Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2011/03/28/2011-7240.html
Timestamp: 2020-01-18 12:44:24
Document Index: 724860982

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 600', '§ 600', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', 'arts 600']

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit, 17107-17109 [2011-7240] :: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration :: Department Of Commerce :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Commerce National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit, 17107-17109 [2011-7240]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit, 17107-17109 [2011-7240]
Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 59 / Monday, March 28, 2011 / Notices Flagstaff, Arizona, to conduct an initial review of project proposals in preparation for the proposal presentations in May. No proposals will be heard at this meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held April 28, 2011, beginning at 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Ponderosa Room of the Coconino County Health Department, 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff, Arizona, 86004. Send written comments to Brady Smith, RAC Coordinator, Coconino Resource Advisory Committee, c/o Forest Service, USDA, 1824 S. Thompson St., Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 or electronically to bradysmith@fs.fed.us. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brady Smith, Coconino National Forest, (928) 527–3490. Dated: March 22, 2011. Kristin Bail, Acting Forest Supervisor, Coconino National Forest. [FR Doc. 2011–7209 Filed 3–25–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P International Trade Administration [A–570–928] Uncovered Innerspring Units From the People’s Republic of China: Extension of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the ‘‘Department’’) is extending the time limit for the preliminary results of the new shipper review of uncovered innerspring units (‘‘innersprings’’) from the People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’). The period of review for this review is February 1, 2010–July 31, 2010. DATES: Effective Date: March 28, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Walker, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0413. AGENCY: Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Background On October 7, 2010 the Department published a notice of initiation of the new shipper review in the antidumping duty order on innersprings from the PRC for Foshan Nanhai Jiujiang Quan Li Spring Hardware Factory (‘‘Quan Li’’) and Foshan Yongnuo Import & Export Co., Ltd. (‘‘Yongnuo’’). See Uncovered 17:14 Mar 25, 2011 Statutory Time Limits Section 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the ