82 FR 3293 - Draft Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 7 (January 11, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 7 (January 11, 2017)
| Page Range | 3293-3294 | |
| FR Document | 2017-00308 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 3293-3294] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-00308] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF027 Draft Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS, in an effort to increase preparedness for wildlife response under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, has drafted guidelines for marine mammal response in northern Alaska entitled ``Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines.'' NMFS invites the public to comment on and/or provide additional information for NMFS to consider in finalizing the guidelines. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 13, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0143, by any one 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-2016-0143 click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments; Mail: Submit written comments to Sadie Wright, attention Ellen Sebastian, National Marine Fisheries Service, Protected Resources Division, Alaska Region, 709 West 9th Street, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. 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), 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). Electronic copies of the Draft Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines and associated Appendices may be obtained from www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sadie Wright, (907) 586-7630 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Marine mammal oil spill response and preparedness in Arctic Alaska presents many challenges including large populations of marine mammals, remote conditions, and lack of infrastructure, equipment, and trained personnel. Additionally, marine mammals are important subsistence and cultural resources for Alaska Native coastal communities, and response efforts must be cooperative with and sensitive to local communities. NMFS developed the Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines (Guidelines) for the Bering Strait, Northwest Alaska, and the North Slope of Alaska through stakeholder engagement to develop regionally specific and culturally sensitive response strategies. NMFS sought input on communication and response protocols for carcass collection, de-oiling, tissue sampling, necropsies, and subsistence food issues through meetings with local leaders in Nome, Kotzebue, Wainwright, and Barrow, and teleconferences and email correspondence with outlying communities. These stakeholder meetings resulted in three key recommendations for the Guidelines: (1) Include a communication structure that is locally based and efficient, (2) prioritize public health and food safety, and (3) address the lack of infrastructure, equipment, and trained personnel for response efforts. These recommendations are addressed by the Guidelines in the following ways: (1) The local stranding agreement holder or community-appointed organization(s) is the local lead, and communication protocols outline cooperative approaches between stakeholders; (2) All response protocols are congruent with food safety testing, and the Alaska state public health representative is part of the communication loop; and (3) Caches of equipment should be developed and stored in hub communities with smaller caches in outlying villages, to include modular and adaptive infrastructure for response activities. Finally, the Guidelines recommend that trainings be developed for village residents that can be deployed remotely. The draft Guidelines focus on Arctic marine mammal species under NMFS jurisdiction (principally whales and ice-associated seals), and different approaches may be appropriate for walrus and polar bears, which are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Any response to marine mammals per these Guidelines should occur in coordination with NMFS through the Incident Command Structure, if put in place for an oil spill or other major incident. Comments are invited on any aspect of the draft Guidelines. We are particularly interested in maintaining an efficient communication strategy for marine mammal disaster response in the Arctic, and seek suggestions to ensure the Guidelines provide that framework. In addition, NMFS appreciates specific suggestions on how to improve the [[Page 3294]] clarity of the Guidelines. NMFS also requests residents of Utqia[gdot]vik (Barrow) to advise on the preferred name of their town to be used in this planning/communication document. We understand the official name is now Utqia[gdot]vik, but many responders may be more familiar with the name Barrow in the near future. Dated: January 5, 2017. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-00308 Filed 1-10-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2017 / Notices 3293
p.m. and conclude by 3:30 p.m. For response in northern Alaska entitled the Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster
agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY ‘‘Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines (Guidelines) for
INFORMATION. Response Guidelines.’’ NMFS invites the Bering Strait, Northwest Alaska, and
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held the public to comment on and/or the North Slope of Alaska through
via webinar with a telephone-only provide additional information for stakeholder engagement to develop
connection option. NMFS to consider in finalizing the regionally specific and culturally
Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery guidelines. sensitive response strategies.
Management Council, 800 N. State NMFS sought input on
DATES: Comments must be submitted on communication and response protocols
Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; or before March 13, 2017.
telephone: (302) 674–2331 or on their for carcass collection, de-oiling, tissue
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments sampling, necropsies, and subsistence
Web site at www.mafmc.org. on this document, identified by NOAA– food issues through meetings with local
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NMFS–2016–0143, by any one of the leaders in Nome, Kotzebue, Wainwright,
Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive following methods; and Barrow, and teleconferences and
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery • Electronic Submission: Submit all email correspondence with outlying
Management Council, telephone: (302) electronic public comments via the communities. These stakeholder
526–5255. Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to meetings resulted in three key
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The www.regulations.gov/ recommendations for the Guidelines: (1)
purpose of the meeting is to review and #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016- Include a communication structure that
comment on the NOAA Fisheries 2017 0143 click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, is locally based and efficient, (2)
Enforcement Priorities. complete the required fields, and enter prioritize public health and food safety,
Although non-emergency issues not or attach your comments; and (3) address the lack of
contained in this agenda may come • Mail: Submit written comments to infrastructure, equipment, and trained
before this group for discussion, those Sadie Wright, attention Ellen Sebastian, personnel for response efforts.
issues may not be the subject of formal National Marine Fisheries Service, These recommendations are
action during this meeting. Action will Protected Resources Division, Alaska addressed by the Guidelines in the
be restricted to those issues specifically Region, 709 West 9th Street, P.O. Box following ways:
listed in this notice and any issues 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. (1) The local stranding agreement
arising after publication of this notice Instructions: Comments sent by any holder or community-appointed
that require emergency action under other method, to any other address or organization(s) is the local lead, and
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens individual, or received after the end of communication protocols outline
Act, provided the public has been the comment period, may not be cooperative approaches between
notified of the Council’s intent to take considered by NMFS. All comments stakeholders;
final action to address the emergency. received are a part of the public record (2) All response protocols are
and will generally be posted for public congruent with food safety testing, and
Special Accommodations
viewing on www.regulations.gov the Alaska state public health
The meeting is physically accessible without change. All personal identifying representative is part of the
to people with disabilities. Requests for information (e.g., name, address), communication loop; and
sign language interpretation or other confidential business information, or (3) Caches of equipment should be
auxiliary aid should be directed to M. otherwise sensitive information developed and stored in hub
Jan Saunders, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 submitted voluntarily by the sender will communities with smaller caches in
days prior to the meeting date. be publicly accessible. NMFS will outlying villages, to include modular
Dated: January 6, 2017. accept anonymous comments (enter and adaptive infrastructure for response
Tracey L. Thompson, ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish activities.
to remain anonymous). Finally, the Guidelines recommend
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Electronic copies of the Draft Arctic that trainings be developed for village
Marine Mammal Disaster Response residents that can be deployed remotely.
[FR Doc. 2017–00427 Filed 1–10–17; 8:45 am]
Guidelines and associated Appendices The draft Guidelines focus on Arctic
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
may be obtained from marine mammal species under NMFS
www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS jurisdiction (principally whales and ice-
Alaska Region Web site at associated seals), and different
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. approaches may be appropriate for
National Oceanic and Atmospheric walrus and polar bears, which are
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Administration Sadie Wright, (907) 586–7630 or Service. Any response to marine
RIN 0648–XF027 Sadie.Wright@noaa.gov. mammals per these Guidelines should
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Marine occur in coordination with NMFS
Draft Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster mammal oil spill response and through the Incident Command
Response Guidelines preparedness in Arctic Alaska presents Structure, if put in place for an oil spill
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries many challenges including large or other major incident.
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and populations of marine mammals, remote Comments are invited on any aspect
conditions, and lack of infrastructure, of the draft Guidelines. We are
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce. equipment, and trained personnel. particularly interested in maintaining an
ACTION: Notice of availability. Additionally, marine mammals are efficient communication strategy for
important subsistence and cultural marine mammal disaster response in the
SUMMARY: NMFS, in an effort to increase resources for Alaska Native coastal Arctic, and seek suggestions to ensure
preparedness for wildlife response communities, and response efforts must the Guidelines provide that framework.
under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, has be cooperative with and sensitive to In addition, NMFS appreciates specific
drafted guidelines for marine mammal local communities. NMFS developed suggestions on how to improve the
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![3294 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2017 / Notices
clarity of the Guidelines. NMFS also Charleston, SC 29405; phone (843) 571– Act, provided the public has been
requests residents of Utqiaġvik (Barrow) 4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net. notified of the intent to take final action
to advise on the preferred name of their SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf to address the emergency.
town to be used in this planning/ of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Special Accommodations
communication document. We Caribbean Fishery Management
understand the official name is now Councils, in conjunction with NOAA This meeting is accessible to people
Utqiaġvik, but many responders may be Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary
more familiar with the name Barrow in States Marine Fisheries Commissions, aids should be directed to the SAFMC
the near future. have implemented the Southeast Data, office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10
Assessment and Review (SEDAR) business days prior to the meeting.
Dated: January 5, 2017.
process, a multi-step method for The times and sequence specified in
Donna S. Wieting,
determining the status of fish stocks in this agenda are subject to change.
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service. the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a three- Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[FR Doc. 2017–00308 Filed 1–10–17; 8:45 am] step process including: (1) Data Dated: January 6, 2017.
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Workshop; (2) Assessment Process Tracey L. Thompson,
utilizing webinars; and (3) Review Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Workshop. The product of the Data Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Workshop is a data report which [FR Doc. 2017–00426 Filed 1–10–17; 8:45 am]
compiles and evaluates potential
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric datasets and recommends which
Administration datasets are appropriate for assessment
analyses. The product of the Assessment DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
RIN 0648–XF122 Process is a stock assessment report
which describes the fisheries, evaluates National Telecommunications and
Fisheries of the South Atlantic;
the status of the stock, estimates Information Administration
Southeast Data, Assessment, and
biological benchmarks, projects future
Review (SEDAR); Post-Data Workshop
population conditions, and recommends Proposed Information Collection;
Webinar for Atlantic Blueline Tilefish;
research and monitoring needs. The Comment Request; NTIA/FCC Web-
Public Meeting
assessment is independently peer Based Frequency Coordination System
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries reviewed at the Review Workshop. The
AGENCY: National Telecommunications
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and product of the Review Workshop is a
and Information Administration, U.S.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Summary documenting panel opinions
Department of Commerce.
Commerce. regarding the strengths and weaknesses
of the stock assessment and input data. ACTION: Notice; information collection.
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 50 Post-Data
Workshop Webinar. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are SUMMARY: The Department of
appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Commerce, as part of its continuing
SUMMARY: The SEDAR 50 assessment of Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery effort to reduce paperwork and
the Atlantic stock of blueline tilefish Management Councils and NOAA respondent burden, invites the general
will consist of a series of workshops and Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, public and other Federal agencies to
webinars: Stock ID Work Group Highly Migratory Species Management comment on this proposed information
Meeting; Data Workshop; Assessment Division, and Southeast Fisheries collection, pursuant to the Paperwork
Workshop and Webinars; and a Review Science Center. Participants include: Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–
Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY Data collectors and database managers; 13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
INFORMATION. stock assessment scientists, biologists,
DATES: Written comments must be
DATES: The SEDAR 50 Post-Data and researchers; constituency
submitted on or before March 13, 2017.
Workshop Webinar will be held on representatives including fishermen,
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
Thursday, February 2, 2017, from 1 p.m. environmentalists, and non-
governmental organizations (NGOs); to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
to 5 p.m. Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–
international experts; and staff of
ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The Councils, Commissions, and state and 0336, Department of Commerce, Room
meetings will be held via webinar. The federal agencies. 6612, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW.,
webinar is open to members of the The items of discussion at the Pre- Washington, DC 20230 (or via email at
public. Those interested in participating Data Workshop webinar are as follows: JJessup@doc.gov).
should contact Julia Byrd at SEDAR (see Participants will finalize data FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Requests for additional information or
recommendations from the Data
below) to request an invitation Workshop and provide early modeling copies of the information collection
providing webinar access information. advice. instrument and instructions should be
Please request webinar invitations at Although non-emergency issues not directed to Bruce M. Washington at
least 24 hours in advance of each contained in this agenda may come bwashington@ntia.doc.gov, (202) 482–
webinar. before this group for discussion, those 6415.
SEDAR address: South Atlantic issues may not be the subject of formal
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Fishery Management Council, 4055 action during this meeting. Action will
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. be restricted to those issues specifically I. Abstract
Charleston, SC 29405. identified in this notice and any issues The National Telecommunications
www.sedarweb.org. arising after publication of this notice and Information Administration (NTIA)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia that require emergency action under hosts a web-based system that collects
Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens specific identification information (e.g.,
Place Drive, Suite 201, North Fishery Conservation and Management entity name, location and projected
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Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:59:21
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:59:21
| 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 availability. | |
| Dates | Comments must be submitted on or before March 13, 2017. | |
| Contact | Sadie Wright, (907) 586-7630 or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 3293 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF02 |
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