82 FR 15311 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Mid-Atlantic Unmanaged Forage Fish Omnibus Amendment
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 58 (March 28, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 58 (March 28, 2017)
| Page Range | 15311-15313 | |
| FR Document | 2017-06114 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 28, 2017)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 15311-15313] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-06114] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 RIN 0648-BG42 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Mid-Atlantic Unmanaged Forage Fish Omnibus Amendment AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has submitted its Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for review and approval. We are requesting comments from the public on this amendment. This amendment would implement an annual landing limit, possession limits, and permitting and reporting requirements for certain previously unmanaged forage species and species groups within Mid-Atlantic Federal waters. The purpose of this action is to prevent the development of new, and the expansion of existing, commercial fisheries on certain forage species until the Council has adequate opportunity and information to evaluate the potential impacts of forage fish harvest on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem. DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0013, by any 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-2017-0013, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. [[Page 15312]] Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on Mid-Atlantic Forage NOA.'' 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). The Council prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment that describes the proposed action and other alternatives considered and provides a thorough analysis of the impacts of the proposed measures and alternatives considered. Copies of the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment, including the EA, the Regulatory Impact Review, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis, are available from: Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 201, 800 State Street, Dover, DE 19901. The EA and associated analysis is accessible via the Internet at http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ or http://www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Christel, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9141; fax 978-281-9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Mid-Atlantic Council stakeholders identified managing forage species as a key concern for future action during a 2011 strategic planning and visioning process. Forage species are generally considered small, mostly pelagic schooling species that serve as prey for larger species. In 2014, the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) developed a white paper on forage species. The paper indicated that forage species facilitate the transfer of energy from the lowest levels of the food chain to higher levels, highlighting the importance of forage species in maintaining the productivity of marine ecosystems. The Council recognized that although it already manages several forage species that are the target of directed commercial fisheries (Atlantic mackerel, longfin and Illex squid, and butterfish), there are other unmanaged species that serve as prey for species important to commercial and recreational fisheries managed within the Mid-Atlantic. However, the Council was concerned that insufficient information existed to assess the amount of unmanaged forage species currently being harvested and associated impacts to other marine resources. Due to the importance of forage species to the marine ecosystem and the health of important commercial and recreational fisheries, the Council sought to prevent the further expansion of commercial fishing effort on forage species. Therefore, the Council wanted to maintain existing commercial fisheries at recent levels until it could collect more detailed information to evaluate the potential impacts of forage fish harvest on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem. On December 8, 2014, the Council initiated an action to begin protecting previously unmanaged forage species in each fishery management plan (FMP) under its jurisdiction. The purpose of this action is to prevent the development of new, and the expansion of existing, commercial fisheries on certain forage species. Scoping meetings were held from Rhode Island through North Carolina in September and October 2015. These meetings sought public input on the type of action to undertake, which forage species to address, the geographic scope of the action, data needs, possible measures to prevent the expansion of commercial fisheries on forage species, and processes to evaluate the development of commercial fisheries in the future. After further developing proposed measures, the Council conducted public hearings in May and June 2016 to solicit additional input on the range of alternatives under consideration by the Council, with public comments accepted through June 17, 2016. At its August 2016 meeting, the Council adopted final measures under the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment. On November 23, 2016, the Council submitted the amendment and draft EA to NMFS for preliminary review. The Council submitted the final forage amendment on March 20, 2017. The Council reviewed the proposed regulations to implement these measures, as drafted by NMFS, and deemed them to be necessary and appropriate, as specified in section 303(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act on March 10, 2017. This amendment would prevent the development of new, and the expansion of existing, commercial fisheries on certain Mid-Atlantic forage species until the Council can collect the information necessary to more fully evaluate the potential impacts of forage species harvests on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem. To do this, the Council would limit catch of certain forage species to recent levels and implement administrative measures necessary to more accurately record the catch of these species within Mid-Atlantic Federal waters. Specifically, this action proposes the following measures: Designate 15 species and species groups as ecosystem component species of FMPs under the Council's jurisdiction; Specify a 1,700-lb (771-kg) combined possession limit for ecosystem component species within Mid-Atlantic Federal waters; Set an annual catch limit of 2.86 million lb (1,297 mt) for Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias); Specify a 40,000-lb (18,144-kg) chub mackerel possession limit within Mid-Atlantic Federal waters (i.e., from New York through Cape Hatteras, NC, an area referred to as the ``Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit'') once the chub mackerel annual landing limit is reached; Require that all vessels possessing ecosystem component species and chub mackerel in Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit be issued a Federal commercial fishing vessel permit from the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and comply with existing reporting requirements; Allow vessels that catch ecosystem component species and chub mackerel outside of the Mid-Atlantic Forage Species Management Unit to transit through the area to land these species at other ports; Develop appropriate codes to record the catch of these species in vessel trip reports and dealer reports; Establish a Council policy requiring an exempted fishery permit and sufficient Council review before further development of any fishery for ecosystem component species; and Expand framework provisions in the all of the Council's FMPs to allow future changes to annual landing limits and possession limits for Mid-Atlantic forage species. As proposed, the proposed chub mackerel measures are temporary, and would expire in 3 years. This would allow the Council to develop long- term [[Page 15313]] measures and the scientific information necessary to formally integrate this chub mackerel as a stock in the fishery under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP. The Council initiated a separate action to develop these long-term measures at its February 2017 meeting for implementation by 2020, if approved. Public comments are being solicited on the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment and its incorporated documents through the end of the comment period specified in the DATES section of this notice of availability (NOA). Following NMFS's review of the amendment under the Magnuson- Stevens Act procedures, a rule proposing to implement measures outlined in this amendment may be published in the Federal Register for public comment. All comments received by the end of the comment period on the NOA, whether specifically directed to the NOA or the proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision. Comments received after the end of the comment period for the NOA will not be considered in the approval/disapproval decision of this action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 23, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-06114 Filed 3-27-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 28, 2017 / Proposed Rules 15311
hearing, please contact Ms. Long at the regarding REAL ID, go to http:// Dated: March 16, 2017.
above number. www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief. Stephen Page,
If you have questions concerning the In addition, you will need to obtain a Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and
January 19, 2017, proposed action, property pass for any personal Standards.
please contact Ms. Gobeail McKinley, belongings you bring with you. Upon [FR Doc. 2017–06120 Filed 3–27–17; 8:45 am]
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leaving the building, you will be BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Office of Air Quality Planning and required to return this property pass to
Standards (OAQPS), Air Quality the security desk. No large signs will be
Planning Division (C539–01), Research allowed in the building, cameras may DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone only be used outside of the building,
(919) 541–5246, email address and demonstrations will not be allowed National Oceanic and Atmospheric
mckinley.gobeail@epa.gov. on federal property for security reasons. Administration
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
If you would like to present oral
proposal for which the EPA is holding testimony at the hearing, please notify 50 CFR Part 648
the public hearing was published in the Ms. Pamela Long, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality RIN 0648–BG42
Federal Register on January 19, 2017
(82 FR 6509), and is available at: http:// Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Air
Quality Planning Division (C504–01), Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/2008- Conservation and Management Act
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711,
ozone-national-ambient-air-quality- Provisions; Fisheries of the
telephone (919) 541–0641, fax number
standards-naaqs-section-176a-petitions Northeastern United States; Mid-
(919) 541–5509, email address
and also in Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– Atlantic Unmanaged Forage Fish
long.pam@epa.gov, no later than 4:00
OAR–2016–0596. The public hearing Omnibus Amendment
p.m. ET on April 11, 2017. Ms. Long
will provide interested parties the
will arrange a general time slot for you AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
opportunity to present data, views, or
to speak. The EPA will make every Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
arguments concerning the proposal. The
effort to follow the schedule as closely Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
EPA may ask clarifying questions during
as possible on the day of the hearing. Commerce.
the oral presentations, but will not Oral testimony will be limited to 5
respond to presentations at that time. ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery
minutes for each commenter. The EPA
Written statements and supporting management plan amendment; request
encourages commenters to provide the
information that are submitted during for comments.
EPA with a copy of their oral testimony
the comment period will be considered electronically (via email) or in hard SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the
with the same weight as any oral copy form. The EPA will not provide Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
comments and supporting information audiovisual equipment for presentations Council has submitted its Unmanaged
presented at the public hearing. Written unless we receive special requests in Forage Omnibus Amendment to the
comments must be postmarked by the advance. Commenters should notify Ms. Secretary of Commerce for review and
last day of the comment period. Long if they will need specific approval. We are requesting comments
The public hearing will convene at equipment. Commenters should also from the public on this amendment.
9:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. Eastern notify Ms. Long if they need specific This amendment would implement an
Time (ET) or at least 2 hours after the translation services for non-English annual landing limit, possession limits,
last registered speaker has spoken. The speaking commenters. and permitting and reporting
EPA will make every effort to Prior to the hearing, the hearing requirements for certain previously
accommodate all individuals interested schedule, including the list of speakers, unmanaged forage species and species
in providing oral testimony. A lunch will be posted on the EPA’s Web site at: groups within Mid-Atlantic Federal
break is scheduled from 12:00 p.m. until http://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/ waters. The purpose of this action is to
1:00 p.m. Please note that this hearing 2008-ozone-national-ambient-air- prevent the development of new, and
will be held at a U.S. government quality-standards-naaqs-section-176a- the expansion of existing, commercial
facility. Individuals planning to attend petitions. Verbatim transcripts of the fisheries on certain forage species until
the hearing should be prepared to show hearing and written statements will be the Council has adequate opportunity
valid picture identification to the included in the docket for the action. and information to evaluate the
security staff in order to gain access to
How can I get copies of this document potential impacts of forage fish harvest
the meeting room. The REAL ID Act,
and other related information? on existing fisheries, fishing
passed by Congress in 2005, established
communities, and the marine
new requirements for entering federal The EPA has established a docket for
ecosystem.
facilities. These requirements took effect the proposed action ‘‘Response to
on July 21, 2014. If your driver’s license December 9, 2013, Clean Air Act DATES: Comments must be received on
is issued by Kentucky, Maine, Section 176A Petition from Connecticut, or before May 30, 2017.
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South New Hampshire, New York, on this document, identified by NOAA–
Carolina or the state of Washington, you Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and NMFS–2017–0013, by any of the
must present an additional form of Vermont’’ under Docket ID No. EPA– following methods:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
identification to enter the federal HQ–OAR–2016–0596 (available at: • Electronic Submission: Submit all
building where the public hearing will http://www.regulations.gov). The EPA electronic public comments via the
be held. Acceptable alternative forms of has made available information related Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
identification include: Federal to the proposed action on the EPA’s www.regulations.gov/
employee badges, passports, enhanced Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/ozone- #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-
driver’s licenses and military pollution/2008-ozone-national-ambient- 0013, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
identification cards. For additional air-quality-standards-naaqs-section- complete the required fields, and enter
information for the status of your state 176a-petitions. or attach your comments.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 28, 2017 / Proposed Rules 15313
measures and the scientific information comment period specified in the DATES disapproval decision. Comments
necessary to formally integrate this chub section of this notice of availability received after the end of the comment
mackerel as a stock in the fishery under (NOA). Following NMFS’s review of the period for the NOA will not be
the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and amendment under the Magnuson- considered in the approval/disapproval
Butterfish FMP. The Council initiated a Stevens Act procedures, a rule decision of this action.
separate action to develop these long- proposing to implement measures Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
term measures at its February 2017 outlined in this amendment may be
meeting for implementation by 2020, if published in the Federal Register for Dated: March 23, 2017.
approved. public comment. All comments received Karen H. Abrams,
Public comments are being solicited by the end of the comment period on Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
on the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus the NOA, whether specifically directed Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Amendment and its incorporated to the NOA or the proposed rule, will [FR Doc. 2017–06114 Filed 3–27–17; 8:45 am]
documents through the end of the be considered in the approval/ BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Mar 27, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\28MRP1.SGM 28MRP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_15369/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2017-03-28 00:32:25
Document Modified: 2017-03-28 00:32:25
| 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 | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice of availability of a fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before May 30, 2017. | |
| Contact | Douglas Christel, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9141; fax 978-281-9135. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 15311 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-BG42 |
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