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

The Pacific Council will host a webinar meeting of the Council Coordination Committee (CCC) consisting of the eight Regional Fishery Management Council (RFMC) chairs, vice chairs, and executive directors and its subcommittees. The intent of this meeting is to discuss issues of relevance to the CCC, including: Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization priorities, CCC terms of reference, Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General report action plan, decisions and follow-up activities, and, as time allows, other topics of concern to the RFMCs.

NMFS issues this final rule to amend the regulations implementing the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (Plan). This rule revises the Plan by eliminating the consequence closure strategy enacted in 2010, based on deliberations by the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team (Team). This action is necessary to prevent the improper triggering of consequence closure areas based on target harbor porpoise bycatch rates that no longer accurately reflect actual bycatch in New England sink gillnets due to fishery-wide changes in fishing practices.

The NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services. NOAA SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management. Time and Date: The meeting will be held Tuesday, November 19, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 20, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Please refer to the Web page https:// www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. Place: The meeting will be held in the Washington, DC area; please check the SAB Web site https://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for meeting location and directions. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15 minute public comment period on November 19 at 5:15 p.m. (check Web site to confirm time). The NOAA SAB expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five (5) minutes. Individuals or groups planning to make a verbal presentation should contact the NOAA SAB Executive Director by November 12, 2013 to schedule their presentation. Written comments should be received in the NOAA SAB Executive Director's Office by November 12, 2013 to provide sufficient time for NOAA SAB review. Written comments received by the NOAA SAB Executive Director after November 12, 2013 will be distributed to the NOAA SAB, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seating at the meeting will be available on a first- come, first-served basis. Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations may be directed no later than 12 p.m. on November 12, 2013, to Dr. Cynthia Decker, SAB Executive Director, SSMC3, Room 11230, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Matters To Be Considered: The meeting may include the following topics: (1) Review Report on the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA); (2) Recommendations and Proposed New Members from the Data Archive and Access Requirements Working Group; 3) Recommendations from the from the Ecosystem Sciences and Management Working Group; (4) Discussion of Environmental Information Services Working Group and Climate Working Group comments on NOAA Response to Climate Partnership Task Force Report; (5) NOAA Response to the SAB Satellite Task Force Report; (6) NOAA Response to the Review of the Ocean Exploration Program; (7) SAB Strategic Planning: NOAA Presentation and Discussion; (8) Discussion of SAB Working Groups- Overall Funding and Tasking in a Budget-Constrained Environment; (9) NOAA Update; (10) Update on NOAA Cooperative Institutes; (11) Ocean Exploration Forum Highlights; and (12) Updates from NOAA SAB Working Groups.

Notice is hereby given that permits have been issued to Dan Engelhaupt, Ph.D., HDR EOC, 5700 Lake Wright Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502- 1859, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography [Responsible Party: John Hildebrand, Ph.D.], University of California, 8635 Discovery Way, La Jolla, CA 92093 to conduct research on marine mammals in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received three 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 applications may be viewed online at: https:/ /apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/previewopenforcomment.cfm.