80_FR_24333 80 FR 24250 - Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals

80 FR 24250 - Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 83 (April 30, 2015)

Page Range24250-24250
FR Document2015-10151

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant Administrator) has issued an affirmative finding 2-year renewal for the Government of Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This affirmative finding 2-year renewal will allow yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction to be imported into the United States. The affirmative finding 2-year renewal was based on review of documentary evidence submitted by the Government of Ecuador and obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 83 (Thursday, April 30, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 24250]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10151]



[[Page 24250]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD877


Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding 2-year renewal.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant 
Administrator) has issued an affirmative finding 2-year renewal for the 
Government of Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). 
This affirmative finding 2-year renewal will allow yellowfin tuna and 
yellowfin tuna products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean 
(ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program 
(IDCP) by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels 
operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction to be imported into the United 
States. The affirmative finding 2-year renewal was based on review of 
documentary evidence submitted by the Government of Ecuador and 
obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

DATES: The affirmative finding 2-year renewal is effective for the 2-
year period of April 1, 2013 (retroactive) through March 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Greenman, West Coast Region, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 
90802. Phone: 562-980-3264 Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows for 
importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna harvested by purse 
seine vessels in the ETP under certain conditions. If requested by the 
harvesting nation, the Assistant Administrator will determine whether 
to make an affirmative finding based upon documentary evidence provided 
by the government of the harvesting nation, the IATTC, or the 
Department of State.
    The affirmative finding process requires that the harvesting nation 
is meeting its obligations under the IDCP and obligations of membership 
in the IATTC. Every 5 years, the government of the harvesting nation 
must request a new affirmative finding and submit the required 
documentary evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. On an 
annual basis, NMFS reviews the affirmative finding and determines 
whether the harvesting nation continues to meet the requirements. A 
nation may provide information related to compliance with IDCP and 
IATTC measures directly to NMFS on an annual basis or may authorize the 
IATTC to release the information to NMFS to annually renew an 
affirmative finding determination without an application from the 
harvesting nation.
    An affirmative finding will be terminated, in consultation with the 
Secretary of State, if the Assistant Administrator determines that the 
requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no longer being met or that a 
nation is consistently failing to take enforcement actions on 
violations, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the IDCP.
    As a part of the affirmative finding process set forth in 50 CFR 
216.24(f), the Assistant Administrator considered documentary evidence 
submitted by the Government of Ecuador and obtained from the IATTC and 
has determined that Ecuador has met the MMPA's requirements to receive 
an affirmative finding 2-year renewal.
    After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant 
Administrator issued an affirmative finding 2-year renewal to Ecuador, 
allowing the continued importation into the United States of yellowfin 
tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna harvested in the ETP by 
Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating 
under Ecuadorian jurisdiction for the 2-year period of April 1, 2013 
(retroactive) through March 31, 2015. Ecuador's 5-year affirmative 
finding will remain valid through March 31, 2015.

    Dated: April 24, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-10151 Filed 4-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

