Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 13, 2007 / Notices 11335 

and to follow the proposed seasonal 

restrictions that may be adopted by 

regulation. EBRVs and support vessels 

will reduce travel speeds to 10 knots 

(18.5 km/hr) maximum when transiting 

to/from the deepwater port outside the 

TSS; vessels will travel at speeds of 10 

to 12 knots (18.5–22 km/hr)(or less) in 

the vicinity of the deepwater port. 

EBRVs will reduce their transit speeds 

to 10 to 14 knots (18.5–26 km/hr)(10 

knots between March 1 and April 30) or 

if required by NMFS, throughout the 

entire year in the proposed Off Race 

Point North Atlantic Right Whale Ship 

Strike Management Zone. 

Detection Buoys for Construction: 

Northeast Gateway will install and 

operate an array of six near-real-time 

acoustic detection buoys to localize 

vocally active marine mammals relative 

to construction-related sound sources. 

Noise Monitoring: Northeast Gateway 

will install and operate an array of 

autonomous recording units to monitor 

and evaluate underwater sound output 

from the project before construction and 

for at least five years of port operation. 

Protected Species: Avoidance 

Measures: Northeast Gateway will 

consult with NOAA (NMFS and the 

SBNMS) on harm avoidance for 

protected marine species and resources 

to include operating restrictions, 

equipment noise reduction, minimizing 

risk of entanglement, monitoring, 

training, and reporting requirements. 

Construction Restrictions: Northeast 

Gateway will restrict construction 

activities to the period between May 1 

and November 30 so that acoustic sound 

disturbance to the endangered North 

Atlantic right whale can largely be 

avoided. Wherever practicable, 

Northeast Gateway should integrate 

studies, research, or surveys into 

construction or operations that 

maximize detection of whales and sea 

turtles and better determine direct 

effects of port operations. 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) 

On February 5, 2007, NMFS 

concluded consultation with MARAD 

and the USCG, under section 7 of the 

ESA, on the proposed construction and 

operation of the Northeast Gateway LNG 

facility. The finding of that consultation 

was that the construction and operation 

of the Northeast Gateway LNG terminal 

may adversely affect, but is not likely to 

jeopardize, the continued existence of 

northern right, humpback, and fin 

whales, and is not likely to adversely 

affect sperm, sei, or blue whales and 

Kemp’s ridley, loggerhead, green or 

leatherback sea turtles. Because the 

issuance of an IHA to Northeast 

Gateway under section 101(a)(5) of the 

MMPA is a Federal action, NMFS has 

section 7 responsibilities for its action. 

Consultation on the NMFS action will 

be concluded prior to its determination 

on the issuance of an IHA to Northeast 

Gateway. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

MARAD and the USCG released a 

Final EIS/Environmental Impact Report 

(EIR) for the proposed Northeast 

Gateway Port and Pipeline Lateral. A 

notice of availability was published by 

MARAD on October 26, 2006 (71 FR 

62657). The Final EIS/EIR provides 

detailed information on the proposed 

project facilities, construction methods 

and analysis of potential impacts on 

marine mammal. The Final EIS/EIR is 

incorporated as part of the MMPA 

record of decision on this action. 

NMFS was a cooperating agency (as 

defined by the Council on 

Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1501.6)) 

in the preparation of the Draft and Final 

EISs. NMFS is currently reviewing the 

Final EIS and will either adopt it or 

prepare its own NEPA document before 

making a determination on the issuance 

of an IHA for the Northeast Gateway 

Project. 

Preliminary Determinations 

NMFS has preliminarily determined 

that the impact of construction and 

operation of the Northeast Gateway Port 

Project may result, at worst, in a 

temporary modification in behavior of 

small numbers of certain species of 

marine mammals that may be in close 

proximity to the Northeast Gateway 

LNG facility and associated pipeline 

during its construction and subsequent 

operation. These activities are expected 

to result in some local short-term 

displacement resulting in no more than 

a negligible impact on the affected 

species or stocks of marine mammals. 

This preliminary determination is 

supported by measures described in this 

document under ‘‘Marine Mammal 

Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting,’’

and MARAD’s Record of Decision (and 

NMFS’ Biological Opinion on this 

action). 

As a result of the described mitigation 

measures, no take by injury or death is 

requested, anticipated or proposed to be 

authorized, and the potential for 

temporary or permanent hearing 

impairment is very unlikely due to the 

relatively low noise levels (and 

consequently small zone of impact) and 

would be avoided through the 

incorporation of the proposed shutdown mitigation measures mentioned in 

this document. 

While the number of marine 

mammals that may be harassed will 

depend on the distribution and 

abundance of marine mammals in the 

vicinity of the Port construction and 

operations, the estimated number of 

marine mammals to be harassed is 

small. 

Proposed Authorization 

NMFS proposes to issue an IHA to 

Northeast Gateway and Algonquin for 

the taking (by Level B harassment) 

during construction and operation of the 

Northeast Gateway Port, provided the 

previously mentioned mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

are incorporated. NMFS has 

preliminarily determined that the 

proposed activity would result in the 

harassment of small numbers of marine 

mammals; and would have no more 

than a negligible impact on the affected 

marine mammal stocks. 

Information Solicited 

NMFS requests interested persons to 

submit written comments and 

information concerning this proposed 

IHA and the IHA application from 

Northeast Gateway (see DATES and 

ADDRESSES). 

Dated: March 7, 2007. 

Angela Somma, 

Acting Director,Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–4538 Filed 3–12–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[I.D. 030507D] 

Schedules for Atlantic Shark 

Identification Workshops and 

Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshops 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public workshops 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces Atlantic 

Shark Identification Workshops and 

Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshops 

to be held in April, May, and June of 

2007. These workshops provide 

certification opportunities and are 

required for fishermen and shark dealers 

to meet new regulatory requirements 

and maintain valid permits. The 

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops 

are mandatory for all federally 

permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The 

Protected Species Safe Handling, 


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Release, and Identification Workshops 

are mandatory for vessel owners and 

operators who use bottom longline, 

pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and 

have also been issued shark or 

swordfish limited access permits. 

Additional free workshops will be held 

throughout 2007. 

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification 

Workshop will be held April 26, May 

24, and June 14, 2007. 

The Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshop 

will be held April 11, 18, 25, May 2, 22, 

23, and June 6, 20, 28, 2007. See 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further 

details. 

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark 

Identification Workshop will be held in 

Charleston, SC; Richmond, TX; and, 

Foxboro, MA. 

The Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshop 

will be held in Ocean City, MD; Norfolk, 

VA; Wilmington, NC; Marathon, FL; 

New Orleans, LA; Moss Point, MS; 

Naples, FL; Manahawkin, NJ; and, 

Daytona Beach, FL. See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for further details on 

workshop locations. 

The workshop schedules, registration 

information, and a list of frequently 

asked questions regarding these 

workshops are posted on the internet at: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ 

workshops/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg 

Fairclough by phone:(727) 824–5399, or 

by fax: (727) 824–5398. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective 

December 31, 2007, an Atlantic shark 

dealer may not receive, purchase, trade, 

or barter for Atlantic shark unless a 

valid Atlantic Shark Identification 

workshop certificate is on the premises 

of each business listed under the shark 

dealer permit (71 FR 58057; October 2, 

2006). Dealers who attend and 

successfully complete a workshop will 

be issued a certificate for each place of 

business that is permitted to receive 

sharks. Dealers may send a proxy to a 

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop, 

however, if a dealer opts to send a 

proxy, the dealer must designate a proxy 

for each place of business covered by 

the dealer’s permit. Only one certificate 

will be issued to each proxy. A proxy 

must be a person who: is currently 

employed by a place of business 

covered by the dealer’s permit; is a 

primary participant in the 

identification, weighing, and/or first 

receipt of fish as they are offloaded from 

a vessel; and fills out dealer reports. 

Additionally, after December 31, 2007, 

an Atlantic shark dealer may not renew 

a Federal shark dealer permit unless a 

valid Atlantic Shark Identification 

Workshop certificate has been 

submitted with the permit renewal 

application. 

Effective January 1, 2007, shark 

limited access and swordfish limited 

access permit holders must submit a 

copy of their Protected Species Safe 

Handling, Release, and Identification 

Workshop certificate in order to renew 

either permit (71 FR 58057; October 2, 

2006). As such, vessel owners whose 

permits expire in mid–2007 must attend 

one of the free workshops offered in 

April, May, or June 2007. New shark 

and swordfish limited access permit 

applicants must attend a Protected 

Species Safe Handling, Release, and 

Identification Workshop and must 

submit a copy of their workshop 

certificate before such permits will be 

issued. 

In addition to certifying permit 

holders, all longline and gillnet vessel 

operators fishing on a vessel issued a 

limited access swordfish or limited 

access shark permit are required to 

attend the Protected Species Safe 

Handling, Release, and Identification 

workshops. Vessels that have been 

issued a limited access swordfish or 

limited access shark permit may not fish 

unless both the vessel owner and 

operator have valid workshop 

certificates. Vessel operators must 

possess on board the vessel valid 

workshop certificates for both the vessel 

owner and the operator at all times. 

Workshop Dates, Times, And Locations 

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop 

1. April 26, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Center for Coastal Environmental Health 

and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort 

Johnson Drive, Charleston, SC 29412. 

2. May 24, 2007, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 

p.m. George Memorial Library, 1001 

Golfview Drive, Richmond, TX 77469. 

3. June 14, 2007, from 10:30 a.m. – 4 

p.m. Boyden Library, 10 Bird Street, 

Foxboro, MA 02035. 

Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshop 

1. April 11, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Holiday Inn, 6600 Coastal Highway, 

Ocean City, MD 21842. 

2. April 18, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Hilton Norfolk Airport, 1500 North 

Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502. 

3. April 25, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Hilton Garden Inn at Mayfaire, 6745 

Rock Spring Road, Wilmington, NC 

28405. 

4. May 2, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Sombrero Cay Club Resort & Marina, 19 

Sombrero Blvd., Marathon, FL 33050. 

5. May 22, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal Street, 

New Orleans, LA 70130. 

6. May 23, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Pelican Landing Conference & 

Convention Center, 6217 Highway 613, 

Moss Point, MS 39563. 

7. June 6, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Doubletree Guest Suites Naples, 12200 

Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34110. 

8. June 20, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Holiday Inn, 151 Route 72 East, 

Manahawkin, NJ 08050. 

9. June 28, 2007, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

The Shores Resort & Spa, 2637 South 

Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 

32118. 

Registration 

To register for a scheduled Atlantic 

Shark Identification Workshop, please 

contact Eric Sander by email at 

esander@peoplepc.com or by phone at 

(386) 852–8588. 

To register for a scheduled Protected 

Species Safe Handling, Release, and 

Identification Workshop, please contact 

Aquatic Release Conservation ((877) 

411–4272), 1870 Mason Ave., Daytona 

Beach, FL 32117. 

Grandfathered Permit Holders 

Participants in the industry-sponsored 

workshops on safe handling and release 

of sea turtles that were held in Orlando, 

FL (April 8, 2005) and in New Orleans, 

LA (June 27, 2005) were issued a NOAA 

workshop certificate in December 2006 

that will be valid for three years. 

Grandfathered permit holders must 

include a copy of this certificate when 

renewing limited access shark and 

limited access swordfish permits each 

year. Failure to provide a valid NOAA 

workshop certificate may result in a 

permit denial. 

Registration Materials 

To ensure that workshop certificates 

are linked to the correct permits, 

participants will need to bring the 

following items with them to the 

workshop: 

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop 

Atlantic shark dealer permit holders 

must bring proof that the individual is 

an agent of the business (such as articles 

of incorporation), a copy of the 

applicable permit, and proof of 

identification. 

Atlantic shark dealer proxies must 

bring documentation from the shark 

dealer acknowledging that the proxy is 

attending the workshop on behalf of the 

Atlantic shark dealer, a copy of the 

appropriate permit, and proof of 

identification. 

Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshop 

Individual vessel owners must bring a 

copy of the appropriate permit(s), a 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 13, 2007 / Notices 11337 

copy of the vessel registration or 

documentation, and proof of 

identification. 

Representatives of a business owned 

or co-owned vessel must bring proof 

that the individual is an agent of the 

business (such as articles of 

incorporation), a copy of the applicable 

permit(s), and proof of identification. 

Vessel operators must bring proof of 

identification. 

Workshop Objectives 

The Atlantic Shark Identification 

Workshops are designed to reduce the 

number of unknown and improperly 

identified sharks reported in the dealer 

reporting form and increase the 

accuracy of species-specific dealerreported information. Reducing the 

number of unknown and improperly 

identified sharks will improve quota 

monitoring and the data used in stock 

assessments. These workshops will train 

shark dealer permit holders or their 

proxies to properly identify Atlantic 

shark carcasses. 

The Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshops 

are designed to teach longline and 

gillnet fishermen the required 

techniques for the safe handling and 

release of entangled and/or hooked 

protected species, such as sea turtles, 

marine mammals, and smalltooth 

sawfish. Identification of protected 

species will also be taught at these 

workshops in an effort to improve 

reporting. Additionally, individuals 

attending these workshops will gain a 

better understanding of the 

requirements for participating in these 

fisheries. The overall goal for these 

workshops is to provide participants the 

skills needed to reduce the mortality of 

protected species, which may prevent 

additional regulations on these fisheries 

in the future. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 

et seq. 

Dated: March 8, 2007. 

James P. Burgess, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–4560 Filed 3–12–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army 

Board of Visitors, United States 

Military Aacademy (USMA) 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of open meeting. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), 

announcement is made of the following 

committee meeting: 

Name of Committee: Board of 

Visitors, United States Military 

Academy. 

Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2007. 

Place of Meeting: The Capitol 

Building, Room H137, Washington, DC. 

Time of Meeting: Approximately 9:30 

a.m. through 3 p.m. 

Board Mission: The Board, under the 

provisions of 10 U.S.C. 4355, and the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act of 

1972, as amended, shall provide the 

President of the United States 

independent advice and 

recommendations on matters relating to 

the U.S. Military Academy, to include 

but not limited to morale and discipline, 

curriculum, instruction, physical 

equipment, and academic methods. 

Board Membership: The Board is 

composed of 15 members, 9 of which 

are members of Congress and 6 persons 

designated by the President. The 2007 

Chairman of the Board is Congressman 

John McHugh, New York–23rd District. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lieutenant Colonel Shaun T. Wurzbach, 

United States Military Academy, West 

Point, NY 10996–5000, (845) 938–4200 

or via e-mail: 

shaun.wurzbach@usma.edu. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed 

Agenda: Spring Meeting of the Board of 

Visitors. Review of the Academic, 

Military and Physical Programs at the 

USMA. All proceedings are open to the 

public. Picture identification is required 

to enter the Capitol Building. 

Subcommittees shall meet prior to the 

Board meeting. The Board plans to 

inquire into curriculum and academic 

methods, fiscal affairs, the USMA 

Master Plan, Lean Six Sigma, BRAC and 

the relocation of the United States 

Military Academy Preparatory School, 

and Admissions. The Board shall 

consider a motion to expand 

subcommittees and shall vote to 

approve revised Board operating rules. 

Public Inquiry at Board Meetings: Any 

member of the public is permitted to file 

a written statement with the USMA 

Board of Visitors. Written statements 

should be sent to the Designated Federal 

Officer (DFO) at: United States Military 

Academy, Office of the Secretary of the 

General Staff (MASG), 646 Swift Road, 

West Point, NY 10996–1905 or faxed to 

the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at 

(845) 938–3214. Written statements 

must be received no later than five 

working days prior to the next meeting 

in order to provide time for member 

consideration. 

By rule, no member of the public 

attending open meetings will be allowed 

to present questions from the floor or 

speak to any issue under consideration 

by the Board. 

Brenda S. Bowen, 

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 07–1162 Filed 3–12–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–08–M 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army; Corps of 

Engineers 

Adoption of Alternative Arrangements 

Under the National Environmental 

Policy Act for New Orleans Hurricane 

and Storm Damage Reduction System 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Public notice. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (USACE), Mississippi Valley 

Division, New Orleans District 

(CEMVN) is implementing Alternative 

Arrangements under the provisions of 

the Council on Environmental Quality 

Regulations for Implementing the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.11) in order to 

expeditiously complete environmental 

analysis of major portions of a new 100- 

year level of Hurricane and Storm 

Damage Reduction effort authorized and 

funded by the Administration and the 

Congress. The proposed actions are 

located primarily in southern Louisiana 

and relate to the Federal effort to rebuild 

the Hurricane and Storm Damage 

Reduction system following Hurricanes 

Katrina and Rita. 

The USACE consultation with the 

Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ), as required under 40 CFR 

1506.11 and the USACE Environmental 

Quality Procedures for Implementing 

the NEPA (33 CFR 230), concluded on 

February 23, 2007 with the CEQ 

approving the Alternative 

Arrangements. The Alternative 

Arrangements request was also 

coordinated with the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Environmental 

Protection Agency, Advisory Council on 

Historic Preservation, Department of 

Homeland Security-Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, Louisiana 

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 

Louisiana Department of Natural 

Resources, Louisiana Department of 

Environmental Quality and the 


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