90676 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 222 / Monday, November 18, 2024 / Notices 

7. Review of 2023–2026 AP Action Plan 

8. Updates on the Council IRA Projects 

9. Other Business 

10. Public Comment 

11. Discussion and Recommendations 

Schedule and Agenda for the Mariana 

Archipelago FEP Guam AP Meeting 

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 11 a.m.–1 

p.m. (Chamorro Standard Time) 

1. Welcome and Introductions 

2. Review of the Last AP 

Recommendation and Meetings 

3. Feedback from the Fleet 

A. Fourth Quarter Fisher Observations 

B. Fisheries Issues 

4. Council Fisheries Issues 

A. Modifying the Guam Bottomfish 

Rebuilding Plan 

5. Guam Military Working Group 

Update 

6. Updates from NOAA Fisheries’ SEES 

Program 

7. Review of 2023–2026 AP Action Plan 

8. Updates on the Council IRA Projects 

9. Other Business 

10. Public Comment 

11. Discussion and Recommendations 

Special Accommodations 

These meetings are accessible to 

people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to 

Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522–8220 

(voice) or (808) 522–8226 (fax), at least 

5 days prior to the meeting date. 

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

Dated: November 13, 2024. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26844 Filed 11–15–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE408] 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Shrimp 

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Request 

for an Exempted Fishing Permit 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of receipt of an 

application for an exempted fishing 

permit; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt 

of an application for an exempted 

fishing permit (EFP) from Texas Sea 

Grant. If granted by NMFS, the EFP 

would authorize the continued testing 

of new designs for bycatch reduction 

devices (BRDs) for finfish, in the 

commercial shrimp fishery in Federal 

waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The 

Better BRDs for the Gulf Shrimp Fleet 

Project is a collaborative effort to restore 

finfish populations and reduce finfish 

bycatch mortality through the 

development and certification of new 

BRDs for use by the commercial shrimp 

industry throughout the Gulf. This 

notice gives the public an opportunity 

to provide comments to NMFS 

regarding the request for an EFP. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received no later than December 3, 

2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on the application, identified by 

NOAA–NMFS–2024–0128 by either of 

the following methods: 

• Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and type 

NOAA–NMFS–2024–0128 in the Search 

box. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit all written public 

comments to Frank Helies, 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. 

An electronic copy of the application 

may be obtained from the Southeast 

Regional Office website at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/ 

commercial-fishing/better-bycatchreduction-device-gulf-shrimp-fleetproject/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Frank Helies, phone: 727–824–5305, 

email: frank.helies@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is 

requested under the authority of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C 1801 

et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 

600.745(b) concerning exempted 

fishing. 

The EFP application submitted to 

NMFS involves the use of experimental 

fishing gear (BRDs) on shrimp trawls in 

Federal waters. Federal regulations 

require fishermen on shrimp vessels to 

use NMFS certified BRDs while trawling 

for shrimp in Gulf Federal waters [50 

CFR 622.53(a)]. The applicant is seeking 

an EFP that would exempt these 

research activities from the regulations 

requiring the use of certified BRDs in 

Federal waters of the Gulf at 50 CFR 

622.53(a), and would allow the 

applicant to replace an existing 

approved BRD with one of four 

experimental BRD configurations as 

determined by the applicant. The 

specific EFP request is further described 

below. 

The Better BRDs for the Gulf Shrimp 

Fleet Project is a collaborative effort 

between Louisiana Sea Grant, Texas Sea 

Grant, NOAA Restoration Center, and 

NMFS to restore finfish populations 

injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil 

spill through the development and 

certification of new BRDs for the 

commercial shrimp industry throughout 

the Gulf. The project involves the 

phased testing of new BRD designs in 

the commercial shrimp fishery in 

Federal waters of the Gulf. The new 

BRD designs could demonstrate a 

greater reduction in bycatch of finfish, 

over the federally certified Fisheye BRD, 

which may also lead to an overall 

increase in shrimp catch. 

The project would further identify 

and develop new bycatch-reducing 

technology to reduce finfish discard 

mortality in commercial shrimp trawls. 

Additionally, the project seeks to 

advance cost-effective solutions for the 

Gulf shrimp fleet that would maximize 

the adoption and use by fishermen of 

any improved designs for BRDs that 

could be certified for use in the fishery. 

The project is separated into several 

phases. The first phase that began in 

2022 included proof-of-concept testing 

of new BRD designs by NMFS Gear 

Research Branch partners. This proof-ofconcept testing included both dive and 

vessel testing aboard the research vessel 

Caretta. The dive testing was conducted 

off Panama City, Florida, and the vessel 

testing was conducted off Pascagoula, 

Mississippi. New BRD designs that 

showed the potential to be effective 

during proof-of-concept testing were 

accepted for further evaluation during 

the project’s next phase, which involved 

stakeholder testing. A final phase 

planned for the future would be precertification and certification testing of 

the selected BRDs, consistent with the 

requirements in 50 CFR 622.53(a)(2) and 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 222 / Monday, November 18, 2024 / Notices 90677 

the NMFS Bycatch Reduction Device 

Testing Manual (https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/ 

document/bycatch-reduction-devicetesting-manual-2016/). 

On August 26, 2022, NMFS published 

a notice announcing receipt of an EFP 

application to allow stakeholder testing 

of six BRD designs: Toms Fisheye, Large 

Mesh Sections, Nested Cylinder, Virgil 

Potter, Flapless Turtle Excluder Devices, 

and Composite Panel Variations (87 FR 

52512). NMFS issued that EFP on 

October 6, 2024, and it is valid until 

December 31, 2024. The purpose of the 

commercial stakeholder testing 

authorized under the current EFP is to 

allow for stakeholder input on the 

strengths and weaknesses of new BRD 

designs across a variety of species and 

environmental conditions within the 

Gulf shrimp fishery. This testing will 

also aid in the acceptance of new BRDs 

by the commercial shrimping industry 

when the most promising designs are 

later submitted for NMFS certification. 

The current EFP allows selection of 

up to 30 federally-permitted commercial 

Gulf shrimp vessels to test gear that 

passed the proof-of-concept testing. The 

proposed EFP would increase the 

number of vessels to 50. As with the 

current EFP, the location of proof-ofconcept testing trial vessels under the 

proposed EFP would be distributed 

across the Federal Gulf shrimp 

fishermen and fishing grounds 

throughout the Gulf in water depths of 

10–50 fathoms or 18–91 meters (m). 

During testing, fishermen on vessels 

included in the EFP would be surveyed 

for qualitative information about the 

new BRDs, and any other use 

recommendations that are needed. 

Additional BRD information including 

time and difficulty to install, longevity, 

ease of use (e.g., tangling during 

deployment or retrieval, and shark 

damage), bycatch and shrimp retention 

characteristics, and overall cost would 

be collected by the applicant to assist 

with promotion of new BRD designs for 

industry wide usage. 

Vessels in the proposed project would 

be using experimental BRD designs on 

trips of up to 30 days at sea. Trip 

duration and the total number of tows 

with experimental BRD gear may vary 

based on sea conditions and vessel 

business factors at the discretion of the 

vessel operator. During a 30-day trip, 

approximately 90 tows with BRDequipped shrimp trawls are expected to 

occur. Tow times, which is the length of 

time the gear is pulled through the 

water, would be variable between 

different vessels but would be 

consistent on the same vessel during 

each trip. Typical tow times average 3 

hours but vary from 1 to 5 hours. If all 

50 vessels participate and complete 

each test tow, there is the potential for 

a maximum of 3,000 tows for this phase 

of the project. 

The proposed EFP would be valid 

through December 31, 2028. As with the 

current EFP, all BRD testing on federally 

permitted shrimp vessels would occur 

during the course of normal Gulf shrimp 

fishing operations and all of these 

operations would comply with all other 

current Federal shrimp regulations such 

as closed areas and size limits. 

Experimental BRD Configurations 

Under the proposed EFP, four 

experimental BRD configurations could 

be tested by the applicant and project 

vessels. Three of these designs are 

included in the current EFP—Large 

Mesh Sections, Flapless Turtle Excluder 

Devices, and Composite Panel 

Variations. Each type of experimental 

BRD to be tested under the proposed 

EFP is listed and summarized below. 

Large Mesh Sections 

In the Large Mesh Sections BRD, areas 

of the trawl net are composed of 2-inch 

(in) or 5-centimeter (cm) or larger 

stretched mesh that is much larger in 

size than the minimum dimensions of 

the mesh in the cod end of the net 

where the catch collects, and installed 

anywhere from 4 to 8 feet (ft) or 1.2 to 

2.4 m from the trawl tie off rings. The 

larger mesh provides openings that 

make it easier for fish to escape the 

trawl net. 

