46976 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices 

fur seals, increase the number of leopard 

seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) and fur seals 

tagged (for the purposes of retagging), 

and use an unmanned aircraft system 

for aerial photography. These activities 

are authorized for the duration of the 

permit, which expires on September 30, 

2011. 

The amendment to Permit No. 1032– 

1917 authorizes the use of a small 

temperature logging tag on Weddell seal 

pups in the Erebus Bay, McMurdo 

Sound, Ross Sea, and White Island areas 

of Antarctica.. The additional tag will be 

used to measure the amount of time 

pups spend in the water. This 

information will be used as part of the 

mass dynamics studies. This activity is 

authorized for the duration of the 

permit, which expires on October 1, 

2012. 

Dated: September 9, 2009. 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–22037 Filed 9–11–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XR50 

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

General Provisions for Domestic 

Fisheries; Application for Exempted 

Fishing Permit 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional 

Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, 

Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant 

Regional Administrator) has made a 

preliminary determination that the 

subject programmatic Exempted Fishing 

Permit (EFP) application for the Study 

Fleet Program contains all of the 

required information and warrants 

further consideration. Study Fleet 

projects are managed by the University 

of Massachusetts Dartmouth School of 

Marine Science and Technology 

(SMAST). The programmatic EFP would 

grant exemptions from minimum fish 

sizes, and possession and landing 

limits. However, further review and 

consultation may be necessary before a 

final determination is made to issue the 

EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that 

the Assistant Regional Administrator 

proposes to issue a programmatic EFP 

that would allow seven vessels to 

conduct fishing operations that are 

otherwise restricted by the regulations 

governing the fisheries of the 

Northeastern United States. 

Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act require publication of 

this notification to provide interested 

parties the opportunity to comment on 

applications for proposed EFPs. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before September 29, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice 

may be submitted by e-mail. The 

mailbox address for providing e-mail 

comments is NERO.EFP@noaa.gov. 

Include in the subject line of the e-mail 

comment the following document 

identifier: ‘‘Comments on SMAST Study 

Fleet Programmatic EFP.’’ Written 

comments should be sent to Patricia A. 

Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 

Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great 

Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. 

Mark the outside of the envelope 

‘‘Comments on SMAST Study Fleet 

Programmatic EFP.’’ Comments may 

also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 

281–9135. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Allison Murphy, Fishery Management 

Specialist, phone: 978–281–9122. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A 

complete application for an EFP was 

submitted by SMAST on May 26, 2009. 

The EFP would exempt federally 

permitted commercial fishing vessels 

from the regulations detailed below 

while participating in the following 

projects managed by SMAST: 

(1) Georges Bank (GB) Multispecies 

Otter Trawl Net Study Fleet (seven 

vessels); 

(2) Skate and Monkfish Age 

Validation Research and American 

Lobster Shell Disease Research (seven 

vessels). 

The primary goal of the GB 

Multispecies Otter Trawl Net study fleet 

is to characterize catch on an effort level 

and collect size distributions of kept 

and discarded catch by: 1) Training 

fishermen to representatively sample 

their catch, measuring 100 kept and 100 

discarded fish for each statistical area 

fished per trip for each species that is 

assessed using an analytical stock 

assessment; 2) developing data 

protocols to integrate biological 

sampling into study fleet databases, 

including application of electronic 

measuring onboard; 3) measuring 100 

kept and 100 discarded skates for each 

statistical area fished per trip for each 

species; and 4) measuring Atlantic 

wolffish when available. 

The project is a continuation of 

research conducted since 2000 by 

SMAST, and which is now in its third 

phase of incorporating electronic 

reporting and EFPs for vessels collecting 

data. While fishing under Northeast 

(NE) multispecies day-at-sea (DAS), 

catch estimations would be derived by 

one of three methods: 1) Measuring 

actual weight using an electronic scale; 

2) using basket weight, calculated by 

using a standard weight for a basket and 

counting the number of baskets filled; or 

3) by using hail weight that is estimated 

by the crew. Length and weight 

measurements of 100 kept and 100 

discarded fish, by statistical area, would 

be taken from a predetermined list of 

species (see Table 1). The landing of fish 

for sale at authorized dealers would be 

conducted according to each vessel’s 

fishing permits and within current 

regulations. Temporary exemptions 

from the NE multispecies possession 

limits at § 648.86, and NE multispecies 

minimum fish sizes at § 648.83(a)(3), are 

necessary to obtain the proposed data 

from undersized individuals, prohibited 

species, and/or fish in excess of trip 

limits. Similarly, temporary exemptions 

from monkfish possession limits at 

§ 648.94(a) and (b), and monkfish 

minimum fish sizes at § 648.93, are 

necessary to obtain data from 

undersized individuals in excess of trip 

limits. Exemptions from skate 

possession restrictions at 

§ 648.322(a)(1), and prohibitions on 

possession of skates at § 648.322(c)(1), 

are also necessary, as these species may 

be encountered when catch estimation 

is being completed. Vessels would be 

prohibited from landing undersized fish 

or amounts of fish greater than the 

allowable landing limits. 

TABLE 1. LIST OF SPECIES FOR BIOLOGICAL LENGTH FREQUENCY SAMPLES

Species Proposed Sample Size 

Southern New England (SNE) Yellowtail Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.


cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices 46977 

TABLE 1. LIST OF SPECIES FOR BIOLOGICAL LENGTH FREQUENCY SAMPLES—Continued 

Species Proposed Sample Size 

Georges Bank (GB) Yellowtail Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

Cape Cod/GOM Yellowtail Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

SNE Winter Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

GB Winter Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

GB Haddock 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

GB Atlantic Cod 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

GOM Atlantic Cod 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

Monkfish 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

American Plaice 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

Witch Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

Atlantic Wolffish 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

Northeast Skate Complex (each species) 100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per 

statistical area per trip.

Sampling would be conducted aboard 

seven fishing vessels that intend to fish 

on GB from the date of issuance through 

April 2010, with a minimum of two 

trips per month and an average trip 

duration of 7 days. All vessels would 

utilize otter trawl gear, with gear 

configuration and mesh size dictated by 

current fishery regulations. 

The primary goals of the laboratory 

research are to validate the age of 

multiple skate species and monkfish 

using ocytetracycline markers and to 

examine the relationship between 

trophic feeding levels and American 

lobster epizootic shell disease (ESD). 

A target of 6–10 individuals of each 

skate species (see Table 1) would be 

caught and maintained in the SMAST 

seawater laboratory, and given an 

injection of ocytetracycline. Most 

individuals would be maintained for a 

minimum of 1 year prior to sacrifice. 

Skates would then be immediately 

dissected, and vertebra would be 

removed for further processing. In 

addition, egg cases would be collected 

and injected with tetracycline to 

determine whether there is a difference 

between the birth mark and the hatch 

mark. Exemptions from skate possession 

restrictions at § 648.322(a)(1) and 

prohibitions on possession of skates at 

§ 648.322(c)(1) are necessary to collect 

specimens for laboratory research. 

Vessels would be prohibited from 

landing undersized fish or amounts of 

fish greater than the allowable landing 

limits. 

Monkfish (see Table 2) would be 

collected by the study fleet fishing 

under a monkfish DAS and transport 

techniques would be tested. Monkfish 

would be marked with ocytetracycline, 

and most would be cultured for 1 year 

to allow for growth. Temporary 

exemptions from monkfish possession 

limits at § 648.94(a) and (b), and 

monkfish minimum fish sizes at 

§ 648.93, are necessary to obtain 

specimens for laboratory research. 

Vessels would be prohibited from 

landing undersized fish or amounts of 

fish greater than the allowable landing 

limits. 

TABLE 2. LIST OF SPECIES FOR BIOLOGICAL LENGTH FREQUENCY SAMPLES

Species Proposed Sample Size 

Northern 

Monkfish 10 fish/month 

Southern 

Monkfish 10 fish/month 

Thorny 

Skate 10 fish/month 

Smooth 

Skate 10 fish/month 

Clearnose 

Skate 10 fish/month 

Barndoor 

Skate 10 fish/month 

Rosette 

Skate 10 fish/month 

Little Skate 10 fish/month 

Winter Skate 10 fish/month 

American 

Lobster 10 animals/month 


cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
46978 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices 

Laboratory feeding experiments 

would be conducted on American 

lobster to determine the trophic levels 

from which they feed. The isotope 

?948;15N would be measured, with the 

theoretical basis that the higher the 

trophic level an animal feeds, the higher 

the level of the isotope. Exemptions 

from lobster restrictions at 

§§ 697.7(c)(1)(xxiii) and 697.17(a) are 

necessary to collect specimens for 

laboratory research. 

Samples for the laboratory research 

would be collected aboard the same 

seven fishing vessels participating in the 

Otter Trawl study fleet, which intend to 

fish on GB from the date of issuance 

through April 2010, with a minimum of 

two trips per month and an average trip 

duration of 7 days. All vessels would 

utilize otter trawl gear, with gear 

configuration and mesh size dictated by 

current fishery regulations. 

Based on preliminary review of this 

project, and in accordance with NOAA 

Administrative Order 216–6, a 

Categorical Exclusion from 

requirements to prepare either an 

Environmental Impact Statement or an 

Environmental Assessment under the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

appears to be justified. 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. 

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

Dated: September 8, 2009. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–21981 Filed 9–11–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

(C–570–953) 

Narrow Woven Ribbons With Woven 

Selvedge From the People’s Republic 

of China: Postponement of Preliminary 

Determination in the Countervailing 

Duty Investigation 

AGENCY: Import Administration, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 14, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Scott Holland or Shelly Atkinson, AD/ 

CVD Operations, Import 

Administration, International Trade 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution 

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; 

telephone: (202) 482–1279 and (202) 

482–0166, respectively. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On August 6, 2009, the Department of 

Commerce (the ‘‘Department’’) initiated 

an investigation of narrow woven 

ribbons with woven selvedge from the 

People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’). See 

Narrow Woven Ribbons With Woven 

Selvedge From the People’s Republic of 

China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty 

Investigation, 74 FR 39298 (August 6, 

2009). Currently, the preliminary 

determination is due no later than 

October 2, 2009. 

Postponement of Due Date for 

Preliminary Determination 

Under section 703(c)(1)(B) of the 

Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the 

‘‘Act’’), the Department may extend the 

period for reaching a preliminary 

determination in a countervailing duty 

investigation until no later than the 

130th day after the date on which the 

investigation is initiated, if the 

Department determines that the parties 

are cooperating and the case is 

extraordinarily complicated. The 

Department finds that the instant case is 

extraordinarily complicated by reason of 

the number and complexity of the 

alleged countervailable subsidy 

practices, the need to determine the 

extent to which particular 

countervailable subsidies are used by 

individual manufacturers, producers, 

and exporters, and the number of firms 

whose activities must be investigated. 

Accordingly, we are fully extending the 

due date for the preliminary 

determination to no later than 130 days 

after the day on which the investigation 

was initiated (i.e., December 6, 2009). 

As December 6, 2009, is a Sunday, we 

will issue the preliminary determination 

no later than the next business day (i.e., 

December 7, 2009). 

This notice is issued and published 

pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act 

and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1). 

Dated: September 8, 2009. 

Ronald K. Lorentzen, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Import 

Administration. 

[FR Doc. E9–22046 Filed 9–11–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Quarterly Update to Annual Listing of 

Foreign Government Subsidies on 

Articles of Cheese Subject to an In– 

Quota Rate of Duty 

AGENCY: Import Administration, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 14, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Gayle Longest, AD/CVD Operations, 

Office 3, Import Administration, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 

Street and Constitution Ave., NW, 

Washington, DC 20230, telephone: (202) 

482–3338. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

702 of the Trade Agreements Act of 

1979 (as amended) (‘‘the Act’’) requires 

the Department of Commerce (‘‘the 

Department’’) to determine, in 

consultation with the Secretary of 

Agriculture, whether any foreign 

government is providing a subsidy with 

respect to any article of cheese subject 

to an in–quota rate of duty, as defined 

in section 701(c)(1) of the Act, and to 

publish an annual list and quarterly 

updates to the type and amount of those 

subsidies. We hereby provide the 

Department’s quarterly update of 

subsidies on articles of cheese that were 

imported during the period April 1, 

2009, through 

June 30, 2009. 

The Department has developed, in 

consultation with the Secretary of 

Agriculture, information on subsidies 

(as defined in section 702(h)(2) of the 

Act and section 771(5) of the Tariff Act 

of 1930, as amended (‘‘Tariff Act’’), 

being provided either directly or 

indirectly by foreign governments on 

articles of cheese subject to an in–quota 

rate of duty. 

The appendix to this notice lists the 

country, the subsidy program or 

programs, and the gross and net 

amounts of each subsidy for which 

information is currently available. The 

Department will incorporate additional 

programs which are found to constitute 

subsidies, and additional information 

on the subsidy programs listed, as the 

information is developed. 

The Department encourages any 

person having information on foreign 

government subsidy programs which 

benefit articles of cheese subject to an 

in–quota rate of duty to submit such 

information in writing to the Assistant 

Secretary for Import Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 


cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES