83_FR_63076 83 FR 62842 - Implementation of Fish and Fish Product Import Provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act-Notification of Comparability Findings

83 FR 62842 - Implementation of Fish and Fish Product Import Provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act-Notification of Comparability Findings

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 234 (December 6, 2018)

Page Range62842-62844
FR Document2018-26418

Under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the NMFS Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (Assistant Administrator) has issued comparability findings for the Government of Mexico's following fisheries: Upper Gulf of California shrimp trawl fishery for both small and large vessels; Upper Gulf of California shrimp suripera fishery; Upper Gulf of California sierra purse seine fishery; Upper Gulf of California sierra hook and line fishery; Upper Gulf of California chano trawl fishery, for small vessels; Upper Gulf of California curvina purse seine fishery; and Upper Gulf of California sardine/curvina purse seine fishery for both small and large vessels. The Assistant Administrator is denying a comparability finding for the El Golfo de Santa Clara curvina rodeo-style gillnet fishery. NMFS bases the comparability findings on documentary evidence submitted by the Government of Mexico and other relevant, readily-available information including scientific literature and the reports of the ``Comit[eacute] Internacional para la Recuperaci[oacute]n de la Vaquita'' (CIRVA) (the international recovery team for vaquita).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62842-62844]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26418]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG619


Implementation of Fish and Fish Product Import Provisions of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act--Notification of Comparability Findings

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

ACTION: Notice; comparability findings for Mexico.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA), the NMFS Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (Assistant 
Administrator) has issued comparability findings for the Government of 
Mexico's following fisheries: Upper Gulf of California shrimp trawl 
fishery for both small and large vessels; Upper Gulf of California 
shrimp suripera fishery; Upper Gulf of California sierra purse seine 
fishery; Upper Gulf of California sierra hook and line fishery; Upper 
Gulf of California chano trawl fishery, for small vessels; Upper Gulf 
of California curvina purse seine fishery; and Upper Gulf of California 
sardine/curvina purse seine fishery for both small and large vessels. 
The Assistant Administrator is denying a comparability finding for the 
El Golfo de Santa Clara curvina rodeo-style gillnet fishery. NMFS bases 
the comparability findings on documentary evidence submitted by the 
Government of Mexico and other relevant, readily-available information 
including scientific literature and the reports of the ``Comit[eacute] 
Internacional para la Recuperaci[oacute]n de la Vaquita'' (CIRVA) (the 
international recovery team for vaquita).

DATES: These comparability findings are valid for the period of 
November 30, 2018, through January 1, 2022, unless revoked by the 
Assistant Administrator in a subsequent action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina Young, at email: 
[email protected] or phone: 301-427-8383.

[[Page 62843]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1371 et seq., states 
that the Secretary of the Treasury shall ban the importation of 
commercial fish or products from fish which have been caught with 
commercial fishing technology which results in the incidental kill or 
incidental serious injury of ocean mammals in excess of United States 
standards. For purposes of applying this import restriction, the 
Secretary of Commerce shall insist on reasonable proof from the 
government of any nation from which fish or fish products will be 
exported to the United States of the effects on ocean mammals of the 
commercial fishing technology in use for such fish or fish products 
exported from such nation to the United States.
    On August 15, 2016, NMFS published a final rule (81 FR 54389) 
amending the fish and fish product import provisions of Section 
101(a)(2) of the MMPA (see implementing regulations at 50 CFR 
216.24(h)). This final rule established conditions for evaluating a 
harvesting nation's regulatory programs to address incidental and 
intentional mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in its 
commercial fisheries producing fish and fish products exported to the 
United States.
    Under the final rule, fish or fish products cannot be imported into 
the United States from commercial fishing operations that result in the 
incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals in excess of 
U.S. standards (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(2)). NMFS published a List of Foreign 
Fisheries (LOFF) on March 16, 2018 (83 FR 11703) to classify fisheries 
subject to the import requirements. Effective January 1, 2022, fish and 
fish products from fisheries identified by the Assistant Administrator 
in the LOFF can only be imported into the United States if the 
harvesting nation has applied for and received a comparability finding 
from NMFS for those fisheries on the LOFF. The rule established the 
procedures that a harvesting nation must follow, and the conditions it 
must meet, to receive a comparability finding for a fishery on the 
LOFF. The final rule established a five-year exemption period, ending 
January 1, 2022, before imports would be subject to any trade 
restrictions (see 50 CFR 216.24(h)(2)(ii)).
    Vaquita are listed as an endangered species under the U.S. 
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and are endemic to 
northern Gulf of California waters in Mexico. In 2017, the 
International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA)--a 
group of international scientists supported by Mexico and led by 
Mexican scientists--estimated that fewer than 30 individuals remain. 
Gillnets used to illegally fish for totoaba are the direct primary 
source of current vaquita mortality and continue to be deployed to 
supply China's black market demand for totoaba swim bladders.
    On May 18, 2017, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Center 
for Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) 
petitioned the Secretaries of Homeland Security, the Treasury, and 
Commerce to ``ban the importation of commercial fish or products from 
fish'' sourced using fishing activities that ``result in the incidental 
mortality or incidental serious injury'' of vaquita ``in excess of 
United States standards.'' The petitioners requested that the 
Secretaries immediately ban imports of all fish and fish products from 
Mexico that do not satisfy the MMPA import provision requirements, 
claiming that emergency action banning such imports is necessary to 
avoid immediate, ongoing, and ``unacceptable risks'' to vaquita. NMFS 
published a notice of the petition's receipt on August 22, 2017, in the 
Federal Register for a 60-day comment period.
    On December 21, 2017, the petitioners filed suit in the United 
States District Court for the District of Columbia, which among other 
things challenges the failure of NMFS, the U.S. Department of Commerce, 
the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security (``Defendants'') to respond to the petition pursuant 
to the Administrative Procedure Act (``APA''). 5 U.S.C. 551-559; 701-
706. On March 21, 2018, the petitioners filed suit before the Court of 
International Trade seeking an injunction requiring the U.S. Government 
to ban the import of fish or fish products from any Mexican commercial 
fishery that uses gillnets within the vaquita's range. On April 16, 
2018, Petitioners filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on which 
oral argument was held on July 10, 2018. The Court of International 
Trade found in favor of the petitioners and granted the preliminary 
injunction.
    On July 26, 2018, and August 14, 2018, the Court of International 
Trade (CIT) (Slip-Op 18-92) required the U.S. Government to ban all 
fish and fish products from Mexican commercial fisheries that use 
gillnets within the vaquita's range, pending final adjudication of the 
merits. This ban includes the importation from Mexico of all shrimp, 
curvina, sierra, and chano fish and their products caught with gillnets 
inside the vaquita's range. To effect this court order, NMFS published 
a Federal Register document on August 28, 2018 (83 FR 43792) giving 
notice of import restrictions on fish and fish products from Mexico 
caught with gillnets deployed in the range of the vaquita. In that 
notice, NMFS also required that all other fish and fish products not 
within the scope of the import restrictions but imported under the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes associated with the prohibited 
fish and fish products be accompanied by a Certification of 
Admissibility in accordance with the provisions of 50 CFR 216.24(h)(9).
    On November 9, 2018, the Government of Mexico requested that the 
Assistant Administrator make comparability findings based upon 
documentary evidence provided by the Government of Mexico for the Upper 
Gulf of California shrimp trawl fishery for both small and large 
vessels; Upper Gulf of California shrimp suripera \1\ fishery; Upper 
Gulf of California sierra purse seine fishery; Upper Gulf of California 
sierra hook and line fishery; Upper Gulf of California chano trawl 
fishery, for small vessels; Upper Gulf of California curvina purse 
seine fishery; Upper Gulf of California sardine/curvina purse seine 
fishery for both small and large vessel; and El Golfo de Santa Clara 
curvina rodeo-style gillnet fishery. As stated in the final rule (81 FR 
54397, Aug. 15, 2016) in response to comments on the proposed rule, 
nothing within the procedures set forth in 50 CFR 216.24(h) prevents a 
nation from implementing a bycatch reduction regulatory program and 
seeking a comparability finding during the five-year exemption period 
(see 50 CFR 216.24(h)(2)(ii)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Suripera nets rely on utilizing the movement of the wind and 
water currents to draw shrimp into a small-mesh modified cast net.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NMFS used the comparability finding process set forth at 50 CFR 
216.24(h)(6), which is the process that will be used for all nations 
and fisheries at the conclusion of the five-year exemption, with the 
Assistant Administrator considering documentary evidence submitted by 
the Government of Mexico and other relevant, readily-available 
information. This information includes including scientific literature 
and the reports of the ``Comit[eacute] Internacional para la 
Recuperaci[oacute]n de la Vaquita'' (CIRVA) (the international recovery 
team for vaquita) and has determined that the Upper Gulf of California 
shrimp trawl fishery for both small and large vessels; Upper Gulf of 
California shrimp suripera fishery; Upper Gulf of California sierra 
purse seine fishery;

[[Page 62844]]

Upper Gulf of California sierra hook and line fishery; Upper Gulf of 
California chano trawl fishery, for small vessels; Upper Gulf of 
California curvina purse seine fishery; and Upper Gulf of California 
sardine/curvina purse seine fishery for both small and large vessels; 
have met the MMPA's requirements to receive comparability findings. The 
Assistant Administrator has determined that the El Golfo de Santa Clara 
curvina rodeo-style gillnet fishery has not met the requirements to 
receive a comparability finding, will be denied such, and will remain 
subject to import restrictions in accordance with 50 CFR 216.24(h)(9).
    Although this comparability finding would allow the importation 
into the United States of fish and fish product derived from these non-
gillnet fisheries operating in the Upper Gulf of California under the 
Government of Mexico's jurisdiction, as noted above, CIT required the 
U.S. Government to ban all fish and fish products from said fisheries 
(effectuated through 83 FR 43792, August 28, 2018). Due to CIT's 
injunction, imports of sierra, shrimp, chano, and curvina fish and fish 
products must continue to be accompanied by a Certification of 
Admissibility in accordance with the provisions of 50 CFR 216.24(h)(9) 
until a court of competent jurisdiction lifts the injunction and 
further notice from NMFS (See August 28, 2018 (83 FR 43792) for a list 
of HTS and instructions for the Certification of Admissibility).
    In accordance with 50 CFR 216.24(h)(8)(vii), a comparability 
finding will be terminated or revoked if the Assistant Administrator 
determines that the requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(h)(6) are no longer 
being met.
    Pursuant to 50 CFR 216.24(h)(8)(iv) the Assistant Administrator may 
specify the period for which a comparability finding is valid, 
particularly, when nations are requesting a finding during the 
exemption period. The comparability finding for the Government of 
Mexico's affected fisheries included in this Federal Register notice 
will remain valid through January 1, 2022. Additionally, in accordance 
with 50 CFR 216.24(h)(9)(ii), the Government of Mexico can reapply for 
a comparability finding for the El Golfo de Santa Clara curvina rodeo-
style gillnet fishery at any time. All other exempt and export 
fisheries operating under the control of the Government of Mexico are 
still subject to the five-year exemption period under 50 CFR 
216.24(h)(2)(ii). Therefore, prior to the conclusion of the five-year 
exemption period, per the requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(h)(6), the 
Government of Mexico, as is the case with all harvesting nations, must 
apply for and receive a comparability finding for all fisheries, 
including those in this Federal Register document, in order to export 
fish and fish products from those fisheries to the United States after 
January 1, 2022. Also, the Government of Mexico is still required to 
provide a progress report in accordance with 50 CFR 216.24(h)(10) for 
these fisheries and all other fisheries on its List of Foreign 
Fisheries.
    The Government of Mexico has requested that NMFS update its LOFF to 
reflect only those fisheries and gear types authorized to fish in the 
upper Gulf of California. NMFS will add these fisheries (both those 
that have and were denied a comparability finding) and remove all 
gillnet fisheries listed as operating in the upper Gulf of California 
from the List of Foreign Fisheries for Mexico. This action is taken in 
accordance with 50 CFR 216.24(h)(8)(vi).

    Dated: November 30, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26418 Filed 11-30-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                               62842                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 234 / Thursday, December 6, 2018 / Notices

                                               document and is on file electronically                  III. Background                                       notice to OIRA_Submission@
                                               via Enforcement and Compliance’s                        IV. Scope of the Order                                omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.
                                               Antidumping and Countervailing Duty                        1. Rulings Relevant to Scope
                                                                                                       V. Discussion of the Issues                           Sheleen Dumas,
                                               Centralized Electronic Service System
                                                                                                          1. Likelihood of Continuation or                   Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the
                                               (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to                              Recurrence of a Countervailable Subsidy         Chief Information Officer, Commerce
                                               registered users at http://                                2. Net Countervailable Subsidy Likely to           Department.
                                               access.trade.gov, and to all in the                           Prevail                                         [FR Doc. 2018–26408 Filed 12–4–18; 8:45 am]
                                               Central Records Unit, Room B8024, of                       3. Nature of Subsidy
                                                                                                                                                             BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
                                               the main Commerce building. In                          VI. Final Results of the Review
                                               addition, a complete version of the                     VII. Recommendation
                                               Issues and Decision Memorandum can                      [FR Doc. 2018–26430 Filed 12–4–18; 8:45 am]           DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                               be accessed directly at http://                         BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                               enforcement.trade.gov/frn. The signed                                                                         National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                               and electronic versions of the Issues and                                                                     Administration
                                               Decision Memorandum are identical in                    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                               content.                                                                                                      RIN 0648–XG619
                                                                                                       National Institute of Standards and
                                               Final Results of Review
                                                                                                       Technology                                            Implementation of Fish and Fish
                                                  Pursuant to sections 751(c)(1) and                                                                         Product Import Provisions of the
                                               752(b) of the Act, Commerce determines                  Submission for OMB Review;                            Marine Mammal Protection Act—
                                               that revocation of the CVD order on                     Comment Request                                       Notification of Comparability Findings
                                               pasta from Turkey would be likely to
                                                                                                               The Department of Commerce will               AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries
                                               lead to the continuation or recurrence of
                                                                                                            submit to the Office of Management and           Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                               a countervailable subsidy at the rates
                                                                                                            Budget (OMB) for clearance the                   Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                               listed below:
                                                                                                            following proposal for collection of             Commerce.
                                                                                                  Net       information under the provisions of the
                                                                                                            Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.               ACTION: Notice; comparability findings
                                                                                            countervailable
                                                       Exporter/producer                                                                                     for Mexico.
                                                                                             subsidy rate   Chapter 35).
                                                                                               (percent)       Agency: National Institute of                 SUMMARY:    Under the authority of the
                                                                                                            Standards and Technology (NIST).                 Marine Mammal Protection Act
                                               Filiz Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret
                                                  (Filiz) .................................            1.73    Title: NIST Generic Clearance for             (MMPA), the NMFS Assistant
                                               Maktas Makarnacilik ve                                       Usability Data Collections                       Administrator for Fisheries (Assistant
                                                  Ticaret (Maktas) ................                   13.19    OMB Control Number: 0693–0043.                Administrator) has issued comparability
                                               Oba Makernacilik Sanayi ve                                      Form Number(s): None.                         findings for the Government of Mexico’s
                                                  Ticaret (Oba) .....................                 13.18    Type of Request: Regular Submission           following fisheries: Upper Gulf of
                                               All Others ..............................               8.95 (revision and extension of a currently
                                                                                                                                                             California shrimp trawl fishery for both
                                                                                                            approved information collection).                small and large vessels; Upper Gulf of
                                               Notification to Interested Parties                              Number of Respondents: 150,000.               California shrimp suripera fishery;
                                                   This notice also serves as the only                         Average Hours per Response: Varied,           Upper Gulf of California sierra purse
                                               reminder to parties subject to                               dependent upon the data collection               seine fishery; Upper Gulf of California
                                               administrative protective order (APO) of method used. The possible response                                   sierra hook and line fishery; Upper Gulf
                                               their responsibility concerning the                          time to complete a questionnaire may be          of California chano trawl fishery, for
                                               destruction of proprietary information                       15 minutes or 2 hours to participate in          small vessels; Upper Gulf of California
                                               disclosed under APO in accordance                            an empirical study.                              curvina purse seine fishery; and Upper
                                               with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely written                             Burden Hours: 100,000.                        Gulf of California sardine/curvina purse
                                               notification of the return or destruction                       Needs and Uses: NIST will conduct             seine fishery for both small and large
                                               of APO materials or conversion to                            information collections to evaluate the          vessels. The Assistant Administrator is
                                               judicial protective order is hereby                          usability and utility of NIST research for       denying a comparability finding for the
                                               requested. Failure to comply with the                        measurement and standardization work.            El Golfo de Santa Clara curvina rodeo-
                                               regulations and terms of an APO is a                         These data collections efforts may               style gillnet fishery. NMFS bases the
                                               sanctionable violation.                                      include, but may not be limited to               comparability findings on documentary
                                                   We are issuing and publishing these                      electronic methodologies, empirical              evidence submitted by the Government
                                               results in accordance with sections                          studies, video and audio collections,            of Mexico and other relevant, readily-
                                               751(c), 752(b), and 777(i)(1) of the Act                     interview, and questionnaires.                   available information including
                                               and 19 CFR 351.218.                                             Affected Public: Individual or                scientific literature and the reports of
                                                  Dated: November 28, 2018.                                 households; State, Local or Tribal               the ‘‘Comité Internacional para la
                                                                                                            Government; Federal Government.                  Recuperación de la Vaquita’’ (CIRVA)
                                               Gary Taverman,
                                                                                                               Frequency: On occasion.                       (the international recovery team for
                                               Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping
                                               and Countervailing Duty Operations,
                                                                                                               Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.           vaquita).
                                               performing the non-exclusive functions and                      This information collection request
                                                                                                            may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow             DATES:  These comparability findings are
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                               duties of the Assistant Secretary for
                                               Enforcement and Compliance.                                  the instructions to view Department of           valid for the period of November 30,
                                                                                                            Commerce collections currently under             2018, through January 1, 2022, unless
                                               Appendix                                                     review by OMB.                                   revoked by the Assistant Administrator
                                               List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and                      Written comments and                          in a subsequent action.
                                               Decision Memorandum                                          recommendations for the proposed                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                               I. Summary                                                   information collection should be sent            Nina Young, at email: Nina.Young@
                                               II. History of the Order                                     within 30 days of publication of this            noaa.gov or phone: 301–427–8383.


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:35 Dec 04, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00010   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM   06DEN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 234 / Thursday, December 6, 2018 / Notices                                                    62843

                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:      The                     Mexican scientists—estimated that                     effect this court order, NMFS published
                                               MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1371 et seq., states                    fewer than 30 individuals remain.                     a Federal Register document on August
                                               that the Secretary of the Treasury shall                Gillnets used to illegally fish for totoaba           28, 2018 (83 FR 43792) giving notice of
                                               ban the importation of commercial fish                  are the direct primary source of current              import restrictions on fish and fish
                                               or products from fish which have been                   vaquita mortality and continue to be                  products from Mexico caught with
                                               caught with commercial fishing                          deployed to supply China’s black                      gillnets deployed in the range of the
                                               technology which results in the                         market demand for totoaba swim                        vaquita. In that notice, NMFS also
                                               incidental kill or incidental serious                   bladders.                                             required that all other fish and fish
                                               injury of ocean mammals in excess of                       On May 18, 2017, Natural Resources                 products not within the scope of the
                                               United States standards. For purposes of                Defense Council (NRDC), Center for                    import restrictions but imported under
                                               applying this import restriction, the                   Biological Diversity (CBD), and the                   the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
                                               Secretary of Commerce shall insist on                   Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)                        codes associated with the prohibited
                                               reasonable proof from the government of                 petitioned the Secretaries of Homeland                fish and fish products be accompanied
                                               any nation from which fish or fish                      Security, the Treasury, and Commerce                  by a Certification of Admissibility in
                                               products will be exported to the United                 to ‘‘ban the importation of commercial                accordance with the provisions of 50
                                               States of the effects on ocean mammals                  fish or products from fish’’ sourced                  CFR 216.24(h)(9).
                                               of the commercial fishing technology in                 using fishing activities that ‘‘result in                On November 9, 2018, the
                                               use for such fish or fish products                      the incidental mortality or incidental                Government of Mexico requested that
                                               exported from such nation to the United                 serious injury’’ of vaquita ‘‘in excess of            the Assistant Administrator make
                                               States.                                                 United States standards.’’ The                        comparability findings based upon
                                                  On August 15, 2016, NMFS published                   petitioners requested that the                        documentary evidence provided by the
                                               a final rule (81 FR 54389) amending the                 Secretaries immediately ban imports of                Government of Mexico for the Upper
                                               fish and fish product import provisions                 all fish and fish products from Mexico                Gulf of California shrimp trawl fishery
                                               of Section 101(a)(2) of the MMPA (see                   that do not satisfy the MMPA import                   for both small and large vessels; Upper
                                               implementing regulations at 50 CFR                      provision requirements, claiming that                 Gulf of California shrimp suripera 1
                                               216.24(h)). This final rule established                 emergency action banning such imports                 fishery; Upper Gulf of California sierra
                                               conditions for evaluating a harvesting                  is necessary to avoid immediate,                      purse seine fishery; Upper Gulf of
                                               nation’s regulatory programs to address                 ongoing, and ‘‘unacceptable risks’’ to                California sierra hook and line fishery;
                                               incidental and intentional mortality and                vaquita. NMFS published a notice of the               Upper Gulf of California chano trawl
                                               serious injury of marine mammals in its                 petition’s receipt on August 22, 2017, in             fishery, for small vessels; Upper Gulf of
                                               commercial fisheries producing fish and                 the Federal Register for a 60-day                     California curvina purse seine fishery;
                                               fish products exported to the United                    comment period.                                       Upper Gulf of California sardine/
                                               States.                                                    On December 21, 2017, the petitioners              curvina purse seine fishery for both
                                                  Under the final rule, fish or fish                   filed suit in the United States District              small and large vessel; and El Golfo de
                                               products cannot be imported into the                    Court for the District of Columbia,                   Santa Clara curvina rodeo-style gillnet
                                               United States from commercial fishing                   which among other things challenges                   fishery. As stated in the final rule (81 FR
                                               operations that result in the incidental                the failure of NMFS, the U.S.                         54397, Aug. 15, 2016) in response to
                                               mortality or serious injury of marine                   Department of Commerce, the U.S.                      comments on the proposed rule, nothing
                                               mammals in excess of U.S. standards                     Department of the Treasury, and the                   within the procedures set forth in 50
                                               (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(2)). NMFS published                  U.S. Department of Homeland Security                  CFR 216.24(h) prevents a nation from
                                               a List of Foreign Fisheries (LOFF) on                   (‘‘Defendants’’) to respond to the                    implementing a bycatch reduction
                                               March 16, 2018 (83 FR 11703) to classify                petition pursuant to the Administrative               regulatory program and seeking a
                                               fisheries subject to the import                         Procedure Act (‘‘APA’’). 5 U.S.C. 551–                comparability finding during the five-
                                               requirements. Effective January 1, 2022,                559; 701–706. On March 21, 2018, the                  year exemption period (see 50 CFR
                                               fish and fish products from fisheries                   petitioners filed suit before the Court of            216.24(h)(2)(ii)).
                                               identified by the Assistant                             International Trade seeking an                           NMFS used the comparability finding
                                               Administrator in the LOFF can only be                   injunction requiring the U.S.                         process set forth at 50 CFR 216.24(h)(6),
                                               imported into the United States if the                  Government to ban the import of fish or               which is the process that will be used
                                               harvesting nation has applied for and                   fish products from any Mexican                        for all nations and fisheries at the
                                               received a comparability finding from                   commercial fishery that uses gillnets                 conclusion of the five-year exemption,
                                               NMFS for those fisheries on the LOFF.                   within the vaquita’s range. On April 16,              with the Assistant Administrator
                                               The rule established the procedures that                2018, Petitioners filed a motion for a                considering documentary evidence
                                               a harvesting nation must follow, and the                preliminary injunction on which oral                  submitted by the Government of Mexico
                                               conditions it must meet, to receive a                   argument was held on July 10, 2018.                   and other relevant, readily-available
                                               comparability finding for a fishery on                  The Court of International Trade found                information. This information includes
                                               the LOFF. The final rule established a                  in favor of the petitioners and granted               including scientific literature and the
                                               five-year exemption period, ending                      the preliminary injunction.                           reports of the ‘‘Comité Internacional
                                               January 1, 2022, before imports would                      On July 26, 2018, and August 14,                   para la Recuperación de la Vaquita’’
                                               be subject to any trade restrictions (see               2018, the Court of International Trade                (CIRVA) (the international recovery
                                               50 CFR 216.24(h)(2)(ii)).                               (CIT) (Slip-Op 18–92) required the U.S.               team for vaquita) and has determined
                                                  Vaquita are listed as an endangered                  Government to ban all fish and fish                   that the Upper Gulf of California shrimp
                                               species under the U.S. Endangered                       products from Mexican commercial
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                             trawl fishery for both small and large
                                               Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and                fisheries that use gillnets within the                vessels; Upper Gulf of California shrimp
                                               are endemic to northern Gulf of                         vaquita’s range, pending final                        suripera fishery; Upper Gulf of
                                               California waters in Mexico. In 2017,                   adjudication of the merits. This ban                  California sierra purse seine fishery;
                                               the International Committee for the                     includes the importation from Mexico of
                                               Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA)—a                       all shrimp, curvina, sierra, and chano                   1 Suripera nets rely on utilizing the movement of
                                               group of international scientists                       fish and their products caught with                   the wind and water currents to draw shrimp into
                                               supported by Mexico and led by                          gillnets inside the vaquita’s range. To               a small-mesh modified cast net.



                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:35 Dec 04, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00011   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM   06DEN1


                                               62844                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 234 / Thursday, December 6, 2018 / Notices

                                               Upper Gulf of California sierra hook and                Government of Mexico, as is the case                  identifies the applicant’s preferred
                                               line fishery; Upper Gulf of California                  with all harvesting nations, must apply               membership, along with a resume
                                               chano trawl fishery, for small vessels;                 for and receive a comparability finding               detailing the applicant’s experience by
                                               Upper Gulf of California curvina purse                  for all fisheries, including those in this            one of the following methods:
                                               seine fishery; and Upper Gulf of                        Federal Register document, in order to                   • By Email: davis.j.breyer@uscg.mil,
                                               California sardine/curvina purse seine                  export fish and fish products from those              (preferred) Subject line: The Merchant
                                               fishery for both small and large vessels;               fisheries to the United States after                  Mariner Medical Advisory Committee;
                                               have met the MMPA’s requirements to                     January 1, 2022. Also, the Government                    • By Fax: 202–372–8382 ATTN: Mr.
                                               receive comparability findings. The                     of Mexico is still required to provide a              Davis J. Breyer, Alternate Designated
                                               Assistant Administrator has determined                  progress report in accordance with 50                 Federal Officer; or
                                               that the El Golfo de Santa Clara curvina                CFR 216.24(h)(10) for these fisheries                    • By Mail: Mr. Davis J. Breyer,
                                               rodeo-style gillnet fishery has not met                 and all other fisheries on its List of                Alternate Designated Federal Officer of
                                               the requirements to receive a                           Foreign Fisheries.                                    the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory
                                               comparability finding, will be denied                      The Government of Mexico has                       Committee, Commandant, (CG–MMC–
                                               such, and will remain subject to import                 requested that NMFS update its LOFF to                2)/MEDMAC, U.S. Coast Guard, 2703
                                               restrictions in accordance with 50 CFR                  reflect only those fisheries and gear                 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Stop
                                               216.24(h)(9).                                           types authorized to fish in the upper                 7509, Washington, DC, 20593–7509.
                                                  Although this comparability finding                  Gulf of California. NMFS will add these               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
                                               would allow the importation into the                    fisheries (both those that have and were              Davis J. Breyer, Alternate Designated
                                               United States of fish and fish product                  denied a comparability finding) and                   Federal Officer of the Merchant Mariner
                                               derived from these non-gillnet fisheries                remove all gillnet fisheries listed as                Medical Advisory Committee,
                                               operating in the Upper Gulf of                          operating in the upper Gulf of California             Commandant, (CG–MMC–2)/MEDMAC,
                                               California under the Government of                      from the List of Foreign Fisheries for                U.S. Coast Guard, 2703 Martin Luther
                                               Mexico’s jurisdiction, as noted above,                  Mexico. This action is taken in                       King Jr. Ave SE, Stop 7509, Washington,
                                               CIT required the U.S. Government to                     accordance with 50 CFR                                DC, 20593–7509, telephone 202–372–
                                               ban all fish and fish products from said                216.24(h)(8)(vi).                                     1445, fax 202–372–8382 or
                                               fisheries (effectuated through 83 FR                                                                          davis.j.breyer@uscg.mil.
                                                                                                         Dated: November 30, 2018.
                                               43792, August 28, 2018). Due to CIT’s
                                               injunction, imports of sierra, shrimp,                  Samuel D. Rauch, III,                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                               chano, and curvina fish and fish                        Deputy Assistant Administrator for                    Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory
                                               products must continue to be                            Regulatory Programs, National Marine                  Committee is a federal advisory
                                               accompanied by a Certification of                       Fisheries Service.                                    committee established in accordance
                                               Admissibility in accordance with the                    [FR Doc. 2018–26418 Filed 11–30–18; 4:15 pm]          with the provisions of the Federal
                                               provisions of 50 CFR 216.24(h)(9) until                 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                Advisory Committee Act (Title 5 U.S.C.
                                               a court of competent jurisdiction lifts                                                                       Appendix) and 46 U.S.C. 7115.
                                               the injunction and further notice from                                                                           The Committee meets at least twice
                                               NMFS (See August 28, 2018 (83 FR                        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND                                each year. Its subcommittees and
                                               43792) for a list of HTS and instructions               SECURITY                                              working groups may hold additional
                                               for the Certification of Admissibility).                                                                      meetings as needed to consider specific
                                                  In accordance with 50 CFR                            Coast Guard                                           tasks.
                                               216.24(h)(8)(vii), a comparability                                                                               Except for vacancy appointments,
                                                                                                       [Docket No. USCG–2018–0875]
                                               finding will be terminated or revoked if                                                                      Committee members serve a term of
                                               the Assistant Administrator determines                  Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory                     office of five years. Members may serve
                                               that the requirements of 50 CFR                         Committee; Vacancies                                  a maximum of two consecutive terms.
                                               216.24(h)(6) are no longer being met.                                                                         All members serve at their own expense
                                                  Pursuant to 50 CFR 216.24(h)(8)(iv)                  AGENCY:  U.S. Coast Guard, Department                 and receive no salary or other
                                               the Assistant Administrator may specify                 of Homeland Security.                                 compensation from the Federal
                                               the period for which a comparability                    ACTION: Request for applications.                     Government. Members may be
                                               finding is valid, particularly, when                                                                          reimbursed for travel and per diem in
                                               nations are requesting a finding during                 SUMMARY:    The U.S. Coast Guard seeks                accordance with Federal Travel
                                               the exemption period. The                               applications for membership on the                    Regulations.
                                               comparability finding for the                           Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory                        We will consider applications for the
                                               Government of Mexico’s affected                         Committee. The Committee provides                     following six positions that will be
                                               fisheries included in this Federal                      advice and recommendations to the                     vacant on April 18, 2019. Federal
                                               Register notice will remain valid                       Secretary on matters related to medical               employees, in accordance with 46
                                               through January 1, 2022. Additionally,                  certification determinations for issuance             U.S.C. 7115(b)(1), and registered
                                               in accordance with 50 CFR                               of licenses, certificates of registry, and            lobbyists, as described below, are not
                                               216.24(h)(9)(ii), the Government of                     merchant mariners’ documents; medical                 eligible for these positions.
                                               Mexico can reapply for a comparability                  standards and guidelines for the                         (1) Professional mariner membership
                                               finding for the El Golfo de Santa Clara                 physical qualifications of operators of               positions. To be eligible, you must have
                                               curvina rodeo-style gillnet fishery at any              commercial vessels; medical examiner                  experience as a merchant mariner and
                                               time. All other exempt and export                       education; and medical research.                      have significant knowledge and
khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                               fisheries operating under the control of                DATES: Completed applications should                  experience in the duties of the various
                                               the Government of Mexico are still                      be submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard on               positions aboard ship and the nature of
                                               subject to the five-year exemption                      or before February 4, 2019.                           the environment in which these duties
                                               period under 50 CFR 216.24(h)(2)(ii).                   ADDRESSES: Applicants should send a                   are performed; and
                                               Therefore, prior to the conclusion of the               cover letter expressing interest in an                   (2) Health-care professionals. To be
                                               five-year exemption period, per the                     appointment to the Merchant Mariner                   eligible, you must have particular
                                               requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(h)(6), the                Medical Advisory Committee that                       expertise, knowledge, or experience


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:35 Dec 04, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00012   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM   06DEN1



Document Created: 2018-12-05 02:35:28
Document Modified: 2018-12-05 02:35:28
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; comparability findings for Mexico.
DatesThese comparability findings are valid for the period of November 30, 2018, through January 1, 2022, unless revoked by the Assistant Administrator in a subsequent action.
ContactNina Young, at email: [email protected] or phone: 301-427-8383.
FR Citation83 FR 62842 
RIN Number0648-XG61

2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR