82 FR 10884 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 31 (February 16, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 31 (February 16, 2017)
| Page Range | 10884-10885 | |
| FR Document | 2017-03076 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 10884-10885] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-03076] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Title: Alaska Region Gear Identification. OMB Control Number: 0648-0353. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved information collection). Number of Respondents: 988. Average Hours per Response: Tag requests and replacements, 15 minutes; buoy marking, 15 minutes per buoy. Burden Hours: 1,841. Needs and Uses: Regulations specify that all hook-and-line, longline pot, and pot-and-line marker buoys carried on board or used by any vessel must be marked with Federal Fisheries Permit number or State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game vessel registration number. Regulations that marker buoys be marked with identification information are essential to facilitate fisheries enforcement and actions concerning damage, loss, and civil proceedings. The ability to link fishing gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to enforcement of regulations. This collection also provides a voluntary opportunity for Gulf of Alaska (GOA) individual fishing quota (IFQ) sablefish fishermen to use a gear that physically protects caught sablefish from depredation by whales. That option, the use of pot longline gear, currently exists in sablefish IFQ fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management areas. Potential benefits of pot longline gear for sablefish fishing include: Mitigation of whale interaction with fishing gear, reduced mortality of seabirds, reduced bycatch of non-target fish species, reduced overall halibut mortality when targeting sablefish, and better accounting of total sablefish fishing mortality. Whales are able to strip hooked fish from hook-and-line gear, which reduces the amount of sablefish caught by fishermen. As such, whale depredation represents undocumented fishing mortality. Many seabird species are attracted to fishing vessels in order to forage on bait, offal, discards, and other prey made available by fishing operations. These interactions can result in direct mortality for seabirds if they become entangled in fishing gear or strike the vessel or fishing gear while flying. Each vessel must use mandatory logbooks (see OMB Control No. 0648- 0213 and 0648-0515) when participating in a longline pot fishery. When the number of pots deployed by a vessel is self-reported through logbooks, the use of pot tags provides an additional enforcement tool to ensure [[Page 10885]] that the pot limits are not exceeded. The use of pot tags requires a uniquely identified tag to be securely affixed to each pot. This allows at-sea enforcement and post-trip verification of the number of pots fished. Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households. Frequency: On occasion. Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory. This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806. Dated: February 10, 2017. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2017-03076 Filed 2-15-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![10884 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 31 / Thursday, February 16, 2017 / Notices
following proposal for collection of taken by the Secretary and the Councils Agency: National Oceanic and
information under the provisions of the to implement the disclosure of financial Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. interest and recusal requirements, Title: Alaska Region Gear
Chapter 35). including identification of any conflict Identification.
Agency: National Oceanic and of interest problems with respect to the OMB Control Number: 0648–0353.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Councils and SSCs and Form Number(s): None.
Title: Statement of Financial Interests, recommendations for addressing any Type of Request: Regular (extension of
Regional Fishery Management Councils. such problems. a currently approved information
OMB Control Number: 0648–0192. The Act further provides that a collection).
Form Number(s): NOAA88–195. member shall not vote on a Council Number of Respondents: 988.
Type of Request: Regular (revision Average Hours per Response: Tag
decision that would have a significant
and extension of a currently approved requests and replacements, 15 minutes;
and predictable effect on a financial
information collection). buoy marking, 15 minutes per buoy.
interest if there is a close causal link
Number of Respondents: 330. Burden Hours: 1,841.
Average Hours per Response: 45 between the Council decision and an Needs and Uses: Regulations specify
minutes. expected and substantially that all hook-and-line, longline pot, and
Burden Hours: 247 hours. disproportionate benefit to the financial pot-and-line marker buoys carried on
Needs and Uses: This request is for interest of the affected individual board or used by any vessel must be
revision and extension of a current relative to the financial interest of other marked with Federal Fisheries Permit
information collection. The Magnuson- participants in the same gear type or number or State of Alaska Department
Stevens Fishery Conservation and sector of the fishery. However, an of Fish and Game vessel registration
Management Act (Magnuson Stevens affected individual who is declared number. Regulations that marker buoys
Act) authorizes the establishment of ineligible to vote on a Council action be marked with identification
Regional Fishery Management Councils may participate in Council deliberations information are essential to facilitate
to exercise sound judgment in the relating to the decision after notifying fisheries enforcement and actions
stewardship of fishery resources the Council of his/her recusal and concerning damage, loss, and civil
through the preparation, monitoring, identifying the financial interest that proceedings. The ability to link fishing
and revision of such fishery would be affected. gear to the vessel owner or operator is
management plans under circumstances The form has been revised to increase crucial to enforcement of regulations.
(a) which will enable the States, the clarity for the respondents. No new This collection also provides a
fishing industry, consumers, information is being requested. voluntary opportunity for Gulf of Alaska
environmental organizations, and other Affected Public: Individuals or (GOA) individual fishing quota (IFQ)
interested persons to participate in the households. sablefish fishermen to use a gear that
development of such plans, and (b) Frequency: Annually or updated as physically protects caught sablefish
which take into account the social and needed. from depredation by whales. That
economic needs of fishermen and Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. option, the use of pot longline gear,
dependent communities. This information collection request currently exists in sablefish IFQ
Section 302(j) of the Magnuson- may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Stevens Act requires that Council the instructions to view Department of Islands management areas. Potential
members appointed by the Secretary, Commerce collections currently under benefits of pot longline gear for sablefish
Scientific and Statistical Committee review by OMB. fishing include: Mitigation of whale
(SSC) members appointed by a Council Written comments and interaction with fishing gear, reduced
under Section 302(g)(1), or individuals recommendations for the proposed mortality of seabirds, reduced bycatch
nominated by the Governor of a State for information collection should be sent of non-target fish species, reduced
possible appointment as a Council within 30 days of publication of this overall halibut mortality when targeting
member, disclose their financial interest notice to OIRA_Submission@ sablefish, and better accounting of total
in any Council fishery. These interests omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. sablefish fishing mortality.
include harvesting, processing, Whales are able to strip hooked fish
Dated: February 10, 2017.
lobbying, advocacy, or marketing from hook-and-line gear, which reduces
Sarah Brabson,
activity that is being, or will be, the amount of sablefish caught by
undertaken within any fishery over NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. fishermen. As such, whale depredation
which the Council concerned has [FR Doc. 2017–03085 Filed 2–15–17; 8:45 am] represents undocumented fishing
jurisdiction, or with respect to an BILLING CODE 3510–22–P mortality.
individual or organization with a Many seabird species are attracted to
financial interest in such activity. The fishing vessels in order to forage on bait,
authority to require this information and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE offal, discards, and other prey made
reporting and filing requirements has available by fishing operations. These
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
not changed. Revision: NOAA Fisheries interactions can result in direct
Administration
is in the process of conducting minor mortality for seabirds if they become
revisions to the form by adding clearer Submission for OMB Review; entangled in fishing gear or strike the
instructions and clarifying some of the vessel or fishing gear while flying.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Comment Request
questions asked to ensure the questions Each vessel must use mandatory
are consistent with the regulatory The Department of Commerce will logbooks (see OMB Control No. 0648–
requirements. Revisions will also submit to the Office of Management and 0213 and 0648–0515) when
include a specific check box to indicate Budget (OMB) for clearance the participating in a longline pot fishery.
that a Council nominee, and not a following proposal for collection of When the number of pots deployed by
member, is completing the form. information under the provisions of the a vessel is self-reported through
The Secretary is required to submit an Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. logbooks, the use of pot tags provides an
annual report to Congress on action Chapter 35). additional enforcement tool to ensure
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 31 / Thursday, February 16, 2017 / Notices 10885
that the pot limits are not exceeded. The Background site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
use of pot tags requires a uniquely Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the permits/incidental/construction.htm.
identified tag to be securely affixed to MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct The City will conduct in-water
each pot. This allows at-sea enforcement the Secretary of Commerce to allow, construction work (i.e., pile driving and
and post-trip verification of the number upon request, the incidental, but not removal) that may incidentally harass
of pots fished. intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals. The activity may
Affected Public: Business or other for- marine mammals by U.S. citizens who occur between January 1, 2017 and
profit organizations; individuals or engage in a specified activity (other than December 31, 2017, with restrictions on
households. commercial fishing) within a specified impact driving between May 1, 2017
Frequency: On occasion. geographical region if certain findings and June 30, 2017.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. are made and either regulations are Activities included as part of the
This information collection request issued or, if the taking is limited to Project with the potential to take marine
may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow harassment, a notice of a proposed mammals include vibratory and impact
the instructions to view Department of authorization is provided to the public pile-driving operations and use of a
Commerce collections currently under for review. down-hole drill/hammer to install piles
review by OMB. An authorization for incidental in bedrock. Take by Level B harassment
Written comments and takings shall be granted if NMFS finds of individuals of six species is
recommendations for the proposed that the taking will have a negligible anticipated to result from the specified
information collection should be sent impact on the species or stock(s), will
activity.
within 30 days of publication of this not have an unmitigable adverse impact
notice to OIRA_Submission@ on the availability of the species or On August 4, 2016, NMFS released its
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. stock(s) for subsistence uses (where Technical Guidance for Assessing the
relevant), and if the permissible Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on
Dated: February 10, 2017.
methods of taking and requirements Marine Mammal Hearing (Guidance).
Sarah Brabson,
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring This new guidance established new
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. thresholds for predicting auditory
and reporting of such takings are set
[FR Doc. 2017–03076 Filed 2–15–17; 8:45 am] injury, which equates to Level A
forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘an harassment under the MMPA. The
impact resulting from the specified transient float project used this new
activity that cannot be reasonably guidance when determining the injury
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Level A) zones.
expected to, and is not reasonably likely
National Oceanic and Atmospheric to, adversely affect the species or stock
Description of the Specified Activity
Administration through effects on annual rates of
recruitment or survival.’’ Overview
Except with respect to certain
XRIN 0648–XE941 The City plans to replace its existing
activities not pertinent here, the MMPA
defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: Any act of transient float located in Kodiak’s Near
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Island Channel. The purpose of this
Specified Activities; Taking Marine pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i)
has the potential to injure a marine project is to replace the transient float
Mammals Incidental to the Kodiak with one that meets modern standards
Transient Float Replacement Project mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has for vessel mooring and public safety for
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the potential to disturb a marine the next 50 years. The existing float has
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and mammal or marine mammal stock in the structural issues due to failing walers,
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), wild by causing disruption of behavioral stringers, and bullrails. Due to these
Commerce. patterns, including, but not limited to, structural problems, the float’s capacity
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an Incidental migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, has been reduced. The existing float
Harassment Authorization. feeding, or sheltering (Level B needs to be replaced due to its poor
harassment). condition and reduced capacity. The
SUMMARY: In accordance with the planned action includes in-water
Summary of Request construction, including the removal of
regulations implementing the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as On August 15, 2016, NMFS received the existing timber float and its
amended, notification is hereby given an application from the City for the associated timber and steel piles, and
that NMFS has issued an incidental taking of marine mammals incidental to installation of the replacement float and
harassment authorization (IHA) to the the Kodiak transient float replacement steel piles. The replacement float will be
City of Kodiak (the City) to incidentally project (Project) in Kodiak, Alaska. On located within nearly the same footprint
harass, by Level B harassment only, October 17, 2016 NMFS received a as the existing facility; however, the
marine mammals during construction revised application with updated take overall float length will be shortened to
activities associated with pile driving numbers. NMFS determined that the improve all around accessibility within
and removal and down hole drilling application was adequate and complete City right-of-way limits. A detailed
on October 21, 2016. Subsequent to description of the planned Project is
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
activities in Kodiak, Alaska.
NMFS accepting the application, provided in the Federal Register notice
DATES: This Authorization is effective
changes were made to the injury zones, for the proposed IHA (81 FR 79350;
from January 1, 2017 through December
take numbers, and shutdown zones. The November 10, 2016). Since that time, no
31, 2017.
City provided a memo to NMFS on changes have been made to the planned
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: November 1, 2016 noting these changes. Project activities. Therefore, a detailed
Laura McCue, Office of Protected This memo, along with the City’s description is not provided here. Please
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. application, and other supporting refer to that Federal Register notice for
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: documents can be found on our Web the description of the specific activity.
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Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:02:28
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:02:28
| 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 | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 10884 |
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