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

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is in the process of modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and plans to replace all three North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) frames and all vertical datums, including the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), with four new terrestrial reference frames and one new geopotential datum to which all geodetic coordinates and derived coordinates within the NSRS will be referenced. The new reference frames will rely primarily on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), as well as on a gravimetric geoid model resulting from the Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Project. The modernized NSRS will be easier to access and maintain than the existing NSRS, which relies on physical survey marks that deteriorate over time and will result in new, more accurate, time-tagged geodetic coordinates (i.e., latitude, longitude, ellipsoid height, orthometric height, acceleration of gravity, deflections of the vertical, and others) at all geodetic control points within the NSRS. Additionally, coordinates will be estimated within these frames and datum at five-year reference epochs from the time-tagged coordinates, beginning with 2020.00. Initial completion and rollout of the NSRS modernization is expected to occur between 2022 and 2025, with additional support tools and services rolled out in subsequent years.

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

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 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.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for commercial Spanish mackerel in the northern zone of the Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). NMFS projects that the commercial quota for Spanish mackerel in the northern zone of the Atlantic EEZ will be reached by July 22, 2020. Therefore, NMFS closes the northern zone in the Atlantic EEZ to commercial harvest of Spanish mackerel on July 22, 2020. This closure is necessary to protect the Spanish mackerel resource in the Atlantic.

This action removes regulations that implement the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program. The Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 eliminated the year-round Closed Area I, rendering the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program unnecessary. Eliminating the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program will reduce confusion and inconsistency with other regulations.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Executive Committee via webinar.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho Workgroup (Workgroup) will host an online meeting over a two-day period that is open to the public.

This final rule implements regulations for a ``fish up'' provision in the halibut and sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to allow Community Quota Entities (CQEs) located in IFQ regulatory Area 3A (Southcentral Alaska) holding Area 3A category D halibut quota share (QS) (i.e., for use on catcher vessel less than or equal to 35 ft (10.7 m) length overall) to have the associated IFQ harvested on category C vessels (catcher vessels less than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall) beginning August 15 of each IFQ fishing season. This action also makes a minor change to regulations implementing the IFQ Program to consolidate temporary IFQ transfer forms. This final rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the City and County of San Francisco, CA (San Francisco) to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities associated with the Treasure Island Ferry Dock Project in San Francisco, California.

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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) Working Group will hold a meeting.

Notice is hereby given that the New York Genome Center, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, NY 10013 [Responsible Party: Catherine Reeves], has applied in due form for a permit to import specimens from southern hemisphere humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

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

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a request to renew an existing scientific research permit. The proposed work is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management, conservation, and recovery efforts. The application may be viewed online at: https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) Workgroup (Workgroup) will host a two-day online meeting that is open to the public.

This action proposes approval of, and regulations to implement, an action to require commercially permitted vessels in both New England and mid-Atlantic regions to submit vessel trip reports electronically within 48 hours of the end of a trip. In addition, this action would require for-hire vessels with permits for species managed by the New England Fishery Management Council to submit vessel trip reports electronically. Document retention requirements would also be removed with this action. This action is intended to increase data quality and timeliness of vessel trip reports.

NMFS is transferring 30 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the Harpoon category. With this transfer, the adjusted Harpoon category quota for the 2020 fishing season is 76 mt. The 2020 Harpoon category fishery is open until November 15, 2020, or until the Harpoon category quota is reached, whichever comes first. The action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments, and applies to Atlantic tunas Harpoon category (commercial) permitted vessels.

NMFS implements management measures described in Abbreviated Framework Amendment 3 (Abbreviated Framework 3) 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). This final rule increases the commercial and recreational annual catch limits (ACLs) and Abbreviated Framework 3 increases the recreational annual catch target (ACT) for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purpose of this final rule is to ensure that these measures for South Atlantic blueline tilefish are based on the best scientific information available, to achieve and maintain optimum yield (OY), and to prevent overfishing while minimizing to the extent practicable, adverse social and economic effects.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted Amendment 50 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP) (Amendment 50), to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, Amendment 50 would add a new rebuilding plan for St. Matthew blue king crab (SMBKC) to the Crab FMP. The objective of this amendment is to rebuild the SMBKC stock. In order to comply with provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), this action is necessary to implement a rebuilding plan prior to the start of the 2020/2021 fishing season. Amendment 50 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Crab FMP, and other applicable laws.

The SEDAR 70 stock assessment process for Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack will consist of a series of data and assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Gastineau Channel Historical Society (GCHS) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities associated with the Sentinel Island Moorage Float project near Juneau, Alaska.

This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's (MAFAC's) Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force (CBP Task Force). The CBP Task Force will discuss the issues outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS announces the availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment (FSEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County's (Douglas PUD) Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP), in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The HGMP specifies the release of one million additional subyearling summer Chinook salmon at the Wells Hatchery. This notice provides information on where to view the FSEA and FONSI.