80 FR 44057 - Revision to Management Measures for the Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals on St. Paul Island, Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 142 (July 24, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 142 (July 24, 2015)
| Page Range | 44057-44060 | |
| FR Document | 2015-18176 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 142 (Friday, July 24, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 44057-44060] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-18176] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XZ28 Revision to Management Measures for the Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals on St. Paul Island, Alaska AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to prepare an SEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The SEIS will evaluate alternatives which include petitioned changes to the regulations governing management of the northern fur seal subsistence harvest on St. Paul Island, Alaska. The SEIS will supplement the 2005 Final Environmental Impact Statement for Setting the Annual Subsistence Harvest of Northern Fur Seals on the Pribilof Islands. NMFS intends to prepare an SEIS because the petitioned action would make substantial changes to the action analyzed in the 2005 EIS that are relevant to environmental effects. DATES: Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. Alaska Standard Time, August 24, 2015. [[Page 44058]] ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by FDMS Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2015-0073, by either 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-2015-0073, Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Submit written comments to Jon Kurland, Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. 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). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Electronic copies of the 2005 Final Environmental Impact Statement for Setting the Annual Subsistence Harvest of Northern Fur Seals on the Pribilof Islands, St. Paul Tribal Resolutions, and other relevant documents are available at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seals/fur.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Williams, Protected Resources Division, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 271-5117. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subsistence harvest of the eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands is governed by regulations at 50 CFR 216.71-.74 established under the Fur Seal Act (FSA) (16 U.S.C. 1511 et seq.) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). NMFS manages the harvest of northern fur seals under regulations that impose a variety of restrictions to meet the subsistence needs of Pribilovians while ensuring sustainable harvests. The existing regulations (1) establish a 47-day period between June 23 and August 8 of each year, during which fur seals may be taken for subsistence purposes; (2) limit the harvest of sub-adult male fur seals to those 124.5 cm or less in length; (3) identify specific hauling grounds from which fur seals may be taken, and provide that no hauling ground on St. Paul may be harvested more than once per week; (4) require that NMFS receive adequate advance notice of scheduled harvest activities to enable NMFS to monitor the harvest; and (5) require NMFS to publish triennially a summary of the harvest during the preceding three years and the estimated subsistence needs for the next three years (71 FR 8222, February 16, 2006; 73 FR 49616, August 22, 2008; 77 FR 6682, February 9, 2012). The harvest regulations at 50 CFR 216.72(c)(2) additionally state ``No fur seal may be taken except by experienced sealers using the traditional harvesting methods, including stunning followed immediately by exsanguination. The harvesting method shall include organized drives of sub-adult males to killing fields unless it is determined by the NMFS representatives, in consultation with the Pribilovians conducting the harvest that alternative methods will not result in increased disturbance to the rookery or the increased accidental take of female seals.'' On February 16, 2007, the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal Government (ACSPI) submitted a petition for rulemaking requesting NMFS revise regulations governing the subsistence take of northern fur seals on St. Paul. NMFS published the notice of receipt of petition in the Federal Register with a 60-day public comment period (77 FR 41168, July 12, 2012). NMFS received comment letters from the Marine Mammal Commission (MMC), Humane Society of the United States, Center for Biological Diversity, Alaskan Wildlife Federation, and two individuals. On November 10, 2014 and April 29, 2015, ACSPI submitted letters to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) to revise its petition based on the public comments and subsequent discussions during the semi-annual St. Paul Island Co-Management Council meetings. St. Paul Island St. Paul Island is a remote island located in the Bering Sea. St. Paul Island residents have a need for long-term sustainable use of northern fur seals for subsistence purposes of cultural continuity, food, clothing, arts, and crafts. Alaska Natives from St. Paul Island have a long history of harvesting fur seals for subsistence purposes prior to the United States' purchase of Alaska in 1867. Prior to the U.S. purchase of Alaska, the Aleuts harvested northern fur seal young of the year (pups); U.S. records of these subsistence harvests of pups indicate thousands were harvested annually during the late 1800s and were viewed by Aleuts as one of their most valued food sources. In the late 1800s, the fur seal population had declined due to the international pelagic harvests which killed mainly females on their summer foraging trips; therefore, the U.S. government asked the Aleuts of the Pribilof Islands to stop harvesting young of the year. The northern fur seal population recovered by the mid-1960s, but the pup harvest was never resumed. The subsistence way of life has remained an important, consistent, and supporting factor in the personal, economic, and traditional character of ACSPI. A continued subsistence harvest preserves traditional skills, provides a culturally identifiable food source for Alaska Native residents, and enables the passing of cultural values to the next generation. The ACSPI petitioned NMFS on behalf of its tribal members to change the current subsistence harvest regulations to include the harvest of pups, which were an important traditional food source. Proposed Action Based on the petition and subsequent revisions from the ACSPI, NMFS is evaluating a proposed action to use both harvester and scientific experience to improve northern fur seal subsistence harvest opportunities and refine existing regulatory measures to conserve the northern fur seal population on St. Paul Island. The 2005 EIS analyzed setting the annual fur seal subsistence harvest take ranges for St. George Island and St. Paul Island. NMFS intends to prepare an SEIS because the proposed action would make substantial changes to the action analyzed in the 2005 EIS that are relevant to environmental effects. If NMFS determines that changes to the existing regulations for subsistence harvest on St. Paul Island are appropriate, NMFS will issue a proposed rule. Via the same rulemaking, or possibly a separate rulemaking, NMFS may propose certain changes to the subsistence harvest regulations for St. George Island (50 CFR 216.72) that were analyzed in the August 2014 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Management of the Subsistence Harvest of Northern Fur Seals on St. George Island, but not implemented in the associated final rule NMFS published in 2014 (79 FR 65327; November 4, 2014). [[Page 44059]] Purpose and Need The purpose of the proposed action is to manage the subsistence harvest of fur seals on St. Paul Island. NMFS action in response to the petition from ACSPI is needed to fulfill Federal trust responsibilities under the MMPA and FSA to conserve the northern fur seal population and co-manage the subsistence harvest with ACSPI. In addition, NMFS trust responsibilities include recognizing the subsistence needs of Alaskan Natives on St. Paul Island to the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable law. Proposed Alternatives The proposed alternatives only apply to northern fur seal subsistence harvests on St. Paul Island, Alaska. NMFS is currently considering three alternatives for evaluation in the SEIS: Alternative 1 is the No Action Alternative; Alternative 2 (Petitioned Alternative) would modify the management to allow for a regulated harvest of northern fur seals to meet the subsistence needs as described in the petition from ACSPI; and Alternative 3 would incorporate aspects of Alternative 2 as modified with measures recommended from public comments received in response to the notice of receipt of the 2007 ACSPI petition (77 FR 41168; July 12, 2012). Alternative 1, the no action alternative, would maintain the current subsistence harvest range on St. Paul Island from 1,645 to 2,000 northern fur seals. Federal regulations at 50 CFR 216.72 restrict subsistence harvests of fur seals to a 47-day season between June 23 and August 8 of each year. This alternative continues the harvest under the regulatory process used to establish harvest take levels every three years, and a set of restrictions that have been in place since 1993. The restrictions include prohibitions on any taking of adult fur seals or pups, intentional taking of sub-adult females, and taking sub- adult males larger than 124.5 cm long. The restrictions identify specific harvest locations and harvest frequency once per week per harvest site. This alternative requires NMFS to publish in the Federal Register a summary of the number of seals taken during the prior 3-year period and expected to be taken annually over the next 3-year period to meet local subsistence needs. This information is used to set lower and upper take ranges for the number of seals that can be harvested annually. Following a 30-day public comment period, a final notification of the take ranges for the subsequent 3-year period is reported. Under this alternative, NMFS would maintain the regulations suspending, but not terminating, the harvest when the lower end of the harvest range is reached (1,645 fur seals). NMFS can lift this suspension, if after a review of the harvest data, it determines that the community's subsistence needs have not been met. NMFS is then required to publish a revised estimate of the number of seals needed to meet the community's subsistence need up to the upper end of the range (2,000 fur seals). NMFS is also required to suspend the harvest if it determines that the subsistence needs of the community have been satisfied, or if the harvest is being conducted in a wasteful manner. Alternative 2, the petitioned action, would implement a regulated harvest of northern fur seals to meet the subsistence needs as described in the November 10, 2014, revised petition and subsequent clarifications from the ACSPI. ACSPI proposed on April 29, 2015, that the St. Paul Island Co-Management Council set seasonal limits, age class limits, or some combination of season and age limits not to exceed a total harvest of 2,000 male fur seals annually. The Co- Management Council is a body established via an agreement between NMFS and ACSPI under section 119 of the MMPA to oversee subsistence harvest of northern fur seals and Steller sea lions on St. Paul Island, and comprises NMFS and ACSPI representatives. Alternative 2 includes the following provisions: (1) Lethally take up to 2,000 male fur seals annually; (2) if and when 20 female fur seals (1% of the harvest quota) have been accidentally killed, terminate all fur seal taking for the rest of the year; (3) within the overall limit of no more than 2,000 fur seals, take juvenile male fur seals by hunting with firearms from January 1 to May 31 annually and take by harvest (roundup, stunning, and exsanguination) male pups and juvenile male fur seals from June 23 to December 31 annually; (4) implement a subsistence harvest review process to be overseen by the Co-Management Council to develop harvest monitoring and allocation plans intended to minimize sub-lethal effects to seals not harvested, maximize detection and avoidance of females, prevent wasteful taking, and make in-season allocations among the age groups and locations to be harvested. The total harvest level under Alternative 2 would be the same as the currently authorized upper end of the harvest range for St. Paul established for the 2014-2016 seasons (79 FR 45728; August 6, 2014). In addition, the harvest would be suspended for two days if and when 5 females have been accidentally killed, which would allow time for ACSPI to determine in consultation with NMFS what measures can be taken to detect and reduce additional mortality of females. Under Alternative 2, a pup would be defined as a fur seal in the first year of its life and a juvenile would be defined as any animal that is older than a pup but too young to reproduce (up to seven years old). The current regulation uses the term sub-adult which is in reference to seals aged two to five years old or less than 124.5 cm long. The prohibition on taking animals greater than 124.5 cm in length would be eliminated to allow hunting larger fur seals from January 1 to May 31, most of which would be shot in the water similar to the manner in which Alaska Natives on St. Paul hunt for Steller sea lions during this same time period. The regulations suspending the harvest when the lower end of the harvest range is reached (1,645 fur seals) would be eliminated. Additionally, all fur seal pups to be harvested between June 23 and December 31 would be sexed before harvesting to ensure that female pups are detected and not killed. The location restrictions would be changed to allow harvest round-ups to originate in the rookeries and hauling grounds. Alternative 3 would incorporate recommendations described in the August 24, 2012 letter from the MMC and other members of the public (see ADDRESSES) into Alternative 2. Specifically, Alternative 3 would include the MMC's recommendations concerning monitoring of the harvest to ensure no wasteful taking occurs, disturbance at haulouts and taking of females is minimized, and use of firearms to harvest fur seals is prohibited. Thus Alternative 3 would: (1) Allow 342 days of harvest, split into two seasons: January 1 to May 31, and June 23 to December 31; (2) from June 23 to December 31 limit the harvest of up to 1,500 male pups; (3) allow up to 500 juvenile males to be harvested during either season; and (4) include a new prohibition to terminate the harvest for the year if and when 20 female fur seals have been killed. Unlike Alternative 2, Alternative 3 would specifically prohibit any use of firearms such that juvenile and pup fur seals would be harvested using the current method of roundup, stunning, and exsanguination. Alternative 3 would maintain the current subsistence harvest range on St. Paul Island from 1,645 to 2,000 northern fur seals, and the existing suspension provisions. Alternative 3 would define fur seal life stages to be harvested in the [[Page 44060]] same fashion as Alternative 2. Based on public comments this alternative would include criteria to determine if taking during the subsistence harvest is occurring in a wasteful manner. Additionally, all fur seal pups to be harvested from June 23 to December 31 would be sexed before harvesting to ensure that female pups are detected and not killed. This alternative would include provisions for ACSPI and NMFS to jointly develop harvest monitoring plans within the co-management structure intended to minimize sub-lethal effects to seals not harvested, maximize detection and avoidance of females, and prevent wasteful taking. Public Involvement Scoping is an early and open process for determining the scope of issues, alternatives, and impacts to be addressed in an EIS, and for identifying the significant issues related to the proposed action. A principal objective of the scoping and public involvement process is to identify a range of reasonable management alternatives that, with adequate analysis, will delineate critical issues and provide a clear basis for distinguishing among those alternatives and selecting a preferred alternative. NMFS began informal scoping for this issue in 2007 when it received the petition from the ACSPI proposing changes in harvest regulations to better meet the community's subsistence need. NMFS is seeking written public comments on the scope of issues, potential impacts, and alternatives that should be considered for the fur seal harvest regulations. NMFS is also seeking public comments regarding whether the SEIS should evaluate additional alternatives, such as different levels of age-specific harvests and harvest termination thresholds to manage the subsistence removals of fur seals on St. Paul Island. Written comments will be accepted at the address above (see ADDRESSES). Written comments should be as specific as possible to be the most helpful. NMFS will incorporate scoping comments received into the Draft SEIS. Dated: July 21, 2015. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-18176 Filed 7-23-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Notices 44057
marine mammals and implement observed during the course of the discovery. Navy shall provide
shutdown or delay procedures when construction activities. photographs or video footage or other
applicable through communication with (b) Reporting injured or dead marine documentation of the stranded animal
the equipment operator. mammals: sighting to NMFS.
(g) The Navy shall use soft start i. In the unanticipated event that the 7. This Authorization may be
techniques recommended by NMFS for specified activity clearly causes the take modified, suspended or withdrawn if
vibratory pile driving. Soft start for of a marine mammal in a manner the holder fails to abide by the
vibratory drivers requires contractors to prohibited by this IHA, such as an conditions prescribed herein, or if the
initiate sound for fifteen seconds at injury (Level A harassment), serious authorized taking is having more than a
reduced energy followed by a thirty- injury, or mortality, Navy shall negligible impact on the species or stock
second waiting period. This procedure immediately cease the specified of affected marine mammals.
is repeated two additional times. Soft activities and report the incident to the
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, Request for Public Comments
start shall be implemented at the start of
each day’s pile driving and at any time and the West Coast Regional Stranding We request comment on our analyses,
following cessation of pile driving for a Coordinator, NMFS. The report must the draft authorizations, and any other
period of thirty minutes or longer. include the following information: aspect of this Notice of Proposed IHAs
(h) Pile driving shall only be A. Time and date of the incident; for Navy’s pier maintenance activities.
conducted during daylight hours. B. Description of the incident; Please include with your comments any
5. Monitoring. C. Environmental conditions (e.g., supporting data or literature citations to
The holder of this Authorization is wind speed and direction, Beaufort sea help inform our final decision on Navy’s
required to conduct marine mammal state, cloud cover, and visibility); request for an MMPA authorization.
D. Description of all marine mammal
monitoring during pile driving activity. Dated: July 20, 2015.
observations in the 24 hours preceding
Marine mammal monitoring and Perry F. Gayaldo,
the incident;
reporting shall be conducted in Deputy Director, Office of Protected
E. Species identification or
accordance with the Monitoring Plan. Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
description of the animal(s) involved;
(a) The Navy shall collect sighting F. Fate of the animal(s); and [FR Doc. 2015–18145 Filed 7–23–15; 8:45 am]
data and behavioral responses to pile G. Photographs or video footage of the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
driving for marine mammal species animal(s).
observed in the region of activity during Activities shall not resume until
the period of activity. All observers NMFS is able to review the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
shall be trained in marine mammal circumstances of the prohibited take.
