Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 30, 2010 / Notices 74007 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XAO29 

Federal Aquatic Nuisance Species 

Research Risk Analysis Protocol 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of 

finalized research protocol. 

SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

announces the availability of the 

finalized Federal Aquatic Nuisance 

Species Research Risk Analysis Protocol 

(Protocol), developed by the Research 

Protocol Committee, a committee of the 

Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force 

(ANSTF). 

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the 

finalized Protocol are available on the 

ANSTF Web site, http:// 

anstaskforce.gov/documents.php. To 

obtain a hard copy of the Protocol, see 

Document Availability under 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Margaret M. (Peg) Brady, Phone: 301– 

713–0174; e-mail: Peg.Brady@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task 

Force (ANSTF) is an intergovernmental 

organization dedicated to preventing 

and controlling aquatic nuisance 

species, and implementing the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 

Prevention and Control Act. The 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration and U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service serve as co-chairs of the 

ANSTF. The ANSTF developed a 

research protocol as is required by the 

Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance 

Prevention and Control Act of 1990 

(NANPCA, Public Law 101–646, 104 

STAT. 4671, 16 U.S.C. 4701–4741), as 

amended by the National Invasive 

Species Act, 1996. Section 1202(f)(2) of 

NANPCA directs the ANSTF to 

establish a protocol ‘‘to ensure that 

research activities carried out under 

[NANPCA] do not result in the 

introduction of aquatic nuisance species 

to waters of the United States.’’ 

Responsibility for actual use of this 

Protocol is specified in section (f)(3) of 

the NANPCA: ‘‘The Task Force shall 

allocate funds authorized under this Act 

for competitive research grants to study 

all aspects of aquatic nuisance species, 

which shall be administered through the 

National Sea Grant College Program and 

the Cooperative Fishery and Wildlife 

Research Units. Grants shall be 

conditioned to ensure that any recipient 

of funds follows the protocol 

established under paragraph (2) of this 

subsection.’’ 

Throughout this document both the 

descriptors ‘‘non-indigenous’’ and/or 

‘‘nuisance’’ are used when referring to 

aquatic species that are the target of this 

risk analysis. Language used in the 

NANPCA differentiates between a nonindigenous species and a nuisance 

species, with a ‘‘non-indigenous’’ label 

being solely based on the historic range 

of the species, while a ‘‘nuisance’’ 

designation is based on a species being 

both non-indigenous and potentially 

harmful (‘‘threatens the diversity or 

abundance of native species or the 

ecological stability of infested waters, or 

commercial, agricultural, aquacultural 

or recreational activities dependent on 

such waters’’). The ANSTF Research 

Committee adopted a precautionary 

approach by targeting this risk analysis 

to all aquatic non-indigenous species 

research, regardless of the ‘‘nuisance’’ 

designation. The intent of the 

procedures outlined herein is to 

minimize to the extent practicable the 

risk of release and spread of aquatic 

non-indigenous species into areas they 

do not yet inhabit, since any nonindigenous species may become a 

nuisance species. Not only is it often not 

possible to be sure that a species won’t 

become a nuisance (as defined) in the 

future, the possession and/or release of 

non-indigenous species may be illegal 

under various Federal, State, or local 

laws, which may or may not 

differentiate between non-indigenous 

and nuisance species. 

Background 

The finalized document (‘‘the 

Protocol’’) will replace the previously 

established ‘‘Protocol for Evaluating 

Research Proposals Concerning Aquatic 

Non-indigenous Species,’’ adopted in 

draft form in 1992 and finalized and 

published by the ANSTF in July 1994. 

The 1994 protocol applies only to 

research involving aquatic nonindigenous species (ANS) and is 

designed to reduce the risk that research 

activities may cause introduction or 

spread of such aquatic species. Other 

potential means of introduction, such as 

bait movement, aquaria disposal, ballast 

water discharge, movement of 

recreational boats, movement of fishing 

gear, and horticultural sales, are not 

addressed in the 1994 protocol. 

In 2008 the ANSTF requested the 

Research Committee (a Committee of the 

ANSTF) to evaluate and recommend 

revisions to the 1994 protocol, as 

needed. According to the Society for 

Risk Analysis (SRA, http:// 

www.sra.org), the elements or 

components of a risk analysis include 

risk assessment, risk characterization, 

risk communication, risk management, 

and policy relating to risk. This revised 

Protocol incorporates three of those 

elements—it requires a risk assessment 

(Part I) and then, if needed, 

establishment and implementation of a 

risk management plan (Part II), with the 

combined results communicated to the 

funding agency as part of the proposal 

and funding process. Therefore, this 

revised Protocol is renamed ‘‘Federal 

Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Risk 

Analysis Protocol.’’ The draft was 

approved by the ANSTF on November 

5, 2009. A notice of availability of the 

draft revised research protocol and 

request for comments was published in 

the Federal Register on August 31, 2010 

(75 FR 53273). The period of public 

comment expired on October 15, 2010. 

During this time period one comment 

was received. The ANSTF reviewed and 

considered this comment and 

determined the statement was not 

pertinent to the Protocol; thus, further 

revision of the document was not 

necessary and the Protocol was accepted 

to be finalized. 

The revised Protocol supplements, 

but does not replace, other existing 

Federal guidelines established to control 

activities with specific major classes of 

organisms. This document does not 

eliminate or in any way affect other 

legal requirements. 

The Protocol encourages the 

incorporation of a Hazard Analysis and 

Critical Control Point (HACCP) 

approach for prevention planning 

within research activities. Information 

about the use of HACCP is available at 

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/ 

haccp. A Web site detailing the 

application of HACCP to natural 

resource pathways, plus a link to 

download a HACCP wizard that helps 

create HACCP plans, can be found at 

http://www.haccp-nrm.org. 

Document Availability 

You may obtain copies of the Protocol 

by any one of the following methods: 

• Internet: http://anstaskforce.gov/ 

documents.php 

• Write: Susan Pasko, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. 1315 East West 

Highway, SSMC 3, Rm. 15531 Silver 

Spring, MD 20910; Telephone: (301) 

713–0174 x 165; E-mail: 

Susan.Pasko@noaa.gov. 


jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
74008 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 30, 2010 / Notices 

• Mail or hand-delivery: Susan Pasko, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. 1315 East West 

Highway, SSMC 3, Rm. 15531 Silver 

Spring, MD 20910. 

• Fax: (301) 713–1594. 

Dated: November 23, 2010. 

Patricia A. Montanio, 

Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–30175 Filed 11–29–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA065 

New England Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery 

Management Council’s (Council) 

Herring Committee will meet jointly 

with its Advisory Panel to consider 

actions affecting New England fisheries 

in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

Monday, December 20, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 

Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; 

telephone: (603) 431–2300; fax: (603) 

433–5649. 

Council address: New England 

Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 

Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul 

J. Howard, Executive Director, New 

England Fishery Management Council; 

telephone: (978) 465–0492. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items 

of discussion in the committee and 

advisory panel’s agenda are as follows: 

1. Continue development of 

alternatives for consideration in 

Amendment 5 to the Atlantic Herring 

Fishery Management Plan (FMP), with 

particular focus on management 

measures to address river herring 

bycatch; 

2. Discuss alternatives for identifying 

river herring hotspots; consider 

streamlining and develop 

recommendations; 

3. Discuss management alternatives to 

apply to river herring hotspots; consider 

streamlining and develop 

recommendations; 

4. Discuss possible options for river 

herring catch caps; 

5. Discuss alternatives for establishing 

criteria for herring vessel access to 

groundfish closed areas; and 

6. Address other outstanding issues 

related to Amendment 5 as time 

permits. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before this group for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Action will 

be restricted to those issues specifically 

identified in this notice and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Council’s intent to take 

final action to address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul 

J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 

days prior to the meeting date. 

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

Dated: November 23, 2010. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–30015 Filed 11–29–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA068 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council will convene a 

public meeting of the Florida/Alabama 

Habitat Protection Advisory Panel (AP). 

DATES: The meeting will convene at 3 

p.m. Central Time on Friday, December 

17, 2010 and conclude no later than 4 

p.m. 

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held 

via conference call. To listen to the 

teleconference call (1–888) 450–5996. 

At the prompt enter passcode 6273501. 

Council address: Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 2203 

North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, 

FL 33607. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff 

Rester, Habitat Support Specialist, Gulf 

States Marine Fisheries Commission; 

telephone: (228) 875–5912. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At this 

meeting, the only item on the agenda is 

for the AP to review the Council’s 

Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review 

Report. 

The Florida/Alabama group is part of 

a three unit Habitat Protection Advisory 

Panel (AP) of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council. The principal role 

of the advisory panels is to assist the 

Council in attempting to maintain 

optimum conditions within the habitat 

and ecosystems supporting the marine 

resources of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Advisory panels serve as a first alert 

system to call to the Council’s attention 

proposed projects being developed and 

other activities that may adversely 

impact the Gulf marine fisheries and 

their supporting ecosystems. The panels 

may also provide advice to the Council 

on its policies and procedures for 

addressing environmental affairs. 

Although other issues not on the 

agenda may come before the panel for 

discussion, in accordance with the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, 

those issues may not be the subject of 

formal panel action during this meeting. 

Panel action will be restricted to those 

issues specifically identified in the 

agenda listed as available by this notice. 

For more information about the 

meeting, please call (813) 348–1630. 

Special Accommodations. 

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

auxiliary aids should be directed to 

Trish Kennedy at the Council (see 

ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior 

to the meeting. 

Dated: November 24, 2010. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–30171 Filed 11–29–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY 

COMMISSION 

[CPSC Docket No. 11–C0001] 

Jake’s Fireworks, Inc., Far East 

Imports, Inc., Wholesale Fireworks 

Enterprises LLC, Pacific Northwest 

Fireworks, Inc., Provisional 

Acceptance of a Settlement Agreement 

and Order 

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety 

Commission. 


jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES