81892 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 9, 2024 / Notices 

geodetic surveying technology, 

extensive data collection initiatives, and 

advances in scientific knowledge, a 

more accurate, modern NSRS is 

possible. The new frames and datum 

shall be known as the ‘‘North American 

Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022,’’ 

the ‘‘Pacific Terrestrial Reference Frame 

of 2022,’’ the ‘‘Caribbean Terrestrial 

Reference Frame of 2022,’’ the ‘‘Mariana 

Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022,’’ 

and the ‘‘North American-Pacific 

Geopotential Datum of 2022,’’ and may 

be referred to as ‘‘NATRF2022,’’ 

‘‘PATRF2022,’’ ‘‘CATRF2022,’’ 

‘‘MATRF2022,’’ and ‘‘NAPGD2022,’’ 

respectively. The new reference frames 

will rely primarily on GNSSs, such as 

the GPS, as well as on a gravimetric 

geoid model resulting from the Gravity 

for the Redefinition of the American 

Vertical Datum (GRAV–D) Project. The 

modernized NSRS will be easier to 

access and maintain than the existing 

NSRS, which relies on physical survey 

marks that deteriorate over time. The 

modernized NSRS will define new, 

more accurate, and more regularly 

updated geodetic coordinates (i.e., 

latitude, longitude, ellipsoid height, 

orthometric height, acceleration of 

gravity, deflections of the vertical, and 

others). Coordinates will be estimated 

within these frames and datum at 

regular reference epochs from all 

historic survey data available to NGS, 

beginning with 2020.00. 

The following details outline the 

process for the rollout of the 

modernized NSRS: 

• NGS plans to roll out components 

of the modernized NSRS in 2025 or 

2026. As each component is released at 

beta.ngs.noaa.gov, it can be publicly 

tested with feedback provided to NGS. 

The testing will continue for at least six 

months after the final component is 

released on beta.ngs.noaa.gov. 

• While the modernized NSRS is 

being rolled out and tested, the current 

NSRS will remain the official NSRS of 

the United States. The official NSRS 

(i.e., currently NAD 83, NAVD 88, etc.) 

may be found at geodesy.noaa.gov. Only 

one major improvement to the current 

NSRS is expected during this time: 

ITRF2020 will be integrated in all 

products and services. 

• Once testing is complete, and all 

modernized NSRS components appear 

to be stable and correct, the Federal 

Geodetic Control Subcommittee (FGCS) 

will be asked to vote to approve the 

modernized NSRS (likely in 2026). If 

FGCS approves the modernized NSRS, 

NGS will publish an FRN announcing 

the approval of the modernized NSRS 

and begin a several-month process of 

transitioning all modernized NSRS 

components to the official website at 

geodesy.noaa.gov. During this 

transition, the beta website may be 

wiped of submitted data and no further 

submissions to the NGS IDB (the 

repository for the current NSRS) will be 

allowed. 

Additional information regarding the 

modernization of the NSRS may be 

found at https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ 

datums/newdatums/index.shtml. 

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 883a et seq. 

Shachak Pe’eri, 

Acting Director, Office of National Geodetic 

Survey, National Ocean Service, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23347 Filed 10–8–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE304] 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Secretarial 

Amendment to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 

Region 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

environmental impact statement; 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS, Southeast Region, 

intends to prepare an environmental 

impact statement (EIS) and conduct 

scoping to analyze management 

alternatives to be included in a 

Secretarial Amendment to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 

Region (Secretarial Amendment). The 

EIS will evaluate a range of alternatives 

for setting and managing catch for South 

Atlantic red snapper to end overfishing 

and support rebuilding objectives of the 

stock. The purpose of this notice of 

intent is to solicit public comments on 

the scope of issues to be addressed in 

the EIS. 

DATES: Written comments on the scope 

of issues to be addressed in the EIS must 

be received on or before November 8, 

2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on this document identified by NOAA– 

NMFS–2024–0107 by either of the 

following methods: 

• Electronic submissions: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit 

https://www.regulations.gov and type 

NOAA–NMFS–2024–0107, in the 

Search box. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, 

NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 

Petersburg, FL 33701. 

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), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender will 

be publicly accessible. NMFS will 

accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ 

A’’ in the required fields if you wish to 

remain anonymous). 

The unique identification number for 

the EIS for the Secretarial Amendment 

is: EISX–006–48–1SE–1726732992. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, 

telephone: 727–824–5305; or email: 

karla.gore@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS, 

with the advice of the South Atlantic 

Fishery Management Council (South 

Atlantic Council), manages the snappergrouper fishery, which includes red 

snapper, under the Fishery Management 

Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of 

the South Atlantic Region (SnapperGrouper FMP). The South Atlantic 

Council prepared the Snapper-Grouper 

FMP, and NMFS implements the 

Snapper-Grouper FMP through 

regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under 

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The 

Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that 

NMFS and regional fishery management 

councils prevent overfishing and 

achieve, on a continuing basis, the 

optimum yield from federally managed 

fish stocks. These mandates are 

intended to ensure that fishery 

resources are managed for the greatest 

overall benefit to the Nation, 

particularly with respect to providing 

food production and recreational 

opportunities and protecting marine 

ecosystems. 

The Magnuson-Stevens Act also 

provides that the Secretary of Commerce 

(Secretary) may prepare a fishery 

management plan (FMP) or an 

amendment to any such FMP 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 9, 2024 / Notices 81893 

(Secretarial Amendment) under certain 

circumstances. Section 304(c)(1)(A) of 

the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that 

the Secretary may prepare an FMP or 

FMP amendment in accordance with the 

national standards, the other provisions 

of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and any 

other applicable law, ‘‘if the appropriate 

Council fails to develop and submit to 

the Secretary, after a reasonable period 

of time’’ an FMP for such fishery, or any 

necessary amendment to such an FMP, 

if such fishery requires conservation 

and management. 

The status of the South Atlantic red 

snapper stock was evaluated in the 

Southeast Data, Assessment, and 

Review (SEDAR) 73 stock assessment 

that was completed in 2021. The results 

of SEDAR 73 indicated that the South 

Atlantic red snapper stock remains 

overfished and is experiencing 

overfishing, and the overfishing is being 

primarily driven by high numbers of 

dead discards in the recreational sector. 

Because the South Atlantic red snapper 

stock is overfished, it is managed under 

a rebuilding plan implemented through 

Amendment 17A to the SnapperGrouper FMP (75 FR 76874, December 

9, 2010), which specified a 35-year 

rebuilding schedule with the rebuilding 

timeframe to end in 2044. In a letter 

dated July 23, 2021, NMFS notified the 

South Atlantic Council of the results of 

SEDAR 73 and that overfishing of red 

snapper was occurring. The South 

Atlantic Council has discussed how to 

address or end overfishing of this stock 

since receiving the overfishing 

notification from NMFS, but it has not 

taken action to meet the MagnusonStevens Act requirements to end 

overfishing. To reduce overfishing of 

South Atlantic red snapper in the 2024 

fishing year, NMFS implemented 

interim measures that included 

reducing the commercial and 

recreational annual catch limits (89 FR 

50530, June 14, 2024). 

NMFS has determined that red 

snapper requires conservation and 

management measures to end the 

overfishing, and is therefore developing 

a Secretarial Amendment to end 

overfishing of red snapper in 

accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act. While developing the EIS and 

Secretarial Amendment, NMFS will 

consider new information that has 

become available since 2021 for 

revisions to South Atlantic red snapper 

management. At this time, NMFS 

intends for this action to be in place 

during the 2025 commercial and 

recreational fishing seasons. 

The EIS to support the Secretarial 

Amendment would explore 

management strategies to end 

overfishing of South Atlantic red 

snapper while also considering 

alternatives to increase fishing 

opportunities for landing red snapper by 

reducing the amount of fish released 

dead. NMFS will develop an EIS to 

describe and analyze alternatives to 

address the management needs 

previously described, including the 

current or ‘‘no action’’ alternatives. 

Possible actions that NMFS may 

consider to include in the EIS are, but 

are not limited to, adjusting catch levels, 

adjusting accountability measures, and 

discard reduction measures. 

In accordance with the Companion 

Manual to NOAA Administrative Order 

216–6A, NMFS has identified 

preliminary environmental issues as a 

means to initiate discussion for scoping 

purposes only. The public is invited to 

provide written comments on the 

preliminary issues, which are identified 

as actions in the EIS. These preliminary 

issues may not represent the full range 

of issues that eventually will be 

evaluated in the final EIS associated 

with the Secretarial Amendment. 

After the draft EIS associated with the 

Secretarial Amendment is completed, it 

will be filed with the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA). After filing, 

the EPA will publish a notice of 

availability of the draft EIS for public 

comment in the Federal Register. The 

draft EIS will have a 45-day comment 

period. NMFS currently anticipates 

publishing the draft EIS by January 24, 

2025, with the comment period to 

expected to end on March 10, 2025. 

This procedure is pursuant to 

regulations issued by the Council on 

Environmental Quality or implementing 

the procedural provisions of the 

National Environmental Policy Act (40 

CFR parts 1500–1508) and the 

Companion Manual to NOAA 

Administrative Order 216–6A. 

NMFS will consider public comments 

received on the draft EIS in developing 

the final environmental impact 

statement (FEIS) and the record of 

decision. NMFS will announce, through 

a document published in the Federal 

Register, all additional public comment 

periods on the final Secretarial 

Amendment, its proposed implementing 

regulations, and the availability of its 

associated FEIS. NMFS will consider all 

public comments received, whether 

they are on the draft EIS, final 

amendment, the proposed regulations, 

or the FEIS, prior to final agency action. 

NMFS anticipates publishing the FEIS 

by April 25, 2025, with a record of 

decision signed by NMFS by May 25, 

2025. These specific dates are 

preliminary and are subject to change 

based on NMFS administrative needs. 

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

Dated: October 3, 2024. 

Karen H. Abrams, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23320 Filed 10–8–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE340] 

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 hybrid meeting of its 

Scallop 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 meeting will be held on 

Friday, October 25, 2024 at 9 a.m. 

ADDRESSES: 

Meeting address: This meeting will be 

held at Fairfield Inn & Suites, 185 

MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 

02740; telephone: (777) 634–2000. 

Webinar registration URL 

information: https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/ 

meeting/register/tJMtcOytrDoqGt0YV2

v3M2JP8pZDbsFyXmar. 

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 Scallop Committee will meet to 

discuss: Framework Adjustment 39: 

Receive an update on plan development 

team (PDT) tasking and provide input 

on the range of potential access area and 

days-at-sea (DAS) allocations for the 

2025 and 2026 fishing years. Framework 

39 will set specifications including 

ABC/ACLs, days-at-sea, access area 

allocations, total allowable landings for 

the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) 

management area, targets for General 

Category incidental catch, General 

Category access area trips, and setVerDate Sep<11>2014 17:05 Oct 08, 2024 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM 09OCN1

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