Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 135 / Friday, July 15, 2022 / Notices 42443 

Special Accommodations 

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to 

Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at 

(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to 

the meeting date. 

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

Dated: July 12, 2022. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–15150 Filed 7–14–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XC151] 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act; 

Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 

Management Act Provisions; General 

Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; 

Application for Exempted Fishing 

Permits 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional 

Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, 

Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has 

made a preliminary determination that 

an Exempted Fishing Permit application 

modification from Blue Planet Strategies 

contains all of the required information 

and warrants further consideration. 

Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act and the Atlantic 

Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 

Management Act require publication of 

this notice to provide interested parties 

the opportunity to comment on 

applications for proposed Exempted 

Fishing Permits. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before August 1, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit written 

comments by the following method: 

• Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. 

Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments 

on Blue Planet Strategies EFP.’’ If you 

cannot submit a comment through this 

method, please contact Allison Murphy 

at (978) 281–9122, or email at 

allison.murphy@noaa.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Allison Murphy, Fishery Policy Analyst, 

978–281–9122, allison.murphy@

noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Blue 

Planet Strategies was issued an 

exempted fishing permit (EFP) request 

on September 7, 2021. The purpose of 

this project is to test technologies for 

sub-surface gear marking and gear 

tracking technologies and prototypes for 

acoustic release of bottom stowed lift 

bags or vertical lines for retrieving 

fishing gear used in the New England 

groundfish, monkfish, and American 

lobster and Jonah crab fisheries for the 

purpose of reducing buoy line 

interactions with marine mammals. For 

2022, this EFP authorized up to 12 

participating vessels in 2022 to test 

ropeless systems in the Gulf of Maine 

Regulated Mesh Area (gillnet) and 

Lobster Management Areas 1 and 3 

(lobster trap/pot). Blue Planet Strategies 

was granted exemptions from the 

following requirements: 

1. Gear marking requirements at 50 

CFR 697.21(b)(2) to allow for the use of 

a single buoy marker on a trawl of more 

than three traps; and 

2. Gear marking requirements at 

§ 648.84(b) to allow for the use of a 

single buoy marker on a gillnet. 

One end of both the gillnet and 

lobster trap gear is required to be 

marked according to regulations, the 

other end will test a lift bag system or 

a stowed rope system, or a spooled rope 

system. Both gillnet and lobster gear 

will test either acoustic or modem gear 

marking technology. A maximum of 140 

gillnet deployments were expected in 

2022, with a soak time of 96 hours. A 

maximum of 800 lobster trap 

deployments were expected in 2022, 

with a maximum soak time of 4–8 days. 

Sampling is expected to largely occur 

from June through October in both 2021 

and 2022, though the permit is 

approved through December 2022. 

Blue Planet Strategies submitted a 

request to revise the EFP on June 21, 

2022. Investigators wish to add one 

additional vessel that operates out of 

Chatham, Massachusetts and fishes in 

the Georges Bank Regulated Mesh Area 

(statistical area 521) and Southern New 

England Regulated Mesh Area 

(statistical area 538). Therefore, 

investigators have requested a 

geographic expansion of the gillnet 

effort. No additional gear deployments 

are expected. 

Investigators also request to modify 

the exemption from gear marking 

requirements at 50 CFR 697.21(b)(2) to 

allow for the use of no surface markings 

within a discrete portion of Area 1. 

Investigators wish to test the feasibility 

of using fully on-demand gear within 

the shipping channel known as the 

‘‘Southern Channel’’ or ‘‘Southern 

Route’’ in Frenchman Bay (Downeast 

Maine). This new work is expected to 

account for approximately 100 of the 

800 deployments approved in 2022 (i.e., 

no new effort will result from this 

modification). In addition to informing 

work to reduce the potential for 

entanglements, this research could help 

determine whether ropeless gear could 

allow fishermen to prosecute the fishery 

in shipping channels that are presently 

kept clear of fishing gear that uses 

vertical lines and buoys, minimizing the 

risk of gear conflict. 

If approved, Blue Planet Strategies 

may request minor modifications and 

extensions to the EFP throughout the 

study. 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: July 11, 2022. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–15186 Filed 7–14–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XC146] 

Fisheries of the South Atlantic and 

Gulf of Mexico; South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council and Gulf of 

Mexico Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of a joint public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council’s (SAFMC) and 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council’s (GMFMC) will hold a joint 

meeting of their Scientific and 

Statistical Committees (SSC) via 

webinar. 

DATES: The joint SSC meeting will take 

place Thursday, August 4, 2022, from 9 

a.m. to 5 p.m., EDT. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via webinar. 


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42444 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 135 / Friday, July 15, 2022 / Notices 

Council addresses: South Atlantic 

Fishery Management Council, 4055 

Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N 

Charleston, SC 29405; Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 4107 

West Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, 

FL 33607. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim 

Iverson, Public Information Officer, 

4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North 

Charleston, SC 29405; phone: (843) 571– 

4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: 

(843) 769–4520; email: kim.iverson@

safmc.net. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public via 

webinar as it occurs. Webinar 

registration is required. Information 

regarding webinar registration will be 

posted to the SAFMC’s website at: 

https://safmc.net/scientific-andstatistical-committee-meeting/. The 

meeting agenda, briefing book materials, 

and online comment form will be 

posted to the SAFMC’s website two 

weeks prior to the meeting. Written 

comment on SSC agenda topics is to be 

distributed to the Committees through 

the Council office, similar to all other 

briefing materials. For this meeting, the 

deadline for submission of written 

comment is 9 a.m. EDT, Thursday, 

August 4, 2022. 

The following agenda items will be 

addressed by the SSCs during the 

meeting: 

1. Review, discuss, and provide 

feedback on the southeastern yellowtail 

snapper interim analysis projections 

and uncertainties. Provide fishing level 

recommendations using the previously 

reviewed Southeast Data, Assessment, 

and Review (SEDAR) 64 assessment and 

recent interim analysis for southeastern 

yellowtail snapper. (Joint South Atlantic 

and Gulf of Mexico SSCs) 

2. Review, discuss, and provide 

feedback on the operational assessment 

for South Atlantic Spanish mackerel 

projections and uncertainties, and 

provide fishing level recommendations. 

(South Atlantic SSC only) 

The SSCs will provide guidance to 

staff and recommendations for Council 

consideration as appropriate. 

Multiple opportunities for comment 

on agenda items will be provided during 

SSC meeting. Open comment periods 

will be provided at the start of the 

meeting and near the conclusion. Those 

interested in providing comment should 

indicate such in the manner requested 

by the Chair, who will then recognize 

individuals to provide comment. 

Additional opportunities for comment 

on specific agenda items will be 

provided, as each item is discussed, 

between initial presentations and SSC 

discussion. Those interested in 

providing comment should indicate 

such in the manner requested by the 

Chair, who will then recognize 

individuals to provide comment. All 

comments are part of the record of the 

meeting. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in the meeting agenda may 

come before this group for discussion, 

those issues may not be the subject of 

formal action during this meeting. 

Action will be restricted to those issues 

specifically identified in this notice and 

any issues arising after publication of 

this notice 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 

This meeting is accessible to people 

with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary 

aids should be directed to the SAFMC 

office (see ADDRESSES) at least 3 

business days prior to the meeting. 

Note: The times and sequence specified in 

this agenda are subject to change. 

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

Dated: July 12, 2022. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–15152 Filed 7–14–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XC171] 

Endangered and Threatened Species; 

Take of Anadromous Fish 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of 51 scientific 

research permits. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

NMFS has issued 51 scientific research 

permits under the Endangered Species 

Act (ESA) to the individuals and 

organizations listed in Table 1. The 

research is intended to increase 

knowledge of species listed under the 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to 

help guide management and 

conservation efforts. 

ADDRESSES: The permits and related 

documents are available for review 

upon written request via email to 

nmfs.wcr-apps@noaa.gov (please 

include the permit number in the 

subject line of the email). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob 

Clapp, Portland, OR (ph.: 503–231– 

2314), Fax: 503–230–5441, email: 

Robert.Clapp@noaa.gov). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice 

was published in the Federal Register 

on the dates listed below that requests 

for permits and permit modifications 

had been submitted by the below-named 

applicants. To locate the Federal 

Register notice that announced our 

receipt of the applications and a 

complete description of the research, go 

to www.federalregister.gov and search 

on the permit number and Federal 

Register notice information provided in 

the table below. 

TABLE 1—ISSUED PERMITS AND PERMIT MODIFICATIONS

Permit No. RTID Applicant Previous Federal Register 

notice Issuance date 

1127–6M ........ 0648–XB812 .. Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Fisheries Department; P.O. Box 

306, Fort Hall, ID 83203 (Responsible Party: Kurt Tardy).

87 FR 8788; February 16, 

2022.

April 18, 2022. 

1135–11R ....... 0648–XB812 .. U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center; Columbia River Research Laboratory, 5501–A CookUnderwood Rd.; Cook, WA 98605 (Responsible party: 

Amy C. Hansen).

87 FR 8788; February 16, 

2022.

April 15, 2022. 

1175–10R ....... 0648–XB812 .. U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest; 

10600 NE 51st Circle Drive, Vancouver, WA 98682 (Responsible Party: Dave F. Olson).

87 FR 8788; February 16, 

2022.

April 18, 2022. 


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