82_FR_40916 82 FR 40751 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit

82 FR 40751 - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 165 (August 28, 2017)

Page Range40751-40752
FR Document2017-18146

The Regional Administrator, NMFS West Coast Region, has determined that twenty-seven exempted fishing permit (EFP) applications warrant further consideration; therefore, NMFS is requesting public comment on the applications. All EFP applicants request an exemption from various prohibitions under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP) to test the effects and efficacy of using deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) and linked buoy gear (LBG) to harvest swordfish and other highly migratory species (HMS) off of the U.S. West Coast. This notice also announces and requests public comment on NMFS' intent to extend a DSBG EFP.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40751-40752]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18146]



[[Page 40751]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF328


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; General 
Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing 
Permit

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator, NMFS West Coast Region, has 
determined that twenty-seven exempted fishing permit (EFP) applications 
warrant further consideration; therefore, NMFS is requesting public 
comment on the applications. All EFP applicants request an exemption 
from various prohibitions under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. 
West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP) to test the 
effects and efficacy of using deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) and linked buoy 
gear (LBG) to harvest swordfish and other highly migratory species 
(HMS) off of the U.S. West Coast. This notice also announces and 
requests public comment on NMFS' intent to extend a DSBG EFP.

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing by September 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2017-0025, 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-2017-0025, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments. EFP applications will be available under Relevant 
Documents through the same link.
     Mail: Attn: Chris Fanning, NMFS West Coast Region, 501 W. 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. Include the identifier 
``NOAA-NMFS-2017-0025'' in the comments.
    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: Chris Fanning, NMFS, West Coast 
Region, 562-980-4198.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    In 2015, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) 
recommended that NMFS consider issuing three DSBG EFPs to target 
swordfish and other HMS off of the U.S. West Coast. After requesting 
public comment and completing required analyses, NMFS approved DSBG 
EFPs for the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER), 
Timothy Perguson, and Stephen Mintz for the 2015-2016 fishing seasons. 
Fishing activities under EFPs have yielded two years of additional data 
to supplement an existing five years of data from DSBG research and 
trials. In December 2016 and January 2017, NMFS reissued the PIER and 
Perguson EFPs for a duration of two years. NMFS continues to support 
testing alternative gears as a means to increase domestic fishing 
opportunity while minimizing non-target bycatch and interactions with 
protected species.
    At its recent meetings, the Council received additional 
applications for EFPs and recommended that NMFS consider issuing or 
reissuing EFPs to a suite of interested applicants. During its November 
2016 meeting, the Council recommended that NMFS reissue Stephen Mintz' 
EFP for the 2017-2018 fishing seasons. At its March and June 2017 
meetings, the Council recommended that NMFS consider issuing a total of 
twenty EFPs to authorize use of DSBG and/or LBG (see Table 1). LBG is 
defined as connectable segments of linked buoys floating at the ocean 
surface, connected to vertical lines with heavy weights allowing a 
horizontal line with three hooks to sink to the same depth as the 
terminal hook of DSBG. Additionally, seven other DSBG EFP applications 
were submitted for Council review, and require additional information 
for future consideration (see Table 2).
    NMFS is requesting public comment on the twenty applications 
recommended for issuance by the Council as well as the seven 
applications that were not formally recommended by the Council at this 
time. If all applications were approved, the EFPs would allow up to 
thirty-two vessels to fish with DSBG and six vessels to fish with LBG, 
throughout the duration of each EFP, in the U.S. West Coast Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) with permitted exemption from the requirements of 
the HMS FMP pertaining to non-authorized gear types. Aside from the 
exemption described above, vessels fishing under an EFP would be 
subject to all other regulations implementing the HMS FMP, including 
measures to protect sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds. For up-
to-date information on HMS EFPs, please visit NMFS West Coast Region's 
``Status of Exempted Fishing Permits'' Web page (http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/migratory_species/status_exempted_permits.html).

     Table 1--EFP Applications Recommended for Issuance by the PFMC
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                          PFMC recommended EFPs
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                                       Date of council       Number of
               Name                    recommendation         vessels
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                      Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants
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Mintz, Stephen....................  November 2016.......               1
Hepp, Fred........................  March 2017..........               2
Jacobs, Kent......................  March 2017..........               1
Kastlunger, Jordyn................  March 2017..........               1
Harris, Phil......................  March 2017..........               1
Corbin, Denny.....................  March 2017..........               1
Diller, William...................  March 2017..........               1
Cullen, Roger.....................  June 2017...........               1

[[Page 40752]]

 
Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton....  June 2017...........               3
Ball, Bob.........................  June 2017...........               1
Ford, John........................  June 2017...........               1
Graves, Michael...................  June 2017...........               1
Kennedy, Raymond..................  June 2017...........               1
Massen, Lance.....................  June 2017...........               1
Selck, Dustin.....................  June 2017...........               1
Shvets, Anatolii..................  June 2017...........               2
Sidielnikov, Andrii...............  June 2017...........               1
Spinale, Paul.....................  June 2017...........               1
Stephens, J & B...................  June 2017...........               2
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                       Linked Buoy Gear Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pfleger Institute of Environmental  March 2017..........               3
 Research.
Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton....  June 2017...........               3
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Table 2--EFP Applications That the PFMC Has Yet To Recommend for
                                Issuance
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                             Submitted EFPs
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                                                             Number of
               Name                  Date of submission       vessels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants
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Lutoshkin, A......................  June 2017...........               1
Maassen, L........................  June 2017...........               1
Masuda, S.........................  June 2017...........               1
McCarthy, M.......................  June 2017...........               2
Rynkevic, R.......................  June 2017...........               1
Sokolova, T.......................  June 2017...........               1
Sviridov, V.......................  June 2017...........               1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In March 2017, the Council also recommended that in addition to 
current terms and conditions on issued EFPs, NMFS also impose the 
following stipulations:
    1. Require 100 percent observer coverage for the first ten sets of 
new EFP participants (a set is defined as 10 pieces of buoy gear soaked 
for at least eight hours). Once attained, observer coverage may be 
reduced to 30 percent of fishing days;
    2. Prohibit vessels from being more than three nautical miles from 
any piece of gear;
    3. Require proper maintenance of configured gear in accordance with 
their EFP; and
    4. Require each piece of DSBG and the terminal ends of LBG to be 
marked with a radar reflector and flag, and require buoys to be marked 
with the fishing vessel's official number.
    NMFS considers the Council's recommendations for additional 
conditions to apply to all issued and proposed DSBG and LBG EFPs. NMFS 
is also requesting public comment on the Council's recommendations for 
additional terms and conditions for the requested EFPs.
    NMFS will consider all public comments submitted in response to 
this Federal Register Notice prior to issuance of any EFP mentioned 
within this Notice. Additionally, NMFS will analyze the effects of 
issuing EFPs in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
and NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6, as well as ensure compliance 
with other applicable laws, including Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered 
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), which requires the agency to 
insure that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the 
continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result 
in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical 
habitat.

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

    Dated: August 23, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18146 Filed 8-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Notices 40751 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Relevant Documents through the same At its recent meetings, the Council link. received additional applications for National Oceanic and Atmospheric • Mail: Attn: Chris Fanning, NMFS EFPs and recommended that NMFS Administration West Coast Region, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., consider issuing or reissuing EFPs to a Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. suite of interested applicants. During its RIN 0648–XF328 Include the identifier ‘‘NOAA–NMFS– November 2016 meeting, the Council Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 2017–0025’’ in the comments. recommended that NMFS reissue Conservation and Management Act; Instructions: Comments sent by any Stephen Mintz’ EFP for the 2017–2018 General Provisions for Domestic other method, to any other address or fishing seasons. At its March and June Fisheries; Application for Exempted individual, or received after the end of 2017 meetings, the Council Fishing Permit the comment period, may not be recommended that NMFS consider considered by NMFS. All comments issuing a total of twenty EFPs to AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries received are a part of the public record authorize use of DSBG and/or LBG (see Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and and will generally be posted for public Table 1). LBG is defined as connectable Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), viewing on www.regulations.gov segments of linked buoys floating at the Commerce. without change. All personal identifying ocean surface, connected to vertical ACTION: Notice; request for comments. information (e.g., name, address, etc.), lines with heavy weights allowing a confidential business information, or horizontal line with three hooks to sink SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator, otherwise sensitive information to the same depth as the terminal hook NMFS West Coast Region, has submitted voluntarily by the sender will of DSBG. Additionally, seven other determined that twenty-seven exempted be publicly accessible. NMFS will DSBG EFP applications were submitted fishing permit (EFP) applications accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ for Council review, and require warrant further consideration; therefore, A’’ in the required fields if you wish to additional information for future NMFS is requesting public comment on remain anonymous). consideration (see Table 2). the applications. All EFP applicants FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NMFS is requesting public comment request an exemption from various Chris Fanning, NMFS, West Coast on the twenty applications prohibitions under the Fishery Region, 562–980–4198. recommended for issuance by the Management Plan for U.S. West Coast SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Council as well as the seven Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species In 2015, the Pacific Fishery applications that were not formally (HMS FMP) to test the effects and Management Council (Council) recommended by the Council at this efficacy of using deep-set buoy gear recommended that NMFS consider time. If all applications were approved, (DSBG) and linked buoy gear (LBG) to issuing three DSBG EFPs to target the EFPs would allow up to thirty-two harvest swordfish and other highly swordfish and other HMS off of the U.S. vessels to fish with DSBG and six migratory species (HMS) off of the U.S. West Coast. After requesting public vessels to fish with LBG, throughout the West Coast. This notice also announces comment and completing required duration of each EFP, in the U.S. West and requests public comment on NMFS’ analyses, NMFS approved DSBG EFPs Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) intent to extend a DSBG EFP. for the Pfleger Institute of with permitted exemption from the DATES: Comments must be submitted in Environmental Research (PIER), requirements of the HMS FMP writing by September 27, 2017. Timothy Perguson, and Stephen Mintz pertaining to non-authorized gear types. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments for the 2015–2016 fishing seasons. Aside from the exemption described on this document, identified by NOAA– Fishing activities under EFPs have above, vessels fishing under an EFP NMFS–2017–0025, by any of the yielded two years of additional data to would be subject to all other regulations following methods: supplement an existing five years of implementing the HMS FMP, including • Electronic Submission: Submit all data from DSBG research and trials. In measures to protect sea turtles, marine electronic public comments via the December 2016 and January 2017, mammals, and seabirds. For up-to-date Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to NMFS reissued the PIER and Perguson information on HMS EFPs, please visit www.regulations.gov/ EFPs for a duration of two years. NMFS NMFS West Coast Region’s ‘‘Status of #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017- continues to support testing alternative Exempted Fishing Permits’’ Web page 0025, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, gears as a means to increase domestic (http:// complete the required fields, and enter fishing opportunity while minimizing www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ or attach your comments. EFP non-target bycatch and interactions with fisheries/migratory_species/status_ applications will be available under protected species. exempted_permits.html). TABLE 1—EFP APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR ISSUANCE BY THE PFMC PFMC recommended EFPs Number of Name Date of council recommendation vessels asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants Mintz, Stephen ............................................................................................................. November 2016 ........................................ 1 Hepp, Fred ................................................................................................................... March 2017 ............................................... 2 Jacobs, Kent ................................................................................................................. March 2017 ............................................... 1 Kastlunger, Jordyn ....................................................................................................... March 2017 ............................................... 1 Harris, Phil .................................................................................................................... March 2017 ............................................... 1 Corbin, Denny .............................................................................................................. March 2017 ............................................... 1 Diller, William ................................................................................................................ March 2017 ............................................... 1 Cullen, Roger ............................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:45 Aug 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1

40752 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Notices TABLE 1—EFP APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR ISSUANCE BY THE PFMC—Continued PFMC recommended EFPs Number of Name Date of council recommendation vessels Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton ................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 3 Ball, Bob ....................................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 Ford, John .................................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 Graves, Michael ........................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 Kennedy, Raymond ...................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 Massen, Lance ............................................................................................................. June 2017 ................................................. 1 Selck, Dustin ................................................................................................................ June 2017 ................................................. 1 Shvets, Anatolii ............................................................................................................. June 2017 ................................................. 2 Sidielnikov, Andrii ......................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 Spinale, Paul ................................................................................................................ June 2017 ................................................. 1 Stephens, J & B ........................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 2 Linked Buoy Gear Applicants Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research ............................................................... March 2017 ............................................... 3 Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton ................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 3 TABLE 2—EFP APPLICATIONS THAT THE PFMC HAS YET TO RECOMMEND FOR ISSUANCE Submitted EFPs Number of Name Date of submission vessels Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants Lutoshkin, A .................................................................................................................. June 2017 ................................................. 1 Maassen, L ................................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 Masuda, S .................................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 McCarthy, M ................................................................................................................. June 2017 ................................................. 2 Rynkevic, R .................................................................................................................. June 2017 ................................................. 1 Sokolova, T .................................................................................................................. June 2017 ................................................. 1 Sviridov, V .................................................................................................................... June 2017 ................................................. 1 In March 2017, the Council also additional terms and conditions for the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE recommended that in addition to requested EFPs. current terms and conditions on issued NMFS will consider all public National Oceanic and Atmospheric EFPs, NMFS also impose the following comments submitted in response to this Administration stipulations: Federal Register Notice prior to 1. Require 100 percent observer issuance of any EFP mentioned within National Estuarine Research Reserve coverage for the first ten sets of new EFP this Notice. Additionally, NMFS will System participants (a set is defined as 10 analyze the effects of issuing EFPs in pieces of buoy gear soaked for at least AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, accordance with the National eight hours). Once attained, observer National Ocean Service, National Environmental Policy Act and NOAA’s coverage may be reduced to 30 percent Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative Order 216–6, as well as of fishing days; Administration, U.S. Department of ensure compliance with other 2. Prohibit vessels from being more Commerce. applicable laws, including Section than three nautical miles from any piece 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act ACTION: Notice of Public Comment of gear; (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), which requires Period for the Jobos Bay National 3. Require proper maintenance of the agency to insure that the proposed Estuarine Research Reserve configured gear in accordance with their action is not likely to jeopardize the Management Plan revision. EFP; and continued existence of any endangered 4. Require each piece of DSBG and the or threatened species or result in the Notice is hereby given that the Office terminal ends of LBG to be marked with destruction or adverse modification of for Coastal Management, National a radar reflector and flag, and require designated critical habitat. Ocean Service, National Oceanic and asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES buoys to be marked with the fishing Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Atmospheric Administration, U.S. vessel’s official number. Department of Commerce is announcing Dated: August 23, 2017. NMFS considers the Council’s a thirty-day public comment period for recommendations for additional Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, the Jobos Bay National Estuarine conditions to apply to all issued and Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Research Reserve Management Plan proposed DSBG and LBG EFPs. NMFS Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. revision. Pursuant to 15 CFR Section is also requesting public comment on [FR Doc. 2017–18146 Filed 8–25–17; 8:45 am] 921.33(c), the revised plan will bring the the Council’s recommendations for BILLING CODE 3510–22–P reserve into compliance. The Jobos Bay VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:45 Aug 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1


Document Created: 2017-08-28 11:30:01
Document Modified: 2017-08-28 11:30:01
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 submitted in writing by September 27, 2017.
ContactChris Fanning, NMFS, West Coast Region, 562-980-4198.
FR Citation82 FR 40751 
RIN Number0648-XF32
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