National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that Mervi Kunnasranta, Ph.D., University of Eastern Finland, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu Finland, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial/educational photography on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

Framework Adjustment 8 (Framework 8) implements several changes to improve operation of the butterfish discard cap in the longfin squid fishery and the directed butterfish fishery. Framework 8 allocates the butterfish discard cap among trimesters in the same percentages used for the trimester allocations for longfin squid: 43 percent to Trimester I (January to April), 17 percent to Trimester II (May to August), and 40 percent to Trimester III (September to December). Each trimester will close when it is estimated that 95 percent of the butterfish discard cap has been taken. In addition, Framework 8 allows NMFS to transfer, in either direction, up to 50 percent of unused quota between the butterfish landing allocation and the discard cap on the longfin squid fishery. This would occur near the end of the year in order to optimally utilize the butterfish that is available for fishing each year.

Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Commerce has determined that the reestablishment of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee is necessary and in the public interest. Accordingly, the National Marine Fisheries Service has chartered the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The charter for the MAFAC expired on January 18, 2014 while its renewal was in process.

We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of the Southeast Alaska Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Based upon the best scientific and commercial data available, we conclude that listing the Southeast Alaska DPS of Pacific herring is not warranted at this time. We also announce the availability of the status review report.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to launches, aircraft and helicopter operations from VAFB launch complexes and Delta Mariner operations, cargo unloading activities, and harbor maintenance dredging in support of the Delta IV/Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch activity on south VAFB.

The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (ICOOS) Act of 2009 mandated the establishment of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System with NOAA as lead Federal agency. NOAA's U.S. IOOS program seeks comment on a draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) of the observing activities regularly occurring in the environment as a direct result of cooperative agreements funded by this program. Technologies proposed for deployment and observational activities under U.S. IOOS are categorized into the following groups: sensors and instrumentation; vessels (including personal watercraft) and sampling; AUVs, gliders, and drifters; moorings, marine stations, buoys, and fixed arrays; HF radar; and sound navigation and ranging (sonar) and light detection and ranging (lidar). These observing activities support the core mission of U.S. IOOS: systematic provision of readily accessible marine environmental data and data products in an interoperable, reliable, timely, and user-specified manner to end- users/customers to serve seven critical and expanding societal needs: 1. Improve predictions of climate change and weather and their effects on coastal communities and the nation; 2. Improve the safety and efficiency of maritime operations; 3. More effectively mitigate the effects of natural hazards; 4. Improve national and homeland security; 5. Reduce public health risks; 6. More effectively protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems; and 7. Enable the sustained use of ocean and coastal resources.

NMFS proposes revised specifications for the 2014 summer flounder fishery; specifications for the 2015 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries; an increase in the commercial scup Winter II possession limit; and provides notice of two projects for which exempted fishing permits may be requested as part of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Research Set-Aside Program. The implementing regulations for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year for each of these species and to provide an opportunity for public comment. Furthermore, regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require that NMFS allow the public an opportunity to comment on applications for exempted fishing permits. Accordingly, in addition to proposing catch specifications, NMFS announces exempted fishing permit requests, in accordance with the fishery management plan and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

On March 21, 2014, the Federal Register published a notice informing the public that NMFS had received 10 scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon, sturgeon, rockfish, and eulachon. In that notice, one of the prospective permits was accidentally given an incorrect identifying number: the number given was Permit 18620, the text should have read Permit 18260.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory Committee (Committee) in Washington, DC.

The 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. 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, April 15, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. EDT and Wednesday, April 16, 2014, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT. 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 at the Sheraton Silver Spring, 8777 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Please check the SAB Web site https://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for directions to the meeting location. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15- minute public comment period on April 15 from 5:05-5:20 p.m. (check Web site to confirm time). The 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 two (2) minutes. Individuals or groups planning to make a verbal presentation should contact the SAB Executive Director by April 11, 2014, to schedule their presentation. Written comments should be received in the SAB Executive Director's Office by April 11, 2014, to provide sufficient time for SAB review. Written comments received by the SAB Executive Director after April 11, 2014, will be distributed to the 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 12:00 p.m. on April 11, 2014, to Dr. Cynthia Decker, SAB Executive Director, SSMC3, Room 11230, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910; Email: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov. Matters To Be Considered: The meeting will include the following topics: (1) Ecosystem Sciences and Management Working Group (ESMWG Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Recommendations (2) Review Report on the Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystems and Climate (CIMEC3) NOAA Observing System Integrated Analysis Capability II (NOSIA II); (4) NOAA Science Talk: Improving Prediction of Extreme Weather Events using Multi-Model Ensembles; (5) NOAA Response to the SAB Portfolio Review Task Force Report; (6) NOAA Response to the SAB External Review of the Ocean Exploration Program; (7) NOAA Science Career Track; (8) Ecosystem Sciences and Management Working Group (ESMWG) Coastal Habitat Restoration Recommendations; (9) NOAA Update and (10) Working Group Updates.

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).

NOAA Fisheries announces three inseason actions in the ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modified the commercial salmon fisheries in the area from Cape Falcon, Oregon to Point Arena, California.

Notice is hereby given that the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC; Responsible Party, Tara Jones, Ph.D.) 301 Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on captive Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) of the Eastern stock.

On March 18, 2013 (78 FR 16622), NOAA proposed to prohibit the introduction of introduced species into the state waters of Gulf of the Farallones and Monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries (GFNMS and MBNMS, respectively). The proposed prohibition included exceptions for the catch and release of striped bass and for introduced species as part of mariculture activities in the Tomales Bay region of GFNMS (the only geographic area within sanctuaries offshore of California where mariculture occurs). NOAA is now amending the March 2013 proposed rule to allow GFNMS and MBNMS to authorize certain introduced species of shellfish from commercial mariculture projects in all state waters of the sanctuaries.

NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils have submitted Amendment 3 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan for review by the Secretary of Commerce. NMFS is requesting comments from the public on the Amendment, which was developed by the Councils to improve the efficiency of the spiny dogfish fishery. Amendment 3 would implement a research set-aside program, update essential fish habitat definitions for spiny dogfish, allow carryover of management measures from one year to the next, and remove the seasonal allocation of the commercial quota.

NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from Michael Fatzinger, on behalf of the North Carolina Aquariums at Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher, and Jennette's Pier, NC. If granted, the EFP would authorize North Carolina Aquariums to collect, with certain conditions, various species of reef fish, dolphin, and live rock in Federal waters, along the North Carolina coast. The specimens would be used in educational exhibits displaying North Carolina native species at the aquariums.

NMFS withdraws a proposed rule considering an emergency action that would have partially exempted the scallop fishery from fishing year 2012-related Georges Bank yellowtail flounder accountability measures. Because annual catch limit thresholds were not exceeded, there are no accountability measures from which to exempt the scallop fishery. As a result, the proposed rule is no longer necessary.

NMFS announces a 5-year review of essential fish habitat (EFH) for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The purpose of the 5-year review is to evaluate the EFH provisions of the fishery management plan (FMP) and revise or amend them as warranted. A 5-year review is based on the best data available regarding Atlantic HMS and their habitats; therefore, NMFS is requesting submission of any such information on Atlantic HMS EFH that has become available since publication of Final Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP in 2009; Final Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP; and the interpretive rule and final action that published on September 22, 2010, and defined EFH for roundscale spearfish.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 149th meeting.

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.

NOAA has developed a draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to analyze the potential impacts of anticipated research and education projects in the next five years and that may have the potential to affect White Sharks within Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and the northern portion of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). The anticipated types of research and education projects described in the document have been evaluated for consistency with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, sanctuary goals and objectives, and ONMS permitting regulations. The draft PEA is available for download on the Web site: https:// farallones.noaa.gov/eco/sharks/sharkspea.html. Proposed projects that are outside the scope of this PEA would be further evaluated on a case- by-case basis during their individual permit review phase.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public information meeting to gather fishery industry perspectives on the likely impacts of alternative spiny dogfish trip limits.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings.

NMFS has received an application from Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission, LLC (DWBIT) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to construction of the Block Island Transmission System. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to DWBIT to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during the specified activity.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings, April 7-14, 2014.