81 FR 28829 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 42
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 90 (May 10, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 90 (May 10, 2016)
| Page Range | 28829-28830 | |
| FR Document | 2016-10911 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 28829-28830] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-10911] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XE600 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 42 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS); request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The NMFS Southeast Region, in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council), intends to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze a range of alternatives for management actions to be included in Amendment 42 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 42). Amendment 42 will consider an allocation-based management program for the headboat component of the reef fish recreational fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The purpose of this NOI is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS. DATES: Written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS will be accepted until June 9, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0055, 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-2016-0055, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Submit written comments to Susan Gerhart, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 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: Susan Gerhart, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; or email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council recently took action to provide more flexibility in managing the harvest of red snapper by the various components of the Gulf reef fish recreational sector. In 2014, the Council established separate private angling and Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) components of the red snapper recreational sector. The decrease over time in the proportion of red snapper harvested by anglers fishing from Federal for-hire vessels and differences in regulatory environments faced by Federal for-hire operators and private anglers contributed to the Council's decision to restructure the red snapper recreational sector to increase flexibility for each component. Recreational fishing for other reef fish species has not been as restricted as red snapper, but fishing has closed in Federal waters in recent years for several popular reef fish species with recreational annual catch limits. In early 2015, the Council requested the development of Amendment 42 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 42) to address management for the headboat component of the Gulf reef fish fishery recreational sector. Management measures under consideration in Amendment 42 include allocation-based programs. The purpose of the proposed measures in Amendment 42 is to reduce management uncertainty and improve economic conditions for operators and owners of Gulf reef fish headboats, and provide flexibility by increasing fishing opportunities for their angler passengers through a management program for Gulf headboats participating in the Southeast Region Headboat Survey (SRHS). The species that may be included in the program developed in Amendment 42 are red snapper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, gag, and red grouper. In the Gulf, one Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for reef fish is issued by NMFS, and the permit does not distinguish between headboats and charter vessels. The SRHS collects catch and effort data from headboats in the Southeast Region, thereby producing a catch history for each vessel included in the survey. In addition, for fishery managers, the SRHS continues to be the sole source for effort and landings estimates for the headboat component as a whole. For these reasons, the vessels included in Amendment 42 are those vessels with Federal charter vessel/headboat permits for reef fish that also have landings in the SRHS, as described in Amendment 42. The availability of vessel-specific landings data through the SRHS may allow development of an allocation-based management program for headboats using those landings histories. NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, will develop a DEIS for Amendment 42 to describe and analyze alternatives to address the management needs described above, including the ``no action'' alternative. In accordance with NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6A and the regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40 CFR parts 1500-1508), NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, has identified preliminary environmental issues as a means to initiate discussion for scoping purposes only. These preliminary issues may not represent the full range of issues that eventually will be evaluated in the DEIS. A copy of the Amendment 42 draft options paper is available at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/index.html. Comments on the scope of the DEIS may be submitted in writing to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) during the 30-day scoping period. After the scoping period and during the development of [[Page 28830]] Amendment 42, the Council will accept written comments on the action, and oral comments may be made during the public testimony portion of any Council meeting. The next Council meeting will be June 20-24, 2016, at the Hilton Clearwater Beach, 400 Mandalay Avenue, Clearwater Beach, FL. After the DEIS associated with Amendment 42 is completed, it will be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). After filing, the EPA will publish a notice of availability of the DEIS for public comment in the Federal Register. Consistent with the CEQ regulations, the DEIS will have a 45-day public comment period. The Council and NMFS will consider public comments received on the DEIS in developing the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and before adopting final management measures for the amendment. NMFS will submit the consolidated final amendment and supporting FEIS to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for review as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NMFS will announce, through a notification in the Federal Register, the availability of the final amendment for public review during the Department of Commerce Secretarial review period and will consider all public comments. During Secretarial review, NMFS will also file the FEIS with the EPA, and the EPA will publish a notice of availability for the FEIS in the Federal Register. This public comment period is expected to be concurrent with the Secretarial review period and will end prior to final agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 42. NMFS will announce, through a document published in the Federal Register, all public comment periods on the final amendment, its proposed implementing regulations, and the availability of its associated FEIS. NMFS will consider all public comments received during the Secretarial review period, whether they are on the final amendment, the proposed regulations, or the FEIS, prior to final agency action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 4, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-10911 Filed 5-9-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Notices 28829
Government of El Salvador and obtained ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, recreational sector. Management
from the IATTC and has determined identified by NOAA–NMFS–2016–0055, measures under consideration in
that El Salvador has met the MMPA’s by either of the following methods: Amendment 42 include allocation-based
requirements to receive an affirmative • Electronic submission: Submit all programs. The purpose of the proposed
finding annual renewal. electronic public comments via the measures in Amendment 42 is to reduce
After consultation with the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to management uncertainty and improve
Department of State, the Assistant www.regulations.gov/ economic conditions for operators and
Administrator issued an affirmative #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016- owners of Gulf reef fish headboats, and
finding annual renewal to El Salvador, 0055, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, provide flexibility by increasing fishing
allowing the continued importation into complete the required fields, and enter opportunities for their angler passengers
the United States of yellowfin tuna and or attach your comments. through a management program for Gulf
products derived from yellowfin tuna • Mail: Submit written comments to headboats participating in the Southeast
harvested in the ETP by Salvadoran-flag Susan Gerhart, NMFS Southeast Region Headboat Survey (SRHS). The
purse seine vessels or purse seine Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue species that may be included in the
vessels operating under Salvadoran South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. program developed in Amendment 42
jurisdiction through March 31, 2016. El Instructions: Comments sent by any are red snapper, gray triggerfish, greater
Salvador’s five-year affirmative finding other method, to any other address or amberjack, gag, and red grouper.
will remain valid through March 31, individual, or received after the end of In the Gulf, one Federal charter
2018, subject to subsequent annual the comment period, may not be vessel/headboat permit for reef fish is
reviews by NMFS. considered by NMFS. All comments issued by NMFS, and the permit does
received are a part of the public record not distinguish between headboats and
Dated: May 4, 2016. charter vessels. The SRHS collects catch
and will generally be posted for public
Eileen Sobeck, and effort data from headboats in the
viewing on www.regulations.gov
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, without change. All personal identifying Southeast Region, thereby producing a
National Marine Fisheries Service. catch history for each vessel included in
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
[FR Doc. 2016–10970 Filed 5–9–16; 8:45 am] confidential business information, or the survey. In addition, for fishery
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P otherwise sensitive information managers, the SRHS continues to be the
submitted voluntarily by the sender will sole source for effort and landings
be publicly accessible. NMFS will estimates for the headboat component as
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ a whole. For these reasons, the vessels
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to included in Amendment 42 are those
National Oceanic and Atmospheric vessels with Federal charter vessel/
Administration remain anonymous).
headboat permits for reef fish that also
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
have landings in the SRHS, as described
Susan Gerhart, NMFS Southeast
RIN 0648–XE600 in Amendment 42. The availability of
Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–
vessel-specific landings data through
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 5305; or email: susan.gerhart@noaa.gov.
the SRHS may allow development of an
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The allocation-based management program
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Council recently took action to provide for headboats using those landings
Amendment 42 more flexibility in managing the harvest histories.
of red snapper by the various NMFS, in collaboration with the
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries components of the Gulf reef fish Council, will develop a DEIS for
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and recreational sector. In 2014, the Council Amendment 42 to describe and analyze
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), established separate private angling and alternatives to address the management
Commerce. Federal charter vessel/headboat (for- needs described above, including the
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare hire) components of the red snapper ‘‘no action’’ alternative. In accordance
a draft environmental impact statement recreational sector. The decrease over with NOAA’s Administrative Order
(DEIS); request for comments. time in the proportion of red snapper 216–6A and the regulations issued by
harvested by anglers fishing from the Council on Environmental Quality
SUMMARY: The NMFS Southeast Region, Federal for-hire vessels and differences (CEQ) for implementing the National
in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico in regulatory environments faced by Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40
Fishery Management Council (Council), Federal for-hire operators and private CFR parts 1500–1508), NMFS, in
intends to prepare a DEIS to describe anglers contributed to the Council’s collaboration with the Council, has
and analyze a range of alternatives for decision to restructure the red snapper identified preliminary environmental
management actions to be included in recreational sector to increase flexibility issues as a means to initiate discussion
Amendment 42 to the Fishery for each component. Recreational for scoping purposes only. These
Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef fishing for other reef fish species has not preliminary issues may not represent
Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico been as restricted as red snapper, but the full range of issues that eventually
(Amendment 42). Amendment 42 will fishing has closed in Federal waters in will be evaluated in the DEIS. A copy
consider an allocation-based recent years for several popular reef fish of the Amendment 42 draft options
management program for the headboat species with recreational annual catch paper is available at: http://
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
component of the reef fish recreational limits. sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_
fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The In early 2015, the Council requested fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/
purpose of this NOI is to solicit public the development of Amendment 42 to index.html.
comments on the scope of issues to be the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Comments on the scope of the DEIS
addressed in the DEIS. Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico may be submitted in writing to NMFS
DATES: Written comments on the scope (Amendment 42) to address (see ADDRESSES) during the 30-day
of issues to be addressed in the DEIS management for the headboat scoping period. After the scoping period
will be accepted until June 9, 2016. component of the Gulf reef fish fishery and during the development of
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![28830 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Notices
Amendment 42, the Council will accept DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE in consultation with the U.S.
written comments on the action, and Commissioners to the WCPFC. The PAC
oral comments may be made during the National Oceanic and Atmospheric supports the work of the U.S. National
public testimony portion of any Council Administration Section to the WCPFC in an advisory
meeting. The next Council meeting will RIN 0648–XE588 capacity. The U.S. National Section is
be June 20–24, 2016, at the Hilton made up of the U.S. Commissioners and
Clearwater Beach, 400 Mandalay Permanent Advisory Committee to the Department of State. NMFS Pacific
Avenue, Clearwater Beach, FL. Advise the U.S. Commissioners to the Islands Regional Office provides
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries administrative and technical support to
After the DEIS associated with the PAC in cooperation with the
Commission; Meeting Announcement
Amendment 42 is completed, it will be Department of State. More information
filed with the Environmental Protection AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries on the WCPFC, established under the
Agency (EPA). After filing, the EPA will Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Convention on the Conservation and
publish a notice of availability of the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Management of Highly Migratory Fish
DEIS for public comment in the Federal Commerce. Stocks in the Western and Central
Register. Consistent with the CEQ ACTION: Notice of public meeting Pacific Ocean, can be found on the
regulations, the DEIS will have a 45-day WCPFC Web site: http://wcpfc.int/.
public comment period. SUMMARY: NMFS announces a public
meeting of the Permanent Advisory Meeting Topics
The Council and NMFS will consider Committee (PAC) to advise the U.S.
public comments received on the DEIS The purpose of the June 16, 2016,
Commissioners to the Commission for conference call is to discuss outcomes of
in developing the final environmental the Conservation and Management of the 2015 regular annual session of the
impact statement (FEIS) and before Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the WCPFC (WCPFC12) and to begin
adopting final management measures for Western and Central Pacific Ocean soliciting recommendations leading up
the amendment. NMFS will submit the (WCPFC) on June 16, 2016. Meeting to the 2016 regular annual session of the
consolidated final amendment and topics are provided under the WCPFC. The next regular annual
supporting FEIS to the Secretary of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of session of the WCPFC (WCPFC13) is
Commerce (Secretary) for review as this notice. The meeting will be held via scheduled to be held December 5—
required by the Magnuson-Stevens conference call. Members of the public December 9, 2016, in Fiji.
Fishery Conservation and Management may submit written comments; the
Act. comments must be received within 14 Special Accommodations
days of the completion of the meeting. The conference call is accessible to
NMFS will announce, through a
Mail comments to Emily Crigler at the people with disabilities. Requests for
notification in the Federal Register, the
address provided in the FOR FURTHER sign language interpretation or other
availability of the final amendment for
INFORMATION CONTACT section below. auxiliary aids should be directed to
public review during the Department of
DATES: The meeting of the PAC will be Emily Crigler at 808–725–5036 at least
Commerce Secretarial review period
held via conference call on June 16, ten working days prior to the meeting.
and will consider all public comments.
2016, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. HST (or Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6902
During Secretarial review, NMFS will
until business is concluded).
also file the FEIS with the EPA, and the Dated: May 4, 2016.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be
EPA will publish a notice of availability Emily H. Menashes,
conducted via conference call. For
for the FEIS in the Federal Register. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
details on how to call in to the
This public comment period is expected Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
conference line, please contact Emily
to be concurrent with the Secretarial Crigler, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional [FR Doc. 2016–10912 Filed 5–9–16; 8:45 am]
review period and will end prior to final Office; telephone: 808–725–5036; email: BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
agency action to approve, disapprove, or emily.crigler@noaa.gov. Documents to
partially approve Amendment 42. be considered by the PAC will be sent
NMFS will announce, through a out via email in advance of the COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
document published in the Federal conference call. Please submit contact COMMISSION
Register, all public comment periods on information to Emily Crigler (telephone:
the final amendment, its proposed 808–725–5036; email: emily.crigler@ Agency Information Collection
implementing regulations, and the noaa.gov) to receive documents in Activities Under OMB Review
availability of its associated FEIS. NMFS advance of the call. AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading
will consider all public comments FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commission.
received during the Secretarial review Emily Crigler, NMFS Pacific Islands ACTION: Notice.
period, whether they are on the final Regional Office; 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg.
amendment, the proposed regulations, 176, Honolulu, HI 96818; telephone: SUMMARY: The Office of Customer
or the FEIS, prior to final agency action. 808–725–5036; facsimile: 808–725– Education and Outreach (OCEO),
5215; email: emily.crigler@noaa.gov. Commodity Futures Trading
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In Commission (‘‘CFTC’’ or
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Dated: May 4, 2016. accordance with the Western and ‘‘Commission’’), invites public comment
Emily H. Menashes, Central Pacific Fisheries Convention on its proposed Information Collection
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Implementation Act (16 U.S.C. 6901 et Request (ICR), in compliance with the
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. seq.), the Permanent Advisory Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), for the
[FR Doc. 2016–10911 Filed 5–9–16; 8:45 am] Committee, or PAC, has been formed to Generic Clearance for the Qualitative
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
advise the U.S. Commissioners to the Collection of Feedback for Agency
WCPFC. Members of the PAC have been Service Delivery. The ICR abstracted
appointed by the Secretary of Commerce below, has been submitted to the Office
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Document Created: 2016-05-10 05:19:22
Document Modified: 2016-05-10 05:19:22
| 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 Intent (NOI) to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS); request for comments. | |
| Contact | Susan Gerhart, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; or email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 28829 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE60 |
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