82 FR 52881 - Meeting of the Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 219 (November 15, 2017)

Page Range		52881-52882
FR Document		2017-24721

This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's (MAFAC's) Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force (CBP Task Force). The CBP Task Force will discuss the issues outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52881-52882]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24721]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF773


Meeting of the Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force of the 
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Notice of open public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a 
forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's 
(MAFAC's) Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force (CBP Task Force). The 
CBP Task Force will discuss the issues outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION below.

DATES: The meeting will be held December 5, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
and on December 6, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 
Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA 99201; 509-458-3330.

[[Page 52882]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Cheney; NFMS West Coast 
Region; 503-231-6730; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given of a meeting of 
MAFAC's CBP Task Force. The MAFAC was established by the Secretary of 
Commerce (Secretary) and, since 1971, advises the Secretary on all 
living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the 
Department of Commerce. The complete MAFAC charter and summaries of 
prior MAFAC meetings are located online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/. The CBP Task Force reports to MAFAC and is being convened 
to discuss and develop recommendations for long-term goals to meet 
Columbia Basin salmon recovery, conservation needs, and harvest 
opportunities. These goals will be developed in the context of habitat 
capacity and other factors that affect salmon mortality. More 
information is available at the CBP Task Force Web page: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/columbia_river/index.html.

Matters To Be Considered

    The meeting time and agenda are subject to change. Updated 
information will be available on the CBP Task Force Web page above. 
Meeting topics include progress reports on applying the analytical 
framework to example species as prototypes and updates on quantitative 
goal setting, guiding principles, and vision. The meeting is open to 
the public as observers, and public input will be accepted on December 
6, 2017, from 3:30 to 4 p.m., limited to the time available.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Katherine Cheney; 503-231-6730, by November 28, 
2017.

    Dated: November 9, 2017.
Jennifer Lukens,
Director for the Office of Policy, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24721 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 15, 2017 / Notices 52881

From 2005–2016, NMFS issued three NMFS believes this approach is more Matters To Be Considered
permits authorizing the retention of consistent with the statutory provisions This meeting time and agenda are
releasable marine mammals governing rehabilitation and release of subject to change.
(rehabilitated animals cleared for release stranded marine mammals (MMPA The meeting is convened to hear
back to the wild) for public display section 109(h) and MMPA Title IV), presentations and updates and to
purposes under section 104 of the which are separate and distinct from the discuss policies and guidance on the
MMPA and NMFS’ implementing provisions governing issuance of following topics: The importance of
regulations at 50 CFR part 216. A permit permits for the take of animals from the timely data for fisheries resiliency;
was required for placement of releasable wild for purposes of public display Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force
stranded animals (as opposed to non- (MMPA section 104). efforts on the conservation and
releasable animals, which NMFS places Dated: November 6, 2017. restoration of salmon and steelhead;
in accordance with an administrative Donna S. Wieting, aquaculture; citizen science; NMFS
process rather than a permit) because communications, outreach, and
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS views retention of a releasable National Marine Fisheries Service. FishWatch; and the budget outlook for
marine mammal as the functional FY2018. MAFAC will discuss various
[FR Doc. 2017–24642 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am]
equivalent of a take from the wild (i.e., administrative and organizational
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
the animal would have otherwise been matters, and meetings of subcommittees
released and would presumably have and working groups will be convened.
contributed to the wild population). DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
These three permits were based upon Special Accommodations
NMFS’ interpretation of the regulations National Oceanic and Atmospheric The meeting is physically accessible
at 50 CFR 216.27(b)(4), which state the Administration to people with disabilities. Requests for
NMFS OPR Director may require use of sign language interpretation or other
a rehabilitated marine mammal for RIN 0648–XF772
auxiliary aids should be directed to
public display purposes in lieu of Heidi Lovett; 301–427–8034 by
animals taken from the wild. The three Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Meeting November 15, 2017.
previous permit applicants were not
required to request an actual ‘‘take’’ of Dated: November 9, 2017.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Jennifer Lukens,
animals from the wild, as the placement Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
of a releasable animal was considered in Director for the Office of Policy, National
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Marine Fisheries Service.
lieu of such take. Commerce.
However, NMFS received numerous [FR Doc. 2017–24720 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am]
ACTION: Notice of open public meeting.
public comments on the three issued BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
permits asserting that permits to retain SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the
releasable marine mammals are in direct proposed schedule and agenda of a
contradiction to the purpose of Title IV DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
forthcoming meeting of the Marine
and section 109(h) of the MMPA, which Fisheries Advisory Committee National Oceanic and Atmospheric
mandate the rescue and rehabilitation of (MAFAC). The members will discuss Administration
stranded marine mammals with the goal and provide advice on issues outlined
of releasing the animals to the wild under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION RIN 0648–XF773
when feasible. Commenters specifically below.
expressed concerns that the process for Meeting of the Columbia Basin
DATES: The meeting will be held
assessing the actual impact of a take Partnership Task Force of the Marine
November 28 and 29, 2017, from 8:30
from the wild was largely circumvented. Fisheries Advisory Committee
a.m. to 5 p.m., and November 30, from
After evaluation and reconsideration
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
of this permit process and as a result of
public comments on the three permits ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
issued, NMFS has developed a new the Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel, 8777 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
draft Procedural Directive to clarify its Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910; Department of Commerce.
interpretation of MMPA regulations and 301–589–0800. ACTION: Notice of open public meeting.
procedures for authorizing releasable FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
rehabilitated marine mammals to be Heidi Lovett, MAFAC Assistant SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the
retained for purposes of public display. Director; 301–427–8034; email: proposed schedule and agenda of a
In the Procedural Directive, NMFS is Heidi.Lovett@noaa.gov. forthcoming meeting of the Marine
proposing to no longer issue permits for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
Fisheries Advisory Committee’s
the specific purpose of obtaining required by section 10(a)(2) of the (MAFAC’s) Columbia Basin Partnership
releasable marine mammals from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 Task Force (CBP Task Force). The CBP
National Stranding Network for public U.S.C. App. 2, notice is hereby given of Task Force will discuss the issues
display. Instead, would-be applicants a meeting of MAFAC. The MAFAC was outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION below.
must apply for a permit to take (collect) established by the Secretary of
from the wild pursuant to the MMPA. Commerce (Secretary), and, since 1971, DATES: The meeting will be held
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

In the event NMFS decides to grant such advises the Secretary on all living December 5, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
a permit, the NMFS OPR Director may marine resource matters that are the and on December 6, 2017, from 8 a.m.
then, at his or her discretion, require responsibility of the Department of to 4 p.m.
that a releasable rehabilitated marine Commerce. The complete charter and ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
mammal be substituted for capturing an summaries of prior meetings are located the Davenport Grand Hotel, 333
animal from the wild, in accordance online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA
with 50 CFR 216.27. ocs/mafac/. 99201; 509–458–3330.

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52882 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 15, 2017 / Notices

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Email: nmfs_gf_efp2018.wcr@
Katherine Cheney; NFMS West Coast noaa.gov.
Region; 503–231–6730; email: National Oceanic and Atmospheric • Mail: Barry Thom, Regional
Katherine.Cheney@noaa.gov. Administration Administrator, West Coast Region,
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE.,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is RIN 0648–XF799
Seattle, WA 98115–0070, Attn: Karen
hereby given of a meeting of MAFAC’s Palmigiano.
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
CBP Task Force. The MAFAC was Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Instructions: Comments sent by any
established by the Secretary of Application for an Exempted Fishing other method, to any other address or
Commerce (Secretary) and, since 1971, Permit individual, or received after the end of
advises the Secretary on all living the comment period, may not be
marine resource matters that are the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries considered by NMFS. All comments
responsibility of the Department of Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and received are a part of the public record
Commerce. The complete MAFAC Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and would generally be posted for
charter and summaries of prior MAFAC Commerce. public viewing on www.regulations.gov
meetings are located online at http:// ACTION: Notice; receipt of exempted without change. All personal identifying
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/. The fishing permit applications; request for information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
CBP Task Force reports to MAFAC and comments. confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
is being convened to discuss and
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt submitted voluntarily by the sender
develop recommendations for long-term of two exempted fishing permit (EFP) would be publicly accessible. NMFS
goals to meet Columbia Basin salmon applications. The first application was would accept anonymous comments
recovery, conservation needs, and received from The Nature Conservancy (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if
harvest opportunities. These goals will (TNC) for an EFP to test commercial pot you wish to remain anonymous).
be developed in the context of habitat fishing gear for selective harvest of Attachments to electronic comments
capacity and other factors that affect lingcod. The lingcod pot gear EFP is would be accepted in Microsoft Word,
salmon mortality. More information is intended to provide for the selective Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
available at the CBP Task Force Web harvest of lingcod with fixed gear inside Information relevant to this notice or
page: http:// the non-trawl rockfish conservation area the EFP applications are available for
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ (RCA), allowing harvest of lingcod public review during business hours at
columbia_river/index.html. within existing annual catch limits the NMFS West Coast Regional Office at
(ACLs) while keeping catch of co- 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA
Matters To Be Considered occurring overfished species (e.g. 98115, or by requesting them via phone
The meeting time and agenda are yelloweye rockfish) within rebuilding or the email address listed in the FOR
ACLs. The second application was FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
subject to change. Updated information
received from the West Coast Seafood FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
will be available on the CBP Task Force
Processors Association, Environmental Karen Palmigiano at (206) 526–4491 or
Web page above. Meeting topics include
Defense Fund, Oregon Trawl karen.palmigiano@noaa.gov.
progress reports on applying the
Commission, and Midwater Trawlers SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
analytical framework to example species
Cooperative for an EFP to test if and action is authorized by the Pacific Coast
as prototypes and updates on
how the removal of certain trawl gear, Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
quantitative goal setting, guiding time, and area restrictions for the (FMP) and implementing regulations at
principles, and vision. The meeting is Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota 50 CFR 600.745, which states that EFPs
open to the public as observers, and (IFQ) Program may impact the nature may be used to authorize fishing
public input will be accepted on and extent of bycatch of prohibited activities that would otherwise be
December 6, 2017, from 3:30 to 4 p.m., species. This EFP is intended to allow prohibited.
limited to the time available. participating limited entry groundfish
Lingcod Pot Gear EFP
Special Accommodations bottom trawl and midwater trawl
vessels more flexibility in 2018 to target At its June 2016 meeting, the Pacific
The meeting is physically accessible pelagic rockfish species, such as widow, Fishery Management Council (Council)
to people with disabilities. Requests for chilipepper, and yellowtail rockfish. received an EFP application from TNC
sign language interpretation or other The NMFS West Coast Region’s for the use of pot gear to target lingcod
auxiliary aids should be directed to Assistant Regional Administrator for within the non-trawl RCA offshore of
Sustainable Fisheries has made a Washington and Oregon. An initial
Katherine Cheney; 503–231–6730, by
preliminary determination that the opportunity for public comment was
November 28, 2017. provided during this meeting. At that
subject EFP applications contain all the
Dated: November 9, 2017. required information and warrant time, the Council recommended that
Jennifer Lukens, further consideration. Therefore, NMFS NMFS consider issuing the EFP for a
Director for the Office of Policy, National announces that the Assistant Regional period of two years (i.e., 2017 and 2018).
Marine Fisheries Service. Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries The two-year duration was intended to
[FR Doc. 2017–24721 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am] proposes to recommend that EFPs be coincide with the 2017–18 biennial
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

issued. harvest specifications and management
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
measures process. However, due to
DATES: Comments must be received no unforeseen delays, NMFS was unable to
later than 5 p.m., local time on issue this EFP for 2017, and is
November 30, 2017. proposing to issue the EFP described
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, below beginning in 2018. The EFP
identified by 0648–XF799, by any one of would expire no later than December
the following methods: 31, 2018.

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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:36:30
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:36:30

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 open public meeting.
Dates		The meeting will be held December 5, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on December 6, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact		Katherine Cheney; NFMS West Coast Region; 503-231-6730; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 52881
RIN Number		0648-XF77

82 FR 52881 - Meeting of the Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 219 (November 15, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration