83 FR 38294 - 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 151 (August 6, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 151 (August 6, 2018)
| Page Range | 38294-38295 | |
| FR Document | 2018-16771 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 38294-38295] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-16771] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XG384 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 Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish outside of scallop regulations in support of research conducted by the Coonamessett Farm Foundation. These exemptions would support research conducted on trips to test gear modifications for bycatch reduction in the scallop dredge fishery. 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 August 21, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods:Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line ``CFF Compensation Fishing Gear Research EFP.'' 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 CFF Compensation Fishing Gear Research EFP.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management Specialist, 978-282-8456. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on July 6, 2018, that would allow gear research to be conducted by vessels on compensation fishing trips associated with projects funded by the 2018 Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) program. The exemptions would allow commercial fishing vessels to exceed the crew size regulations at 50 CFR 648.51(c) to place a researcher on the vessel and temporarily exempt the participating vessels from possession limits and minimum size requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subpart B and subparts D through O, for biological sampling purposes. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited, including landing fish in excess of a possession limit or below the minimum size. Experimental fishing activity would test a one-way extended link gear [[Page 38295]] modification in an attempt to reduce finfish bycatch and habitat impact in the scallop dredge fishery. Any modification would comply with existing scallop gear regulations. All trips would take place in scallop fishing areas open to scallop RSA compensation fishing. Exemption from crew size limits is needed because a research technician would accompany vessels on the compensation fishing trips to collect catch data associated with the dredge modifications. The crew size exemption would be for approximately 120 days-at-sea and would be used in conjunction with a valid compensation fishing letter of authorization. The technician would only engage in data collection activities, and would not process catch to be landed for sale. Exemption from possession limit and minimum sizes would support catch sampling activities, and ensure the vessel is not in conflict with possession regulations while collecting catch data. All catch above a possession limit or below a minimum size would be discarded as soon as possible following data collection. Estimated catch totals for the experimental permit activities are listed below in Table 1. The proposed gear modifications are not expected to increase catch above typical commercial fishing practices and gears. All research trips would otherwise be consistent with normal commercial fishing activity and catch would be retained for sale. Table 1--Estimated Bycatch for CFF EFP Compensation Trips ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight Weight Species Number (lb) (kg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NE Skate Complex............................. 19,326 10,051 4,559 Barndoor Skate............................... 1,231 14 6 Summer Flounder.............................. 747 2,951 1,339 Winter Flounder.............................. 14 2 1 Yellowtail Flounder.......................... 36 10 5 Windowpane Flounder.......................... 106 39 18 Monkfish..................................... 2,973 4,689 2,127 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP 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. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 1, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-16771 Filed 8-3-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![38294 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Notices
Although non-emergency issues not FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUMMARY: The Acting Assistant Regional
contained in this agenda may come Elizabeth Figus, Council staff; Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
before this group for discussion, those telephone: (907) 271–2801. Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has
issues may not be the subject of formal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: made a preliminary determination that
action during this meeting. Action will an Exempted Fishing Permit application
be restricted to those issues specifically Thursday, August 23, 2018 through contains all of the required information
listed in this notice and any issues Friday, August 24, 2018 and warrants further consideration. The
arising after publication of this notice This two-day meeting is expected to Exempted Fishing Permit would allow
that require emergency action under focus on: (a) A presentation on uses of commercial fishing vessels to fish
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens EM for recording interactions with outside of scallop regulations in support
Act, provided the public has been seabirds; (b) an update about the Alaska of research conducted by the
notified of the Council’s intent to take Region Electronic Technologies Coonamessett Farm Foundation. These
final action to address the emergency. Implementation Plan; (c) updates for exemptions would support research
ongoing research, funding, and conducted on trips to test gear
Special Accommodations
regulatory comparisons relevant to trawl modifications for bycatch reduction in
The meeting is physically accessible EM; (d) a review of the EM Workgroup the scallop dredge fishery.
to people with disabilities. This meeting cooperative approach; (e) drafting of a Regulations under the Magnuson-
will be recorded. Consistent with 16 cooperative workplan for trawl EM; and, Stevens Fishery Conservation and
U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is (f) a discussion of scheduling and other Management Act require publication of
available upon request. Requests for issues. The Agenda is subject to change, this notification to provide interested
sign language interpretation or other and the latest version will be posted at parties the opportunity to comment on
auxiliary aids should be directed to http://www.npfmc.org/observer- applications for proposed Exempted
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at program/. Fishing Permits.
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to DATES: Comments must be received on
the meeting date. Public Comment or before August 21, 2018.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Public comment letters will be ADDRESSES: You may submit written
accepted and should be submitted either comments by any of the following
Dated: July 31, 2018.
electronically to Elizabeth Figus, methods:
Tracey L. Thompson,
Council staff: Elizabeth.figus@noaa.gov • Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable or through the mail: North Pacific
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Include in the subject line ‘‘CFF
Fishery Management Council, 605 W Compensation Fishing Gear Research
[FR Doc. 2018–16704 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK EFP.’’
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 99501–2252. In-person oral public • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional
testimony will be accepted at the Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
discretion of the chair. Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Special Accommodations Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Mark the outside of the envelope
These meetings are physically ‘‘Comments on CFF Compensation
Administration accessible to people with disabilities. Fishing Gear Research EFP.’’
RIN 0648–XG389 Requests for sign language FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
interpretation or other auxiliary aids Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management
North Pacific Fishery Management should be directed to Shannon Gleason
Council; Public Meeting Specialist, 978–282–8456.
at (907) 271–2809 at least 7 working
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries days prior to the meeting date.
Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF)
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Dated: July 31, 2018. submitted a complete application for an
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Tracey L. Thompson, Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on July
Commerce. Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 6, 2018, that would allow gear research
ACTION: Notice of public meeting. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. to be conducted by vessels on
[FR Doc. 2018–16703 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] compensation fishing trips associated
SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery BILLING CODE 3510–22–P with projects funded by the 2018
Management Council (Council) Trawl Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA)
Electronic Monitoring Committee will program. The exemptions would allow
hold a public meeting on August 23, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE commercial fishing vessels to exceed the
2018 through August 24, 2018. crew size regulations at 50 CFR
DATES: The meeting will be held on National Oceanic and Atmospheric 648.51(c) to place a researcher on the
Thursday, August 23, 2018, from 9 a.m. Administration vessel and temporarily exempt the
to 5:30 p.m. and on Friday, August 24, RIN 0648–XG384 participating vessels from possession
2018, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (or as limits and minimum size requirements
necessary). Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; specified in 50 CFR part 648, subpart B
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in General Provisions for Domestic and subparts D through O, for biological
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
the Husky Room, Purple and Gold at the sampling purposes. Any fishing activity
Silver Cloud Hotel, 5036 25th Ave. NE, Fishing Permits conducted outside the scope of the
Seattle, WA 98105. Teleconference AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries exempted fishing activity would be
number: (907) 271–2896. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and prohibited, including landing fish in
Council address: North Pacific Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), excess of a possession limit or below the
Fishery Management Council, 605 W Commerce. minimum size.
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK Experimental fishing activity would
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
99501–2252; telephone: (907) 271–2809. test a one-way extended link gear
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Notices 38295
modification in an attempt to reduce Dated: August 1, 2018. collection requirements and minimize
finfish bycatch and habitat impact in the Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, the public’s reporting burden. It also
scallop dredge fishery. Any Acting Director, Office of Sustainable helps the public understand the
modification would comply with Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Department’s information collection
existing scallop gear regulations. All [FR Doc. 2018–16771 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] requirements and provide the requested
trips would take place in scallop fishing BILLING CODE 3510–22–P data in the desired format. ED is
areas open to scallop RSA compensation soliciting comments on the proposed
fishing. information collection request (ICR) that
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION is described below. The Department of
Exemption from crew size limits is Education is especially interested in
needed because a research technician [Docket No.: ED–2018–ICCD–0059] public comment addressing the
would accompany vessels on the following issues: (1) Is this collection
compensation fishing trips to collect Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of necessary to the proper functions of the
catch data associated with the dredge Department; (2) will this information be
modifications. The crew size exemption Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request; processed and used in a timely manner;
would be for approximately 120 days-at- (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
sea and would be used in conjunction Graduate Assistance in Areas of
National Need (GAANN) Performance (4) how might the Department enhance
with a valid compensation fishing letter the quality, utility, and clarity of the
Report
of authorization. The technician would information to be collected; and (5) how
only engage in data collection activities, AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary might the Department minimize the
and would not process catch to be Education (OPE), Department of burden of this collection on the
landed for sale. Exemption from Education (ED). respondents, including through the use
possession limit and minimum sizes ACTION: Notice. of information technology. Please note
would support catch sampling that written comments received in
SUMMARY: In accordance with the response to this notice will be
activities, and ensure the vessel is not
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is considered public records.
in conflict with possession regulations
proposing a revision of an existing Title of Collection: Graduate
while collecting catch data. All catch information collection.
above a possession limit or below a Assistance in Areas of National Need
DATES: Interested persons are invited to (GAANN) Performance Report.
minimum size would be discarded as
submit comments on or before OMB Control Number: 1840–0748.
soon as possible following data September 5, 2018. Type of Review: A revision of an
collection. Estimated catch totals for the existing information collection.
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
experimental permit activities are listed Respondents/Affected Public: Private
documents related to the information
below in Table 1. The proposed gear collection listed in this notice, please Sector; State, Local, and Tribal
modifications are not expected to use http://www.regulations.gov by Governments.
increase catch above typical commercial searching the Docket ID number ED– Total Estimated Number of Annual
fishing practices and gears. All research 2018–ICCD–0059. Comments submitted Responses: 291.
trips would otherwise be consistent in response to this notice should be Total Estimated Number of Annual
with normal commercial fishing activity submitted electronically through the Burden Hours: 3,274.
and catch would be retained for sale. Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// Abstract: GAANN grantees must
www.regulations.gov by selecting the submit a performance report annually.
TABLE 1—ESTIMATED BYCATCH FOR Docket ID number or via postal mail, In addition, grantees are required to
CFF EFP COMPENSATION TRIPS commercial delivery, or hand delivery. submit a supplement to the final
Please note that comments submitted by performance report two years after
Species Num- Weight Weight
fax or email and those submitted after submission of their final report. The
ber (lb) (kg)
the comment period will not be reports are used to evaluate grantee
NE Skate Complex ...... 19,326 10,051 4,559 accepted. Written requests for performance. Further, the data from the
Barndoor Skate ........... 1,231 14 6 information or comments submitted by reports will be aggregated to evaluate
Summer Flounder ....... 747 2,951 1,339 postal mail or delivery should be the accomplishments and impact of the
Winter Flounder ........... 14 2 1
addressed to the Director of the GAANN Program as a whole. Results
Yellowtail Flounder ...... 36 10 5 will be reported to the Secretary in
Windowpane Flounder 106 39 18
Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education, order to respond to GPRA requirements.
Monkfish ...................... 2,973 4,689 2,127
550 12th Street SW, PCP, Room 9086, Minor changes have been made to the
Washington, DC 20202–0023. collection to clarify the intent of the
If approved, the applicant may questions and update the areas of
request minor modifications and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection national need. These changes did not
extensions to the EFP throughout the alter the anticipated burden hours
year. EFP modifications and extensions activities, please contact Rebecca Ell,
202–453–6348. associated with this collection. There
may be granted without further notice if was a small increase in total burden
they are deemed essential to facilitate SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
hours based on the recalculation of the
completion of the proposed research Department of Education (ED), in
burden on public respondents.
accordance with the Paperwork
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
and have minimal impacts that do not Dated: August 1, 2018.
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
change the scope or impact of the Kate Mullan,
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
initially approved EFP request. Any
public and Federal agencies with an Acting Director, Information Collection
fishing activity conducted outside the Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
opportunity to comment on proposed,
scope of the exempted fishing activity Officer, Office of Management.
revised, and continuing collections of
would be prohibited. information. This helps the Department [FR Doc. 2018–16737 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. assess the impact of its information BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
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Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:36:48
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:36:48
| 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 August 21, 2018. | |
| Contact | Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management Specialist, 978-282-8456. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 38294 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG38 |
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