83 FR 2425 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico State Management Program Amendment for Recreational Red Snapper
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 11 (January 17, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 11 (January 17, 2018)
| Page Range | 2425-2427 | |
| FR Document | 2018-00666 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 2425-2427] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-00666] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF679 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico State Management Program Amendment for Recreational Red Snapper AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS); request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council), intends to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze management alternatives to be included in the State Management Program for Recreational Red Snapper Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (State Management Program Amendment). The State Management Program Amendment will consider alternatives that would allocate the total recreational red snapper annual catch limit (ACL) for the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) among the individual Gulf states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, and designate the components of the recreational sector that would be included under a state's management program (private angling and/or charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) components). These decisions would form the basis for individual state amendments to the FMP to allow each of the Gulf states to establish management measures for the recreational harvest of red snapper in adjacent Gulf Federal waters. State management would enable each state to specify the management measures that best meet the needs of its constituents, thereby addressing regional socio-economic concerns. The purpose of this NOI is to inform the public of upcoming opportunities to provide additional comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS, as specified in this notice. DATES: Written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS must be received by NMFS by February 16, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Amendment identified by ``NOAA-NMFS-2017-0122'' by any of the following methods:Electronic submissions: Submit electronic comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0122, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments Mail: Submit written comments to Lauren Waters, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 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: Lauren Waters, Southeast Regional Office, telephone: (727) 824-5305; or email: Lauren.Waters@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For Gulf red snapper the recreational sector is separated into Federal for-hire (charter vessels and headboats) and private angling components, each managed under their respective recreational quotas and annual catch targets (ACTs). This separation will end after the 2022 fishing year if the Council takes no further action. NMFS annually projects the recreational season length for each component based on the ACTs and the projected average weights of fish and catch rates derived from historical [[Page 2426]] trends. Despite increases in the total red snapper quota, the recreational season length for the private angler component has become progressively shorter. Fishermen from different Gulf states have requested more flexibility in recreational red snapper management so that regulations provide greater socio-economic benefits to their particular area. In June 2012, Louisiana requested that the Council develop a recreational red snapper regional management pilot program. As a result of the Louisiana request, the Council initiated development of Amendment 39 to the FMP. Amendment 39 considered several actions that are also currently being considered by the Council, such as the mechanism for implementing regional management, apportioning the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) among the Gulf states, and modifying post-season accountability measures (AMs) consistent with the regional management approach. In May 2013, NMFS published an NOI to prepare a draft environmental impact statement for Amendment 39 and solicited public comment (78 FR 27956, May 13, 2013). As explained in that NOI, the intent of Amendment 39 was to allow participating states or regions to design management options to better fit their needs. However, red snapper would remain a federally managed species. The Council and NMFS would continue to oversee management of the stock. This includes continuing to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the mandate to ensure the red snapper annual recreational quota is not exceeded and that conservation objectives are achieved. The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) would continue to determine the acceptable biological catch (ABC) for red snapper, and the Council and NMFS would determine the total recreational red snapper quota that could be allocated among regions. During the development of Amendment 39, the Council received public input on actions and alternatives regarding regional management of recreational red snapper at numerous public hearing meetings and Council meetings held throughout the Gulf states from October 2012 through January 2016, as well as via webinar. Additionally the Council's Reef Fish Advisory Panel reviewed regional management actions and alternatives in September 2015. The Environmental Protection Agency published a Notice of Availability for the DEIS for Amendment 39 in December 2015 (80 FR 79041, December 18, 2015). However, in January 2016, the Council voted to postpone further work on Amendment 39. In April 2017, the Council began discussing regional management concepts again and decided to develop new amendments to provide the management flexibility desired by the Gulf states and their constituents. Similar to Amendment 39, the intent is to allow each participating state to implement management measures to better fit its needs, while achieving the same conservations goals as the Federal management measures in existence at any given time. The Council is currently considering several FMP amendments that would allow each Gulf state to manage the recreational harvest of red snapper in Federal waters adjacent to their state. The State Management Program Amendment will consider alternatives to apportion the total recreational red snapper ACL for the Gulf among the individual Gulf states and determine which components of the recreational sector would be included under a state's management program (private angling and/or charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) components). Five separate FMP amendments, one for each Gulf state, will consider alternatives to establish the state-specific authority structure, such as delegation or the use of conservation equivalency plans, and state-specific post- season accountability measures for each state that participates in the State Management Program for recreational red snapper (State Amendments). NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, will develop a DEIS to describe and analyze alternatives to address the management needs described above including the ``no action'' alternative. The State Management Program Amendment DEIS will describe and analyze the apportionment and recreational sector component alternatives as well as describe and analyze the authority structure and accountability measure alternatives included in the five individual State Amendments. Thus, NMFS anticipates that the State Management Program Amendment EIS will include the relevant National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses for all six FMP amendments. However, NMFS will continue to evaluate this determination as the State Amendments are developed and will provide additional NEPA analysis as appropriate. In accordance with NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6A, accompanying NEPA Procedures (companion manual), and the Scoping Process, NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, has identified preliminary environmental issues as a means to initiate discussion for scoping purposes only. The public is invited to provide written comments on the preliminary issues, which are identified as actions and alternatives in the State Management Program Amendment draft options paper and action guide. These preliminary issues may not represent the full range of issues that eventually will be evaluated in the DEIS. A copy of the State Management Program Amendment draft options paper and action guide are available at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2017/RSStateManagement/RSStateManageindex.html. After the DEIS associated with the State Management Program Amendment is completed, it will be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). After filing, the EPA will publish a notice of availability (NOA) of the DEIS for public comment in the Federal Register. The DEIS will have a 45-day comment period. This procedure is pursuant to regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for implementing the procedural provisions of the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and to NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6A regarding NOAA's compliance with NEPA and the CEQ regulations. The Council and NMFS will consider public comments received on the DEIS in developing the final environmental impact statement (FEIS), and before the Council votes to submit the State Management Program Amendment to NMFS for Secretarial review, approval, and implementation under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS will announce in the Federal Register the availability of the final amendment and FEIS for public review during the Secretarial review period, and will consider all public comments prior to final agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the final amendment. During Secretarial review, NMFS will also file the FEIS with the EPA and the EPA will publish an NOA for the FEIS in the Federal Register. NMFS will announce, through a notice published in the Federal Register, all public comment periods on the final amendment, its proposed implementing regulations, and the availability of its associated FEIS. NMFS will consider all public comments received during the Secretarial review period, whether they are on the final amendment, the proposed regulations, or the FEIS, prior to final agency action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. [[Page 2427]] Dated: January 10, 2018. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-00666 Filed 1-16-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 17, 2018 / Notices 2425
Building, 1401 Constitution Avenue Background: The ETTAC is mandated recreational harvest of red snapper in
NW, Washington, DC 20230. The by Section 2313(c) of the Export adjacent Gulf Federal waters. State
address to register, submit comments, or Enhancement Act of 1988, as amended, management would enable each state to
request auxiliary aids is: Mr. Jeffrey 15 U.S.C. 4728(c), to advise the specify the management measures that
Phillips, Office of Energy & Environmental Trade Working Group of best meet the needs of its constituents,
Environmental Industries (OEEI), the Trade Promotion Coordinating thereby addressing regional socio-
International Trade Administration, Committee, through the Secretary of economic concerns. The purpose of this
Room 28018, 1401 Constitution Avenue Commerce, on the development and NOI is to inform the public of upcoming
NW, Washington, DC 20230 or email: administration of programs to expand opportunities to provide additional
jeffrey.phillips@trade.gov. U.S. exports of environmental comments on the scope of issues to be
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. technologies, goods, services, and addressed in the DEIS, as specified in
Jeffrey Phillips, Office of Energy & products. The ETTAC was originally this notice.
Environmental Industries (OEEI), chartered in May of 1994. It was most DATES: Written comments on the scope
International Trade Administration, recently re-chartered until August 2018. of issues to be addressed in the DEIS
Room 28018, 1401 Constitution Avenue Dated: January 10, 2018. must be received by NMFS by February
NW, Washington, DC 20230 (Phone: Edward A. O’Malley, 16, 2018.
202–482–8342; Fax: 202–482–5665; Director, Office of Energy and Environmental ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
email: jeffrey.phillips@trade.gov.) Industries. on the Amendment identified by
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The [FR Doc. 2018–00643 Filed 1–16–18; 8:45 am] ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2017–0122’’ by any of
meeting will take place on February 6 BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P the following methods:
from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT. The • Electronic submissions: Submit
general meeting is open to the public electronic comments via the Federal e-
and time will be permitted for public DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Rulemaking Portal: http://
comment from 3:00–3:30 p.m. EDT. www.regulations.gov. Go to
Members of the public seeking to attend National Oceanic and Atmospheric www.regulations.gov/#!
the meeting are required to register in Administration docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-
advance. Those interested in attending RIN 0648–XF679 0122, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
must provide notification by Friday, complete the required fields, and enter
January 26, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. EDT, via Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of or attach your comments
the contact information provided above. Mexico, and South Atlantic; Gulf of • Mail: Submit written comments to
This meeting is physically accessible to Mexico State Management Program Lauren Waters, Southeast Regional
people with disabilities. Requests for Amendment for Recreational Red Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South,
sign language interpretation or other Snapper St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
auxiliary aids should be directed to Instructions: Comments sent by any
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries other method, to any other address or
OEEI at (202) 482–8342 no less than one Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
week prior to the meeting. Requests individual, or received after the end of
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the comment period, may not be
received after this date will be accepted, Commerce.
but it may not be possible to considered by NMFS. All comments
ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare received are a part of the public record
accommodate them. a draft environmental impact statement
Written comments concerning ETTAC and will generally be posted for public
(DEIS); request for comments. viewing on www.regulations.gov
affairs are welcome any time before or
after the meeting. To be considered SUMMARY: NMFS, Southeast Region, in without change. All personal identifying
during the meeting, written comments collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
must be received by Friday, January 26, Fishery Management Council (Council), confidential business information, or
2018 at 5:00 p.m. EDT to ensure intends to prepare a DEIS to describe otherwise sensitive information
transmission to the members before the and analyze management alternatives to submitted voluntarily by the sender will
meeting. Minutes will be available be included in the State Management be publicly accessible. NMFS will
within 30 days of this meeting. Program for Recreational Red Snapper accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
Topic to be considered: During the Amendment to the Fishery Management A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
February 6, 2018 meeting the three Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources remain anonymous).
ETTAC subcommittees will discuss of the Gulf of Mexico (State FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
their top priorities for this charter Management Program Amendment). The Lauren Waters, Southeast Regional
period, with the goal of generating State Management Program Amendment Office, telephone: (727) 824–5305; or
recommendations for the Secretary of will consider alternatives that would email: Lauren.Waters@noaa.gov.
Commerce. Topics under discussion allocate the total recreational red SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For Gulf
include optimizing the U.S. snapper annual catch limit (ACL) for the red snapper the recreational sector is
Government’s trade promotion Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) among the separated into Federal for-hire (charter
programs, identifying market access individual Gulf states of Alabama, vessels and headboats) and private
barriers, pros and cons of existing trade Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and angling components, each managed
agreements, and discussing Texas, and designate the components of under their respective recreational
procurement policy, including issues the recreational sector that would be quotas and annual catch targets (ACTs).
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
with financing mechanisms, localization included under a state’s management This separation will end after the 2022
requirements and non-tariff barriers. program (private angling and/or charter fishing year if the Council takes no
The ETTAC’s subcommittees are: Trade vessel/headboat (for-hire) components). further action. NMFS annually projects
Promotion and Export Market These decisions would form the basis the recreational season length for each
Development, Professional Services and for individual state amendments to the component based on the ACTs and the
Infrastructure Advancement, and Trade FMP to allow each of the Gulf states to projected average weights of fish and
Policy and American Competitiveness. establish management measures for the catch rates derived from historical
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 17, 2018 / Notices 2427
Dated: January 10, 2018. pollock fishery, including filing of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily H. Menashes, cooperative contracts (50 CFR 679.61 Carolyn Doherty, (301) 427–8385.
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable and 679.62). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aboriginal
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. • Protection of other fisheries from subsistence whaling in the United States
[FR Doc. 2018–00666 Filed 1–16–18; 8:45 am] spillover effects from the AFA (50 CFR is governed by the Whaling Convention
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 679.64). Act (WCA) (16 U.S.C. 916 et seq.).
• Govern catch measurement and Under the WCA, IWC regulations shall
monitoring in the BSAI pollock fishery, generally become effective with respect
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE including filing of annual reports and to all persons and vessels subject to the
completing and submitting inshore jurisdiction of the United States, within
National Oceanic and Atmospheric catcher vessel pollock cooperative catch 90 days of notification from the IWC
Administration reports (50 CFR 679.63). Secretariat of an amendment to the IWC
Affected Public: Business or other for- Schedule (16 U.S.C. 916k). Regulations
Submission for OMB Review; profit organizations. that implement the WCA, found at 50
Comment Request Frequency: Annually and on occasion. CFR 230.6, require the Secretary of
The Department of Commerce will Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Commerce (Secretary) to publish, at
submit to the Office of Management and This information collection request least annually, aboriginal subsistence
Budget (OMB) for clearance the may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow whaling quotas and any other
following proposal for collection of the instructions to view Department of limitations on aboriginal subsistence
information under the provisions of the Commerce collections currently under whaling deriving from regulations of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. review by OMB. IWC.
Chapter 35). Written comments and At the 64th Annual Meeting of the
Agency: National Oceanic and recommendations for the proposed IWC, the Commission set catch limits
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). information collection should be sent for aboriginal subsistence use of
Title: Alaska American Fisheries Act within 30 days of publication of this bowhead whales from the Bering-
(AFA) Reports. notice to OIRA_Submission@ Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock. The
OMB Control Number: 0648–0401. omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. bowhead catch limits were based on a
Form Number(s): None. Dated: January 11, 2018. joint request by the United States and
Type of Request: Regular (extension of the Russian Federation, accompanied by
Sarah Brabson,
a currently approved information documentation concerning the needs of
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
collection). two Native groups: Alaska Eskimos and
Number of Respondents: 8. [FR Doc. 2018–00691 Filed 1–16–18; 8:45 am] Chukotka Natives in the Russian Far
Average Hours per Response: AFA BILLING CODE 3510–22–P East.
cooperative contract, 8 hours; annual The IWC set a 6-year block catch limit
cooperative report, 16 hours; inshore of 336 bowhead whales landed. For
cooperative weekly catch report, 45 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE each of the years 2013 through 2018, the
minutes; incentive plan agreement (IPA) number of bowhead whales struck may
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
amendment, 50 hours; incentive plan not exceed 67, except that any unused
Administration
agreement disapproval appeals, 4 hours; portion of a strike quota from any prior
IPA annual report, 80 hours. RIN 0648–XF951 year may be carried forward. No more
Burden Hours: 599. than 15 strikes may be added to the
Needs and Uses: On October 21, 1998, Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal strike quota for any one year. At the end
the President signed into law The Subsistence Whaling Quotas of the 2017 harvest, there were 15
American Fisheries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1851 unused strikes available for carry-
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
(AFA). The AFA authorizes the forward, so the combined strike quota
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
formation of fishery cooperatives in all set by the IWC for 2018 is 82 (67 + 15).
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
sectors of the Bering Sea and Aleutian An arrangement between the United
Commerce.
Islands Management Area (BSAI) States and the Russian Federation
pollock fishery, grants antitrust ACTION: Notice; notification of quota for ensures that the total quota of bowhead
exemptions to cooperatives in the bowhead whales. whales landed and struck in 2018 will
mothership sector, and imposes SUMMARY: NMFS notifies the public of not exceed the limits set by the IWC.
operational limits on fishery the aboriginal subsistence whaling Under this arrangement, the Russian
cooperatives in the BSAI pollock quota for bowhead whales that it has natives may use no more than seven
fishery. The National Marine Fisheries assigned to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling strikes, and the Alaska Eskimos may use
Service (NMFS) issues a single pollock Commission (AEWC), and of limitations no more than 75 strikes.
allocation to each cooperative, and the on the use of the quota deriving from Through its cooperative agreement
cooperative may make sub-allocations of regulations of the International Whaling with the AEWC, NOAA has assigned 75
pollock to each individual vessel owner Commission (IWC). For 2018, the quota strikes to the Alaska Eskimos. The
in the cooperative. is 75 bowhead whales struck. This quota AEWC will in turn allocate these strikes
With respect to the fisheries off among the 11 villages whose cultural
and other applicable limitations govern
Alaska, the AFA Program is a suite of and subsistence needs have been
the harvest of bowhead whales by
management measures that fall into four documented, and will ensure that its
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
members of the AEWC.
general regulatory categories: hunters use no more than 75 strikes.
• Limit access into the fishing and DATES: Applicable January 17, 2018.
processing sectors of the BSAI pollock ADDRESSES: Office for International Other Limitations
fishery and that allocate pollock to such Affairs and Seafood Inspection, National The IWC regulations, as well as the
sectors (50 CFR 679.64). Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East- NOAA regulation at 50 CFR 230.4(c),
• Govern the formation and operation West Highway, Silver Spring, MD forbid the taking of calves or any whale
of fishery cooperatives in the BSAI 20910. accompanied by a calf.
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Document Created: 2018-10-26 09:56:47
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 09:56:47
| 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 intent (NOI) to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS); request for comments. | |
| Contact | Lauren Waters, Southeast Regional Office, telephone: (727) 824-5305; or email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 2425 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF67 |
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