) directs states and territories with coastal zone management programs previously approved under Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act to develop and implement coastal nonpoint programs, which must be submitted to NOAA and EPA for approval. Prior to making such a finding, NOAA and EPA invite public input on the two federal agencies' reasoning particularly because, among other things, a finding that a state has failed to submit an approvable program would lead to adverse financial consequences for the State in terms of federal grant funding.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
Document Number: 2013-30218
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of North Carolina are both transferring a portion of their 2013 commercial summer flounder quotas to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. NMFS is adjusting the quotas and announcing the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
Document Number: 2013-30217
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the State of Maryland is transferring a portion of its 2013 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of Connecticut. NMFS is adjusting the quotas and announcing the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Commercial Quota Harvested for the State of New Jersey
Document Number: 2013-30216
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the 2013 summer flounder commercial quota allocated to the State of New Jersey has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in New Jersey for the remainder of calendar year 2013, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer from another state. Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery require publication of this notification to advise New Jersey that the quota has been harvested and to advise vessel permit holders and dealer permit holders that no Federal commercial quota is available for landing summer flounder in New Jersey.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Closure of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Recreational Season for Red Snapper
Document Number: 2013-30194
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces the closure date of the recreational season for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2014 fishing season through this temporary rule. Federal waters of the Gulf will close to red snapper recreational harvest at 12:01 a.m., July 11, 2014. This closure is necessary to prevent the recreational sector from exceeding its quota for the fishing year and prevent overfishing of the Gulf red snapper resource.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Revisions to Dealer Permitting and Reporting Requirements for Species Managed by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils
Document Number: 2013-30134
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-12-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils) have submitted a Generic Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) in the Gulf and South Atlantic Regions (Generic Dealer Amendment) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. The Generic Dealer Amendment amends the following FMPs: Reef Fish Resources and the Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf; the Snapper-Grouper Fishery (including wreckfish), the Golden Crab Fishery, and the Shrimp Fishery (excluding penaeid shrimp) of the South Atlantic Region; the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic; and Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Resources and the Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf and South Atlantic. The Generic Dealer Amendment would modify the permitting and reporting requirements for seafood dealers who first receive species managed by the Councils through the previously mentioned FMPs. These revisions would create a single dealer permit for dealers who first receive fish managed by the Councils, require both purchase and non-purchase reports to be submitted online on a weekly basis, not authorizing dealers to purchase fish from federally-permitted vessels if they are delinquent in submitting reports, and modify the sale and purchase provisions based on the new dealer permitting requirements. The intent of the amendment is to obtain timelier purchase information from dealers to help reduce annual catch limit (ACL) underages and overages, and achieve optimum yield in accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
Document Number: 2013-30133
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is implementing the approved measures in an omnibus amendment to three of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's fishery management plans. The omnibus amendment changes the accountability measures for the Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic bluefish, summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. These measures are intended to more appropriately address accountability in the recreational fisheries.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Trimester Closure for the Common Pool Fishery
Document Number: 2013-30114
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This action closes the Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock Trimester Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Area for Trimester 3, from January 1, 2014, through April 30, 2014, to common pool vessels, because the Trimester 3 TAC for GOM haddock has already been exceeded due to an overage in Trimester 1. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the common pool's allocation of GOM haddock.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-30076
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-18
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Committee on January 14, 2014 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.
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Data Webinar for Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic King Mackerel
Document Number: 2013-30063
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-18
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR assessment of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic King Mackerel will consist of several workshops and a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Whiting and Non-Whiting Allocations; Pacific Whiting Seasons
Document Number: 2013-30031
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-18
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This document announces the reapportionment of 30,000 mt of Pacific whiting from the tribal allocation to the non-tribal commercial fishery allocations. This action is intended to allow for full utilization of the resource.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2013-29924
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-17
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2013 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2013-29916
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-17
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch of Bering Sea Greenland turbot and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Alaska plaice and the total allowable catch of BSAI sculpins and BSAI skates in the BSAI management area. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Panel Member Survey To Develop Indicators of Resilient Coastal Tourism
Document Number: 2013-29905
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-17
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the South Atlantic States; Regulatory Amendment 17
Document Number: 2013-29852
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-17
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), is publishing this supplemental NOI to announce that scoping meetings for Regulatory Amendment 17 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 17) will be postponed and will be announced at a later date in the Federal Register.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Final Rule To Allow Northeast Multispecies Sector Vessels Access to Year-Round Closed Areas
Document Number: 2013-29857
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-12-16
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This rule allows fishing access for Northeast multispecies sectors to two portions of the Southern New England Nantucket Lightship Closed Area for the remainder of the 2013 fishing year under specified conditions. Although NMFS considered and proposed exemption requests that would allow sector vessels access to portions of Georges Bank Closed Areas I and II, NMFS is not granting access to those areas at this time. The intent of this rule is to allow sector vessels increased opportunities to harvest non-groundfish stocks such as monkfish, dogfish, and skates while minimizing impacts to overfished groundfish stock such as Georges Bank cod and yellowtail flounder.
Fisheries of the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2013-29774
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-16
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SAFMC and the GMFMC will hold a meeting of the Joint Council Committee on South Florida Management Issues and the Goliath Grouper Joint Council Steering Committee in Key Largo, FL.
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