Flapless Turtle Excluder Devices 

The project would test two different 

designs of flapless turtle excluder 

devices (TEDs) known as the Chauvin 

TED and the Drury TED. These are both 

top-shooting TEDs, which have an 

escape opening on the net closer to the 

surface, with PVC pieces placed ahead 

of the TED extension at the leading edge 

of the escape opening cut in the net. 

These TEDs are designed to work as 

both a TED and a BRD. However, 

neither TED configuration has been 

tested as a BRD. 

The Chauvin TED is a top-shooting 

TED that contains a ‘‘Chauvin shrimp 

deflector,’’ which is an allowable TED 

modification [50 CFR 223.207(d)(8)]. A 

modification to the Drury TED is not an 

allowable TED modification. Therefore, 

if the Drury TED modification is tested 

under this EFP, the applicant would 

need to obtain an additional TED testing 

permit from NMFS prior to 

commencement of testing. 

Composite Panel Variations 

The Composite Panel BRD is a NMFScertified design that includes two soft 

panels with two sets of windows that 

allow fish to escape on the bottom side 

of the net and a secondary component 

of either a cone fish deflector, which is 

designed to guide fish to the escape 

windows, or a large mesh section 

installed further down into the net. 

There is a potential for differences in 

BRD characteristics when used with a 

top versus bottom-shooting TED. There 

is also potential for differences when 

installed with the escape openings in a 

top orientation of the composite panel 

as opposed to the current certified 

design that orients the escape openings 

to the bottom. The EFP would allow for 

testing of configurations that are not 

already certified for use by NMFS. 

Large TED Openings 

Large TED escape openings are 

certified for industry use to comply with 

the TED requirements but have not been 

tested as a BRD. The triangular cut 

design shows potential for bycatch 

reduction. This design has an opening 

with a base no less than 40 in (102 cm) 

wide across the TED frame. The sides of 

the triangle taper along the bar and must 

each measure no less than 53 in (135 

cm). Similar to the flapless TEDs, the 

opening allows fish to escape the net. 

NMFS finds the application warrants 

further consideration based on a 

preliminary review. Possible conditions 

the agency may impose on the permit, 

if granted, include but are not limited 

to, a prohibition on conducting fishing 

gear testing within marine protected 

areas, marine sanctuaries, special 

management zones, or areas where 

testing might interfere with managed 

fisheries without additional 

authorization. Additionally, NMFS may 

require special protections for 

Endangered Species Act-listed species 

and designated critical habitat, and may 

require particular gear markings. A final 

decision on issuance of the EFP will 

depend on NMFS’ review of public 

comments received on the application, 

consultations with the appropriate 

fishery management agencies of the 

affected states, the Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, and the 

U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination 

that the activities to be taken under the 

EFP are consistent with all applicable 

laws. 

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


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
90678 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 222 / Monday, November 18, 2024 / Notices 

Dated: November 8, 2024. 

Karen H. Abrams, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26763 Filed 11–15–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY 

COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Meeting 

TIME AND DATE: Wednesday, November 

20, 2024–10 a.m. 

PLACE: Meeting will take place remotely 

and in person at 4330 East West 

Highway, Bethesda, Maryland, Room 

420. 

STATUS: Commission Meeting—Closed 

to the Public. 

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 

Meeting Matter 

Briefing Matter. 

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Alberta E. Mills, Office of the Secretary, 

U.S. Consumer Product Safety 

Commission, 4330 East West Highway, 

Bethesda, MD 20814, 301–504–7479 

(Office) or 240–863–8938 (Cell). 

Dated: November 13, 2024. 

Alberta Mills, 

Commission Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26892 Filed 11–14–24; 11:15 am] 

BILLING CODE 6355–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Air Force 

[25–0005206–AFRL/RX] 

Notice of Intent To Grant an Exclusive 

Patent License 

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, 

Department of Defense. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Bayh-Dole Act 

and implementing regulations, the 

Department of the Air Force hereby 

gives notice of its intent to grant an 

exclusive patent license to Trustees of 

Tufts College, 136 Harrison Avenue, 

Suite 75K–950, Boston, Massachusetts 

02111, USA. Such license is exclusive. 

DATES: Written objections must be filed 

no later than fifteen (15) calendar days 

after the date of publication of this 

Notice. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written objections to 

James F. McBride, Air Force Materiel 

Command Law Office, AFMCLO/JAZ, 

2240 B Street, Area B, Building 11, 

Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433–7109; 

Facsimile: (937) 255–9318; or Email: 

afmclo.jaz.tech@us.af.mil. Include 

Docket ARX–210727A–PL in the subject 

line of the message. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

James F. McBride, Air Force Materiel 

Command Law Office, AFMCLO/JAZ, 

2240 B Street, Area B, Building 11, 

Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433–7109; 

Telephone: (937) 713–0229; Facsimile: 

(937) 255–9318; or Email: 

afmclo.jaz.tech@us.af.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Abstract of Patents and Patent 

Application(s) 

I. Oxygen-sensing materials and 

methods are disclosed. The materials 

include oxygen-sensing chromophores 

embedded in a solid matrix including 

silk fibroin in an amount by weight of 

at least 50% of the total weight of the 

solid matrix. The solid matrix possesses 

at least partial transparency at relevant 

wavelengths. The solid matrix is 

biocompatible and biodegradable. The 

solid matrix is not a hydrogel. The 

chromophores are distributed 

throughout the solid matrix. Tissue 

oxygenation can be estimated from 

phosphorescence measurements made 

from oxygen-sensing materials 

implanted in subject. 

Intellectual Property 

Silk-chromophore Composite 

Materials for in situ Oxygen Sensing. 

The invention is protected under U.S. 

Provisional Patent Application Serial 

No.63/317,929, filed on March 8, 2022, 

PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/ 

US2023/014796, filed on March 8, 2023, 

U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 18/ 

823,853, filed on September 4, 2024. 

The Department of the Air Force may 

grant the prospective license unless a 

timely objection is received that 

sufficiently shows the grant of the 

license would be inconsistent with the 

Bayh-Dole Act or implementing 

regulations. A competing application for 

a patent license agreement, completed 

in compliance with 37 CFR 404.8 and 

received by the Air Force within the 

period for timely objections, will be 

treated as an objection and may be 

considered as an alternative to the 

proposed license. 

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 209; 37 CFR 404. 

Tommy W. Lee, 

Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison 

Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26826 Filed 11–15–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3911–44–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

Defense Business Board; Notice of 

Federal Advisory Committee Meeting 

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD). 

ACTION: Notice of Federal advisory 

committee meeting. 

SUMMARY: The DoD is publishing this 

notice to announce that the following 

Federal advisory committee meeting of 

the Defense Business Board (‘‘the 

Board’’) will take place. 

DATES: Closed to the public Tuesday, 

November 12, 2024 from 7:45 a.m. to 

9:45 a.m., 10:55 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and 

4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 

November 13, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 9:05 

a.m. Open to the public Tuesday, 

November 12, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 

10:55 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 

9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. All eastern time. 

ADDRESSES: The open and closed 

portions of the meeting will be held in 

room B4 of the Pentagon Library 

Conference Center (PLCC), virtually (for 

public attendance of open portions), 

room 1E840 in the Pentagon, and 

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, 

VA. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Cara Allison Marshall, Designated 

Federal Officer (DFO) of the Board in 

writing at Defense Business Board, 1155 

Defense Pentagon, Room 5B1088A, 

Washington, DC 20301–1155; or by 

email at cara.l.allisonmarshall.civ@

mail.mil; or by phone at 703–614–1834. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Due to 

circumstances beyond the control of the 

Designated Federal Officer, the Defense 

Business Board was unable to provide 

public notification required by 41 CFR 

102–3.150(a) concerning its November 

12–13, 2024 meeting. Accordingly, the 

Advisory Committee Management 

Officer for the Department of Defense, 

pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.150(b), 

waives the 15-calendar day notification 

requirement. 

This meeting is being held under the 

provisions of chapter 10 of title 5, 

United States Code (U.S.C.) (commonly 

known as the ‘‘Federal Advisory 

Committee Act’’ or ‘‘FACA’’); 5 U.S.C. 

552b(c); and 41 Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR) 102–3.140 and 102– 

3.150. 

Purpose of the Meeting: The mission 

of the Board is to examine and advise 

the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of 

Defense on overall DoD management 

and governance. The Board provides 

independent, strategic-level, private 

sector and academic advice and counsel 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1