82 FR 37441 - 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 153 (August 10, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 153 (August 10, 2017)
| Page Range | 37441-37441 | |
| FR Document | 2017-16894 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 153 (Thursday, August 10, 2017)] [Notices] [Page 37441] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-16894] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF542 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 announcing the preparation of an environmental assessment (EA). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The NMFS Southeast Region, in collaboration with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), is preparing an EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Amendment 43 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper- Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 43). This notice is intended to inform the public of the change from the preparation of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to an EA for Amendment 43. Additionally, this notice serves to announce the change of the scope of actions being considered in Amendment 43 by the Council. The purpose of Amendment 43 is to revise annual catch limits (ACLs) for red snapper in the South Atlantic to provide fishing access while preventing overfishing. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; or email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According to the most recent stock assessment, the red snapper stock in the South Atlantic is undergoing overfishing and is overfished (2016 Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) 41). Currently, the commercial and recreational ACLs are set at zero and red snapper seasons are determined through an annual process established in Amendment 28 to the FMP (78 FR 44461, July 24, 2013). Red snapper removals (total landings and dead discards) in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 fishing years exceeded the stock's acceptable biological catch and therefore harvest and possession of red snapper was not allowed in the 2015, 2016, or 2017 fishing years. Despite the overfishing determination resulting from SEDAR 41, NMFS notified the Council in March 2017, that adequate management action has been taken to address overfishing and continue to rebuild the stock through the harvest prohibition in 2015 and 2016. On January 6, 2017, NMFS published a notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal Register to prepare a draft EIS for Amendment 43 (82 FR 1720). As originally developed, Amendment 43 considered changes to commercial and recreational ACLs and the recreational annual catch target by modifying the annual process in Amendment 28. Amendment 43 also included actions to modify red snapper management reference points, establish seasonal and area closures, reduce discard mortality, and improve the quantity and quality of data collected from recreational fishermen. NMFS also announced scoping meeting dates, times, and locations that were scheduled to occur in January and February 2017. In June 2017, the Council decided to reduce the scope of actions considered in Amendment 43. The amendment now would only modify the process implemented through Amendment 28 by revising the process to determine the commercial and recreational ACLs for red snapper. The Council may consider the other actions specified in the NOI in a future amendment. The scope of Amendment 43 was reconsidered by the Council to increase the likelihood that the revised ACL action in the amendment would be implemented by the red snapper commercial and recreational season starting dates in July 2018. Consequently, NMFS reassessed the action in the amendment relative to NEPA. Based on the reduced scope of actions being considered in Amendment 43, NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, will develop an EA rather than proceeding with the development of a draft EIS. If the EA results in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), the EA and FONSI will be the final environmental documents prepared to inform this decision. If the EA reveals that significant environmental impacts may be reasonably expected to result from the proposed actions, NMFS and the Council will develop a draft EIS to further evaluate those impacts. The Council will hold public hearings to discuss the actions included in Amendment 43 in webinars in August 2017, and will take public comment on the document at the September 2017, Council meeting in Charleston, SC. Exact dates, times, and locations of any future public hearings will be announced by the Council. A copy of the Amendment 43 draft options paper is available at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/index.html. 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 EA. NMFS will consider all public comments received during the Secretarial review period, whether they are on the final amendment, the proposed regulations, or the EA, prior to final agency action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 7, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-16894 Filed 8-9-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 153 / Thursday, August 10, 2017 / Notices 37441
• U.S. Veterans ID is preparing an EA in accordance with In June 2017, the Council decided to
• U.S. Military Dependent’s ID Card the National Environmental Policy Act reduce the scope of actions considered
• U.S. Trusted Traveler Card—Global (NEPA) for Amendment 43 to the in Amendment 43. The amendment now
Entry, SENTRI, or NEXUS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the would only modify the process
• U.S. Transportation Workers Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South implemented through Amendment 28
Identification Credential (TWIC) Atlantic Region (Amendment 43). This by revising the process to determine the
• State issued Real ID Compliant notice is intended to inform the public commercial and recreational ACLs for
Driver’s Licenses and Identification of the change from the preparation of a red snapper. The Council may consider
Cards. draft environmental impact statement the other actions specified in the NOI in
Visitors who are foreign nationals (EIS) to an EA for Amendment 43. a future amendment. The scope of
(defined as a person who is not a citizen Additionally, this notice serves to Amendment 43 was reconsidered by the
or national of the United States) will announce the change of the scope of Council to increase the likelihood that
require additional security clearance to actions being considered in Amendment the revised ACL action in the
access the NMFS Northwest Fisheries 43 by the Council. The purpose of amendment would be implemented by
Science Center. Foreign national visitors Amendment 43 is to revise annual catch the red snapper commercial and
should contact Dr. Martin Dorn at (206) limits (ACLs) for red snapper in the recreational season starting dates in July
526–6548 at least two weeks prior to the South Atlantic to provide fishing access
2018.
meeting date to initiate the security while preventing overfishing.
Consequently, NMFS reassessed the
clearance process. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: action in the amendment relative to
Technical Information and System Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional NEPA. Based on the reduced scope of
Requirements Office, telephone: 727–824–5305; or actions being considered in Amendment
email: frank.helies@noaa.gov. 43, NMFS, in collaboration with the
PC-based attendees: Windows® 7,
Vista, or XP operating system required. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According Council, will develop an EA rather than
Mac®-based attendees: Mac OS® X 10.5 to the most recent stock assessment, the proceeding with the development of a
or newer required. Mobile attendees: red snapper stock in the South Atlantic draft EIS. If the EA results in a Finding
iPhone®, iPad®, AndroidTM phone or is undergoing overfishing and is of No Significant Impact (FONSI), the
Android tablet required (use overfished (2016 Southeast Data, EA and FONSI will be the final
GoToMeeting Webinar Apps). Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) 41). environmental documents prepared to
Currently, the commercial and inform this decision. If the EA reveals
Special Accommodations recreational ACLs are set at zero and red that significant environmental impacts
These meetings are physically snapper seasons are determined through may be reasonably expected to result
accessible to people with disabilities. an annual process established in from the proposed actions, NMFS and
Requests for sign language Amendment 28 to the FMP (78 FR the Council will develop a draft EIS to
interpretation or other auxiliary aids 44461, July 24, 2013). Red snapper further evaluate those impacts. The
should be directed to Mr. Kris removals (total landings and dead Council will hold public hearings to
Kleinschmidt (503) 820–2280 at least 10 discards) in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 discuss the actions included in
days prior to the meeting date. fishing years exceeded the stock’s Amendment 43 in webinars in August
acceptable biological catch and 2017, and will take public comment on
Dated: August 7, 2017.
therefore harvest and possession of red the document at the September 2017,
Tracey L. Thompson, snapper was not allowed in the 2015, Council meeting in Charleston, SC.
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 2016, or 2017 fishing years. Despite the
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Exact dates, times, and locations of any
overfishing determination resulting future public hearings will be
[FR Doc. 2017–16867 Filed 8–9–17; 8:45 am] from SEDAR 41, NMFS notified the announced by the Council. A copy of
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Council in March 2017, that adequate the Amendment 43 draft options paper
management action has been taken to is available at: http://
address overfishing and continue to sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE rebuild the stock through the harvest fisheries/s_atl/sg/index.html.
prohibition in 2015 and 2016.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric NMFS will announce, through a
Administration On January 6, 2017, NMFS published
document published in the Federal
a notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal
RIN 0648–XF542 Register, all public comment periods on
Register to prepare a draft EIS for
the final amendment, its proposed
Amendment 43 (82 FR 1720). As
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of implementing regulations, and the
originally developed, Amendment 43
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- availability of its associated EA. NMFS
considered changes to commercial and
Grouper Fishery Off the South Atlantic will consider all public comments
recreational ACLs and the recreational
States; Amendment 43 received during the Secretarial review
annual catch target by modifying the
annual process in Amendment 28. period, whether they are on the final
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Amendment 43 also included actions to amendment, the proposed regulations,
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), modify red snapper management or the EA, prior to final agency action.
Commerce. reference points, establish seasonal and Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
ACTION: Notice announcing the area closures, reduce discard mortality, Dated: August 7, 2017.
preparation of an environmental and improve the quantity and quality of
data collected from recreational Emily H. Menashes,
assessment (EA).
fishermen. NMFS also announced Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
SUMMARY: The NMFS Southeast Region, scoping meeting dates, times, and Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
in collaboration with the South Atlantic locations that were scheduled to occur [FR Doc. 2017–16894 Filed 8–9–17; 8:45 am]
Fishery Management Council (Council), in January and February 2017. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2017-08-10 01:01:14
Document Modified: 2017-08-10 01:01:14
| 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 announcing the preparation of an environmental assessment (EA). | |
| Contact | Frank Helies, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305; or email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 37441 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF54 |
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