24250 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 83 / Thursday, April 30, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE required documentary evidence directly DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE to the Assistant Administrator. On an National Oceanic and Atmospheric annual basis, NMFS reviews the Department of the Air Force Administration affirmative finding and determines Addendum to the 26 June 2014 Record RIN 0648–XD877 whether the harvesting nation continues of Decision for the Final Supplemental to meet the requirements. A nation may Taking and Importing of Marine Environmental Impact Statement F–35 provide information related to Mammals Beddown at Eglin Air Force Base, compliance with IDCP and IATTC Florida AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries measures directly to NMFS on an Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and annual basis or may authorize the ACTION:Notice of Availability (NOA) of Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), IATTC to release the information to Addendum to 26 June 2014 Record of Commerce. NMFS to annually renew an affirmative Decision (ROD). ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding 2- finding determination without an application from the harvesting nation. SUMMARY: On April 23, 2015, the United year renewal. States Air Force signed an Addendum to An affirmative finding will be the 26 June 2014 ROD for the Final F– SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator terminated, in consultation with the for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant 35 Beddown Supplemental Secretary of State, if the Assistant Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Administrator) has issued an affirmative Administrator determines that the finding 2-year renewal for the The Addendum to the 26 June 2014 requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no Record of Decision (AROD) documents Government of Ecuador under the longer being met or that a nation is the Air Force’s decisions to: (1) Marine Mammal Protection Act consistently failing to take enforcement Temporarily shift the primary runway to (MMPA). This affirmative finding 2-year renewal will allow yellowfin tuna and actions on violations, thereby Runway 01/19 (RW 01/19) and allow a yellowfin tuna products harvested in diminishing the effectiveness of the temporary increase in previously the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) IDCP. limited F–35 operations for in compliance with the International As a part of the affirmative finding construction-related closure of Runway Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) process set forth in 50 CFR 216.24(f), the 12/30 (RW 12/30), and (2) approve the by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels Assistant Administrator considered Department of the Navy’s (DoN’s) or purse seine vessels operating under documentary evidence submitted by the request to add fifteen (15) Backup Ecuadorian jurisdiction to be imported Aircraft Inventory (BAI) F–35C aircraft Government of Ecuador and obtained into the United States. The affirmative at Eglin AFB. from the IATTC and has determined finding 2-year renewal was based on The AROD augments the 26 June 2014 that Ecuador has met the MMPA’s ROD by allowing a one-time, temporary review of documentary evidence requirements to receive an affirmative submitted by the Government of increase in certain F–35 operations on finding 2-year renewal. Runway 01/19 (RW 01/19) due to Ecuador and obtained from the Inter- American Tropical Tuna Commission After consultation with the required construction-related closure of (IATTC). Department of State, the Assistant Runway 12/30 (RW 12/30) for up to four Administrator issued an affirmative months from approximately 1 May 2015 DATES: The affirmative finding 2-year finding 2-year renewal to Ecuador, through 31 August 2015. During this up renewal is effective for the 2-year period allowing the continued importation into to four-month period of construction of April 1, 2013 (retroactive) through partially closing RW 12/30, but only the United States of yellowfin tuna and March 31, 2015. after all mitigations measures have first products derived from yellowfin tuna FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: been implemented and/or exhausted, harvested in the ETP by Ecuadorian-flag Justin Greenman, West Coast Region, purse seine vessels or purse seine limited additional F–35 operations up to National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 the number and type of average daily vessels operating under Ecuadorian W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. operations analyzed in Alternative 1A jurisdiction for the 2-year period of Phone: 562–980–3264 Email: (predominantly departures/take-offs on April 1, 2013 (retroactive) through justin.greenman@noaa.gov. RW 01 and approaches/landings on RW March 31, 2015. Ecuador’s 5-year SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 19) of the SEIS and published in Table affirmative finding will remain valid MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows E–16 at pages E–84 and E–85 in through March 31, 2015. for importation into the United States of Appendix E, will be allowed on RW 01/ yellowfin tuna harvested by purse seine Dated: April 24, 2015. 19. The additional Navy F–35C BAI will vessels in the ETP under certain Eileen Sobeck, not alter the number or type of F–35C conditions. If requested by the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, operations analyzed in the SEIS and harvesting nation, the Assistant National Marine Fisheries Service. approved in the 26 June 2014 ROD. Administrator will determine whether [FR Doc. 2015–10151 Filed 4–29–15; 8:45 am] The Final SEIS was made available to to make an affirmative finding based the public on February 28, 2014 through BILLING CODE 3510–22–P upon documentary evidence provided a NOA in the Federal Register (Volume by the government of the harvesting 79, Number 40, Page 11428) with a wait nation, the IATTC, or the Department of period that ended on March 31, 2014. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES State. The 26 June 2014 SEIS ROD was made The affirmative finding process available to the public, through a NOA requires that the harvesting nation is in the Federal Register (Volume 79, meeting its obligations under the IDCP Number 131, Page 38857), on July 9, and obligations of membership in the 2014. IATTC. Every 5 years, the government of Authority: This NOA is published the harvesting nation must request a pursuant to the relevant subsection of new affirmative finding and submit the the regulations (40 CFR part 1506.6(b)2)) VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:01 Apr 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM 30APN1


Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:14:58
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:14:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; affirmative finding 2-year renewal.
DatesThe affirmative finding 2-year renewal is effective for the 2- year period of April 1, 2013 (retroactive) through March 31, 2015.
ContactJustin Greenman, West Coast Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. Phone: 562-980-3264 Email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 24250 
RIN Number0648-XD87
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