66392 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 27, 2023 / Notices 

designated critical habitat. To ensure 

ESA compliance for the issuance of 

IHAs, NMFS consults internally 

whenever we propose to authorize take 

for endangered or threatened species. 

No incidental take of ESA-listed 

species is authorized or expected to 

result from this activity. Therefore, 

NMFS has determined that formal 

consultation under section 7 of the ESA 

is not required for this action. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

To comply with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 

NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 

216–6A, NMFS must review our action 

(i.e., the issuance of an IHA) with 

respect to potential impacts on the 

human environment. 

This action is consistent with 

categories of activities identified in 

Categorical Exclusion B4 (IHAs with no 

anticipated serious injury or mortality) 

of the Companion Manual for NOAA 

Administrative Order 216–6A, which do 

not individually or cumulatively have 

the potential for significant impacts on 

the quality of the human environment 

and for which we have not identified 

any extraordinary circumstances that 

would preclude this categorical 

exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS has 

determined that the issuance of the IHA 

qualifies to be categorically excluded 

from further NEPA review. 

Authorization 

NMFS has issued an IHA to UT for 

the potential harassment of small 

numbers of three marine mammal 

species incidental to the marine 

geophysical survey in coastal waters off 

of Texas that includes the previously 

explained mitigation, monitoring and 

reporting requirements. 

Dated: September 22, 2023. 

Catherine Marzin, 

Deputy Director, Office of Protected 

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21089 Filed 9–26–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD404] 

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 will hold a one 

day in-person meeting of its Shrimp 

Advisory Panel (AP). 

DATES: The meeting will convene 

Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 8:30 

a.m. to 5 p.m., EDT. For agenda details, 

see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place 

at the Gulf Council office. Registration 

information will be available on the 

Council’s website by visiting 

www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on the 

Shrimp AP meeting on the calendar. 

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. 

Matt Freeman, Economist, Gulf of 

Mexico Fishery Management Council; 

matt.freeman@gulfcouncil.org; 

telephone: (813) 348–1630. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

following items are on the agenda, 

though agenda items may be addressed 

out of order (changes will be noted on 

the Council’s website when possible.) 

Thursday, October 19, 2023; 8:30 

a.m.–5 p.m. EST (7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. CST). 

Meeting will begin with Adoption of 

Agenda, Approval of Summaries from 

the March 15–16, 2023, meeting and the 

May 18, 2023, meeting, and Scope of 

Work. The AP will review and discuss 

Council Actions in Response to Motions 

from the April and May 2023 Shrimp 

AP Meetings, receive a presentation on 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS) cellular vessel monitoring 

system Project, discuss a collaborative 

path forward to Understand Inshore 

Shrimping Effort to Inform Sea Turtle 

Restoration Efforts in the Gulf of 

Mexico. 

The AP will receive updates from 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

(BOEM) on Gulf Wind Energy, on reinitiation of Shrimp Biological Opinion 

due to Sawfish and Giant Manta Rays, 

and on Endangered Species Act Listing 

and Critical Habitat Rule. 

The AP will review and discuss 

SEDAR 87 Assessment update for 

Brown, White and Pink Shrimp and 

receive information update on 

Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource 

and Damage Assessment projects. 

Lastly, the AP will receive any public 

testimony and discuss other business 

items. 

Meeting Adjourns— 

The in-person meeting will be 

broadcast via webinar. You may register 

by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org and 

clicking on the Shrimp Advisory Panel 

meeting on the calendar. 

The Agenda is subject to change, and 

the latest version along with other 

meeting materials will be posted on 

www.gulfcouncil.org as they become 

available. 

Although other non-emergency issues 

not on the agenda may come before the 

Advisory Panel for discussion, in 

accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Actions 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 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Council’s intent to takeaction to address the emergency at least 

5 working days prior to the meeting. 

Special Accommodations 

The meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aid or accommodations should 

be directed to Kathy Pereira, 

kathy.pereira@gulfcouncil.org, at least 5 

days prior to the meeting date. 

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

Dated: September 22, 2023. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21060 Filed 9–26–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD405] 

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 will hold a 

meeting of its Law Enforcement 

Technical Committee (LETC), in 

conjunction with the Gulf States Marine 

Fisheries Commission’s Law 

Enforcement Committee (LEC). 

DATES: The meeting will convene on 

Wednesday, October 18, 2023; 

beginning at 8:30 a.m. until 12 p.m., 

CDT. The Committees will be in a 

closed session from 7:30 a.m. until 8:15 

a.m. CDT. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 27, 2023 / Notices 66393 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, 

located at Two Poydras Street, New 

Orleans, LA 70130; (504) 561–0500. 

Please visit the Gulf Council website 

(www.gulfcouncil.org) for agenda and 

meeting materials information. 

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. 

John Froeschke, Deputy Director, Gulf of 

Mexico Fishery Management Council; 

john.froescke@gulfcouncil.org, 

telephone: (813) 348–1630, and Mr. 

Steve VanderKooy, Inter-jurisdictional 

Fisheries (IJF) Coordinator, Gulf States 

Marine Fisheries Commission; 

svanderkooy@gsmfc.org, telephone: 

(228) 875–5912. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

following items of discussion are on the 

agenda, though agenda items may be 

addressed out of order and any changes 

will be noted on the Council’s website 

when possible. 

Joint Gulf Council’s Law Enforcement 

Technical Committee (LETC) and Gulf 

States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 

Law Enforcement Committee (LEC) 

Meeting Agenda, Wednesday, October 

18, 2023; Beginning at 8:30 a.m.–12 

p.m., CDT 

The joint meeting will begin in a 

CLOSED SESSION from 7:30 a.m.–8:15 

a.m. with introductions, case work 

discussions and any other business. 

General session will begin at 

approximately 8:30 a.m. with 

introductions and adoption of agenda, 

and approval of minutes from the Joint 

LEC/LETC virtual meeting from March 

2023 and election of Joint Committee 

Chair and Vice Chair. 

The Gulf Council LETC will hold a 

discussion on Red Snapper Individual 

Fishing Quota (IFQ) advanced landing 

notifications from 2022 including a 

review of the Proportion of Inspected to 

Non-Inspected Red Snapper IFQ 

landings and Sale of Recreationally 

Caught Fish; and will review the 

Nomination Process for the 2023 

Officer/Team of the Year Award. 

The GSMFC LEC will review the IJF 

Program Activity for Gray (Mangrove) 

Snapper Profile Status and Commission 

Pubs. 

The committee will present the State 

Report Highlights from Florida, 

Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, 

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), NOAA Office 

of Law Enforcement (OLE), and U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); and 

will discuss any Other Business items. 

— Meeting Adjourns 

The Agenda is subject to change, and 

the latest version along with other 

meeting materials will be posted on 

www.gulfcouncil.org. 

The Law Enforcement Technical 

Committee consists of principal law 

enforcement officers in each of the Gulf 

States, as well as the NOAA OLE, 

USFWS, the USCG, and the NOAA 

Office of General Counsel for Law 

Enforcement. 

Although other non-emergency issues 

not on the agenda may come before this 

group for discussion, in accordance 

with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, 

those issues may not be the subject of 

formal action during this meeting. 

Actions will be restricted to those issues 

specifically identified in the agenda 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 action to 

address the emergency. 

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

Dated: September 22, 2023. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21057 Filed 9–26–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XC044] 

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to 

Specified Activities; Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to U.S. Coast 

Guard Construction in Astoria, Oregon 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental 

harassment authorization; request for 

comments on proposed authorization 

and possible renewal. 

SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request 

from the United States Coast Guard 

(USCG) for authorization to take marine 

mammals incidental to the East Tongue 

Point (ETP) construction project in 

Astoria, Oregon. Pursuant to the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS 

is requesting comments on its proposal 

to issue an incidental harassment 

authorization (IHA) to incidentally take 

marine mammals during the specified 

activities. NMFS is also requesting 

comments on a possible one-time, 1- 

year renewal that could be issued under 

certain circumstances and if all 

requirements are met, as described in 

Request for Public Comments at the end 

of this notice. NMFS will consider 

public comments prior to making any 

final decision on the issuance of the 

requested MMPA authorization and 

agency responses will be summarized in 

the final notice of our decision. 

DATES: Comments and information must 

be received no later than October 27, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should be 

addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, 

Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service and should be 

submitted via email to ITP.harlacher@

noaa.gov. Electronic copies of the 

application and supporting documents, 

as well as a list of the references cited 

in this document, may be obtained 

online at: https://www.fisheries.

noaa.gov/national/marine-mammalprotection/incidental-takeauthorizations-construction-activities. 

In case of problems accessing these 

documents, please call the contact listed 

below. 

Instructions: NMFS is not responsible 

for comments sent by any other method, 

to any other address or individual, or 

received after the end of the comment 

period. Comments, including all 

attachments, must not exceed a 25- 

megabyte file size. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted online at 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

incidental-take-authorizationsconstruction-activities without change. 

All personal identifying information 

(e.g., name, address) voluntarily 

submitted by the commenter may be 

publicly accessible. Do not submit 

confidential business information or 

otherwise sensitive or protected 

information. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jenna Harlacher, Office of Protected 

Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of 

marine mammals, with certain 

exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and 

(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 

seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce 

(as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon 

request, the incidental, but not 

intentional, taking of small numbers of 

marine mammals by U.S. citizens who 

engage in a specified activity (other than 

commercial fishing) within a specified 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1