15552 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 43 / Monday, March 4, 2024 / Notices 

Pier 55 of the Richmond-San Rafael 

Bridge, at the closest pier of the 

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to Castro 

Rocks. Pier 55 is approximately 21 

meters from the nearest rock at Castro 

Rocks harbor seal colony. 

Caltrans shall submit a draft report to 

NMFS within 90 days of the completion 

of marine mammal monitoring, or 60 

days prior to the issuance of any 

subsequent IHA for this project (if 

required), whichever comes first. The 

annual report will detail the monitoring 

protocol, summarize the data recorded 

during monitoring, and estimate the 

number of marine mammals that may 

have been harassed. If no comments are 

received from NMFS within 30 days, the 

draft final report will become final. If 

comments are received, a final report 

must be submitted up to 30 days after 

receipt of comments. All PSO datasheets 

and/or raw sighting data must be 

submitted with the draft marine 

mammal report. 

Reports shall contain the following 

information: 

• Dates and times (begin and end) of 

all marine mammal monitoring; 

• Construction activities occurring 

during each daily observation period 

including: (a) what type of restoration 

work is being completed, and (b) the 

total duration of work completed; 

• PSO locations during monitoring; 

and 

• Environmental conditions during 

monitoring periods (at beginning and 

end of PSO shift and whenever 

conditions change significantly), 

including sea state and any other 

relevant weather conditions including 

cloud cover, fog, sun glare, and overall 

visibility to the horizon, and estimated 

observable distance. 

Upon observation of a marine 

mammal, the following information 

must be reported: 

• Name of PSO who sighted the 

animal(s) and PSO location and activity 

at time of sighting; 

• Time of sighting; 

• Identification of the animal(s) (e.g., 

genus/species, lowest possible 

taxonomic level, or unidentified), and 

PSO confidence in identification; 

• Distance and location of each 

observed marine mammal relative to the 

bridge restoration work; 

• Estimated number of animals by 

species (min/max/best estimate); 

• Estimated number of animals by 

cohort (adults, pups, and group 

composition, etc.); 

• Description of any marine mammal 

behavioral observations (e.g., observed 

behaviors such as feeding or traveling), 

including an assessment of behavioral 

responses thought to have resulted from 

the activity (e.g., no response or changes 

in behavioral state such flushing or head 

posturing); and 

• Detailed information about 

implementation of any mitigation 

measures, a description of specified 

actions that ensured, and resulting 

changes in behavior of the animal(s), if 

any. 

Comments and Responses 

As noted previously, NMFS published 

a notice of a proposed IHA (88 FR 

41920, June 28, 2023) and solicited 

public comments on both our proposal 

to issue the initial IHA for the 

installation and removal of the debris 

containment system and on the 

potential for a renewal IHA, should 

certain requirements be met. All public 

comments were addressed in the notice 

announcing the issuance of the initial 

IHA (88 FR 51778, August 4, 2023) and 

none of the comments specifically 

pertained to the renewal of the 2023 

IHA. 

Preliminary Determinations 

The activities conducted under this 

potential renewal would be a subset of 

the activities authorized under the 

initial IHA. Specifically, this renewal 

would authorize the removal of the 

debris containment system. Removal of 

the debris containment system is 

expected to take 10 days. This activity 

was originally authorized under the 

initial IHA but Caltrans could not 

complete the removal of the debris 

containment system before the initial 

IHA expired. In analyzing the effects of 

the activities for the initial IHA, NMFS 

determined that the Caltrans’ activities 

would have a negligible impact on the 

affected species or stocks and that the 

authorized take numbers of each species 

or stock were small relative to the 

relevant stocks (e.g., less than one-third 

of the abundance of all stocks). There is 

no new information that affects NMFS’ 

determinations supporting issuance 

initial IHA or this renewal. The 

mitigation measures and monitoring and 

reporting requirements as described 

above are identical to the initial IHA. 

NMFS has preliminarily concluded 

that there is no new information 

suggesting that our analysis or findings 

should change from those reached for 

the initial IHA. Based on the 

information and analysis contained here 

and in the referenced documents, NMFS 

has determined the following: (1) the 

required mitigation measures will effect 

the least practicable impact on marine 

mammal species or stocks and their 

habitat; (2) the authorized takes will 

have a negligible impact on the affected 

marine mammal species or stocks; (3) 

the authorized takes represent small 

numbers of marine mammals relative to 

the affected stock abundances; (4) 

Caltrans’ activities will not have an 

unmitigable adverse impact on taking 

for subsistence purposes as no relevant 

subsistence uses of marine mammals are 

implicated by this action; and (5) 

appropriate monitoring and reporting 

requirements are included. 

Endangered Species Act 

No incidental take of Endangered 

Species Act (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. 

Proposed Renewal IHA and Request for 

Public Comment 

As a result of these preliminary 

determinations, NMFS proposes to issue 

a renewal IHA to Caltrans for the 

removal of the debris containment 

system for Phase II of the Richmond-San 

Rafael Bridge Restoration Project in 

Richmond, California from the April 1, 

2024, through March 30, 2025, provided 

the previously described mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

are incorporated. A draft of the 

proposed and final initial IHA can be 

found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.

gov/action/incidental-takeauthorization-california-departmenttransportations-richmond-san-rafael. 

We request comment on our analyses, 

the proposed renewal IHA, and any 

other aspect of this notice. Please 

include with your comments any 

supporting data or literature citations to 

help inform our final decision on the 

request for MMPA authorization. 

Dated: February 27, 2024. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–04400 Filed 3–1–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD755] 

New England Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 43 / Monday, March 4, 2024 / Notices 15553 

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery 

Management Council (Council) is 

scheduling a public hybrid meeting of 

its Groundfish Committee to consider 

actions affecting New England fisheries 

in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

Recommendations from this group will 

be brought to the full Council for formal 

consideration and action, if appropriate. 

DATES: This hybrid meeting will be held 

on Wednesday, March 20, at 9 a.m. 

ADDRESSES: 

Meeting address: This meeting will be 

held at Hampton Hotel, 20 Hotel Drive, 

South Kingstown, RI 02879; telephone: 

(401) 788–3500. 

Webinar registration URL 

information: https://zoom.us/webinar/ 

register/WN_- 

EbmHRCiR2ymGtC40zwOoA. 

Council address: New England 

Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 

Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate 

O’Keefe, Executive Director, New 

England Fishery Management Council; 

telephone: (978) 465–0492. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda 

The Groundfish Committee will meet 

to receive recommendations from the 

Recreational Advisory Panel, 

Groundfish Advisory Panel, and 

Groundfish Plan Development Team. 

They will receive an update on a 

preliminary analysis of fishery data, 

draft ‘roadmap’ for changes to the 

fishery management plan, and overview 

of regional workshops; provide feedback 

on next steps. The Committee will also 

receive an update on a preliminary 

analysis to review the yellowtail 

flounder (Southern New England/MidAtlantic and Georges Bank) and 

windowpane flounder (northern and 

southern) sub-ACLs and AM triggers 

applied to the scallop fishery. They will 

review the current list of Council 

research priorities and suggest changes 

or additions to the list. Other business 

will be discussed as necessary. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained on the agenda may come 

before this Council for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Council 

action will be restricted to those issues 

specifically listed in this notice and any 

issues arising after publication of this 

notice that require emergency action 

under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has 

been notified of the Council’s intent to 

take final action to address the 

emergency. The public also should be 

aware that the meeting will be recorded. 

Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy 

of the recording is available upon 

request. 

Special Accommodations 

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate 

O’Keefe, Executive Director, at (978) 

465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the 

meeting date. 

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

Dated: February 28, 2024. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–04504 Filed 3–1–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD754] 

New England Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery 

Management Council (Council) is 

scheduling a public hybrid meeting of 

its Joint Groundfish Advisory and 

Recreational Advisory Panel to consider 

actions affecting New England fisheries 

in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

Recommendations from this group will 

be brought to the full Council for formal 

consideration and action, if appropriate. 

DATES: This hybrid meeting will be held 

on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 12:30 

p.m. 

ADDRESSES: 

Meeting address: This meeting will be 

held at the Hampton Inn, 20 Hotel 

Drive, South Kingstown, RI; telephone: 

(401) 788–3500. 

Webinar registration URL 

information: https://zoom.us/webinar/ 

register/WN_

g9LabwXzQFmDG4tZnd1Usg. 

Council address: New England 

Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 

Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate 

O’Keefe, Executive Director, New 

England Fishery Management Council; 

telephone: (978) 465–0492. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda 

The Groundfish Advisory Panel and 

Recreational Advisory Panel will meet 

jointly to receive an update on a 

preliminary analysis of fishery data, 

draft ‘roadmap’ for changes to the 

fishery management plan, and overview 

of regional workshops; provide feedback 

on next steps. They will receive an 

update on a preliminary analysis to 

review the yellowtail flounder 

(Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic 

and Georges Bank) and windowpane 

flounder (northern and southern) subACLs and AM triggers applied to the 

scallop fishery. The panels will also 

review the current list of Council 

research priorities and suggest changes 

or additions to the list as well as make 

recommendations to the Groundfish 

Committee, as appropriate. Other 

business will be discussed as necessary. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained on the agenda may come 

before this Council for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Council 

action will be restricted to those issues 

specifically listed in this notice and any 

issues arising after publication of this 

notice that require emergency action 

under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has 

been notified of the Council’s intent to 

take final action to address the 

emergency. The public also should be 

aware that the meeting will be recorded. 

Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy 

of the recording is available upon 

request. 

Special Accommodations 

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate 

O’Keefe, Executive Director, at (978) 

465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the 

meeting date. 

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

Dated: February 28, 2024. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–04507 Filed 3–1–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES