81_FR_68597 81 FR 68405 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Announcement of a Recovery Planning Workshop and Request for Information

81 FR 68405 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Announcement of a Recovery Planning Workshop and Request for Information

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 192 (October 4, 2016)

Page Range68405-68406
FR Document2016-23857

We, NMFS, are convening a workshop to solicit facts and information from experts to inform recovery planning for the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) Distinct Population Segment (DPS). This workshop will be open to the public. We also request information that might inform the development of the recovery plan. On October 2, 2013, we published a Notice of Intent to prepare a Recovery Plan and Request for Information for this DPS. We received seven public comments in response to that notice, which remain relevant and will be considered in the recovery planning process. Because significant time has elapsed since this last request, we are requesting any additional information that has become available in the interim.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68405-68406]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23857]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC901


Endangered and Threatened Species; Announcement of a Recovery 
Planning Workshop and Request for Information

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

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, are convening a workshop to solicit facts and 
information from experts to inform recovery planning for the Main 
Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular false killer whale (Pseudorca 
crassidens) Distinct Population Segment (DPS). This workshop will be 
open to the public. We also request information that might inform the 
development of the recovery plan. On October 2, 2013, we published a 
Notice of Intent to prepare a Recovery Plan and Request for Information 
for this DPS. We received seven public comments in response to that 
notice, which remain relevant and will be considered in the recovery 
planning process. Because significant time has elapsed since this last 
request, we are requesting any additional information that has become 
available in the interim.

DATES: 
     Workshop dates and information: The four-day recovery 
planning workshop for the MHI insular false killer whale DPS will be 
held Tuesday, October 25 through Friday, October 28, 2016, at the Ohana 
Waikiki East Hotel, 150 Kaiulani Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815. The workshop 
will begin each day at 9 a.m. and end each day at 5:30 p.m. or as 
necessary to complete business for the day.
    RSVP date: If you plan to attend the workshop as an interested 
member of the public, please contact Krista Graham, NMFS, Pacific 
Islands Regional Office, [email protected], 808-725-5152 no later 
than October 21, 2016.
     Date for information submission: Please submit information 
to inform recovery planning via the methods listed below in the 
ADDRESSES section by December 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information by either of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Krista Graham, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 
Protected Resources Division, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, 
HI 96818.
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic information 
that may inform the development of recovery criteria and actions via 
email to [email protected] (No files larger than 5MB 
can be accepted).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Graham, NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, 808-725-5152. You may also visit our Web site at: 
http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_mhi_false_killer_whale.html#fwk_esa_listing.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On November 28, 2012, we published a final rule listing the MHI 
insular false killer whale DPS as endangered under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) (77 FR 70915). The final listing rule describes the 
background of the listing action for this DPS and provides a summary of 
our conclusions regarding its status. For additional background and a 
summary of natural history and threats to the species, the reader is 
referred to the status review report and final listing rule (available 
at http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_mhi_false_killer_whale.html).
    NMFS is required by section 4(f) of the ESA to develop and 
implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of federally 
listed species unless the Secretary finds that such a plan will not 
promote the conservation of the species. Recovery means that listed 
species and their ecosystems are restored, and their future secured, so 
that the protections of the ESA are no longer necessary. The ESA 
specifies that recovery plans are to include (1) a description of site-
specific management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals for 
the conservation and survival of the species; (2) objective, measurable 
criteria which, when met, would result in the species being removed 
from the list; and (3) estimates of the time and costs required to 
carry out the actions and achieve the plan's conservation goals. Under 
Section 4(f) of the ESA, public notice and an opportunity for public 
review and comment are also provided during recovery plan development. 
We published a Notice of Intent and Request for Information to Prepare 
a Recovery Plan for this DPS in October of 2013 (78 FR 60850). We 
received seven substantive public comments in response to that notice, 
which remain relevant and will be considered in the recovery planning 
process. Because significant time has elapsed since the last request, 
we are requesting any relevant information that may have become 
available.
    This notice and request for information serves as a second public 
notice and opportunity for public input early in the process. Once a 
recovery plan has been drafted, it will be announced in the Federal 
Register and available on our Web site (see ADDRESSES section) for 
public review and comment before being finalized.

Recovery Planning Workshop Announcement

    From October 25 through 28, 2016, NMFS will hold a workshop at the 
Ohana Waikiki East Hotel in Honolulu, HI to help inform our recovery 
planning for the MHI insular false killer whale DPS (see DATES 
section). We are inviting experts in specific topic areas, including 
the species' biology/ecology, threats to the species and the species' 
habitat, and the recovery planning process itself. These experts will 
help us to update the threats analysis from the listing rule, and 
identify potential actions to address the threats. Identified experts 
include representatives of Federal and state

[[Page 68406]]

agencies, scientific experts, individuals from conservation partners 
and non-governmental organizations, and commercial and recreational 
fishermen. Information received at the workshop may be used to inform 
the development of other conservation decisions and actions, including 
the designation of critical habitat.
    NMFS will provide a moderator to manage the workshop as well as a 
notetaker to document input received. We are seeking only individual 
analysis, facts, and opinions from participants. Questions to the 
participants will be limited to those necessary to clarify the expert's 
presentation and questions seeking consensus among panelists or experts 
will not be entertained. NMFS also will provide a time-limited question 
and answer period during which attendees may ask NMFS about information 
presented. NMFS will prepare a summary of the workshop, noting the main 
points raised by the panelists and registered speakers.
    This workshop will be open to the public, and a public comment 
period will be provided at the end of each session. If you plan to 
attend the workshop as an interested member of the public, please 
contact Krista Graham at the address listed above by October 21, 2016, 
so we can ensure sufficient space for all participants and interested 
parties during our logistics planning.

Agenda

    [cir] October 25-26 will focus on recovery actions and criteria 
related to non-longline commercial and recreational fisheries 
interactions;
    [cir] October 27 will focus on recovery actions and criteria 
related to nutrition, i.e., prey size/biomass, distribution, and 
competition with fisheries;
    [cir] October 28 will focus on recovery actions and criteria 
related to other threats to both the species itself and its habitat 
including noise and contaminants.

Request for Information

    We also invite the public to submit scientific or commercial 
information that may help to inform the recovery criteria and actions 
for the MHI insular false killer whale DPS. We are soliciting relevant 
information related to the MHI insular false killer whale and its 
habitat, including the following:
    1. Criteria for removing the MHI insular false killer whale from 
the list of threatened and endangered species (this could be either 
threats-based or abundance/trends based);
    2. Human activities that contribute to threats to the species;
    3. Physical, biological or chemical features of the environment 
that limit the recovery of the MHI insular false killer whale;
    4. Recovery strategies addressing threats to physical and 
biological features that are essential to species conservation;
    5. Strategies and/or actions to recover the MHI insular false 
killer whale;
    6. Estimates of the time and cost to implement recovery actions;
    7. Critical knowledge gaps and/or uncertainties that need to be 
resolved to better inform recovery efforts; and
    8. Research, monitoring, and evaluation needs to address knowledge 
gaps and uncertainties, or to assess the species' status, limiting 
factors, and threats relative to recovery goals.

    Information may be submitted via the methods listed above in the 
ADDRESSES section.
    The workshop is accessible to persons with disabilities. Send 
requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids at 
least five business days in advance to Krista Graham at 808-725-5152.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: September 28, 2016.
Nicole R. LeBoeuf,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23857 Filed 10-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 4, 2016 / Notices 68405 provide a full response to the plan. On October 2, 2013, we published threats to the species, the reader is Department’s questionnaire. a Notice of Intent to prepare a Recovery referred to the status review report and Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR Plan and Request for Information for final listing rule (available at http:// 351.214(k), we are initiating an this DPS. We received seven public www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/ expedited review of the countervailing comments in response to that notice, prd_mhi_false_killer_whale.html). duty order on CORE from Korea. which remain relevant and will be NMFS is required by section 4(f) of Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.214(i)(1) and considered in the recovery planning the ESA to develop and implement (k)(3), we intend to issue the process. Because significant time has recovery plans for the conservation and preliminary results of this expedited elapsed since this last request, we are survival of federally listed species review not later than 180 days from the requesting any additional information unless the Secretary finds that such a date of initiation of this review.3 As that has become available in the interim. plan will not promote the conservation specified by 19 CFR 351.214(k)(3)(i), the DATES: of the species. Recovery means that period of review will be the same as the • Workshop dates and information: listed species and their ecosystems are original period of investigation, i.e., The four-day recovery planning restored, and their future secured, so January 1, 2014, through December 31, workshop for the MHI insular false that the protections of the ESA are no 2014. killer whale DPS will be held Tuesday, longer necessary. The ESA specifies that Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.214(k)(3)(iii), October 25 through Friday, October 28, recovery plans are to include (1) a the final results of this expedited review 2016, at the Ohana Waikiki East Hotel, description of site-specific management will not be the basis for the assessment 150 Kaiulani Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815. actions necessary to achieve the plan’s of countervailing duties. Instead, this The workshop will begin each day at 9 goals for the conservation and survival expedited review is intended to a.m. and end each day at 5:30 p.m. or of the species; (2) objective, measurable establish individual cash deposit rates as necessary to complete business for criteria which, when met, would result for POSCO and Hyundai, or to exclude the day. in the species being removed from the from the countervailing duty order a RSVP date: If you plan to attend the list; and (3) estimates of the time and company for which the final results of workshop as an interested member of costs required to carry out the actions review are zero or de minimis, as the public, please contact Krista and achieve the plan’s conservation provided in 19 CFR 351.214(k)(3)(iv) . Graham, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional goals. Under Section 4(f) of the ESA, Interested parties must submit Office, krista.graham@noaa.gov, 808– public notice and an opportunity for applications for disclosure under 725–5152 no later than October 21, public review and comment are also administrative protective orders in 2016. provided during recovery plan accordance with 19 CFR 351.305 and • Date for information submission: development. We published a Notice of 351.306. Please submit information to inform Intent and Request for Information to Dated: September 28, 2016. recovery planning via the methods Prepare a Recovery Plan for this DPS in listed below in the ADDRESSES section October of 2013 (78 FR 60850). We Christian Marsh, by December 5, 2016. received seven substantive public Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping comments in response to that notice, and Countervailing Duty Operations. ADDRESSES: You may submit which remain relevant and will be [FR Doc. 2016–23967 Filed 10–3–16; 8:45 am] information by either of the following considered in the recovery planning methods: BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P • Mail: Krista Graham, NMFS Pacific process. Because significant time has Islands Regional Office, Protected elapsed since the last request, we are requesting any relevant information that DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Resources Division, 1845 Wasp Blvd., may have become available. Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. This notice and request for National Oceanic and Atmospheric • Electronic Submissions: Submit all information serves as a second public Administration electronic information that may inform notice and opportunity for public input the development of recovery criteria and RIN 0648–XC901 early in the process. Once a recovery actions via email to plan has been drafted, it will be Endangered and Threatened Species; NMFS.PIR.FKWRecoveryPlan@noaa.gov announced in the Federal Register and Announcement of a Recovery Planning (No files larger than 5MB can be available on our Web site (see Workshop and Request for Information accepted). ADDRESSES section) for public review FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and comment before being finalized. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Krista Graham, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, 808–725–5152. You Recovery Planning Workshop Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Announcement Department of Commerce. may also visit our Web site at: http:// www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_mhi_ From October 25 through 28, 2016, ACTION: Notice; request for information. false_killer_whale.html#fwk_esa_listing. NMFS will hold a workshop at the SUMMARY: We, NMFS, are convening a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ohana Waikiki East Hotel in Honolulu, workshop to solicit facts and HI to help inform our recovery planning Background for the MHI insular false killer whale information from experts to inform recovery planning for the Main On November 28, 2012, we published DPS (see DATES section). We are inviting Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular false a final rule listing the MHI insular false experts in specific topic areas, including killer whale DPS as endangered under the species’ biology/ecology, threats to mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) Distinct Population Segment (DPS). This the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (77 the species and the species’ habitat, and workshop will be open to the public. FR 70915). The final listing rule the recovery planning process itself. We also request information that might describes the background of the listing These experts will help us to update the inform the development of the recovery action for this DPS and provides a threats analysis from the listing rule, summary of our conclusions regarding and identify potential actions to address 3 Under 19 CFR 351.214(k)(i)(2), this period may its status. For additional background the threats. Identified experts include be extended to 300 days. and a summary of natural history and representatives of Federal and state VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Oct 03, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1

68406 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 4, 2016 / Notices agencies, scientific experts, individuals 3. Physical, biological or chemical https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then from conservation partners and non- features of the environment that limit selecting File No. 20452 from the list of governmental organizations, and the recovery of the MHI insular false available applications. commercial and recreational fishermen. killer whale; These documents are also available Information received at the workshop 4. Recovery strategies addressing upon written request or by appointment may be used to inform the development threats to physical and biological in the Permits and Conservation of other conservation decisions and features that are essential to species Division, Office of Protected Resources, actions, including the designation of conservation; NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room critical habitat. 5. Strategies and/or actions to recover 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone NMFS will provide a moderator to the MHI insular false killer whale; (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. manage the workshop as well as a 6. Estimates of the time and cost to Written comments on this application notetaker to document input received. implement recovery actions; should be submitted to the Chief, We are seeking only individual analysis, 7. Critical knowledge gaps and/or Permits and Conservation Division, at facts, and opinions from participants. uncertainties that need to be resolved to the address listed above. Comments may Questions to the participants will be better inform recovery efforts; and also be submitted by facsimile to (301) limited to those necessary to clarify the 8. Research, monitoring, and 713–0376, or by email to expert’s presentation and questions evaluation needs to address knowledge NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please seeking consensus among panelists or gaps and uncertainties, or to assess the include the File No. in the subject line experts will not be entertained. NMFS species’ status, limiting factors, and of the email comment. also will provide a time-limited threats relative to recovery goals. Those individuals requesting a public question and answer period during Information may be submitted via the hearing should submit a written request which attendees may ask NMFS about methods listed above in the ADDRESSES to the Chief, Permits and Conservation information presented. NMFS will section. Division at the address listed above. The prepare a summary of the workshop, The workshop is accessible to persons request should set forth the specific noting the main points raised by the with disabilities. Send requests for sign reasons why a hearing on this panelists and registered speakers. language interpretation or other application would be appropriate. This workshop will be open to the auxiliary aids at least five business days FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara public, and a public comment period in advance to Krista Graham at 808– Young or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427– will be provided at the end of each 725–5152. 8401. session. If you plan to attend the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The workshop as an interested member of Dated: September 28, 2016. subject permit is requested under the the public, please contact Krista Graham Nicole R. LeBoeuf, authority of the Marine Mammal at the address listed above by October Protection Act of 1972, as amended Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected 21, 2016, so we can ensure sufficient Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the space for all participants and interested regulations governing the taking and [FR Doc. 2016–23857 Filed 10–3–16; 8:45 am] parties during our logistics planning. importing of marine mammals (50 CFR BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Agenda part 216). The applicant proposes to Æ October 25–26 will focus on characterize the behavioral responses of DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE recovery actions and criteria related to harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) non-longline commercial and National Oceanic and Atmospheric and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) to recreational fisheries interactions; Administration marine renewable energy devices, and Æ October 27 will focus on recovery to characterize the fine scale habitat use actions and criteria related to nutrition, RIN 0648–XE913 of marine mammals in tidal inlets to i.e., prey size/biomass, distribution, and inform collision risk with tidal turbines. Marine Mammals; File No. 20452 competition with fisheries; Behavioral responses to tidal turbine Æ October 28 will focus on recovery AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries noise will be addressed with an actions and criteria related to other Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and experimental playback approach. The threats to both the species itself and its Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), playback studies will be undertaken in habitat including noise and Commerce. the inland waters of Washington State contaminants. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. using a combination of land-based Request for Information surveys and passive acoustic monitoring SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that methods. Studies to characterize the We also invite the public to submit SMRU Consulting North America, LLC, fine scale habitat use of harbor porpoise scientific or commercial information P.O. Box 764, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, and pinnipeds in tidal inlets will use a that may help to inform the recovery has applied in due form for a permit to combination of land-based and criteria and actions for the MHI insular conduct research on harbor porpoises unmanned aerial system surveys, and false killer whale DPS. We are soliciting and harbor seals in Admiralty Inlet and will also be carried out in the inland relevant information related to the MHI the San Juan Islands, Washington. waters of Washington State during insular false killer whale and its habitat, DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email 2016–2021. The applicant requests 244 including the following: comments must be received on or before Level B takes of harbor porpoise mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 1. Criteria for removing the MHI November 3, 2016. between two study areas, 416 takes of insular false killer whale from the list of ADDRESSES: The application and related harbor seals, 154 Steller sea lions threatened and endangered species (this documents are available for review by (Eumetopias jubatus), and 7 California could be either threats-based or selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public sea lions (Zalophus californianus) by abundance/trends based); Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on means of acoustic playbacks and UAS. 2. Human activities that contribute to the Applications and Permits for In compliance with the National threats to the species; Protected Species (APPS) home page, Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Oct 03, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1


Document Created: 2016-10-04 03:03:27
Document Modified: 2016-10-04 03:03:27
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; request for information.
Dates<bullet> Workshop dates and information: The four-day recovery planning workshop for the MHI insular false killer whale DPS will be held Tuesday, October 25 through Friday, October 28, 2016, at the Ohana Waikiki East Hotel, 150 Kaiulani Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815. The workshop will begin each day at 9 a.m. and end each day at 5:30 p.m. or as necessary to complete business for the day.
ContactKrista Graham, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, 808-725-5152. You may also visit our Web site at: http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/ prd_mhi_false_killer_whale.html#fwk_esa_listing.
FR Citation81 FR 68405 
RIN Number0648-XC90
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