82_FR_28762 82 FR 28642 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

82 FR 28642 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 120 (June 23, 2017)

Page Range28642-28642
FR Document2017-13133

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and the University of Rhode Island contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt participating commercial fishing vessels from Federal lobster escape vent, trap limit, and trap tag regulations and restrictions on egg-bearing and v- notched female and sublegal lobsters for American lobster and Jonah crab research in a designated Wind Energy Area. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 28642]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13133]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF483


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; 
General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted 
Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the 
Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and the University of Rhode 
Island contains all of the required information and warrants further 
consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt participating 
commercial fishing vessels from Federal lobster escape vent, trap 
limit, and trap tag regulations and restrictions on egg-bearing and v-
notched female and sublegal lobsters for American lobster and Jonah 
crab research in a designated Wind Energy Area.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 10, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on CFRF/URI SNECVTS EFP.''
     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 
CFRF/URI SNECVTS Exempted Fishing Permit.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9180, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation 
(CFRF) and the University of Rhode Island (URI) submitted a complete 
application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on May 25, 2017, to 
conduct commercial fishing activities that the regulations would 
otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize four vessels (three active 
and one alternate) to conduct a cooperative ventless trap survey to 
determine distribution and habitat use of American lobster and Jonah 
crab in the Rhode Island/Massachusetts Wind Energy Area in Lobster 
Management Area (LMA) 2. The study is designed to better understand 
potential impacts of wind turbine construction on crustacean 
populations.
    Funding for this study has been awarded under the Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management Award (Grant #M13AC00009). CFRF and URI are 
requesting exemptions from Federal lobster regulations on:

    1. Gear specifications at 50 CFR 697.21(c)(2) to allow for 
closed escape vents;
    2. Trap limits for LMA 2, at Sec.  697.19(b), to be exceeded by 
80 additional traps per fishing vessel, for a total of 240 
additional traps;
    3. Trap tag requirements at Sec.  697.19(j);
    4. Minimum legal size possession restrictions at Sec.  
697.20(a)(4); and
    5. Possession restrictions on berried and standard v-notch 
females at Sec.  697.20(d) and (g).

    If the EFP is approved, three active vessels will survey lobsters 
and Jonah crabs at 24 established sampling sites within the study area, 
with an alternate vessel available in case of mechanical issues. Each 
active vessel will fish 8 standard Atlantic large whale-compliant 
trawls with 10 traps (6 ventless, 4 standard) per trawl, for a total of 
80 traps (48 ventless, 32 standard) per vessel. One trawl will be 
deployed at each of the fixed sample sites, and fished twice a month 
from July through November 2017, with a soak time of five days. There 
would never be more than 240 additional traps in the water at any time 
as a result of this project.
    During sampling, biological information will be recorded for all 
lobsters and up to 10 Jonah crabs from each trap, and other bycatch 
species will also be enumerated, weighed, and measured. The possession 
exemptions are required to sample all catch. All species will be 
returned promptly to the water after sampling. No catch from this 
project will be landed for sale.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the study period. EFP modifications 
and extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed 
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have 
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially 
approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope 
of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: June 20, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13133 Filed 6-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

28642 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 120 / Friday, June 23, 2017 / Notices On June 14, 2017, ArcelorMittal Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), potential impacts of wind turbine Tubular products, Michigan Seamless Commerce. construction on crustacean populations. Tube, LLC, Plymouth Tube Co. USA, ACTION: Notice; request for comments. Funding for this study has been PTC Alliance Corp., Webco Industries, awarded under the Bureau of Ocean Inc., and Zekelman Industries Inc. SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Energy Management Award (Grant (collectively, the petitioners), submitted Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, #M13AC00009). CFRF and URI are timely requests pursuant to section Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has requesting exemptions from Federal 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR made a preliminary determination that lobster regulations on: 351.205(e) to postpone the preliminary an Exempted Fishing Permit application 1. Gear specifications at 50 CFR determinations.3 For the reasons stated from the Commercial Fisheries Research 697.21(c)(2) to allow for closed escape vents; above and because there are no Foundation and the University of Rhode 2. Trap limits for LMA 2, at § 697.19(b), to compelling reasons to deny the requests, Island contains all of the required be exceeded by 80 additional traps per the Department, in accordance with information and warrants further fishing vessel, for a total of 240 additional section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, is consideration. The Exempted Fishing traps; postponing the deadline for the Permit would exempt participating 3. Trap tag requirements at § 697.19(j); preliminary determinations to no later commercial fishing vessels from Federal 4. Minimum legal size possession than 130 days after the day on which lobster escape vent, trap limit, and trap restrictions at § 697.20(a)(4); and 5. Possession restrictions on berried and the investigations were initiated. tag regulations and restrictions on egg- standard v-notch females at § 697.20(d) and Accordingly, the Department will issue bearing and v-notched female and (g). the preliminary determinations no later sublegal lobsters for American lobster than September 18, 2017.4 In and Jonah crab research in a designated If the EFP is approved, three active accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Wind Energy Area. vessels will survey lobsters and Jonah Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the Regulations under the Magnuson- crabs at 24 established sampling sites deadline for the final determinations of Stevens Fishery Conservation and within the study area, with an alternate these investigations will continue to be Management Act and the Atlantic vessel available in case of mechanical 75 days after the date of the preliminary Coastal Fisheries Cooperative issues. Each active vessel will fish 8 determinations. Management Act require publication of standard Atlantic large whale-compliant This notice is issued and published this notification to provide interested trawls with 10 traps (6 ventless, 4 pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act parties the opportunity to comment on standard) per trawl, for a total of 80 and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1). applications for proposed Exempted traps (48 ventless, 32 standard) per Dated: June 19, 2017. Fishing Permits. vessel. One trawl will be deployed at Gary Taverman, DATES: Comments must be received on each of the fixed sample sites, and or before July 10, 2017. fished twice a month from July through Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. November 2017, with a soak time of five ADDRESSES: You may submit written days. There would never be more than [FR Doc. 2017–13124 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am] comments by any of the following 240 additional traps in the water at any BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P methods: time as a result of this project. • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. During sampling, biological Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE information will be recorded for all on CFRF/URI SNECVTS EFP.’’ lobsters and up to 10 Jonah crabs from • Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional each trap, and other bycatch species National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic will also be enumerated, weighed, and Administration Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great measured. The possession exemptions RIN 0648–XF483 Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. are required to sample all catch. All Mark the outside of the envelope species will be returned promptly to the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative ‘‘Comments on CFRF/URI SNECVTS water after sampling. No catch from this Management Act Provisions; General Exempted Fishing Permit.’’ project will be landed for sale. Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If approved, the applicant may Application for Exempted Fishing Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management request minor modifications and Permits Specialist, (978) 281–9180, extensions to the EFP throughout the Cynthia.Hanson@noaa.gov. study period. EFP modifications and AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The extensions may be granted without Commercial Fisheries Research further notice if they are deemed 3 See Petitioners’ Letter re: Certain Mechanical Foundation (CFRF) and the University essential to facilitate completion of the Cold-Drawn Tubing of Carbon and Alloy Steel from of Rhode Island (URI) submitted a proposed research and have minimal India: Request to Postpone Preliminary complete application for an Exempted impacts that do not change the scope or Determination, dated June 14, 2017 (C–533–874); Fishing Permit (EFP) on May 25, 2017, Petitioners’ Letter re: Certain Mechanical Cold- impact of the initially approved EFP Drawn Tubing of Carbon and Alloy Steel from the to conduct commercial fishing activities request. Any fishing activity conducted People’s Republic of China: Request to Postpone that the regulations would otherwise outside the scope of the exempted asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES Preliminary Determination, dated June 14, 2017 (C– restrict. The EFP would authorize four fishing activity would be prohibited. 570–059). vessels (three active and one alternate) 4 The actual deadline is September 16, 2017, Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. which is a Saturday. The Department’s practice to conduct a cooperative ventless trap survey to determine distribution and Dated: June 20, 2017. dictates that where a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the appropriate deadline is the habitat use of American lobster and Emily H. Menashes, next business day. See Notice of Clarification: Jonah crab in the Rhode Island/ Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Application of ‘‘Next Business Day’’ Rule for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant Massachusetts Wind Energy Area in to the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR 24533 Lobster Management Area (LMA) 2. The [FR Doc. 2017–13133 Filed 6–22–17; 8:45 am] (May 10, 2005). study is designed to better understand BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:21 Jun 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM 23JNN1


Document Created: 2017-06-23 03:37:24
Document Modified: 2017-06-23 03:37:24
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 comments.
DatesComments must be received on or before July 10, 2017.
ContactCynthia Hanson, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9180, [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 28642 
RIN Number0648-XF48
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