identification and behaviors, and shall NMFS will work with Navy to National Oceanic and Atmospheric
have no other construction-related tasks determine what measures are necessary Administration
while conducting monitoring. to minimize the likelihood of further RIN 0648–XZ28
(b) For all marine mammal prohibited take and ensure MMPA
monitoring, the information shall be compliance. Navy may not resume their Revision to Management Measures for
recorded as described in the Monitoring activities until notified by NMFS. the Subsistence Taking of Northern
Plan. ii. In the event that Navy discovers an Fur Seals on St. Paul Island, Alaska
6. Reporting. injured or dead marine mammal, and
The holder of this Authorization is the lead observer determines that the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
required to: cause of the injury or death is unknown Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
(a) Submit a draft report on all and the death is relatively recent (e.g., Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
monitoring conducted under the IHA in less than a moderate state of Commerce.
within 45 days of the completion of decomposition), Navy shall immediately ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare a
marine mammal and acoustic report the incident to the Office of Supplemental Environmental Impact
monitoring, or sixty days prior to the Protected Resources, NMFS, and the Statement (SEIS).
issuance of any subsequent IHA for this West Coast Regional Stranding
project, whichever comes first. A final Coordinator, NMFS. SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to
report shall be prepared and submitted The report must include the same prepare an SEIS in accordance with the
within thirty days following resolution information identified in 6(b)(i) of this National Environmental Policy Act of
of comments on the draft report from IHA. Activities may continue while 1969. The SEIS will evaluate
NMFS. This report must contain the NMFS reviews the circumstances of the alternatives which include petitioned
informational elements described in the incident. NMFS will work with Navy to changes to the regulations governing
Monitoring Plan, at minimum (see determine whether additional management of the northern fur seal
attached), and shall also include: mitigation measures or modifications to subsistence harvest on St. Paul Island,
i. Detailed information about any the activities are appropriate. Alaska. The SEIS will supplement the
implementation of shutdowns, iii. In the event that Navy discovers 2005 Final Environmental Impact
including the distance of animals to the an injured or dead marine mammal, and Statement for Setting the Annual
pile and description of specific actions the lead observer determines that the Subsistence Harvest of Northern Fur
that ensued and resulting behavior of injury or death is not associated with or Seals on the Pribilof Islands. NMFS
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
the animal, if any. related to the activities authorized in the intends to prepare an SEIS because the
ii. Description of attempts to IHA (e.g., previously wounded animal, petitioned action would make
distinguish between the number of carcass with moderate to advanced substantial changes to the action
individual animals taken and the decomposition, scavenger damage), analyzed in the 2005 EIS that are
number of incidences of take, such as Navy shall report the incident to the relevant to environmental effects.
ability to track groups or individuals. Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, DATES: Written comments must be
iii. A refined take estimate based on and the West Coast Regional Stranding received by 5 p.m. Alaska Standard
the number of marine mammals Coordinator, NMFS, within 24 hours of Time, August 24, 2015.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:59 Jul 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM 24JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_44199/page/1.svg)
![44060 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Notices
same fashion as Alternative 2. Based on DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
public comments this alternative would
include criteria to determine if taking National Oceanic and Atmospheric National Oceanic and Atmospheric
during the subsistence harvest is Administration Administration
occurring in a wasteful manner. RIN 0648–XE030
Submission for OMB Review;
Additionally, all fur seal pups to be
Comment Request Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental
harvested from June 23 to December 31
would be sexed before harvesting to The Department of Commerce will to Specified Activities; San Francisco-
ensure that female pups are detected submit to the Office of Management and Oakland Bay Bridge Pier E3 Demolition
and not killed. This alternative would Budget (OMB) for clearance the via Controlled Implosion
include provisions for ACSPI and NMFS following proposal for collection of AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
to jointly develop harvest monitoring information under the provisions of the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
plans within the co-management Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
structure intended to minimize sub- chapter 35). Commerce.
lethal effects to seals not harvested, Agency: National Oceanic and
ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
maximize detection and avoidance of Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
harassment authorization; request for
females, and prevent wasteful taking. Title: Pacific Islands Pelagic Squid Jig
comments and information.
Fishing Permit.
Public Involvement OMB Control Number: 0648–0589. SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request
Form Number(s): None. from the California Department of
Scoping is an early and open process Type of Request: Regular (revision
for determining the scope of issues, Transportation (CALTRANS) for an
and extension of a currently approved authorization to take small numbers of
alternatives, and impacts to be information collection). four species of marine mammals, by
addressed in an EIS, and for identifying Number of Respondents: 5. Level B harassment, incidental to
the significant issues related to the Average Hours Per Response: Permit proposed San Francisco-Oakland Bay
proposed action. A principal objective applications and renewals, 15 minutes; Bridge (SFOBB) Pier E3 demolition via
of the scoping and public involvement appeals, 2 hours. controlled implosion in San Francisco
process is to identify a range of Burden Hours: 3. Bay (SFB or Bay). Pursuant to the
reasonable management alternatives Needs and Uses: This request is for Marine Mammal Protection Act
that, with adequate analysis, will revision and extension of a currently (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments
delineate critical issues and provide a approved information collection. on its proposal to issue an authorization
clear basis for distinguishing among Federal regulations at Title 50, part to CALTRANS to incidentally take, by
those alternatives and selecting a 665, of the Code of Federal Regulations harassment, small numbers of marine
preferred alternative. NMFS began require that owners of vessels fishing mammals for its proposed controlled
informal scoping for this issue in 2007 for, or landing, pelagic squid in the implosion.
when it received the petition from the western Pacific region obtain a permit
DATES: Comments and information must
ACSPI proposing changes in harvest from NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS).
be received no later than August 24,
regulations to better meet the In this revision/extension, the vessel ID
2015.
community’s subsistence need. requirements have been incorporated
into Pacific Islands Region Vessel and ADDRESSES: Comments on the
NMFS is seeking written public Gear Identification Requirements (OMB application should be addressed to Jolie
comments on the scope of issues, Control No. 0648–0360) and the Harrison, Chief, Permits and
potential impacts, and alternatives that reporting requirement is being moved to Conservation Division, Office of
should be considered for the fur seal Pacific Islands Logbook Family of Forms Protected Resources, National Marine
harvest regulations. NMFS is also (OMB Control No. 0648–0214). There Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West
seeking public comments regarding have also been minor changes to the Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The
whether the SEIS should evaluate permit application form, and mailbox address for providing email
additional alternatives, such as different instructions added. comments is itp.guan@noaa.gov. NMFS
levels of age-specific harvests and Affected Public: Business or other for- is not responsible for email comments
harvest termination thresholds to profit organizations. sent to addresses other than the one
manage the subsistence removals of fur Frequency: Annually and on occasion. provided here. Comments sent via
seals on St. Paul Island. Written Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. email, including all attachments, must
comments will be accepted at the This information collection request not exceed a 25-megabyte file size.
address above (see ADDRESSES). Written may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow Instructions: All comments received
comments should be as specific as the instructions to view Department of are a part of the public record and will
possible to be the most helpful. NMFS Commerce collections currently under generally be posted to http://
will incorporate scoping comments review by OMB. www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
received into the Draft SEIS. Written comments and incidental.htm without change. All
recommendations for the proposed Personal Identifying Information (for
Dated: July 21, 2015. example, name, address, etc.)
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
information collection should be sent
Donna S. Wieting, within 30 days of publication of this voluntarily submitted by the commenter
Director, Office of Protected Resources, notice to OIRA_Submission@ may be publicly accessible. Do not
National Marine Fisheries Service. omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. submit Confidential Business
[FR Doc. 2015–18176 Filed 7–23–15; 8:45 am] Information or otherwise sensitive or
Sarah Brabson, protected information.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. A copy of the application may be
[FR Doc. 2015–18158 Filed 7–23–15; 8:45 am] obtained by writing to the address
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P specified above or visiting the internet
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:59 Jul 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM 24JYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_44199/page/4.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:24:37
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:24:37
| 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; intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). | |
| Dates | Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. Alaska Standard Time, August 24, 2015. | |
| Contact | Michael Williams, Protected Resources Division, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 271-5117. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 44057 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XZ28 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR