80 FR 11398 - Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 41 (March 3, 2015)

Page Range		11398-11398
FR Document		2015-04355

NMFS announces the receipt of an exempted fishing permit (EFP) application for 2015 and 2016 that would continue work done in 2013 and 2014, and is considering issuance of EFPs for vessels participating in the EFP fishery. The EFPs are necessary to allow activities that are otherwise prohibited by Federal regulations. The EFPs would be effective no earlier than March 18, 2015, and would expire no later than December 31, 2016, but could be terminated earlier under terms and conditions of the EFPs and other applicable laws.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 11398]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04355]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD739


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of EFP applications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an exempted fishing permit (EFP) 
application for 2015 and 2016 that would continue work done in 2013 and 
2014, and is considering issuance of EFPs for vessels participating in 
the EFP fishery. The EFPs are necessary to allow activities that are 
otherwise prohibited by Federal regulations. The EFPs would be 
effective no earlier than March 18, 2015, and would expire no later 
than December 31, 2016, but could be terminated earlier under terms and 
conditions of the EFPs and other applicable laws.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on 
March 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XD739, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Colby Brady.
     Mail: William W. Stelle, Regional Administrator, West 
Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070, 
Attn: Colby Brady.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Brady (West Coast Region, NMFS), 
phone: 206-526-6117, fax: 206-526-6736.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act provisions at 50 CFR 600.745, 
which states that EFPs may be used to authorize fishing activities that 
would otherwise be prohibited. At the June 2014 Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) meeting in Garden Grove, CA, the Council 
considered an EFP application from the San Francisco Community Fishing 
Association and Dan Platt. An opportunity for public testimony was 
provided during the Council meeting. For more details on this EFP 
application and to view a copy of the application, see the Council's 
Web site at www.pcouncil.org and browse the June 2014 Briefing Book. 
The Council recommended that NMFS consider issuing the following EFP, 
and that this EFP be issued for 2 years. The 2-year duration is 
intended to coincide with the 2015-2016 biennial harvest specifications 
and management measures process. Therefore, to reduce the 
administrative burden of issuing annual EFPs during the 2-year 
management cycle, NMFS is considering issuing the EFP described below 
for a 2-year period. The EFP issued for this 2-year period would expire 
no later than December 31, 2016, but could be terminated earlier under 
terms and conditions of the EFP and other applicable laws.

Commercial Yellowtail EFP

    The San Francisco Community Fishing Association and Dan Platt 
submitted an application to continue their 2013-2014 EFP work for two 
more years. The primary purpose of the EFP is to test a commercial hook 
and line gear to target underutilized yellowtail rockfish, while 
keeping bycatch of overfished species low. During their work in 2013 
and 2014, a total of approximately 3.6 mt (3,600 kg) of yellowtail 
rockfish was harvested with very little bycatch of co-occurring 
overfished species.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 
16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

    Dated: February 25, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-04355 Filed 3-2-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

11398 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 / Notices

merchandise will continue unless and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
until it is modified pursuant to the final action is authorized by the Pacific Coast
results of this changed circumstances Groundfish Fishery Management Plan National Oceanic and Atmospheric
review. (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens Administration
This initiation, preliminary results of Fishery Conservation and Management RIN 0648–XD732
review and notice are published in Act provisions at 50 CFR 600.745,
accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and which states that EFPs may be used to Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216, authorize fishing activities that would Specified Activities; Taking Marine
351.221(b)(1) and (4), and 351.222(g). otherwise be prohibited. At the June Mammals Incidental to Shell Ice
Dated: February 23, 2015. 2014 Pacific Fishery Management Overflight Surveys in the Beaufort and
Paul Piquado, Council (Council) meeting in Garden Chukchi Seas, Alaska
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Grove, CA, the Council considered an AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Compliance. EFP application from the San Francisco Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
[FR Doc. 2015–04279 Filed 3–2–15; 8:45 am] Community Fishing Association and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P Dan Platt. An opportunity for public Commerce.
testimony was provided during the
ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
Council meeting. For more details on harassment authorization; request for
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE this EFP application and to view a copy comments.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric of the application, see the Council’s
Administration Web site at www.pcouncil.org and SUMMARY: NMFS received an
browse the June 2014 Briefing Book. application from Shell Gulf of Mexico
RIN 0648–XD739 The Council recommended that NMFS Inc. (Shell) for an Incidental Harassment
consider issuing the following EFP, and Authorization (IHA) to take marine
Fisheries Off West Coast States and in mammals, by harassment, incidental to
that this EFP be issued for 2 years. The
the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast ice overflight surveys in the Chukchi
Groundfish Fishery; Application for an 2-year duration is intended to coincide
with the 2015–2016 biennial harvest and Beaufort Seas, Alaska. Pursuant to
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) the Marine Mammal Protection Act
specifications and management
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries measures process. Therefore, to reduce (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the administrative burden of issuing on its proposal to issue an IHA to Shell
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), annual EFPs during the 2-year to take, by Level B harassment only,
Commerce. management cycle, NMFS is seven species of marine mammals
ACTION: Notice; receipt of EFP during the specified activity.
considering issuing the EFP described
applications; request for comments. below for a 2-year period. The EFP DATES: Comments and information must
issued for this 2-year period would be received no later than April 2, 2015.
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt ADDRESSES: Comments on the
of an exempted fishing permit (EFP) expire no later than December 31, 2016,
but could be terminated earlier under application should be addressed to Jolie
application for 2015 and 2016 that Harrison, Chief, Permits and
would continue work done in 2013 and terms and conditions of the EFP and
other applicable laws. Conservation Division, Office of
2014, and is considering issuance of Protected Resources, National Marine
EFPs for vessels participating in the EFP Commercial Yellowtail EFP Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West
fishery. The EFPs are necessary to allow Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The
activities that are otherwise prohibited The San Francisco Community mailbox address for providing email
by Federal regulations. The EFPs would Fishing Association and Dan Platt comments is ITP.Guan@noaa.gov.
be effective no earlier than March 18, submitted an application to continue NMFS is not responsible for email
2015, and would expire no later than their 2013–2014 EFP work for two more comments sent to addresses other than
December 31, 2016, but could be years. The primary purpose of the EFP the one provided here. Comments sent
terminated earlier under terms and is to test a commercial hook and line via email, including all attachments,
conditions of the EFPs and other gear to target underutilized yellowtail must not exceed a 10-megabyte file size.
applicable laws. rockfish, while keeping bycatch of Instructions: All comments received
DATES: Comments must be received no overfished species low. During their are a part of the public record and will
later than 5 p.m., local time on March work in 2013 and 2014, a total of generally be posted to http://
18, 2015. approximately 3.6 mt (3,600 kg) of www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, yellowtail rockfish was harvested with incidental.htm without change. All
identified by 0648–XD739, by any one very little bycatch of co-occurring Personal Identifying Information (for
of the following methods: overfished species. example, name, address, etc.)
• Email: EFPs.2015@noaa.gov. voluntarily submitted by the commenter
• Fax: 206–526–6736, Attn: Colby Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16
may be publicly accessible. Do not
Brady. U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.
submit Confidential Business
• Mail: William W. Stelle, Regional Dated: February 25, 2015. Information or otherwise sensitive or
Administrator, West Coast Region,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Emily H. Menashes, protected information.
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., A copy of the application, which
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Seattle, WA 98115–0070, Attn: Colby contains several attachments used in
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Brady. this document, including Shell’s marine
[FR Doc. 2015–04355 Filed 3–2–15; 8:45 am]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
mammal mitigation and monitoring
Colby Brady (West Coast Region, plan (4MP) and Plan of Cooperation,
NMFS), phone: 206–526–6117, fax: 206– may be obtained by writing to the
526–6736. address specified above, telephoning the

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:55:58
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:55:58

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; receipt of EFP applications; request for comments.
Dates		Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on March 18, 2015.
Contact		Colby Brady (West Coast Region, NMFS), phone: 206-526-6117, fax: 206-526-6736.
FR Citation		80 FR 11398
RIN Number		0648-XD73

80 FR 11398 - Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 41 (March 3, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration