Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 6 / Monday, January 11, 2021 / Notices 1947 

intake guards that would prevent the 

sturgeon from accessing the area where 

the trash racks are located. The HCP 

does, however, include monitoring of 

the trash racks for sturgeon. Dominion 

will continue to inspect trash rack 

debris at the water surface, and debris 

removed from the trash racks, for 

sturgeon. Dominion has sturgeon 

handling procedures in the event a 

living or dead sturgeon is found among 

the debris floating in the water or in the 

debris removed from the trash racks. 

Monitoring will not, however, occur at 

the intake guards because it is not 

feasible due to the turbidity of the river 

and the safety risk for personnel. 

We conducted intra-agency section 7 

consultation to ensure that issuing the 

permit would comply with the ESA. 

The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 

Office (GARFO) Protected Resources 

Division issued a Biological Opinion on 

November 10, 2020, that considered the 

effects of the activities covered by this 

ITP as well as the effects to other ESAlisted species from the other activities 

reasonably expected to occur at CPS 

during the 5 year duration of the permit. 

Those other activities include the 

discharge of heated effluent and other 

pollutants resulting from CPS 

operations, and the barge traffic that is 

associated with deliveries of materials 

to and from CPS. 

The Biological Opinion concluded 

that activities covered by this ITP (i.e., 

entrainment of larval Atlantic sturgeon 

during CPS operations and entrainment/ 

collection during required sampling) 

may adversely affect but are not likely 

to jeopardize the continued existence of 

the Chesapeake Bay DPS of Atlantic 

sturgeon. We also concluded that this 

action is not likely to adversely affect 

designated critical habitat for the DPS, 

or shortnose sturgeon, the Gulf of 

Maine, New York Bight, Carolina, and 

South Atlantic DPSs of Atlantic 

sturgeon, North Atlantic DPS green 

turtle, Kemp’s ridley turtle, leatherback 

turtle, and Northwest Atlantic Ocean 

DPS of loggerhead turtle. 

With respect to the other CPS 

activities and other ESA-listed species 

in the James River, the only activity that 

may affect other listed species is the 

shipment of materials to and from CPS 

by barge within the James River. In the 

Biological Opinion we concluded that 

the effects of those activities on 

shortnose sturgeon, the four other DPSs 

of Atlantic sturgeon, and leatherback, 

Kemp’s ridley, green, and loggerhead 

sea turtles would be insignificant or 

extremely unlikely to occur and that, 

therefore, this action was not likely to 

adversely affect any of these species. 

Dominion has not indicated any plans 

to conduct dredging or shoreline 

maintenance during the 5 year duration 

of the ITP. Therefore, effects to ESA 

listed species and critical habitat in the 

action area from dredging and shoreline 

maintenance activities are not 

reasonably certain to occur and do not 

meet the definition of ‘‘effects of the 

action.’’ As a result, these activities 

were not considered further in the 

consultation. If Dominion applied for 

any Federal permits or authorizations 

for any future dredging or shoreline 

maintenance, ESA section 7 

consultation would be necessary for any 

of those activities that may affect listed 

species or critical habitat. The full 

section 7 evaluation can be found in the 

Biological Opinion. 

Permit 21516 

NMFS authorizes the following lethal 

take for the Chesapeake Bay DPS of 

Atlantic sturgeon. 

Entrainment: up to 54,745 larvae, 

total, for the 5-year duration of the 

permit with an anticipated average 

annual take of 10,949 per year during 

normal operation of CPS, and 1 larvae 

over the 5-year duration of the permit 

during sampling to complete CWA 

section 316(b) sampling. 

Impingement: There is no authorized 

or anticipated incidental take by 

impingement based on the already 

implemented minimization measures. 

The first 3 years of monitoring data 

collected under the permit will be 

analyzed to verify the requested total 

annual incidental take. As data are 

gathered and analyzed through 

monitoring, NMFS may amend the 

permit to reflect any changes in the take 

estimate, if appropriate. 

The permit requires Dominion to 

prepare a report, due to NMFS within 

90 days of issuance of the ITP, which 

details how observed take of Atlantic 

sturgeon will be extrapolated to generate 

an accurate and reliable estimate of total 

annual take at the facility. Dominion 

must also submit reports of any 

observed take of Atlantic sturgeon to 

NMFS within seven days, and must 

prepare an annual report detailing all 

observed takes of Atlantic sturgeon at 

CPS. NMFS review of the annual report 

provides an opportunity to monitor the 

ongoing amount of take at CPS and 

detect any trends that may indicate a 

potential exceedance of the anticipated 

take before such an event occurs. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

Issuing an ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) 

permit constitutes a Federal action 

requiring NMFS to comply with NEPA 

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) as implemented 

by 40 CFR parts 1500–1508 and NOAA 

Administrative Order 216–6A, 

Compliance with the NEPA (2016). 

NMFS prepared an EA to consider a 

range of reasonable alternatives and 

fully evaluate the direct, indirect, and 

cumulative impacts likely to result from 

the authorization of this permit. NMFS 

found that issuing the ITP would have 

no significant impacts on the quality of 

the environment. 

Authority: This notice is provided 

pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA (16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and NEPA regulations 

(40 CFR 1506.6). 

Dated: January 6, 2021. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office 

of Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00303 Filed 1–8–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

Review and Approval; Comment 

Request; West Coast Region Vessel 

Monitoring System Requirement in the 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. Request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), invites the general public and 

other Federal agencies to comment on 

proposed, and continuing information 

collections, which helps us assess the 

impact of our information collection 

requirements and minimize the public’s 

reporting burden. The purpose of this 

notice is to allow for 60 days of public 

comment preceding submission of the 

collection to OMB. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, 

comments regarding this proposed 

information collection must be received 

on or before March 12, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments to 

Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, 

at Adrienne.thomas@noaa.gov. Please 

reference OMB Control Number 0648– 

0573 in the subject line of your 

comments. Do not submit Confidential 

Business Information or otherwise 

sensitive or protected information. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
1948 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 6 / Monday, January 11, 2021 / Notices 

specific questions related to collection 

activities should be directed to Keeley 

Kent, National Marine Fisheries Service, 

7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 

98115, 206–247–8252, and keeley.kent@

noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

This is a request for a revision and 

extension of a currently approved 

information collection. The National 

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 

implemented a Vessel Monitoring 

Program in 2004, consistent with the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(MSA) and the Pacific Coast Groundfish 

Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Under 

this program described at 50 CFR 660.13 

and 660.14, all commercial fishing 

vessels fishing in the exclusive 

economic zone off the West Coast that 

take and retain groundfish in federal 

waters, or transit through federal waters 

with groundfish on board, are required 

to have a working vessel monitoring 

system (VMS). To support the VMS 

monitoring program, the following 

information must be submitted to 

NMFS: (1) VMS installation/activation 

certification reports, (2) position reports, 

(3) exemption reports, and (4) 

declaration reports. The VMS, along 

with the fishing declaration reporting 

requirements, allows for monitoring and 

enforcement of areas closed to fishing 

by gear type as traditional enforcement 

methods (such as aerial surveillance, 

boarding at sea via patrol boats, landing 

inspections and documentary 

investigation) are especially difficult to 

use when the closed areas are largescale and the lines defining the areas are 

irregular. 

The collection is being revised to 

remove the position report from the 

collection with regard to burden. The 

position reports are automatically 

transmitted location signals from the 

VMS unit that do not require any action 

on the part of the captain or crew. 

II. Method of Collection 

Affected commercial fishing vessel 

owners must submit VMS installation/ 

activation certification reports, the VMS 

systems send automatic position 

updates, affected vessels captains must 

submit declarations reports via phone. 

III. Data 

OMB Control Number: 0648–0573. 

Form Number(s): None. 

Type of Review: Regular submission, 

extension of a current information 

collection. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; individuals or 

households. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

1000. 

Estimated Time per Response: 5 hours 

to install and activate a VMS unit; 1 

hour per year to maintain a VMS; 0 

seconds for an automated position 

report; 5 minutes to complete and fax a 

check-in report or to complete an 

exemption report; 4 minutes for a 

declaration report. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 6,999.99. 

Estimated Total Annual Cost to 

Public: $97,035.30. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. 

Legal Authority: 50 CFR 660.13 and 

660.14. 

IV. Request for Comments 

We are soliciting public comments to 

permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) 

Evaluate whether the proposed 

information collection is necessary for 

the proper functions of the Department, 

including whether the information will 

have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 

accuracy of our estimate of the time and 

cost burden for this proposed collection, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and (d) Minimize the 

reporting burden on those who are to 

respond, including the use of automated 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology. 

Comments that you submit in 

response to this notice are a matter of 

public record. We will include or 

summarize each comment in our request 

to OMB to approve this ICR. Before 

including your address, phone number, 

email address, or other personal 

identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made publicly available at any time. 

While you may ask us in your comment 

to withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Sheleen Dumas, 

Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of 

the Chief Information Officer, Commerce 

Department. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00296 Filed 1–8–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA755] 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

hold a four-day webinar meeting to 

consider actions affecting the Gulf of 

Mexico fisheries in the exclusive 

economic zone (EEZ). 

DATES: The webinar will convene 

Monday, January 25 through Thursday, 

January 28, 2021; 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. 

EST. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place 

via webinar; you may access the log-on 

information at www.gulfcouncil.org. 

Council address: Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 4107 W 

Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 

33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Carrie Simmons, Executive Director, 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda 

Monday, January 25, 2021; 9 a.m.–5 

p.m. 

The meeting will begin with the 

Administrative/Budget Committee 

discussing the reappointment of the 

Reef Fish and Shrimp Advisory Panels 

due in 2021; review 2020 Budget and 

Expenditures; discuss logistics and 

estimated costs of conducting a Gulfwide Fishery-Independent Offshore 

Abundance Study on Red Drum and an 

Independent Stock Assessment (i.e., 

outside SEDAR) Process for Gray 

Triggerfish; and, review of 2021 

Projected Budget and Activities. 

Sustainable Fisheries Committee will 

review Final Action Amendment Reef 

Fish 48/Red Drum 5: Status 

Determination Criteria and Optimum 

Yield for Reef Fish and Red Drum, SSC 

Recommendations on Interim Analyses 

Species and Timing, and Standardized 

Bycatch Reporting Methodology for the 

Gulf of Mexico and Joint Fishery 

Management Plans. 

Outreach and Education Committee 

will receive a presentation on 

Communication Analytics; review 2021 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES