82 FR 13581 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; Deep-Set Tuna Longline Fisheries

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 48 (March 14, 2017)

NMFS, in coordination with the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), intends to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to analyze the environmental impacts of the continued authorization and management of U.S. Pacific Island deep-set tuna longline fisheries under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific (FEP) and other applicable laws. The analysis would include certain longline fisheries based in Hawaii, the U.S. west coast, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The PEIS is intended to support management of U.S. pelagic longline fisheries.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 13581]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04996]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF177


Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; Deep-Set Tuna Longline 
Fisheries

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement; rescheduled public meetings; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS, in coordination with the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council), intends to prepare a Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to analyze the environmental 
impacts of the continued authorization and management of U.S. Pacific 
Island deep-set tuna longline fisheries under the Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific (FEP) and other 
applicable laws. The analysis would include certain longline fisheries 
based in Hawaii, the U.S. west coast, American Samoa, Guam, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The PEIS is 
intended to support management of U.S. pelagic longline fisheries.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates. NMFS 
must receive comments by April 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this action, identified by NOAA-
NMFS-2017-0010, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0010, click the ``Comment 
Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your 
comments.
     Mail: Send written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp 
Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
     Scoping Meeting: Submit written comments at a scoping 
meeting.
    Instructions: You must submit comments by the above methods to 
ensure that NMFS receives, documents, and considers your comments. NMFS 
may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. 
NMFS will consider all comments received as part of the public record 
and will generally post comments for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will 
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you 
wish to remain anonymous).
    Copies of the FEP, amendments, and previous EISs are available at 
http://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariel Jacobs, NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, (808) 725-5182.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS previously published a Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to prepare a PEIS to analyze the environmental impacts of the 
continued authorization and management of U.S. Pacific Island deep-set 
tuna longline fisheries under the FEP and other applicable laws (81 FR 
10467, February 13, 2017). You may find details regarding development 
of the PEIS in that NOI; we do not repeat them here.
    The NOI announced public scoping meetings in Hawaii, American 
Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we 
are rescheduling the meetings in American Samoa. NMFS will hold public 
meetings at the dates and locations below. All meetings will be from 6 
p.m. to 9 p.m.

1. Fagatogo

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

    Fale Tele of the American Samoa Senate (Fono), Senate building, 
Fagatogo, Pago Pago, AS 96799.

2. Laulii

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

    Fale Tele of HTC Vaimaona, Laulii, Pago Pago, AS 96799.

3. Tafuna

Thursday, March 30, 2017

    NOAA GMD/PIFSC Compound Tafuna, 8043 Tasi St., Tafuna, AS 96799.

Special Accommodations

    NMFS will make every attempt to make these meetings accessible to 
people with disabilities. Direct any requests for sign language 
interpretation, physical assistance, or other auxiliary aids to Ariel 
Jacobs at (808) 725-5182 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 9, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04996 Filed 3-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P