Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2001 / Notices 11149

• Public Participation

• Agenda Development for June 2001

Meeting

• Wrap-Up

Note that agenda items may change

without notice because of possible

unexpected schedule conflicts of

presenters.

Public Participation

The Board agenda will include a

period of time, not to exceed thirty

minutes, for oral comments and

questions from the public. Each speaker

will be limited to five minutes.

Members of the public who are

interested in speaking are asked to

contact the Board Secretariat at the

telephone number indicated below. In

addition, written statements are invited

and may be submitted to the Board at

any time. Written statements should be

directed to the CSSPAB Secretariat,

Information Technology Laboratory, 100

Bureau Drive, Stop 8930, National

Institute of Standards and Technology,

Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8930. It would

be appreciated if 35 copies of written

material wee submitted for distribution

to the Board and attendees no later than

March 1, 2001. Approximately 15 seats

will be available for the public and

media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Edward Roback, Board Secretariat,

Information Technology Laboratory,

National Institute of Standards and

Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop

8930, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8930,

telephone: (301) 975–3696.

Dated: February 12, 2001.

Karen H. Brown,

Acting Director, NIST.

[FR Doc. 01–4394 Filed 2–21–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–CN–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[Docket No. 001214350-0350-01, I.D.

112700B]

RIN 0648–Z098

Financial Assistance for Research and

Development Projects in the Gulf of

Mexico and Off the U.S. South Atlantic

Coastal States; Marine Fisheries

Initiative (MARFIN)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of

funds, NMFS, through its MARFIN

program, financially assists persons in

carrying out research and development

projects that optimize the use of

fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and off

the South Atlantic States of North

Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and

Florida involving the U.S. fishing

industry (recreational and commercial),

including fishery biology, resource

assessment, socio-economic assessment,

management and conservation, selected

harvesting methods, and fish handling

and processing. This notice describes

how to apply for such assistance and

how NMFS selects applications for

funding.

DATES: Applications for funding under

this program will be accepted between

February 22, 2001 and 5 p.m. eastern

daylight time on April 23, 2001.

Applications received after that time

will not be considered for funding. No

facsimile applications will be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Send applications to: Ellie

Francisco Roche, Chief, State/Federal

Liaison Office, Southeast Regional

Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center

Drive, N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellie

Roche; telephone (727) 570–5324.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Authority

The Secretary of Commerce

(Secretary) is authorized under 15

U.S.C. 713c-3(d) to carry out a national

program of research and development

addressed to such aspects of U.S.

fisheries (including, but not limited to,

harvesting, processing, marketing and to

associated infrastructures), if not

adequately covered by projects assisted

under 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(c), as the

Secretary deems appropriate.

II. Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance

This program is described in the

‘‘Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance’’ (CFDA) under program

number 11.433, Marine Fisheries

Initiative (MARFIN).

III. Program Description

MARFIN is a competitive Federal

assistance program that funds projects

that seek to optimize research and

development benefits from U.S. marine

fishery resources through cooperative

efforts involving the best research and

management talents to accomplish

priority activities. Projects funded under

MARFIN provide answers for fishery

needs covered by the NMFS Strategic

Plan, available from the Southeast

Regional Office (see ADDRESSES),

particularly those goals relating to:

rebuilding overfished marine fisheries,

maintaining currently productive

fisheries, and integrating conservation

of protected species and fisheries

management. Areas of emphasis for

MARFIN are formulated from

recommendations received from nonFederal scientific and technical experts,

and from NMFS research and operations

officials.

IV. Funding Availability

Approximately $2.20 million may be

available in fiscal year (FY) 2001 for

funding projects. This amount includes

possible in-house projects and $750,000

for 1-year projects for red snapper

research. (See XI. Project Funding

Priorities.) Publication of this notice

does not obligate NMFS to award any

specific cooperative agreement nor to

obligate all or any parts of the available

funds.

Project proposals accepted for funding

for a project period over 1 year that

include multiple project components

and severable tasks to be funded during

each budget period do not compete for

funding in subsequent budget periods

within the approved project period.

However, funding for subsequent

project components is contingent upon

the availability of funds and satisfactory

performance and will be at the sole

discretion of the agency.

V. No Matching Requirements

Cost-sharing is not required for the

MARFIN program. Applications must

provide the total budget necessary to

accomplish the project, including

contributions and/or donations. The

appropriateness of all cost-sharing will

be determined on the basis of guidance

provided in applicable Federal cost

principles. If an applicant chooses to

cost-share, and if that application is

selected for funding, the applicant will

be bound by the percentage of the cost

share reflected in the cooperative

agreement award.

The non-Federal share may include

the value of in-kind contributions by the

applicant or third parties or funds

received from private sources or from

state or local governments. Federal

funds may not be used to meet the nonFederal share of matching funds, except

as provided by Federal statute. Third

party in-kind contributions may be in

the form of, but are not limited to,

personal services rendered in carrying

out functions related to the project and

use of real or personal property owned

by others (for which consideration is not

required) in carrying out the projects. 15

U.S.C. 713c-3(c)(4)(B) provides that the

amount of the grant is no less than 50

11150 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2001 / Notices

percent of the estimated cost of the

project.

