80 FR 11981 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 43 (March 5, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 43 (March 5, 2015)
| Page Range | 11981-11981 | |
| FR Document | 2015-05079 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 43 (Thursday, March 5, 2015)] [Notices] [Page 11981] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-05079] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XD671 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the Draft Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 5-Year Review. The purpose of Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year Review is to gather relevant new information and determine whether modifications to existing EFH descriptions and designations are warranted, in compliance with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and implementing regulations. If EFH modifications are warranted, an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) may be initiated. DATES: Written comments must be received by April 6, 2015. ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Draft Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year Review may also be obtained on the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/documents/2015_draft_efh_review.pdf. You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS- 2015-0037, by any of the following methods:Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0037, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Submit written comments to Peter Cooper, NMFS/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper by phone at (301) 427- 8503. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) includes provisions concerning the identification and conservation of essential fish habitat (EFH) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). EFH is defined in 50 CFR 600.10 as ``those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.'' NMFS must identify and describe EFH, minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on EFH, and identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of EFH (Sec. 600.815(a). EFH maps are presented online in the NMFS EFH Mapper (http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/efh/habitatmapper.html). Federal agencies that authorize, fund, or undertake actions that may adversely affect EFH must consult with NMFS, and NMFS must provide conservation recommendations to Federal and state agencies regarding any such actions (Sec. 600.815(a)(9)). In addition to identifying and describing EFH for managed fish species, a review of EFH must be completed every 5 years, and EFH provisions must be revised or amended, as warranted, based on the best available scientific information. The EFH 5-year review should evaluate published scientific literature, unpublished scientific reports, information solicited from interested parties, and previously unavailable or inaccessible data. NMFS announced the initiation of this review and solicited information for this review from the public in a Federal Register notice on March 24, 2014 (79 FR 15959). The initial public review/submission period ended on May 23, 2014. This document is a draft 5-year review of EFH for Atlantic HMS, which include tunas (bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack), oceanic sharks, swordfish, and billfishes (blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, roundscale spearfish, and longbill spearfish). The HMS EFH 5-year review considers data available regarding Atlantic HMS and their habitats that have become available since 2009 that were not included in Final Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS (June 1, 2010, 75 FR 30484); Final Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (June 1, 2010, 75 FR 30484); and the interpretive rule that described EFH for roundscale spearfish (September 22, 2010, 75 FR 57698), which are the most recent documents that described EFH for Atlantic HMS species. Upon completion of the HMS EFH 5-year Review, NMFS will analyze the information gathered through the EFH review process and determine if subsequent revision or amendment of EFH if warranted. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 1801 et seq. Dated: March 2, 2015. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-05079 Filed 3-4-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Notices 11981
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to parties, and previously unavailable or
Act, provided the public has been www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= inaccessible data. NMFS announced the
notified of the Council’s intent to take NOAA-NMFS-2015-0037, click the initiation of this review and solicited
final action to address the emergency. ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the information for this review from the
required fields, and enter or attach your public in a Federal Register notice on
Special Accommodations
comments. March 24, 2014 (79 FR 15959). The
This meeting is physically accessible • Mail: Submit written comments to initial public review/submission period
to people with disabilities. Requests for Peter Cooper, NMFS/SF1, 1315 East- ended on May 23, 2014.
sign language interpretation or other West Highway, National Marine This document is a draft 5-year
auxiliary aids should be directed to Fisheries Service, SSMC3, Silver Spring, review of EFH for Atlantic HMS, which
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at MD 20910. include tunas (bluefin, bigeye, albacore,
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to Instructions: Comments sent by any yellowfin, and skipjack), oceanic sharks,
the meeting date. other method, to any other address or swordfish, and billfishes (blue marlin,
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. individual, or received after the end of white marlin, sailfish, roundscale
the comment period, may not be spearfish, and longbill spearfish). The
Dated: February 27, 2015. considered by NMFS. All comments HMS EFH 5-year review considers data
Tracey L. Thompson, received are a part of the public record available regarding Atlantic HMS and
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable and will generally be posted for public their habitats that have become
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. viewing on www.regulations.gov available since 2009 that were not
[FR Doc. 2015–05025 Filed 3–4–15; 8:45 am] without change. All personal identifying included in Final Amendment 1 to the
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS (June
confidential business information, or 1, 2010, 75 FR 30484); Final
otherwise sensitive information Environmental Impact Statement for
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE submitted voluntarily by the sender will Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated
be publicly accessible. NMFS will HMS FMP (June 1, 2010, 75 FR 30484);
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ and the interpretive rule that described
Administration
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to EFH for roundscale spearfish
RIN 0648–XD671 remain anonymous). (September 22, 2010, 75 FR 57698),
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: which are the most recent documents
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Peter Cooper by phone at (301) 427– that described EFH for Atlantic HMS
Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review 8503. species. Upon completion of the HMS
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFH 5-year Review, NMFS will analyze
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery the information gathered through the
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Conservation and Management Act EFH review process and determine if
Commerce. (Magnuson-Stevens Act) includes subsequent revision or amendment of
ACTION: Notice of availability; request provisions concerning the identification EFH if warranted.
for comments. and conservation of essential fish Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 1801
habitat (EFH) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). et seq.
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the EFH is defined in 50 CFR 600.10 as Dated: March 2, 2015.
availability of the Draft Atlantic Highly ‘‘those waters and substrate necessary to Alan D. Risenhoover,
Migratory Species (HMS) Essential Fish fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or
Habitat (EFH) 5-Year Review. The Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
growth to maturity.’’ NMFS must National Marine Fisheries Service.
purpose of Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year identify and describe EFH, minimize to
Review is to gather relevant new [FR Doc. 2015–05079 Filed 3–4–15; 8:45 am]
the extent practicable the adverse effects
information and determine whether of fishing on EFH, and identify other
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
modifications to existing EFH actions to encourage the conservation
descriptions and designations are and enhancement of EFH (§ 600.815(a).
warranted, in compliance with the EFH maps are presented online in the DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens NMFS EFH Mapper (http://www.
Fishery Conservation and Management Office of the Secretary
habitat.noaa.gov/protection/efh/habitat
Act and implementing regulations. If mapper.html). Federal agencies that Renewal of Department of Defense
EFH modifications are warranted, an authorize, fund, or undertake actions Federal Advisory Committees
amendment to the 2006 Consolidated that may adversely affect EFH must
Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan consult with NMFS, and NMFS must AGENCY:DoD.
(FMP) may be initiated. provide conservation recommendations Renewal of Federal Advisory
ACTION:
DATES: Written comments must be to Federal and state agencies regarding Committee.
received by April 6, 2015. any such actions (§ 600.815(a)(9)).
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the In addition to identifying and SUMMARY: The Department of Defense
Draft Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year Review describing EFH for managed fish (DoD) is publishing this notice to
may also be obtained on the internet at: species, a review of EFH must be announce that it is renewing the charter
for the Board on Coastal Engineering
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ completed every 5 years, and EFH
documents/2015_draft_efh_review.pdf. provisions must be revised or amended, Research (‘‘the Board’’).
You may submit comments on this as warranted, based on the best FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim
document, identified by NOAA–NMFS– available scientific information. The Freeman, Advisory Committee
2015–0037, by any of the following EFH 5-year review should evaluate Management Officer for the Department
methods: published scientific literature, of Defense, 703–692–5952.
• Electronic Submission: Submit all unpublished scientific reports, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
electronic public comments via the information solicited from interested committee’s charter is being renewed
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:28 Mar 04, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05MRN1.SGM 05MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_12024/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-18 12:09:33
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 12:09:33
| 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 of availability; request for comments. | |
| Dates | Written comments must be received by April 6, 2015. | |
| Contact | Peter Cooper by phone at (301) 427- 8503. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 11981 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD67 |
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