83 FR 15791 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)
| Page Range | 15791-15792 | |
| FR Document | 2018-07597 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 15791-15792] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-07597] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XG142 Magnuson-Stevens 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that three exempted fishing permit applications contain all of the required information and warrant further consideration. These exempted fishing permits would authorize five commercial fishing vessels to test the economic viability of using hook gear to selectively target pollock and haddock in the Western Gulf of Maine and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas (excluding the Cashes Ledge Habitat Management Area), and to temporarily retain undersized catch for measurement and data collection. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 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 April 27, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line ``Comments on EFP Applications for Hook Gear Access to WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas.'' Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on EFP Applications for Hook Gear Access to WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas.'' [[Page 15792]] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle Molton, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9236, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two commercial fishermen and a groundfish sector submitted complete applications to renew exempted fishing permits (EFPs) on February 16, 2018, to conduct commercial fishing activities that the regulations would otherwise restrict. These EFPs would authorize five commercial fishing vessels to fish a combined total of 150 trips in the Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas, excluding the Cashes Ledge Habitat Management Area (HMA), with hook gear, and to temporarily retain undersized catch for measurement and data collection. Within the Cashes Ledge Closure Area, access would be permitted in the Fippennies Ledge HMA, but not in the Cashes Ledge or Ammen Rock HMAs. These HMAs were developed as part of the New England Fisheries Management Council's Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2, and approved by NMFS on January 3, 2018. The EFPs would authorize the applicants to use hook gear to selectively target pollock and haddock while maintaining minimal bycatch. In addition, the applicants would also explore and develop premium markets to increase the value of the catch. This study would be conducted in the WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas. The applicants have requested access to these areas based on reports, and experimental fishing, which suggest that there are high concentrations of the target species located in these areas. The exemptions are necessary to conduct this study because vessels on commercial groundfish trips are prohibited from fishing for groundfish in these closed areas and from retaining undersized groundfish. EFP trips would occur year-round, excluding existing seasonal closures. Participating vessels would take a combined total of 150 trips to closed areas. Trips would be roughly 24 hours or less in length. Vessels would use automated jigging machines, handline, and rod and reel gears only. Based on preliminary 2017 data, estimated catch on these trips is between 1,000 and 2,000 lb (453.5 to 907.2 kg) of pollock and haddock, combined, per trip. 2017 data indicate that catch of non-target species is small; cod represented less than 10 percent of catch overall, and other species were encountered only sporadically or in low numbers. Because these vessels would be fishing in closed areas, and must minimize interactions with non-target species like cod, the use of a vessel monitoring system and 100-percent monitoring would be required for all vessels. A research technician or at-sea monitor would accompany all trips that occur under these EFPs to measure and document fish caught and document fishing gear, bait, location, and fishing conditions to evaluate gear performance. The vessel captains would also document fishing practices used to avoid bycatch of non-target species. Undersized fish would be discarded as quickly as possible after sampling. All Northeast multispecies of legal size would be landed, and all catch would be attributed to the vessel's sector annual catch entitlement. The applicants will also document ex-vessel price for all sold catch for comparison with other harvest methods and markets. The participating vessels would not be exempt from any sector monitoring or reporting requirements. If approved, the applicants may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFPs throughout the year. 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. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 9, 2018. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-07597 Filed 4-11-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Notices 15791
Border Protection (CBP) to suspend Dated: April 4, 2018. written description of the scope is
liquidation of entries of subject Gary Taverman, dispositive.
merchandise as described in the scope Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping [FR Doc. 2018–07587 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am]
of the investigation section entered, or and Countervailing Duty Operations, BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
withdrawn from warehouse, for performing the non-exclusive functions and
duties of the Assistant Secretary for
consumption on or after the date of
Enforcement and Compliance. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. Appendix—Scope of the Investigation
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
If the U.S. International Trade The products covered by this investigation Administration
Commission (ITC) issues a final are certain forged stainless steel flanges,
whether unfinished, semi-finished, or
affirmative injury determination, we RIN 0648–XG142
finished (certain forged stainless steel
will issue a CVD order, will continue flanges). Certain forged stainless steel flanges
the suspension of liquidation under are generally manufactured to, but not Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
section 706(a) of the Act, and will limited to, the material specification of General Provisions for Domestic
require a cash deposit of estimated ASTM/ASME A/SA182 or comparable Fisheries; Application for Exempted
countervailing duties for such entries of domestic or foreign specifications. Certain Fishing Permits
forged stainless steel flanges are made in
subject merchandise in the amounts various grades such as, but not limited to, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
indicated above. If the ITC determines 304, 304L, 316, and 316L (or combinations Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
that material injury, or threat of material thereof). The term ‘‘stainless steel’’ used in Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
injury, does not exist, this proceeding this scope refers to an alloy steel containing,
Commerce.
will be terminated and all estimated by actual weight, 1.2 percent or less of carbon
and 10.5 percent or more of chromium, with ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
duties deposited or securities posted as
or without other elements.
a result of the suspension of liquidation Unfinished stainless steel flanges possess SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
will be refunded or canceled. the approximate shape of finished stainless Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
steel flanges and have not yet been machined Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS
International Trade Commission
to final specification after the initial forging (Assistant Regional Administrator), has
Notification or like operations. These machining made a preliminary determination that
processes may include, but are not limited to,
In accordance with section 705(d) of boring, facing, spot facing, drilling, tapering,
three exempted fishing permit
the Act, Commerce will notify the ITC threading, beveling, heating, or compressing. applications contain all of the required
of its determination. In addition, we are Semi-finished stainless steel flanges are information and warrant further
making available to the ITC all non- unfinished stainless steel flanges that have consideration. These exempted fishing
privileged and non-proprietary undergone some machining processes. permits would authorize five
information related to this investigation. The scope includes six general types of commercial fishing vessels to test the
flanges. They are: (1) Weld neck, generally economic viability of using hook gear to
We will allow the ITC access to all used in butt-weld line connection; (2)
privileged and business proprietary selectively target pollock and haddock
threaded, generally used for threaded line
information in our files, provided the connections; (3) slip-on, generally used to
in the Western Gulf of Maine and
ITC confirms that it will not disclose slide over pipe; (4) lap joint, generally used Cashes Ledge Closure Areas (excluding
with stub-ends/butt-weld line connections; the Cashes Ledge Habitat Management
such information, either publicly or
(5) socket weld, generally used to fit pipe Area), and to temporarily retain
under an administrative protective order
into a machine recession; and (6) blind, undersized catch for measurement and
(APO), without the written consent of generally used to seal off a line. The sizes data collection.
the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and descriptions of the flanges within the Regulations under the Magnuson-
and Compliance. scope include all pressure classes of ASME
Stevens Fishery Conservation and
B16.5 and range from one-half inch to
Notification Regarding Administrative twenty-four inches nominal pipe size. Management Act require publication of
Protective Orders Specifically excluded from the scope of these this notification to provide interested
orders are cast stainless steel flanges. Cast parties the opportunity to comment on
In the event that the ITC issues a final stainless steel flanges generally are applications for proposed exempted
negative injury determination, this manufactured to specification ASTM A351. fishing permits.
notice will serve as the only reminder The country of origin for certain forged
DATES: Comments must be received on
to parties subject to an APO of their stainless steel flanges, whether unfinished,
semi-finished, or finished is the country or before April 27, 2018.
responsibility concerning the where the flange was forged. Subject ADDRESSES: You may submit written
destruction of proprietary information merchandise includes stainless steel flanges comments by any of the following
disclosed under APO in accordance as defined above that have been further methods:
with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely processed in a third country. The processing
• Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov.
written notification of the return/ includes, but is not limited to, boring, facing,
spot facing, drilling, tapering, threading, Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments
destruction of APO materials or on EFP Applications for Hook Gear
beveling, heating, or compressing, and/or any
conversion to judicial protective order is other processing that would not otherwise Access to WGOM and Cashes Ledge
hereby requested. Failure to comply remove the merchandise from the scope of Closure Areas.’’
with the regulations and terms of an the investigations if performed in the country • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
APO is a violation which is subject to of manufacture of the stainless steel flanges. Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
sanction. Merchandise subject to the investigation is Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
typically imported under headings
This determination is issued and 7307.21.1000 and 7307.21.5000 of the
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
published pursuant to sections 705(d) Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United Mark the outside of the envelope
and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR States (HTSUS). While HTSUS subheadings ‘‘Comments on EFP Applications for
351.210(c). and ASTM specifications are provided for Hook Gear Access to WGOM and Cashes
convenience and customs purposes, the Ledge Closure Areas.’’
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![15792 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle species like cod, the use of a vessel further consideration. This exempted
Molton, Fishery Management Specialist, monitoring system and 100-percent fishing permit would require
978–281–9236, Kyle.Molton@noaa.gov. monitoring would be required for all participants to use electronic
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two vessels. A research technician or at-sea monitoring systems on 100 percent of
commercial fishermen and a groundfish monitor would accompany all trips that sector trips for catch accounting in the
sector submitted complete applications occur under these EFPs to measure and groundfish fishery. Additionally, vessels
to renew exempted fishing permits document fish caught and document would be authorized to access portions
(EFPs) on February 16, 2018, to conduct fishing gear, bait, location, and fishing of groundfish closed areas. Regulations
commercial fishing activities that the conditions to evaluate gear performance. under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
regulations would otherwise restrict. The vessel captains would also Conservation and Management Act
These EFPs would authorize five document fishing practices used to require publication of this notification
commercial fishing vessels to fish a avoid bycatch of non-target species. to provide interested parties the
combined total of 150 trips in the Undersized fish would be discarded as opportunity to comment on applications
Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) and quickly as possible after sampling. All for proposed exempted fishing permits.
Cashes Ledge Closure Areas, excluding Northeast multispecies of legal size DATES: Comments must be received on
the Cashes Ledge Habitat Management would be landed, and all catch would or before April 27, 2018.
Area (HMA), with hook gear, and to be attributed to the vessel’s sector
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
temporarily retain undersized catch for annual catch entitlement. The
comments by either of the following
measurement and data collection. applicants will also document ex-vessel
methods:
Within the Cashes Ledge Closure Area, price for all sold catch for comparison
with other harvest methods and • Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
access would be permitted in the Include in the subject line ‘‘100
Fippennies Ledge HMA, but not in the markets. The participating vessels
would not be exempt from any sector PERCENT EM EFP.’’
Cashes Ledge or Ammen Rock HMAs. • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional
These HMAs were developed as part of monitoring or reporting requirements.
If approved, the applicants may Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
the New England Fisheries Management Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
Council’s Omnibus Essential Fish request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFPs throughout the Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Habitat Amendment 2, and approved by Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘100
NMFS on January 3, 2018. year. EFP modifications and extensions
may be granted without further notice if PERCENT EM EFP.’’
The EFPs would authorize the
applicants to use hook gear to they are deemed essential to facilitate FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
selectively target pollock and haddock completion of the proposed research Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management
while maintaining minimal bycatch. In and have minimal impacts that do not Specialist, 978–281–9255.
addition, the applicants would also change the scope or impact of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
explore and develop premium markets initially approved EFP request. Groundfish sectors are required to
to increase the value of the catch. This Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. implement and fund an at-sea
study would be conducted in the Dated: April 9, 2018.
monitoring (ASM) program. Sectors may
WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure use electronic monitoring (EM) to satisfy
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Areas. The applicants have requested this monitoring requirement, provided
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable that NMFS deems the technology
access to these areas based on reports,
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
and experimental fishing, which suggest sufficient for catch monitoring. NMFS
[FR Doc. 2018–07597 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am]
that there are high concentrations of the has yet to approve EM as a suitable
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P alternative to ASM. However, NMFS is
target species located in these areas. The
exemptions are necessary to conduct working with industry and other
this study because vessels on stakeholders to test the operational
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE feasibility of EM and resolve
commercial groundfish trips are
prohibited from fishing for groundfish National Oceanic and Atmospheric outstanding barriers to implementation.
in these closed areas and from retaining Administration Project partners include the Cape Cod
undersized groundfish. EFP trips would Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, The
occur year-round, excluding existing RIN 0648–XG152 Nature Conservancy, the Maine Coast
seasonal closures. Fishermen’s Association, the Gulf of
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Maine Research Institute, and fishermen
Participating vessels would take a
General Provisions for Domestic from the Northeast Fishery Sectors V &
combined total of 150 trips to closed
Fisheries; Application for Exempted XI, the GB Cod Fixed Gear Sector, the
areas. Trips would be roughly 24 hours
Fishing Permits Sustainable Harvest Sector, and the
or less in length. Vessels would use
automated jigging machines, handline, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Maine Coast Community Sector.
and rod and reel gears only. Based on Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and In fishing year 2017, NMFS issued an
preliminary 2017 data, estimated catch Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), exempted fishing permit (EFP) to these
on these trips is between 1,000 and Commerce. project partners to develop an audit-
2,000 lb (453.5 to 907.2 kg) of pollock ACTION: Notice; request for comments. model EM program for the groundfish
and haddock, combined, per trip. 2017 fishery. The EFP required vessels to use
data indicate that catch of non-target SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional EM systems on 100 percent of
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
species is small; cod represented less Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, groundfish sector trips to verify
than 10 percent of catch overall, and Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has regulated groundfish discards. EM was
other species were encountered only made a preliminary determination that used in lieu of human observers to meet
sporadically or in low numbers. an exempted fishing permit application their sector ASM requirements. Thirteen
Because these vessels would be submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial vessels using a variety of gear types (e.g.
fishing in closed areas, and must Fishermen’s Alliance contains all of the hook, benthic longline, sink gillnet,
minimize interactions with non-target required information and warrants bottom trawl) participated in the
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Document Created: 2018-11-02 08:14:57
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 08:14:57
| 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; request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before April 27, 2018. | |
| Contact | Kyle Molton, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9236, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 15791 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG14 |
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