83 FR 26267 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Scoping Process

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 109 (June 6, 2018)

Page Range		26267-26268
FR Document		2018-12105

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council announces its intent to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Bluefish. An environmental impact statement may be necessary for the amendment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to analyze the impacts of any proposed management measures. The Council has initiated this amendment in order to perform a review of the sector-based allocations, commercial allocations to the states, goals and objectives of the fishery management plan, and quota transfer processes. This notice announces a public process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed, and for identifying the significant issues related to the bluefish fishery in the Greater Atlantic region. This notice is to alert the interested public of the scoping process, the potential development of a draft environmental impact statement, and to provide for public participation in that process.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26267-26268]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12105]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG242


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; 
Scoping Process

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
notice of initiation of scoping process; notice of public scoping 
meetings; requests for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council announces its 
intent to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS and the Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission, an amendment to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Bluefish. An environmental impact statement may be necessary 
for the amendment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act to analyze the impacts of any proposed management measures. The 
Council has initiated this amendment in order to perform a review of 
the sector-based allocations, commercial allocations to the states, 
goals and objectives of the fishery management plan, and quota transfer 
processes.
    This notice announces a public process for determining the scope of 
issues to be addressed, and for identifying the significant issues 
related to the bluefish fishery in the Greater Atlantic region. This 
notice is to alert the interested public of the scoping process, the 
potential development of a draft environmental impact statement, and to 
provide for public participation in that process.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 11:59 p.m., EST, 
on July 6, 2018. Twelve public scoping meetings will be held during 
this comment period. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, 
and locations.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent by any of the following 
methods:
     Email to the following address: 
[email protected]. Include ``Bluefish Allocation Amendment 
Scoping Comments'' in the subject line;
     Mail or hand deliver to Dr. Christopher M. Moore, 
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North 
State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901. Mark the outside of the 
envelope ``Bluefish Allocation Amendment Scoping Comments''; or
     Fax to (302) 674-5399
    The scoping document may be obtained from the Council office at the 
previously provided address, or by request to the Council by telephone 
(302) 674-2331, or via the internet at http://www.mafmc.org.
    Comments may also be provided verbally at any of the 12 public 
scoping meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, 
DE 19901, (telephone 302-674-2331).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    More details on the topics addressed in this supplementary 
information section may be found in the Bluefish Allocation Amendment 
Scoping Document (see ADDRESSES for how to obtain scoping document) and 
on the bluefish allocation amendment page of the Council's website at 
http://www.mafmc.org/actions/bluefish-allocation-amendment.
    The Council, in cooperation with the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), has initiated this action in order to: 
(1) Update the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) goals 
and objectives for bluefish management; and (2) perform a comprehensive 
review of the bluefish sector allocations, commercial allocations to 
the states, and transfer processes within the FMP. This action was 
proposed so that the FMP goals and objectives, allocations, and 
transfer processes can be assessed in light of potential changing 
fishery conditions and aligned better with stakeholder priorities. Some 
management questions for consideration in this amendment include: (1) 
Are the existing goals and objectives appropriate for managing the 
bluefish fishery; (2) is the existing allocation between the commercial 
and recreational sectors based on the annual catch limit appropriate 
for managing the bluefish fishery; (3) are the existing commercial 
state allocations appropriate for managing the bluefish fishery; and 
(4) are the existing transfer processes appropriate for managing the 
bluefish fishery?
    The scoping period is an important opportunity for members of the 
public to raise concerns related to the scope of issues that will be 
considered in the amendment. The Council needs your input to identify 
management issues, develop effective alternatives, and identify 
possible impacts to be considered. Public comments early in the 
amendment development process will help the Council address issues of 
public concern in a thorough and appropriate manner. Comments can be 
made in writing or during the scoping hearings as described above (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Following the scoping process, the Council will develop a range of 
management alternatives to be considered and potentially prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to

[[Page 26268]]

analyze the impacts of the management alternatives being considered as 
required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A draft EIS 
will be distributed for public review. During a 30-day public comment 
period which will include public hearings, the public may comment on 
any aspect of the draft EIS. Following a review of the comments, the 
Council will then choose preferred management measures for submission 
with the Final EIS to the Secretary of Commerce for publishing of a 
proposed and then final rule, both of which have additional comment 
periods.

Scoping Hearings

    The Council will take and discuss scoping comments on this 
amendment at the following 12 scoping meetings dates and locations:

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             Date                               Address
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Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at   Dare County Commissioners Office, 954
 6:00 p.m.                      Marshall Collins Drive, Room 168,
                                Manteo, North Carolina 27954.
Thursday, June 21, 2018, at    NC Division of Marine Fisheries Central
 6:00 p.m.                      District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West,
                                Morehead City, North Carolina.
Thursday, June 21, 2018, at    DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway,
 6:00 p.m.                      Dover, Delaware 19901.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at     NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources, 205
 6:30 p.m.                      North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1, East
                                Setauket, New York 11733.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at     Ocean City Municipal Airport, 12724
 6:00 p.m.                      Airport Road, Berlin, Maryland 21811.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at   Ocean City Library, 1735 Simpson Avenue,
 6:00 p.m.                      Ocean City, New Jersey 08226.
Thursday, June 28, 2018, at    Ocean County Administration Building, 101
 6:00 p.m.                      Hooper Avenue, Toms River, New Jersey
                                08753.
Thursday, June 28, 2018, at    Brevard County Government Center North,
 6:00 p.m.                      ``Brevard Room'', 518 South Palm Ave.,
                                Titusville, Florida 32780.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at     CT DEEP Boating Education Center, 333
 7:00 p.m.                      Ferry Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut 06371.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at   Plymouth Public Library, Otto Fehlow
 6:00 p.m.                      Room, 132 South Street, Plymouth,
                                Massachusetts.
Thursday, July 12, 2018, at    URI Narragansett Bay Campus, Corless
 6:00 p.m.                      Auditorium, South Ferry Road,
                                Narragansett, Rhode Island.
Monday, July 16, 2018, at      Internet webinar: Connection information
 6:00 p.m.                      to be available at http://www.mafmc.org
                                or by contacting the Council.
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Special Accommodations

    The scoping hearings are accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should 
be directed to M. Jan Saunders (302-674-2331, ext 251) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: May 31, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-12105 Filed 6-5-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2018 / Notices 26267

not limited to: (1) Case and rebuttal ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
briefs, filed pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309; environmental impact statement; notice Christopher M. Moore, Mid-Atlantic
(2) factual information to value factors of initiation of scoping process; notice Fishery Management Council, 800 North
under 19 CFR 351.408(c), or to measure of public scoping meetings; requests for State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901,
the adequacy of remuneration under 19 comments. (telephone 302–674–2331).
CFR 351.511(a)(2), filed pursuant to 19 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
CFR 351.301(c)(3) and rebuttal, SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery
clarification and correction filed Management Council announces its Background
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.301(c)(3)(iv); (3) intent to prepare, in cooperation with More details on the topics addressed
comments concerning the selection of a NMFS and the Atlantic States Marine in this supplementary information
surrogate country and surrogate values Fisheries Commission, an amendment section may be found in the Bluefish
to the Fishery Management Plan for Allocation Amendment Scoping
and rebuttal; (4) comments concerning
Bluefish. An environmental impact Document (see ADDRESSES for how to
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
statement may be necessary for the obtain scoping document) and on the
data; and (5) quantity and value
amendment in accordance with the bluefish allocation amendment page of
questionnaires. Under certain
National Environmental Policy Act to the Council’s website at http://
circumstances, Commerce may elect to
analyze the impacts of any proposed www.mafmc.org/actions/bluefish-
specify a different time limit by which
management measures. The Council has allocation-amendment.
extension requests will be considered
initiated this amendment in order to The Council, in cooperation with the
untimely for submissions which are due
perform a review of the sector-based Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
from multiple parties simultaneously. In
allocations, commercial allocations to Commission (ASMFC), has initiated this
such a case, Commerce will inform the states, goals and objectives of the
parties in the letter or memorandum action in order to: (1) Update the
fishery management plan, and quota Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management
setting forth the deadline (including a transfer processes.
specified time) by which extension Plan (FMP) goals and objectives for
This notice announces a public bluefish management; and (2) perform a
requests must be filed to be considered process for determining the scope of
timely. This modification also requires comprehensive review of the bluefish
issues to be addressed, and for sector allocations, commercial
that an extension request must be made identifying the significant issues related
in a separate, stand-alone submission, allocations to the states, and transfer
to the bluefish fishery in the Greater processes within the FMP. This action
and clarifies the circumstances under Atlantic region. This notice is to alert
which Commerce will grant untimely- was proposed so that the FMP goals and
the interested public of the scoping objectives, allocations, and transfer
filed requests for the extension of time process, the potential development of a
limits. These modifications are effective processes can be assessed in light of
draft environmental impact statement, potential changing fishery conditions
for all segments initiated on or after and to provide for public participation
October 21, 2013. Please review the and aligned better with stakeholder
in that process. priorities. Some management questions
final rule, available at http:// DATES: Written comments must be for consideration in this amendment
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/ received on or before 11:59 p.m., EST, include: (1) Are the existing goals and
html/2013-22853.htm, prior to on July 6, 2018. Twelve public scoping objectives appropriate for managing the
submitting factual information in these meetings will be held during this bluefish fishery; (2) is the existing
segments. comment period. See SUPPLEMENTARY allocation between the commercial and
These initiations and this notice are INFORMATION for dates, times, and recreational sectors based on the annual
in accordance with section 751(a) of the locations. catch limit appropriate for managing the
Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(a)) and 19 CFR
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be bluefish fishery; (3) are the existing
351.221(c)(1)(i).
sent by any of the following methods: commercial state allocations appropriate
Dated: May 31, 2018. • Email to the following address: for managing the bluefish fishery; and
James Maeder, nmfs.garBluefishAmend@noaa.gov. (4) are the existing transfer processes
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Include ‘‘Bluefish Allocation appropriate for managing the bluefish
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Amendment Scoping Comments’’ in the fishery?
Operations performing the duties of Deputy subject line; The scoping period is an important
Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and • Mail or hand deliver to Dr. opportunity for members of the public
Countervailing Duty Operations. Christopher M. Moore, Executive to raise concerns related to the scope of
[FR Doc. 2018–12142 Filed 6–5–18; 8:45 am] Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery issues that will be considered in the
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P Management Council, 800 North State amendment. The Council needs your
Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware input to identify management issues,
19901. Mark the outside of the envelope develop effective alternatives, and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ‘‘Bluefish Allocation Amendment identify possible impacts to be
Scoping Comments’’; or considered. Public comments early in
National Oceanic and Atmospheric • Fax to (302) 674–5399 the amendment development process
Administration The scoping document may be will help the Council address issues of
obtained from the Council office at the public concern in a thorough and
RIN 0648–XG242
previously provided address, or by appropriate manner. Comments can be
Fisheries of the Northeastern United request to the Council by telephone made in writing or during the scoping
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

States; Bluefish Fishery; Scoping (302) 674–2331, or via the internet at hearings as described above (see
Process http://www.mafmc.org. ADDRESSES).
Comments may also be provided Following the scoping process, the
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries verbally at any of the 12 public scoping Council will develop a range of
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY management alternatives to be
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), INFORMATION for dates, times, and considered and potentially prepare an
Commerce. locations. environmental impact statement (EIS) to

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Document Created: 2018-06-06 00:54:26
Document Modified: 2018-06-06 00:54:26

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 to prepare an environmental impact statement; notice of initiation of scoping process; notice of public scoping meetings; requests for comments.
Dates		Written comments must be received on or before 11:59 p.m., EST, on July 6, 2018. Twelve public scoping meetings will be held during this comment period. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.
Contact		Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901, (telephone 302-674-2331).
FR Citation		83 FR 26267
RIN Number		0648-XG24

83 FR 26267 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Scoping Process

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 109 (June 6, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration