National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The SEDAR 79 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic mutton snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) natural resource Trustees for the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group (Alabama TIG) have prepared the Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Marine Mammals (Supplemental RPII/EA). The Draft Supplemental RPII/EA proposes to use additional funds from the Marine Mammals Restoration Type to extend the implementation of one or more projects currently underway in the Alabama Restoration Area to continue the Alabama TIG's efforts to restore for injuries to marine mammals impacted by the DWH oil spill. The Draft Supplemental RPII/EA evaluates two restoration alternatives under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This evaluation includes consideration of the criteria set forth in the OPA natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) regulations, and an analysis under NEPA's implementing regulations. A No Action Alternative is also evaluated pursuant to the NEPA. The total estimated cost to implement the Alabama TIG's Preferred Alternativean extension of the Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network Projectis $1,881,237. If selected for implementation, this action would allocate the Alabama TIG's remaining Marine Mammals restoration funds. The Alabama TIG invites the public to comment on the Draft Supplemental RPII/EA.

NMFS corrects an error in the final rule designating critical habitat for threatened Caribbean corals that published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2023. The final rule incorrectly identified the northern geographic extent of critical habitat designated for Orbicella franksi as St. Lucie Inlet, Martin County, Florida in the ``Table of the Locations of the Critical Habitat Units for Orbicella franksi, O. annularis, O. faveolata, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Mycetophyllia ferox,'' codified at 50 CFR 266.230(b) and in Table 4 of the Critical Habitat Unit Descriptions in the preamble of the rule. This correcting amendment fixes that error by revising the description of the geographic extent of the OFRA-1 Unit to refer to Lake Worth Inlet, Palm Beach County, Florida.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, on behalf of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes as regulations the 2024 annual management measures governing the Pacific halibut fishery that have been recommended by the IPHC and accepted by the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce. These measures are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut and further the goals and objectives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a permit application (25803) from NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Ecology Division (FED) to continue hatchery activities associated with the Southern Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program (SCSCBP, or program) in accordance with its Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP). The application has been submitted pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. NMFS has also prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) describing the potential effects of NMFS' proposed issuance of the Permit associated with the submitted HGMP. NMFS is furnishing this notice in order to allow other agencies, Tribes, and the public an opportunity to review and comment on these documents.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish with fixed gear managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. The season will open 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 15, 2024, and will close 1200 hours, A.l.t., December 7, 2024. This period is the same as the 2024 commercial halibut fishery opening dates adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, except the hours are not the same. The IFQ and CDQ halibut season dates are the same as specified by a separate publication in the Federal Register of annual management measures, which should be referenced for the halibut specific open and closure times.

Notice is hereby given that Lars Bejder, Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on cetaceans.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public.

Notice is hereby given that Joshua Schiffman, M.D., University of Utah, 2000 Circle Of Hope Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, has applied in due form for a permit to import marine mammal parts for scientific research.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar to collect input on the Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Size Exemptions Framework/Addendum.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to the following entity under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Notice is hereby given that the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Marine Forensic Laboratory, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112 (Kevin Werner, Ph.D., Responsible Party), has applied in due form for a permit to receive, import, and export marine mammal and protected species parts for scientific research.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by Coonamessett Farm Foundation. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (FACA), the Department of Commerce has renewed and renamed the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) as the Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES), determining this action to be in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Department by law. ACCRES was renewed and renamed as ACES on March 4, 2024.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet April 1, 2024 through April 9, 2024.

The New England Fishery Management Council's is convening its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) sub-panel 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 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has begun its annual preseason process to develop regulations to manage the 2024 ocean salmon fisheries off the U.S. West Coast. This notice informs the public of opportunities to provide oral and written comments on the development of the regulations.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management, will hold three in-person public meetings to solicit input on the performance evaluation of the U.S. Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program. NOAA also invites the public to submit written comments.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Committee (IFQ Committee) will meet via web conference.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes revisions to existing regulations governing the confidentiality of information submitted in compliance with any requirement or regulation under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; MSA). The purposes of these revisions are to make both substantive and non-substantive changes in light of amendments to the MSA under the 1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) and the 2006 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSRA) and amendments to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (FMPA) under the 2015 Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act (IUU Fishing Act). NMFS proposes additional revisions necessary to address some issues that concern its application of the MSA confidentiality of information requirements to information requests.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Habitat Committee (HC) will hold an online public meeting.