82 FR 1720 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the South Atlantic States; Amendment 43
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 4 (January 6, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 4 (January 6, 2017)
| Page Range | 1720-1721 | |
| FR Document | 2016-32049 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 4 (Friday, January 6, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 1720-1721] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-32049] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF115 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the South Atlantic States; Amendment 43 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 South Atlantic 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 43 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 43). The purpose of Amendment 43 is to respond to the most recent stock assessment for red snapper in the South Atlantic, reduce discards of red snapper, and improve the quantity and quality of data collected from private recreational fishermen. 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 February 6, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0157, 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-2016-0157, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Helies, 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: Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; or email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: South Atlantic red snapper were determined to be overfished and undergoing overfishing in the 2009 Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment (SEDAR 15). In response to SEDAR 15, the Council recommended and NMFS subsequently implemented a prohibition on all harvest or possession of South Atlantic red snapper through Amendment 17A to the FMP (75 FR 76874, December 9, 2010). Through management measures implemented in Amendment 28 to the FMP, limited seasons for the harvest of red snapper occurred in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 fishing years (78 FR 44461, July 24, 2013). However, red snapper removals (total landings and dead discards) in the 2014 and 2015 fishing years exceeded the acceptable biological catch (ABC) and subsequent seasons' annual catch limits (ACLs) were set to zero and harvest and possession of red snapper was not allowed in the 2015 or 2016 fishing years. According to the most recent stock assessment, the red snapper stock in the South Atlantic is undergoing overfishing and is overfished (SEDAR 41 2016). The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed SEDAR 41 in May 2016 and considered the assessment to be best scientific information available. In response to SEDAR 41 and the SSC's recommendation, the Council is considering changes to the ACLs, the recreational annual catch target, and management reference points. Discard mortality, particularly from the recreational sector, continues to be a significant source of overall mortality for red snapper. Therefore, the Council is considering methods to reduce discard mortality in Amendment 43 including spatial and temporal closures (where harvest of all snapper-grouper species would be prohibited), changes to allowable fishing gear types (e.g., circle hooks), and requiring the use of descending devices and/or venting tools for released fish. Finally, the Council is evaluating ways to improve the quantity and quality of data collected from private recreational fishermen. The goal is to improve the data that are used to assess and manage the red snapper stock in the South Atlantic. The Council is considering a Federal permit requirement for private recreational fishermen to fish for or possess snapper-grouper species and a requirement for private recreational fishermen to complete electronic logbooks. NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, will develop a DEIS for Amendment 43 to describe and analyze alternatives to address the management needs described above, including the ``no action'' alternative. In accordance with 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 43 draft options paper is available at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/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 throughout the development of Amendment 43, the Council will accept written comments on the action, and oral comments may be made during upcoming public scoping meetings. The upcoming scoping meetings will be held at locations and times listed in Table 1. [[Page 1721]] Table 1--Scoping Meetings ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ January 18, 2017--6 p.m., listening January 19, 2017--6 p.m., station. listening station. Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Hyatt Place Marathon, 1996 Avenue, 2nd Floor, Key West, FL 33040. Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050. January 23, 2017--6 p.m., in-person January 24, 2017--6 p.m., in- meeting. person meeting. Lexington Hotel & Conference Center, Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, 1515 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, 1550 North Atlantic Avenue, FL 32207. Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. January 25, 2017--6 p.m., in-person January 26, 2017--6 p.m., in- meeting. person meeting. Flagler Place, 201 SW Flagler Avenue, Hilton Key Largo, 97000 Stuart, FL 34994. Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037. January 30, 2017--6 p.m., in-person January 31, 2017--6 p.m., in- meeting. person meeting. Murrells Inlet Community Center, 4462 Crowne Plaza, 4831 Tanger Murrells Inlet Road, Murrells Inlet, Outlet Boulevard, North SC 29576. Charleston, SC 29418. February 1, 2017--6 p.m., in-person February 6, 2017--6 p.m., in- meeting. person meeting. Richmond Hill City Center, 520 Cedar Hilton Wilmington Riverside, Street, Richmond Hill, GA 31324. 201 N. Water Street, Wilmington, NC 28401. February 7, 2017--6 p.m., in-person February 8, 2017--6 p.m., in- meeting. person meeting. Hatteras Community Center, 57689 NC Doubletree by Hilton, 2717 W. Highway 12, Hatteras, NC 27943. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ After the DEIS associated with Amendment 43 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 the Amendment 43. 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: December 30, 2016. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-32049 Filed 1-5-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![1720 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2017 / Notices
2017–19. The Monitoring Committee • Electronic submission: Submit all the assessment to be best scientific
will also develop recommendations for electronic public comments via the information available. In response to
recreational management measures for Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to SEDAR 41 and the SSC’s
black sea bass in 2017. Meeting www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= recommendation, the Council is
materials will be posted to http:// NOAA-NMFS-2016-0157, click the considering changes to the ACLs, the
www.mafmc.org/ prior to the meeting. ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the recreational annual catch target, and
The meeting is physically accessible required fields, and enter or attach your management reference points.
to people with disabilities. Requests for comments. Discard mortality, particularly from
sign language interpretation or other • Mail: Submit written comments to the recreational sector, continues to be
auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional a significant source of overall mortality
Jan Saunders at the Mid-Atlantic Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. for red snapper. Therefore, the Council
Council Office, (302) 526–5251, at least Petersburg, FL 33701. is considering methods to reduce
5 days prior to the meeting date. Instructions: Comments sent by any discard mortality in Amendment 43
Dated: January 3, 2017.
other method, to any other address or including spatial and temporal closures
individual, or received after the end of (where harvest of all snapper-grouper
Jeffrey N. Lonergan,
the comment period, may not be species would be prohibited), changes
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable considered by NMFS. All comments
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. to allowable fishing gear types (e.g.,
received are a part of the public record circle hooks), and requiring the use of
[FR Doc. 2017–00059 Filed 1–5–17; 8:45 am]
and will generally be posted for public descending devices and/or venting tools
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P viewing on www.regulations.gov for released fish.
without change. All personal identifying Finally, the Council is evaluating
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), ways to improve the quantity and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE confidential business information, or quality of data collected from private
National Oceanic and Atmospheric otherwise sensitive information recreational fishermen. The goal is to
Administration submitted voluntarily by the sender will improve the data that are used to assess
be publicly accessible. NMFS will and manage the red snapper stock in the
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ South Atlantic. The Council is
RIN 0648–XF115
A’’ in the required fields if you wish to considering a Federal permit
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of remain anonymous). requirement for private recreational
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: fishermen to fish for or possess snapper-
Grouper Fishery Off the South Atlantic Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional grouper species and a requirement for
States; Amendment 43 Office, telephone: 727–824–5305; or private recreational fishermen to
email: frank.helies@noaa.gov. complete electronic logbooks.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: South NMFS, in collaboration with the
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atlantic red snapper were determined to Council, will develop a DEIS for
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), be overfished and undergoing Amendment 43 to describe and analyze
Commerce. overfishing in the 2009 Southeast Data, alternatives to address the management
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock needs described above, including the
a draft environmental impact statement assessment (SEDAR 15). In response to ‘‘no action’’ alternative. In accordance
(DEIS); request for comments. SEDAR 15, the Council recommended with the regulations issued by the
and NMFS subsequently implemented a Council on Environmental Quality
SUMMARY: The NMFS Southeast Region, (CEQ) for implementing the National
prohibition on all harvest or possession
in collaboration with the South Atlantic Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40
of South Atlantic red snapper through
Fishery Management Council (Council), CFR parts 1500–1508), NMFS, in
Amendment 17A to the FMP (75 FR
intends to prepare a DEIS to describe collaboration with the Council, has
76874, December 9, 2010). Through
and analyze a range of alternatives for identified preliminary environmental
management measures implemented in
management actions to be included in issues as a means to initiate discussion
Amendment 28 to the FMP, limited
Amendment 43 to the Fishery for scoping purposes only. These
seasons for the harvest of red snapper
Management Plan (FMP) for the preliminary issues may not represent
occurred in the 2012, 2013, and 2014
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South the full range of issues that eventually
fishing years (78 FR 44461, July 24,
Atlantic Region (Amendment 43). The will be evaluated in the DEIS. A copy
2013). However, red snapper removals
purpose of Amendment 43 is to respond of the Amendment 43 draft options
(total landings and dead discards) in the
to the most recent stock assessment for paper is available at: http://
2014 and 2015 fishing years exceeded
red snapper in the South Atlantic, sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_
the acceptable biological catch (ABC)
reduce discards of red snapper, and fisheries/s_atl/sg/index.html.
and subsequent seasons’ annual catch
improve the quantity and quality of data Comments on the scope of the DEIS
limits (ACLs) were set to zero and
collected from private recreational may be submitted in writing to NMFS
harvest and possession of red snapper
fishermen. This NOI is to solicit public (see ADDRESSES) during the 30-day
was not allowed in the 2015 or 2016
comments on the scope of issues to be scoping period. After the scoping period
fishing years.
addressed in the DEIS. According to the most recent stock and throughout the development of
DATES: Written comments on the scope assessment, the red snapper stock in the Amendment 43, the Council will accept
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
of issues to be addressed in the DEIS South Atlantic is undergoing written comments on the action, and
will be accepted until February 6, 2017. overfishing and is overfished (SEDAR oral comments may be made during
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 41 2016). The Council’s Scientific and upcoming public scoping meetings. The
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2016–0157, Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed upcoming scoping meetings will be held
by either of the following methods: SEDAR 41 in May 2016 and considered at locations and times listed in Table 1.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2017 / Notices 1721
TABLE 1—SCOPING MEETINGS
January 18, 2017—6 p.m., listening station ............................................. January 19, 2017—6 p.m., listening station.
Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, 2nd Floor, Key Hyatt Place Marathon, 1996 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050.
West, FL 33040.
January 23, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting ......................................... January 24, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting.
Lexington Hotel & Conference Center, 1515 Prudential Drive, Jackson- Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, 1550 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa
ville, FL 32207. Beach, FL 32931.
January 25, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting ......................................... January 26, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting.
Flagler Place, 201 SW Flagler Avenue, Stuart, FL 34994 ...................... Hilton Key Largo, 97000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037.
January 30, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting ......................................... January 31, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting.
Murrells Inlet Community Center, 4462 Murrells Inlet Road, Murrells Crowne Plaza, 4831 Tanger Outlet Boulevard, North Charleston, SC
Inlet, SC 29576. 29418.
February 1, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting ......................................... February 6, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting.
Richmond Hill City Center, 520 Cedar Street, Richmond Hill, GA 31324 Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 201 N. Water Street, Wilmington, NC
28401.
February 7, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting ......................................... February 8, 2017—6 p.m., in-person meeting.
Hatteras Community Center, 57689 NC Highway 12, Hatteras, NC Doubletree by Hilton, 2717 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC
27943. 28512.
After the DEIS associated with Dated: December 30, 2016. Harrison, Chief, Permits and
Amendment 43 is completed, it will be Alan D. Risenhoover, Conservation Division, Office of
filed with the Environmental Protection Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Protected Resources, National Marine
Agency (EPA). After filing, the EPA will National Marine Fisheries Service. Fisheries Service. Physical comments
publish a notice of availability of the [FR Doc. 2016–32049 Filed 1–5–17; 8:45 am] should be sent to 1315 East-West
DEIS for public comment in the Federal BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
Register. Consistent with the CEQ electronic comments should be sent to
regulations, the DEIS will have a 45-day ITP.Laws@noaa.gov.
public comment period. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Instructions: Comments sent by any
The Council and NMFS will consider other method, to any other address or
public comments received on the DEIS National Oceanic and Atmospheric individual, or received after the end of
in developing the final environmental Administration the comment period, may not be
impact statement (FEIS) and before RIN 0648–XF107 considered by NMFS. All comments
adopting final management measures for received are a part of the public record
the amendment. NMFS will submit the Taking and Importing Marine and will generally be posted for public
consolidated final amendment and Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals viewing online at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
supporting FEIS to the Secretary of Incidental to Fishery-Independent pr/permits/incidental/research.htm
Commerce (Secretary) for review as Monitoring Activities without change. All personal identifying
required by the Magnuson-Stevens information (e.g., name, address),
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries confidential business information, or
Fishery Conservation and Management Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Act. otherwise sensitive information
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), submitted voluntarily by the sender will
NMFS will announce, through a Commerce.
notification in the Federal Register, the be publicly accessible. Attachments to
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for electronic comments will be accepted in
availability of the final amendment for Letters of Authorization; request for
public review during the Department of Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF
comments and information. file formats only.
Commerce Secretarial review period
and will consider all public comments. SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben
During Secretarial review, NMFS will from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Laws, Office of Protected Resources,
also file the FEIS with the EPA, and the Department (TPWD) for authorization to NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
EPA will publish a notice of availability take marine mammals incidental to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
for the FEIS in the Federal Register. conducting fishery-independent Availability
This public comment period is expected monitoring activities in estuarine waters
to be concurrent with the Secretarial of Texas, over the course of five years. Electronic copies of TPWD’s
review period and will end prior to final Pursuant to regulations implementing application may be obtained online at:
agency action to approve, disapprove, or the Marine Mammal Protection Act www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
partially approve the Amendment 43. (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt incidental/research.htm. In case of
of TPWD’s request for the development problems accessing these documents,
NMFS will announce, through a
and implementation of regulations please call the contact listed above.
document published in the Federal
Register, all public comment periods on governing the incidental taking of Background
the final amendment, its proposed marine mammals. NMFS invites the
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16
implementing regulations, and the public to provide information,
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
availability of its associated FEIS. NMFS suggestions, and comments on TPWD’s of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon
will consider all public comments application and request. request, the incidental, but not
received during the Secretarial review DATES: Comments and information must intentional, taking of small numbers of
period, whether they are on the final be received no later than February 6, marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
amendment, the proposed regulations, 2017. engage in a specified activity (other than
or the FEIS, prior to final agency action. ADDRESSES: Comments on the commercial fishing) if certain findings
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. application should be addressed to Jolie are made and regulations are issued.
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Document Created: 2017-01-06 01:30:07
Document Modified: 2017-01-06 01:30:07
| 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 | Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; or email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 1720 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF11 |
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