67250 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2023 / Notices 

2023–0111 by any of the following 

methods: 

Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and 

NOAA–NMFS–2023–0111 in the Search 

box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

Instructions: Comments sent by any 

other method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the end of 

the comment period, may not be 

considered by NMFS. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted for public 

viewing on https://www.regulations.gov 

without change. All Personal Identifying 

Information (e.g., name, address, etc.) 

voluntarily submitted by the commenter 

may be publicly accessible. Do not 

submit Confidential Business 

Information or otherwise sensitive or 

protected information. We will accept 

anonymous comments (enter N/A in the 

required fields, if you wish to remain 

anonymous). Attachments to electronic 

comments will be accepted in Microsoft 

Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats 

only. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steven Hughes, (301) 427–8576, 

steven.hughes@noaa.gov; Celeste Stout, 

(301) 427- 9436, Celeste.Stout@

noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 

of the ESA and Federal regulations 

prohibit the ‘taking’ of a species listed 

as endangered or threatened. The ESA 

defines ‘‘take’’ to mean harass, harm, 

pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, 

capture, or collect, or to attempt to 

engage in any such conduct. NMFS may 

issue permits, under limited 

circumstances to take listed species 

incidental to, and not the purpose of, 

otherwise lawful activities. Section 

10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA provides for 

authorizing incidental take of listed 

species. NMFS governing regulations for 

permits for incidental taking of 

threatened and endangered species are 

promulgated at 50 CFR 222.307. 

Background 

On July 10, 2023, Clearwater Inc. sent 

a permit renewal request before permit 

number 18600 expires December 31, 

2023. On August 28, 2023, NMFS met 

with Clearwater Inc. to discuss reducing 

the number of requested takes for the 

permit from 20 to 10 sturgeon over the 

course of the 10-year project. 

Over the course of the 10-year project 

two sturgeons were captured during the 

proposed action. The species affected 

were two Atlantic sturgeon. The two 

sturgeon were released back into the 

Hudson River immediately after they 

were brought up to the boat. The 

Clearwater applicant has submitted end 

of year reports every year. There were 

no compliance issues throughout the 

permit that would prevent the 

application from being renewed for 

another 10 years. 

Conservation Plan 

Clearwater’s conservation plan 

describes measures to minimize, 

monitor, and mitigate the incidental 

take of ESA-listed Atlantic and 

shortnose sturgeon. Clearwater will 

regularly communicate with New York 

State Department of Environmental 

Conservation to avoid known sturgeon 

habitat and spawning grounds. 

Clearwater will use small otter trawls 

(95.52 by 45.72 centimeter doors and 

weigh less than 0.45 kilograms) and 

short tow times (= < 5 minutes). Beach 

seines, which allow for targeted catch, 

will be used where practicable (e.g., 

away from urban areas and where tides 

allow). If Clearwater incidentally 

captures a sturgeon in its sets, it will 

follow protocols for safe handling and 

immediately release any sturgeon 

caught. Clearwater will maintain a 

detailed log of all gear sets and will 

submit to NMFS incident and annual 

reports of incidental capture, if any, of 

listed sturgeon. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as implemented by 

40 CFR parts 1500–1508 and NOAA 

Administrative Order 216–6, 

Environmental Review Procedures for 

Implementing the National Policy Act 

(1999), an initial determination has been 

made that the activity proposed is 

categorically excluded from the 

requirement to prepare an 

environmental assessment or 

environmental impact statement. 

Next Steps 

This notice is provided pursuant to 

section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will 

evaluate the application, associated 

documents, and comments received 

during the comment period to 

determine whether the application 

meets the requirements of section 10(a) 

of the ESA. If NMFS determines that the 

requirements are met, a permit will be 

issued for incidental takes of ESA-listed 

sturgeon. The final NEPA and permit 

determinations will not be made until 

after the end of the comment period. 

NMFS will publish a record of its final 

action in the Federal Register. 

Dated: September 26, 2023. 

Catherine G. Marzin, 

Deputy Director, Office of Protected 

Resources. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21446 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD415] 

South Atlantic 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 South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

hold a meeting of the Dolphin Wahoo 

Advisory Panel on November 6–7, 2023, 

and a meeting of the Mackerel Cobia 

Advisory Panel on November 7–8, 2023. 

DATES: The Dolphin Wahoo Advisory 

Panel meeting will be held November 6, 

2023, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., EDT and 

November 7, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 12 

p.m. The Mackerel Cobia Advisory 

Panel meeting will be held November 7, 

2023, from 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m., EDT 

and November 8, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 

5 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: 

Meeting address: The meetings will be 

held at the Town and County Inn, 2008 

Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 

29407. 

The meeting will also be available via 

webinar. Registration is required. 

Webinar registration, an online public 

comment form, and briefing book 

materials will be available two weeks 

prior to the meeting at: https://

safmc.net/advisory-panel-meetings/. 

Council address: South Atlantic 

Fishery Management Council, 4055 

Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N 

Charleston, SC 29405. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christina Wiegand, Fishery Social 

Scientists, SAFMC; phone: (843) 571– 

4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: 

(843) 769–4520; email: 

christina.wiegand@safmc.net. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel (AP) 

Meeting 

The Dolphin Wahoo AP will develop 

and update a fishery performance report 

for wahoo, receive a presentation from 

the National Marine Fisheries Service 


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2023 / Notices 67251 

Southeast Fisheries Science Center on a 

Dolphin Management Strategy 

Evaluation (MSE) under development 

and will be asked to provide feedback 

on climate-related and other aspects of 

the MSE. The Dolphin Wahoo AP will 

also receive updates on recent Council 

actions including Dolphin Wahoo 

Regulatory Amendment 3 (addressing 

minimum size limits and recreational 

retention limits for dolphin), the 

Council’s Citizen Science Program, and 

the ‘‘What It Means to Me’’ outreach 

initiative. The AP will provide input on 

other topics as needed. 

Mackerel Cobia AP 

The Mackerel Cobia AP will discuss 

Framework Amendment 13 to the 

Fishery Management Plan for Coastal 

Migratory Pelagics Resources in the Gulf 

of Mexico and Atlantic Region, which 

would update catch levels for Atlantic 

migratory group Spanish mackerel 

based on the most recent stock 

assessment (SEDAR 78) and Scientific 

and Statistical Committee 

recommendations. The Mackerel Cobia 

AP will also provide input on Mackerel 

Port Meetings, mackerel tournament 

landings, and complete a fishery 

performance report for Atlantic 

migratory group king mackerel. The 

Mackerel Cobia AP will receive updates 

on the Council’s Citizen Science 

program, the ‘What It Means to Me’’ 

outreach initiative, and offshore wind 

activities. The AP will provide input on 

other topics as needed. 

Special Accommodations 

These meetings are physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for auxiliary aid should be 

directed to the Council office (see 

ADDRESSES) 5 days prior to the meeting. 

Note: The times and sequence specified in 

this agenda are subject to change. 

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

Dated: September 26, 2023. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21458 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD423] 

Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South 

Atlantic Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of a joint meeting of the 

South Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council’s Citizen Science Operations 

Committee and Citizen Science Projects 

Advisory Committee via webinar. 

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

hold a joint meeting of its Citizen 

Science Operations Committee and 

Citizen Science Projects Advisory 

Committee via webinar October 27, 

2023. 

DATES: The Citizen Science Operations 

Committee and Citizen Science Projects 

Advisory Committee joint meeting will 

be held via webinar on Friday, Oct 27, 

2023, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: 

Meeting address: The meeting will be 

held via webinar. The webinar is open 

to members of the public. Additional 

information, including a webinar 

registration link and meeting materials 

will be available from the Council’s 

website at: https://safmc.net/events/oct2023-citizen-science-operationsprojects-advisory-committee-meeting/ 

two weeks prior to the meeting. There 

will be an opportunity for public 

comment at the beginning of the 

meeting. 

Council address: South Atlantic 

Fishery Management Council, 4055 

Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N 

Charleston, SC 29405. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia 

Byrd, Citizen Science Program Manager, 

SAFMC; phone: (843) 302–8439 or toll 

free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769– 

4520; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Citizen Science Operations Committee 

serves as advisors to the Council’s 

Citizen Science Program. Committee 

members include representatives from 

the Council’s Citizen Science Advisory 

Panel Pool, NOAA Fisheries Southeast 

Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries 

Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and 

the Council’s Science and Statistical 

Committee. Their responsibilities 

include developing programmatic 

recommendations, reviewing policies, 

providing program direction/multipartner support, identifying citizen 

science research needs, and providing 

general advice. Projects Advisory 

Committee members include 

representatives from the Council’s 

fishery Advisory Panels (AP), Habitat & 

Ecosystem AP, and Outreach & 

Communication AP. Their 

responsibilities include identifying 

citizen science research and data needs 

across all the Council’s fishery 

management plans; assisting with 

development of volunteer engagement 

strategies for recruiting, training, 

retaining, and communicating with 

volunteers; and serving as outreach 

ambassadors for the Program. 

Agenda items include: reviewing and 

recommending updates to the Council’s 

citizen science research priorities; a 

Citizen Science Program and Project 

update; discussion of Committee 

membership; and other business. 

Special Accommodations 

These meetings are physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for auxiliary aids should be 

directed to the Council office (see 

ADDRESSES) 5 days prior to the meeting. 

Note: The times and sequence specified in 

this agenda are subject to change. 

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

Dated: September 26, 2023. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21465 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD422] 

Endangered Species; File No. 23096 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for 

a permit modification. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the University of Georgia, Warnell 

School of Forestry and Natural 

Resources, 180 E Green Street, Athens, 

GA 30602 (Responsible Party: Dale 

Greene, Ph.D.) has requested a 

modification to scientific research 

Permit No. 23096. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before October 30, 2023. 


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