Costs incurred in either the

development of a project or the financial

assistance application, or time

expended in any subsequent

discussions or negotiations prior to the

award, are neither reimbursable nor

recognizable as part of the recipient’s

cost share.

VI. Type of Funding Instrument

The funding instrument will be a

cooperative agreement since NMFS will

be substantially involved in developing

each project’s research priorities and

assisting in the research.

VII. Eligibility Criteria

A. Eligible applicants include

institutions of higher education,

hospitals and other nonprofit

organizations, commercial

organizations, and state, local and

Indian tribal governments. Federal

agencies or institutions are not eligible.

Foreign governments, organizations

under the jurisdiction of foreign

governments, and international

organizations are excluded for purposes

of this solicitation since the objective of

the MARFIN program is to optimize

research and development benefits from

U.S. marine fishery resources (see III.

Program Description).

B. The Department of Commerce,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (DOC/NOAA) is

strongly committed to broadening the

participation of Historically Black

Colleges and Universities, Hispanic

Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges

and Universities in its educational and

research programs. DOC/NOAA’s goals

are to achieve full participation by

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in

order to advance the development of

human potential, to strengthen the

nation’s capacity to provide high-quality

education, and to increase opportunities

for MSIs to participate in and benefit

from Federal financial assistance

programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all

applicants to include meaningful

participation of MSIs.

VIII. Award Period

The award period for the project may

be up to 3 years, consisting of one, two,

or three budget periods. The award

period depends upon the duration of

funding requested in the application,

the decision of the NMFS selecting

official on the amount of funding, the

results of post-selection negotiations

between the applicant and NOAA

officials, and pre-award review of the

application by NOAA and Department

of Commerce (DOC) officials. Normally,

each project budget period will be 12

months in duration.

IX. Indirect Costs

The total dollar amount of the indirect

costs proposed in an application under

this program must not exceed the

indirect cost rate negotiated and

approved by a cognizant Federal agency

prior to the proposed effective date of

the award or 25 percent of the Federal

share of the total proposed direct costs

dollar amount in the application,

whichever is less. A copy of the current,

approved, negotiated Indirect Cost

Agreement with the Federal

Government must be included with the

application.

X. Application Requirements, Forms

and Kit

Before submitting an application

under this program, applicants should

contact the NMFS Southeast Regional

Office for a copy of this solicitation’s

MARFIN Application Package (see

ADDRESSES).

Applications for this project’s funding

must be complete and in accordance

with instructions in the MARFIN

Application Package. Project

applications must identify the principal

participants, and include copies of any

agreements describing the specific tasks

to be performed by participants. Project

applications should: give a clear

presentation of the proposed work, the

methods for carrying out the project, its

relevance to managing and enhancing

the use of Gulf of Mexico and/or South

Atlantic fishery resources, and cost

estimates as they relate to specific

aspects of the project. Budgets must

include a detailed breakdown, by

category of expenditures, with

appropriate justification for both the

Federal and non-Federal shares.

Applications should exhibit

familiarity with related work that is

completed or ongoing. Where

appropriate, proposals should be multidisciplinary. In addition to referencing

specific area(s) of special interest,

proposals should state whether the

research applies to the Gulf of Mexico

only, the South Atlantic only, or to both

areas. Successful applicants may be

required to collect and manage data in

accordance with standardized

procedures and formats approved by

NMFS and to participate with NMFS in

specific cooperative activities that are

determined by consultations between

NMFS and successful applicants before

project grants are awarded. All

applications must include funding for

the principal investigator to participate

in an annual MARFIN Conference in

Tampa, FL at the completion of the

project.

Coordinated efforts involving

multiple institutions or persons are

encouraged. Women and minority

owned and operated non-profit

organizations are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should not assume prior

knowledge on the part of NMFS as to

the merits of the project described in the

application. Applications must be onesided and unbound. All incomplete

applications are returned to the

applicant. Ten copies (one original and

nine copies) of each application are

required and should be submitted to the

NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/

Federal Liaison Office (SEE). The Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) has

approved 10 copies, under OMB Control

No. 0648–0175.

XII. Project Funding Priorities

A. Priority is given to funding projects

that have the greatest probability of

recovering, maintaining, improving, or

developing fisheries; improving the

understanding of factors affecting

recruitment success; and/or generating

increased values and recreational

opportunities from fisheries. Projects are

evaluated as to the likelihood of

achieving these objectives, with

consideration of the magnitude of the

eventual economic or social benefits

that may be realized. Priority is given to

funding projects in the subject areas

listed below, but proposals in other

areas are considered on a fundsavailable basis. There is no preference

between short-term projects and longterm projects.

1. Bycatch

The bycatch of biological organisms

(including interactions with sea turtles

and marine mammals) by various

fishing gears can have wide-reaching

impacts from a fisheries management

and an ecological standpoint, with the

following major concerns:

a. Shrimp trawl fisheries. Studies are

needed to contribute to the regional

shrimp trawl bycatch program

(including the southern U.S. Atlantic

rock shrimp fishery) being conducted by

NMFS in cooperation with state

fisheries management agencies,

commercial and recreational fishing

organizations and interests,

environmental organizations,

universities, Councils, and

Commissions. Specific guidance and

research requirements are contained in

the Cooperative Bycatch Plan for the

Southeast, available from NMFS (see

ADDRESSES). In particular, the studies

should address:

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2001 / Notices 11151

(1) Data collection and analyses to

expand and update current bycatch

estimates, temporally and spatially

emphasizing areas of greatest impact by

shrimping. Sampling effort should

include estimates of numbers, weight,

and random samples of size (age)

structure of associated bycatch complex,

with emphasis on those overfished

species under the jurisdiction of the

Councils. Data collection should also

include mortality, age, and length

information for red drum in both

inshore and offshore shrimp fisheries.

(2) Assessment of the status and

condition of fish stocks significantly

impacted by shrimp trawler bycatch,

with emphasis given to overfished

species under the jurisdiction of the

Councils. Other sources of fishing and

nonfishing mortality should be

considered and quantified as well.

(3) Identification, development, and

evaluation of gear, non-gear, and tactical

fishing options to reduce bycatch.

(4) Improved methods for

communicating with and improving

technology and information transfer to

the shrimp industry.

(5) Development and evaluation of

statistical methods to estimate the

bycatch of priority management species

in the Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp

trawl fisheries.

b. Pelagic longline fisheries. Several

pelagic longline fisheries exist in the

Gulf and South Atlantic, targeting

highly migratory species, such as tunas,

sharks, and swordfish. Priority areas

include:

(1) Development and evaluation of

gear and fishing tactics to minimize

bycatch of undersized and unwanted

species, including sea turtles, marine

mammals, billfish, and overfished

finfish species/stocks.

(2) Assessment of the biological

impact of longline bycatch on related

fisheries.

c. Reef fish fisheries. The reef fish

complex is exploited by a variety of

fishing gear and tactics. The following

research on bycatch of reef fish species

is needed:

(1) Development and evaluation of

gear and fishing tactics to minimize the

bycatch of undersized and unwanted

species, including sea turtles and

marine mammals.

(2) Characterization and assessment of

the impact of bycatch of undersized

target species, including release

mortality, during recreational fishing

and during commercial longline, bandit

gear and trap fishing.

(3) Determination of the release

mortality by depth of red snapper

caught on commercial bandit rigs that

are electrically or hydraulicly powered.

d. Finfish trawl fisheries. Studies are

needed on quantification and

qualification of the bycatch in finfish

trawl fisheries, such as the flounder and

fly-net fisheries in the South Atlantic.

e. Gillnet fisheries. Studies are needed

on quantification and qualification of

the bycatch in coastal and shelf gillnet

fisheries for sciaenids, scombrids,

bluefish and other dogfish sharks of the

South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

(particularly interaction with sea turtles

and marine mammals).

f. Economic considerations of bycatch

reduction.

(1) Develop and test models, using

actual or hypothesized data, that

explicitly consider the economic

impacts to the directed fishery and gains

to the bycatch fishery. The models

should include the effects of the

management systems for the directed

and bycatch fisheries and should

attempt to describe criteria for the

correct level of bycatch reduction (e.g.,

marginal cost and value of reduction are

equal).

(2) Develop economic incentives and

other innovative alternatives to gear and

season/area restrictions as ways to

reduce bycatch. The proposal should

attempt to contrast the relative costs,

potential gains, and levels of bycatch

reduction associated with traditional

methods and any innovative alternatives

addressed by the proposals.

(3) Describe the costs and returns

performance of South Atlantic and Gulf

of Mexico shrimp fisheries as necessary

background for the economics of

bycatch reduction. (See Section XIII.A.,

regarding collection of information.)

2. Reef Fish

Some species within the reef fish

complex are exhibiting signs of being

overfished, either because of directed

efforts or because of being the bycatch

of other fisheries. The ecology of reef

fish makes them vulnerable to

overfishing, because they tend to

concentrate over specific types of

habitat with patchy distribution. This

behavior pattern can make traditional

fishery statistics misleading. Priority

research areas include:

a. Collection of Basic Biological Data

for Species in Commercially and

Recreationally Important Fisheries

(1) Age and growth of reef fish. (a)

Description of age and growth patterns,

especially for red, vermilion, gray, and

cubera snappers; gray triggerfish; gag;

black grouper; hogfish; red porgy; and

other less dominant forms in the

management units for which data are

lacking.

(b) Contributions to the development

of annual age-length keys and

description of age structures for

exploited populations for all species in

the complex addressed in the Reef Fish

and Snapper/Grouper Management

Plans for the Gulf and South Atlantic,

respectively, prioritized by importance

in the total catch.

(c) Design of sampling systems to

provide a production-style aging

program for the reef fish fishery.

Effective dockside sampling programs

are needed over a wide geographic

range, especially for groupers, to collect

information on reproductive state, size,

age, and sex.

(2) Reproduction studies of reef fish.

(a) Maturity schedules, fecundity, and

sex ratios of commercially and

recreationally important reef fish,

especially gray triggerfish, gag, and red

porgy in the Gulf and South Atlantic.

(b) Studies of all species to

characterize the actual reproductive

contribution of females by age.

(c) Identification and characterization

of spawning aggregations by species,

area, size group and season.

(d) Effects of fishing on changes of sex

ratios for gag, red grouper, and scamp,

and disruption of aggregations.

(e) Investigations of the reproductive

biology of gag, red grouper and other

grouper species.

(3) Recruitment of reef fish. (a) Source

of recruitment in Gulf and South

Atlantic waters, especially for snappers,

groupers, and amberjacks.

(b) Annual estimation of the absolute

or relative recruitment of juvenile gag,

gray snapper, and lane snapper to

estuarine habitats off the west coast of

Florida and to similar estuarine nursery

habitats along the South Atlantic Bight;

development of an index of juvenile gag

recruitment for the South Atlantic based

on historical databases and/or field

studies.

(c) The contribution of live-bottom

habitat and habitat areas of particular

concern (Oculina banks) off Fort Pierce,

FL and off west central Florida to reef

fish recruitment.

(4) Stock structure of reef fish. (a)

Movement and migration patterns of

commercially and recreationally

valuable reef fish species, especially gag

in the Gulf and South Atlantic and

greater amberjack between the South

Atlantic and Gulf.

(b) Biochemical/immunological and

morphological/meristic techniques to

allow field separation of lesser

amberjack, almaco jack, and banded

rudderfish from greater amberjack to

facilitate accurate reporting of catch.

(c) Stock structure of wreckfish in the

South Atlantic and of greater amberjack

in the Gulf and South Atlantic.

11152 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2001 / Notices

b. Population assessment of reef fish.

(1) Effect of reproductive mode and sex

change (protogynous hermaphroditism)

on population size and characteristics,

with reference to sizes of fish exploited

in the fisheries and the significance to

proper management.

(2) Source and quantification of

natural and human-induced mortalities,

including release mortality estimates for

charter boats, headboats, and private

recreational vessels, especially for red

snapper and the grouper complex.

(3) Determination of the habitat and

limiting factors for important reef fish

resources in the Gulf and South

Atlantic.

(4) Description of habitat and fish

populations in the deep reef community

and the prey distributions supporting

the community.

(5) Development of statistically valid

indices of abundance for important reef

fish species in the South Atlantic and

Gulf, especially red grouper, jewfish,

and Nassau grouper.

(6) Assessment of tag performance on

reef fish species, primarily snappers and

groupers. Characteristics examined

should include shedding rate, effects on

growth and survival, and ultimately, the

effects of these characteristics on

estimations of vital population

parameters.

(7) Stock assessments to establish the

status of major recreational and

commercial species. Innovative methods

are needed for stock assessments of

aggregate species, including the effect of

fishing on genetic structure and the

incorporation of sex change for

protogynous hermaphrodites into stock

assessment models.

(8) Assessment of Florida Bay

recovery actions on reef fish recruitment

and survival.

c. Management of reef fish. (1)

Research in direct support of

management, including catch-andrelease mortalities, by gear and depth.

(2) Evaluation of the use of marine

reserves as an alternative or supplement

to current fishery management practices

and measures for reef fish. Studies

should focus on the Experimental

Oculina Reef Reserve, the Florida Keys

National Marine Sanctuary, as well as

on the identification of prime sites for

the establishment of reserves in the U.S.

south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

(3) Characterization and evaluation of

biological impacts (e.g., changes in age

or size structure of reef fish populations

in response to management strategies).

(4) Evaluation of vessel log data for

monitoring the fishery and for providing

biological, economic, and social

information for management; and

methods for matching log data to Trip

Information Program samples for

indices of effort.

(5) For the U.S. Caribbean, collection

of socio-demographic and economic

cost and returns data sufficient to

evaluate management proposals to limit

the use of fish and/or lobster traps.

3. Red Snapper Research

The Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996

required the Secretary of Commerce to

conduct a thorough and independent

evaluation of the scientific and

management basis for conserving and

managing the red snapper fishery.

NMFS has developed a research plan to

improve the management of red snapper

to address this requirement. The

research priorities below are based on

this research plan.

a. Red Snapper Bycatch. The bycatch

of red snapper can have significant

impacts from a fisheries management

and ecological standpoint. Research on

bycatch of red snapper should focus on

the following:

(1) Shrimp trawl bycatch of red

snapper. Specific guidance and research

requirements are contained in the

Cooperative Bycatch Plan for the

Southeast, available from NMFS (see

ADDRESSES). Studies are needed to

address:

(a) Identification, development, and

evaluation of gear, non-gear, and tactical

fishing options to reduce bycatch of red

snapper.

(b) Development and evaluation of

statistical methods to estimate the

bycatch mortality of red snapper in the

Gulf shrimp trawl fisheries.

(c) Studies of the survival rates of

juvenile red snapper that escape shrimp

trawls through bycatch reduction

devices (BRDs).

(2) Directed red snapper fisheries. The

reef fish fishery is exploited by a variety

of fishing gear and tactics. The

following research on regulatory

discards is needed to better evaluate the

effectiveness of management measures

such as minimum size limits and closed

seasons:

(a) Development and evaluation of

gear and fishing tactics to minimize the

bycatch of or increase the survival of

discarded red snapper and other reef

fish species.

(b) Characterization and assessment of

the impact of bycatch of undersized reef

fish species, including release mortality,

during recreational and commercial

fishing. Research on the catch-andrelease mortality of red snapper and

other reef fish species, by gear (e.g.

capture by commercial bandit rigs that

are electrically or hydraulicly powered),

fishery (e.g. headboat, private boat,

charter boat, commercial), and depth.

Studies are needed to specifically relate

‘‘sink or swim’’ data, which can be

obtained through observer programs,

with long-term survival rates.

(c) Research to document predation

rates on discarded red snapper and

other reef fish species.

(3) Economic considerations of

bycatch reduction

(a) Develop and test models, using

actual or hypothesized data, that

explicitly consider the costs and gains

of bycatch reduction. The models

should include the effects of the

management systems for the directed

and bycatch fisheries and should

attempt to describe criteria for the

correct level of bycatch reduction (e.g.,

marginal cost and value of reduction are

equal). Studies should evaluate

alternatives to bycatch reduction

devices (BRDs).

(b) Develop economic incentives and

other innovative alternatives to gear and

season/area restrictions as ways to

reduce bycatch. The proposal should

attempt to contrast the relative costs,

potential gains, and levels of bycatch

reduction associated with traditional

methods and any innovative alternatives

addressed by the proposals.

b. Red snapper biological information.

Collection of basic biological data on

red snapper.

(1) Contributions to the development

of annual age-length keys and

description of the age structure of red

snapper populations.

(2) Design of sampling systems to

provide a production-style aging

program for the red snapper fishery.

Effective dockside sampling programs

are needed over a wide geographic range

to collect information on reproductive

state, size, age, and sex.

(3) Reproduction studies of red

snapper.

(a) Maturity schedules, fecundity, and

sex ratios of red snapper.

(b) Studies to characterize the actual

reproductive contribution of females by

age.

(4) Identification of sources of

recruitment of red snapper in Gulf

waters.

c. Red snapper population

assessment. (1) Determination of the

habitat and limiting factors for

important red snapper populations in

the Gulf.

(2) Estimates of red snapper

abundance, age structure and

population dynamics on oil platforms

and other artificial structures.

d. Management of red snapper. (1)

Characterization and evaluation of

biological impacts (e.g., changes in age

or size structure of red snapper

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2001 / Notices 11153

populations in response to management

strategies).

(2) Research to evaluate the use of

minimum size limits as a management

tool in the red snapper fishery.

(3) Texas does not participate in the

Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics

Survey (MRFSS); thus, research is

needed to collect economics data on

Texas anglers. Data requirements

include those identified in the MRFSS

add-on economic survey developed by

NMFS. (See Section XIIII.A., regarding

collection of information.)

(4) Research to develop bioeconomic

models to optimize allocations and

benefits derived from the red snapper

resource.

4. Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fisheries

The commercial and recreational

demand for migratory coastal pelagics

has led to overfishing for certain.

Additionally, some are transboundary

with Mexico and other countries and

may ultimately demand international

management attention. Current high

priorities include:

a. Recruitment indices for king and

Spanish mackerel, cobia, dolphin,

wahoo, and bluefish, primarily from

fishery-independent data sources.

b. Fishery-independent methods of

assessing stock abundance of king and

Spanish mackerel.

c. Release mortality data for all coastal

pelagic species.

d. Improved catch statistics for all

species in Mexican waters, with special

emphasis on king mackerel, dolphin,

and wahoo. This includes lengthfrequency and life history information.

e. Information on populations of

coastal pelagics overwintering off the

Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic

States of North Carolina, South

Carolina, Georgia, and Florida,

especially concerning population size,

age and movement patterns. Calculate

the mixing rates for Atlantic/Gulf king

mackerel on an annual basis.

f. Development of a practical method

for aging dolphin.

g. Basic biostatistics for cobia,

dolphin, and wahoo to develop agelength keys and maturation schedules

for stock assessments and to evaluate

stock structures.

h. Impact of bag limits on total catch

and landings of king and Spanish

mackerel, dolphin, wahoo, and cobia.

i. Demand and/or supply functions for

the commercial king mackerel fisheries,

including baseline cost and return data.

Cooperative efforts that cover the entire

Southeast and employ common

methodologies for all geographic areas

are strongly encouraged.

j. Sociological and anthropological

surveys of coastal pelagic fisheries.

5. Groundfish and Estuarine Fishes

Substantial stocks of groundfish and

estuarine species occur in the Gulf and

South Atlantic. Most of the database for

assessments comes from studies

conducted by NMFS and state fishery

management agencies. Because of the

historic and current size of these fish

stocks, their importance as predator and

prey species, and their current or

potential use as commercial and

recreational fisheries, more information

on their biology and life history is

needed. General research needs are:

a. Red drum. (1) Size and age

structure of the offshore adult stock in

the Gulf and South Atlantic.

(2) Life history parameters and stock

structure for the Gulf and the South

Atlantic: Migratory patterns, long-term

changes in abundance, growth rates, and

age structure. Specific research needs

for Atlantic red drum are estimates of

fecundity as a function of length and

weight and improved coast-wide

coverage for age-length keys.

(3) Catch-and-release mortality rates

from inshore and nearshore waters.

(4) Estimates of absolute Gulf-wide

abundance of red drum.

b. Life history and stock structure for

weakfish, menhaden, spot, and croaker

in the Gulf and the South Atlantic:

Migratory patterns, long-term changes in

abundance, growth rates, and age

structure and comparisons of the

inshore and offshore components of

recreational and commercial fisheries.

c. Improved catch-and-effort statistics

from recreational and commercial

fisheries, including development of agelength keys for size and age structure of

the catch, to develop production

models. (See Section XIII.A., regarding

collection of information.)

d. Abundance and distribution

information on spiny dogfish off the

coast of North Carolina, and particularly

southern North Carolina.

6. Essential Fish Habitat

(a) Determine the effects of fishing

gears (e.g., trawls and traps) and

practices (e.g., gear retrieval and

anchoring) on essential fish habitat

(EFH), with emphasis on benthic

habitats within the EEZ of the

Caribbean, southern U.S. Atlantic, and

Gulf of Mexico regions.

(b) Develop scientific data to allow

the identification and refinement, as

appropriate, of EFH designations for the

various life stages of federally managed

species.

(c) Develop scientific data to allow the

identification and refinement, as

appropriate, of Habitat Areas of

Particular Concern (HAPC) designation

for the various life stages of federally

managed species.

(d) Develop GIS mapping protocols

and tools to allow the presentation of

EFH, HAPC, fishery distribution

information, and other relevant data for

the southeastern United States,

including Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Virgin Islands.

7. General

There are many other areas of

research that need to be addressed for

improved understanding and

management of fishery resources. These

include methods for data collection,

management, analysis, and better

conservation. Examples of such research

needs include:

a. Identification of fishing

communities, characterization of

community dependance upon fishery

resources and demographics of the

families dependent on fishing or fishing

related businesses.

b. Development of improved methods

and procedures for transferring

technology and educating constituency

groups concerning fishery management

and conservation programs. Of special

importance are programs concerned

with controlled access and introduction

of conservation gear.

c. Design and evaluation of innovative

approaches to fishery management with

special attention given to those

approaches that control access to

specific fisheries.

d. Examine the feasibility and efficacy

of license buy-back programs.

e. Social, cultural, and /or economic

aspects of establishing fishery reserves.

Studies should employ accepted data

collection methods and should include

consumptive users, non-consumptive

users, and persons not dependent on

use of marine resources. Various

management alternatives should be

considered in the studies, e.g., exclude

all users, exclude all consumptive users,

size of reserve, anchoring rules, or any

other relevant management tools. (See

Section XIII.A., regarding collection of

information.)

f. Design and evaluation of limited

access options for the red snapper and

king mackerel recreational fisheries

with specific emphasis on modes of

fishing and jurisdictional issues.

g. Estimation of demand models for

recreational fishing trips when the target

species include a single species, an

aggregate of related species, or all

species combined. Studies using new

data from the Southeast economics addon to Marine Recreational Fisheries

Statistics Survey are highly encouraged.

11154 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2001 / Notices

Priority species include red drum

Spanish mackerel, red grouper,

wahoo,and dolphin.

h. Sociocultural survey of commercial

fishing in the Florida Keys. Proposals

should address all fishing enterprises

including potential sociocultural effects

of large marine reserves in the Tortugas

area.

i. Studies to evaluate the value of nonconsumptive uses of marine resources,

especially as related to diving activities

and marine reserves.

XIII. Evaluation Process and Criteria

A. Initial Screening of Applications.

Applications are reviewed by NOAA’s

MARFIN Program Manager to determine

whether they are responsive to this

solicitation. Applications must: be

received by the deadline date (see

DATES); include OMB form 424 dated

and signed by an authorized

representative; be submitted by an

eligible applicant; address one of the

funding priorities; include a budget,

statement of work, and milestones; and

identify the principal investigator. The

applicant will be notified if the

application does not conform to these

requirements. If the deadline for

submission has passed, the application

will be returned to the applicant.

B. Evaluation of Proposed Projects.

1. Technical Evaluation. Applications

responsive to this solicitation will be

evaluated by three or more appropriate

private and public sector experts to

determine their technical merit. These

reviewers provide comments and assign

scores to the applications based on the

following criteria, with the weights

shown in parentheses:

a. Does the proposal have a clearly

stated goal(s) with associated objectives

that meet the needs outlined in the

project narrative? (30 points maximum)

b. Does the proposal clearly identify

and describe, in the project outline and

statement of work, scientific

methodologies and analytical

procedures that will adequately address

project goals and objectives? (30 points

maximum)

c. Do the principal investigators

provide a realistic timetable to enable

full accomplishment of all aspects of the

research? (20 points maximum)

d. Are effective methods proposed

that will enable the principal

investigators to maintain stewardship of

the project performance, finances,

cooperative relationships, and reporting

requirements? (10 points maximum)

e. Does the budget appropriately

allocate and justify costs? (10 points

maximum)

5. Are the proposed costs appropriate

for the scope of work proposed? (10

points)

2. Scientific Panel. Applications

together with the technical reviewers’

comments and scores are presented to a

Scientific Panel composed of NMFS

scientific experts. This panel provides

comments and rates each proposal as

either ‘‘Recommended for Funding’’ or

‘‘Not Recommended for Funding’’ based

on qualitative assessments which

include a technical evaluation of the

merits of the science.

3. MARFIN Panel. Proposals that are

‘‘Recommended for Funding’’ by the

Scientific Panel are presented to a panel

of non-NOAA fishery experts known as

the MARFIN Panel. Each member of the

MARFIN Panel individually considers

the significance of the needs addressed

in each proposal, how the project affects

industry, and how the project addresses

issues that are of highest importance in

regional fisheries management. The

individuals on the MARFIN Panel

provide comments and rate each of

these proposals as either

‘‘Recommended for Funding’’ or ‘‘Not

Recommended for Funding.’’

4. Regional Administrator. The

proposals reviewed by the MARFIN

Panel are ranked by the Program

Manager in the order of preferred

funding, based on the number of

MARFIN Panel members recommending

the proposal for funding, then provided

to the Regional Administrator, who is

the selecting official. The Regional

Administrator also receives the

MARFIN Panel members’ individual

comments, and comments from the

Scientific Panel for projects rated as

‘‘Recommended for Funding.’’

The Regional Administrator, in

consultation with the Assistant

Administrator for Fisheries, determines

the projects to be funded. The Regional

Administrator will justify in writing any

selection he makes that falls outside the

MARFIN Panel’s order of preferred

funding.

The exact amount of funds awarded,

the final scope of activities, the project

duration, and specific NMFS

cooperative involvement with the

activities of each project are determined

in pre-award negotiations between the

applicant, the NOAA Grants Office and

the NMFS Program Office. Projects must

not be initiated by recipients until a

signed award is received from the

NOAA Grants Office. Successful

applications generally are recommended

within 210 days from the date of

publication of this notice. The earliest

start date of awards average 90 days

after each project is selected and after

all NMFS/applicant negotiations of

cooperative activities have been

completed. The earliest start date of

awards is about 300 days after the date

of publication of this notice. Applicants

should consider this selection and

processing time in developing requested

start dates for their applications.

C. NMFS can, at its discretion:

1. Consult with members of the fishing

industry, management agencies,

environmental organizations, and

academic institutions. NMFS may, at its

discretion, request comments from

members of the fishing and associated

industries, groups, organizations, and

institutions who have knowledge in the

subject matter of a project or who would

be affected by a project.

2. Consult with Government agencies.

Applications may be reviewed by the

NMFS Southeast Region Program Office

in consultation with the NMFS

Southeast Fisheries Science Center,

including appropriate operations and

laboratory personnel, the NOAA Grants

Office and, as appropriate, DOC bureaus

and other Federal agencies.

XIII. Other Requirements

A. Federal policies and procedures.

Recipients and subrecipients are subject

to all Federal laws and Federal and DOC

policies, regulations, and procedures

applicable to Federal financial

assistance awards. Women and minority

individuals and groups are encouraged

to submit applications under this

program. If a grant is made that

specifically requires the collection of

information from the public, the grantee

will be responsible for preparing the

documentation necessary to obtain

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

approval prior to the start of the

collection. This approval process takes

a minimum of 4 months. This provision

especially applies to priorities 1(f)(3),

3(d)(3), 5(c), and 7(e). Information on

the PRA process can be found at the

following Web site address:

www.rdc.noaa.gov/pra.

B. Past performance. Any first-time

applicant for Federal grant funds is

subject to a pre-award accounting

survey prior to execution of the award.

Unsatisfactory performance under prior

Federal awards may result in an

application not being considered for

funding.

C. Pre-award activities. If applicants

incur any costs prior to an award being

made, they do so solely at their own risk

of not being reimbursed by the

Government. Notwithstanding any

verbal or written assurance that they

may have received, there is no

obligation on the part of DOC to cover

pre-award costs.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2001 / Notices 11155

D. No obligation of future funding. If

an application is selected for funding,

DOC has no obligation to provide any

additional future funding in connection

with the award. Renewal of an award to

increase funding or extend the period of

performance is at the total discretion of

DOC.

E. Delinquent Federal debts. No

award of Federal funds shall be made to

an applicant or to its subrecipients who

have any outstanding delinquent

Federal debt or fine until either:

1. The delinquent account is paid in

full;

2. A negotiated repayment schedule is

established and at least one payment is

received; or

3. Other arrangements satisfactory to

DOC are made.

F. Name check review. All non-profit

and for-profit applicants are subject to a

name check review process. Name

checks are intended to reveal if any key

individuals associated with the

applicant have been convicted of, or are

presently facing, criminal charges such

as fraud, theft, perjury, or other matters

that significantly reflect on the

applicant’s management honesty or

financial integrity. Potential non-profit

and for-profit recipients may also be

subject to reviews of Dun and Bradstreet

data or other similar credit checks.

G. Primary applicant certifications.

All primary applicants must submit a

completed Form CD-511, ‘‘Certifications

Regarding Debarment, Suspension and

Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free

Workplace Requirements and

Lobbying,’’ and the following

explanations are hereby provided:

1. Nonprocurement debarment and

suspension. Prospective participants (as

defined at 15 CFR 26.105) are subject to

15 CFR part 26, ‘‘Nonprocurement

Debarment and Suspension’’ and the

related section of the certification form

prescribed above applies;

2. Drug-free workplace. Grantees (as

defined at 15 CFR 26.605) are subject to

15 CFR part 26, subpart F,

‘‘Government-wide Requirements for

Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)’’ and the

related section of the certification form

prescribed above applies;

3. Anti-lobbying. Persons (as defined

at 15 CFR 28.105) are subject to the

lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,

‘‘Limitation on use of appropriated

funds to influence certain Federal

contracting and financial transactions,’’

and the lobbying section of the

certification form prescribed above

applies to applications/bids for grants,

cooperative agreements, and contracts

for more than $100,000; and

4. Anti-lobbying disclosures. Any

applicant who has paid or will pay for

lobbying using any funds must submit

a Form SL-LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying

Activities,’’ as required under 15 CFR

part 28, appendix B.

H. Lower tier certifications. Recipients

shall require applicants/bidders for

subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or

other lower tier covered transactions at

any tier under the award to submit, if

applicable, a completed Form CD-512,

‘‘Certifications Regarding Debarment,

Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary

Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered

Transactions and Lobbying’’ and

disclosure form SF-LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of

Lobbying Activities.’’ Form CD-512 is

intended for the use of recipients and

should not be transmitted to DOC. A

form SF-LLL submitted by any tier

recipient or subrecipient should be

submitted to DOC in accordance with

the instructions contained in the award

document.

I. False statements. A false statement

on the application is grounds for denial

or termination of funds and grounds for

possible punishment by a fine or

imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C.

1001.

J. Intergovernmental review.

Applications under this program are

subject to the provisions of Executive

Order 12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental

Review of Federal Programs.’’

K. Requirement to buy Americanmade equipment and products.

Applicants are hereby notified that they

are encouraged, to the extent feasible, to

purchase American-made equipment

and products with funding provided

under this program.

Classification

Prior notice and an opportunity for

public comments are not required by the

Administrative Procedure Act or any

other law for this notice concerning

grants, benefits, and contracts.

Therefore, a regulatory flexibility

analysis is not required for purposes of

the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

This action has been determined to be

not significant for purposes of Executive

Order 12866.

Cooperative agreements awarded

pursuant to pertinent statutes shall be in

accordance with the Fisheries Research

Plan (comprehensive program of

fisheries research) in effect on the date

of the award.

Federal participation under the

MARFIN Program may include the

assignment of DOC scientific personnel

and equipment.

Reasonable, negotiated financial

compensation will be provided under

awards for the work of eligible grantee

workers.

Notwithstanding any other provision

of law, no person is required to respond

to, nor shall any person be subject to a

penalty for failure to comply with, a

collection of information subject to the

requirements of the Paperwork

Reduction Act unless that collection of

information displays a currently valid

OMB control number. This notice

contains collection-of-information

requirements subject to the Paperwork

Reduction Act which have been

approved under OMB control number

0648-0175. Public reporting burden for

agency-specific collection-ofinformation elements, exclusive of

requirements specified under applicable

OMB circulars, is estimated to average

4 hours per response, including the time

for reviewing instructions, searching

existing data sources, gathering and

maintaining the data needed, and

completing and reviewing the collection

of information. This includes a

requirement to submit up to 10 copies

of applications. Send comments

regarding this reporting burden estimate

or any other aspect of this collection of

information, including suggestions for

reducing the burden, to NMFS (see

ADDRESSES).

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).

Dated: February 15, 2001.

William T. Hogarth,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 01–4417 Filed 2–21–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[I.D. 021301F]

Marine Mammals and Endangered

Species; National Marine Fisheries

Service File No. 989-1602; U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service File No. 033958.

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce; U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Interior.

ACTION: Receipt of application.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

Geo-Marine, Inc., 550 East 15th Street,

Plano, TX 75074, has applied in due

form for a permit to take all marine

mammal species (Cetacea, Pinnipedia,

and Sirenia) and sea turtle species