### 23447 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 77 / Thursday, April 21, 2016 / Proposed Rules

compliance with these regulations during routine vessel operations and during training exercises designed to make USCG personnel ready for search and rescue missions and use of force missions using live fire exercises. NOAA is concerned with protecting sanctuary resources and habitats, resolving any conflicts that could occur among sanctuary user groups ( e.g., fishing and USCG live fire training), and ensuring continued USCG enforcement of sanctuary regulations.

To ensure the rule did not impair USCG operations necessary to fulfill its multi-purpose missions while the agencies were in consultation, the document postponed for six months the effective date for the discharge requirements in the expansion areas for both sanctuaries with regard to USCG activities. NOAA committed to considering exempting certain USCG discharge activities from the GFNMS and CBNMS regulations. An additional six month postponement of the effectiveness of the discharge requirements was published in the Federal Register December 1, 2015, to provide adequate time for completion of an environmental assessment and to determine NOAA’s action. Without further NOAA action, the discharge regulations would become effective with regard to USCG activities on June 9,
2016. Potential Options

NOAA is exploring a variety of options on how to best protect sanctuary resources while ensuring the operational capacity for USCG to conduct mission-essential activities. NOAA has identified two options for this: 1. Changing the regulations to allow USCG discharges; and 2. issuing a national marine sanctuary general permit, if the activity is eligible for a permit and is conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions in the permit (see http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ management/permits/ ). In either case, discharges could be allowed in all waters of the sanctuaries; only in Federal waters (further than 3 nautical miles from shore); in certain zones delineated based on biological factors (such as oceanographic features or density of significant species) and other factors (such as high use for recreation, shipping, or other human activities); in the expanded waters of CBNMS and GFNMS based on the March 12, 2015 rulemaking; or not at all. NOAA is interested in receiving public comment on the best way to address the need for continued USCG operations in CBNMS and GFNMS while fulfilling its primary objective of resource protection in national marine sanctuaries. Request for Information

NOAA anticipates that these changes, whether regulatory or non-regulatory will require preparation of an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Therefore, NOAA is also interested in receiving public comment that could contribute to the environmental analysis that will be prepared for this action; specifically, information related to the potential impacts of Coast Guard operational vessel discharges of sewage and graywater and training discharges within GFNMS and CBNMS on biological, physical and oceanographic features of the sanctuaries as well as on human activities taking place in the sanctuaries.

Timeline

The process for this action is composed of four major stages: 1. Information collection and characterization (scoping); 2. preparation and release of a draft environmental assessment under NEPA, and any proposed amendments to the regulations if appropriate; 3. public review and comment; 4. preparation and release of a final environmental assessment, and any final amendments to the regulations if appropriate. This document also advises the public that NOAA will coordinate any consultation responsibilities under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA, 16 U.S.C. 470), and Federal Consistency review under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), along with its ongoing NEPA process including the use of NEPA documents and public and stakeholder meetings to also meet the requirements of other federal laws.

In fulfilling its responsibility under the NHPA and NEPA, NOAA intends to identify consulting parties; identify historic properties and assess the effects of the undertaking on such properties; initiate formal consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer, the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation, and other consulting parties as appropriate; involve the public in accordance with NOAA’s NEPA procedures, and develop in consultation with identified consulting parties alternatives and proposed measures that might avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse effects on historic properties as appropriate and describe them in any environmental assessment or draft environmental impact
statement.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. Dated: April 15, 2016. John Armor, Acting Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2016–09248 Filed 4–20–16; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY** 

**40 CFR Part 52**

**[EPA–R06–OAR–2016–0132; FRL–9945–08– Region 6]** 

**Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of**  **Louisiana; Revisions to the State Implementation Plan; Fee Regulations** 

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Proposed rule.

**SUMMARY :**  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) related to the Fee Regulations section of the Louisiana SIP that were submitted by the State of Louisiana on February 23, 2016. The EPA has evaluated the SIP submittal from Louisiana and preliminarily determined these revisions are consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (Act or CAA). The EPA is proposing this action under section 110 of the Act.

**DATES :**  Written comments should be received on or before May 23, 2016.

**ADDRESSES :**  Submit your comments, identified by Docket No. EPA–R06– OAR–2016–0132, at http:// www.regulations.gov or via email to donaldson.tracie@epa.gov. For additional information on how to submit comments see the detailed instructions in the **ADDRESSES** section of the direct final rule located in the rules section of this Federal Register

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Tracie Donaldson, 214–665–6633, donaldson.tracie@epa.gov. To inspect the hard copy materials, please schedule an appointment with Tracie Donaldson or Bill Deese at 214–665–7253.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In the final rules section of this Federal Register , the EPA is approving the State’s SIP submittal as a direct rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial


### 23448 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 77 / Thursday, April 21, 2016 / Proposed Rules

submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no relevant adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If the EPA receives relevant adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

For additional information, see the direct final rule which is located in the rules section of this Federal Register

.

Dated: April 6, 2016. Ron Curry, Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2016–09065 Filed 4–20–16; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR**

**Fish and Wildlife Service**

**DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE**

**National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration** 

**50 CFR Part 424**

**[Docket Nos. FWS–HQ–ES–2015–0016; DOC 150506429–5429–01; 4500030113]** 

**RIN 1018–BA53; 0648–BF06**

**Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revisions to the**  **Regulations for Petitions**

**AGENCY :**  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior; National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

**ACTION :**  Proposed rule; revision and reopening of comment period.

**SUMMARY :**  We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (Services), announce revisions to the May 21, 2015, proposed rule that would revise the regulations pertaining to submission of petitions and the reopening of the public comment period. In this document, we are setting forth modified proposed amendments to the regulations based on comments and information we received during the May 21, 2015, proposed rule’s public comment period. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment on these revisions, as described in this document, and on the information collection requirements. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they have been considered in development of this revised proposed rule and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

**DATES :**  We will consider comments received or postmarked on or before May 23, 2016. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see **ADDRESSES**
, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. Comments on the information collection aspects of this proposed rule must be received on or before May 23, 2016.

**ADDRESSES :**  Comments on the Proposed Rule. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:

• Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter the docket number for this proposed rule, which is FWS–HQ–ES– 2015–0016. Then click on the Search button. In the Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the Proposed Rules link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on ‘‘Comment Now!’’ Please ensure that you have found the correct document before submitting your comment.

• By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–HQ– ES–2015–0016; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.

We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see Request for Information, below, for more information).

If you submit information via http:// www.regulations.gov, your entire submission—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this personal identifying information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on http://www.regulations.gov.

Comments on the Information Collection Aspects of the Proposed Rule: You may review the Information Collection Request online at http:// www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Send comments (identified by 1018–BA53) specific to the information collection aspects of this proposed rule to both the:

• Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at OMB–OIRA at (202) 295– 5806 (fax) or OIRA

_Submission@ omb.eop.gov (email); and

• Service Information Collection Clearance Officer; Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041–3803 (mail); or hope

_ grey@fws.gov (email).

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Bridget Fahey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation and Classification, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803, telephone 703–358–2171, facsimile 703–358–1735; or Angela Somma, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301–427–8403. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

On May 21, 2015, the Services proposed revising the regulations at 50 CFR 424.14 concerning petitions to improve the content and specificity of petitions and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the petition process to support species conservation (80 FR 29286). Our revisions to § 424.14 are intended to clarify and enhance the procedures and standards by which the Services will evaluate petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA or Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ), and to provide greater clarity to the public on the petition-submission process and, thereby, assist petitioners in providing complete, robust petitions. The proposed changes will improve the quality of petitions through expanded content requirements and guidelines, and, in so doing, better focus the Services’ resources on species that merit further analysis. However, in response to the comments and information we received during the May 21, 2015, proposed rule’s public comment period, the Services are revising the proposed rule to streamline the process for according States notice of petitions, to reduce the amount of information that would need to be submitted with petitions, and to provide additional clarifications. It is our intent to discuss here only those topics directly relevant