Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Notices 38287 

2018 through June 2019. Vessels would 

complete approximately 55 paired, 30- 

minute tows per trip at a standard vessel 

speed of 4.8 knots. In addition to open 

areas, tows could occur in Closed Area 

I, Closed Area II, or the four Nantucket 

Lightship Scallop Rotational Areas. The 

four research trips would be centralized 

around areas with high yellowtail and 

winter flounder bycatch and in areas 

with a high abundance of harvestable 

size scallops mixed with pre-recruit 

scallops. 

Vessels would fish two, 15-foot (4.57- 

m) Turtle Deflector Dredges; one dredge 

would be rigged with a standard apron 

while the other would be rigged with an 

extended vertical link apron. The 

project will alternate tows with and 

without the dredge over net over both 

dredges. Standard linking is defined as 

a single link between ring spaces, and 

the extended link is defined as two links 

linked together between rings. Both 

dredges would use 4-inch (10.16-cm) 

rings and a 10-inch (25.40-cm) twine 

top. 

For all tows, the sea scallop catch 

would be counted into baskets and 

weighed. One basket from each dredge 

would be randomly selected and the 

scallops would be measured in 5 mm 

increments to determine size selectivity. 

Finfish catch would be sorted by species 

and then counted, weighed, and 

measured in 1 mm increments. 

Depending on the volume of scallops 

and finfish captured, the catch would be 

subsampled as necessary. No catch 

would be retained for longer than 

needed to conduct sampling and no 

finfish or scallop catch would be landed 

for sale. Table 1 contains an estimate of 

the finfish catch anticipated for the 

project. 

TABLE 1—CFF EXTENDED LINK APRON PROJECT CATCH ESTIMATES

Species Weight 

(lbs) 

Weight 

(kg) 

Sea Scallop .............................................................................................................................................................. 16,552 7,508 

Yellowtail Flounder .................................................................................................................................................. 549 249 

Winter Flounder ....................................................................................................................................................... 803 364 

Windowpane Flounder ............................................................................................................................................. 2,828 1,283 

Summer Flounder .................................................................................................................................................... 943 428 

Fourspot Flounder ................................................................................................................................................... 74 34 

American Plaice Flounder ....................................................................................................................................... 90 41 

Witch Flounder ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 5 

Haddock ................................................................................................................................................................... 58 26 

Atlantic Cod ............................................................................................................................................................. 100 45 

Monkfish ................................................................................................................................................................... 8,420 3,819 

Spiny Dogfish ........................................................................................................................................................... 87 39 

Barndoor Skate ........................................................................................................................................................ 1,109 503 

NE Skate Complex (excluding barndoor skate) ...................................................................................................... 63,528 28,816 

CFF needs these exemptions to allow 

them to conduct experimental dredge 

towing without being charged DAS, and 

to deploy gear in closed access areas 

where concentrations of primary 

bycatch species are sufficiently high to 

provide statistically robust results. 

Researchers also need mesh size and 

gear obstruction exemptions in order to 

use the dredge net cover. Utilizing the 

dredge net cover will allow researchers 

to quantify fish that would normally 

escape through the gear during normal 

fishing operations. Participating vessels 

need crew size waivers to accommodate 

science personnel, and possession 

waivers will enable researchers to 

conduct finfish sampling activities. The 

project would be exempt from the sea 

scallop observer program requirements 

because activities conducted on the trip 

are not consistent with normal fishing 

operations. 

If approved, 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. Any 

fishing activity conducted outside the 

scope of the exempted fishing activity 

would be prohibited. 

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

Dated: August 1, 2018. 

Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16770 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XF696 

Marine Mammals; File No. 21217 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for 

permit amendment. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Aaron Roberts, Ph.D., University of 

North Texas, Biological Sciences, 1155 

Union Circle, #310559, Denton, TX 

76203, has applied for an amendment to 

Scientific Research Permit No. 21217. 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email 

comments must be received on or before 

September 5, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: The application and related 

documents are available for review by 

selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public 

Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on 

the Applications and Permits for 

Protected Species (APPS) home page, 

https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then 

selecting File No. 21217 from the list of 

available applications. 

These documents are also available 

upon written request or by appointment 

in the Permits and Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 

(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. 

Written comments on this application 

should be submitted to the Chief, 

Permits and Conservation Division, at 

the address listed above. Comments may 

also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 

713–0376, or by email to 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please 

include the File No. 21217 in the subject 

line of the email comment. 

Those individuals requesting a public 

hearing should submit a written request 

to the Chief, Permits and Conservation 

Division at the address listed above. The 

request should set forth the specific 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
38288 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2018 / Notices 

reasons why a hearing on the 

application would be appropriate. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Skidmore or Sara Young (301) 

427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject amendment to Permit No. 21217 

is requested under the authority of the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 

as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et 

seq.) and the regulations governing the 

taking and importing of marine 

mammals (50 CFR part 216). 

Permit No. 21217, issued on 

November 6, 2017 (82 FR 60968; 

December 26, 2017), authorizes the 

permit holder to import biological 

samples from up to 30 harp seals 

(Pagophilus groenlandicus) and 30 

hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) from 

Canada to study the effects of 

polybrominated diphenyl ethers 

(PBDEs) on the fitness and immune 

function in two species of phocid seals. 

The permit holder is requesting the 

permit be amended to increase the 

number of samples imported from each 

species from 30 to 60 individuals and to 

include the import of samples collected 

during the 2019 field season in Canada. 

All other aspects of the permitted 

activities would not change. 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial 

determination has been made that the 

proposed activities are categorically 

excluded from the requirement to 

prepare an environmental assessment or 

environmental impact statement. 

Concurrent with the publication of 

this notice in the Federal Register, 

NMFS is forwarding copies of these 

applications to the Marine Mammal 

Commission and its Committee of 

Scientific Advisors. 

Dated: July 31, 2018. 

Julia Marie Harrison, 

Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16719 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XG365 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting 

(webinar). 

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s (Pacific Council) 

Salmon Technical Team (STT), Salmon 

Advisory Subpanel (SAS), and Model 

Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will hold 

a joint meeting to discuss and make 

recommendations on issues on the 

Pacific Council’s September 2018 

agenda. This meeting will be held via 

webinar and is open to the public. 

DATES: The webinar will be held 

Wednesday, August 22, 2018, at 2 p.m. 

and will end when business for the day 

has been completed. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via webinar. A public listening station 

is available at the Pacific Council office 

(address below). To attend the webinar, 

use this link: https://

www.gotomeeting.com/webinar (click 

‘‘Join a Webinar’’ in top right corner of 

page). (1) Enter the Webinar ID: 493– 

298–571. (2) Enter your name and email 

address (required). You must use your 

telephone for the audio portion of the 

meeting by dialing this TOLL number 

1–415–930–5321. (3) Enter the Attendee 

phone audio access code 706–308–295. 

(4) Enter your audio phone pin (shown 

after joining the webinar). Note: We 

have disabled Mic/Speakers as an 

option and require all participants to 

use a telephone or cell phone to 

participate. Technical Information and 

System Requirements: PC-based 

attendees are required to use Windows®

7, Vista, or XP; Mac®-based attendees 

are required to use Mac OS® X 10.5 or 

newer; Mobile attendees are required to 

use iPhone®, iPad®, AndroidTM phone 

or Android tablet (see https://

www.gotomeeting.com/webinar/ipadiphone-android-webinar-apps). You 

may send an email to Mr. Kris 

Kleinschmidt at Kris.Kleinschmidt@

noaa.gov or contact him at 503–820– 

2280, extension 411 for technical 

assistance. 

Council address: Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, 7700 NE 

Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, 

OR 97220–1384. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robin Ehlke, Pacific Council; telephone: 

(503) 820–2410. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Major 

topics include, but are not limited to, 

Salmon Methodology Review, Salmon 

Rebuilding Plan update, and 

preliminary Pacific halibut management 

for 2019. The groups may also address 

one or more of the Council’s scheduled 

Administrative Matters and Ecosystem 

topics. Public comments during the 

webinar will be received from attendees 

at the discretion of the STT, SAS, and 

MEW Chairs. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in the meeting agenda may be 

discussed, those issues may not be the 

subject of formal action during this 

meeting. Action will be restricted to 

those issues specifically listed in this 

document and any issues arising after 

publication of this document 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 intent to take final action to address 

the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

The public listening station is 

physically accessible to people with 

disabilities. Requests for sign language 

interpretation or other auxiliary aids 

should be directed to Mr. Kris 

Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@

noaa.gov; (503) 820–2411) at least 10 

days prior to the meeting date. 

Dated: July 31, 2018. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16698 Filed 8–3–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XG374 

Caribbean 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 Caribbean Fishery 

Management Council will hold its 163rd 

meeting in August to discuss the items 

contained in the agenda in the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

DATES: The meetings will be held on 

August 28–30, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 

5 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at 

The Buccaneer Hotel located at 5007 

Estate Shoys, Christiansted, St. Croix, 

USVI. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 

270 Mun ̃ oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918–1903, 

telephone: (787) 766–5926. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES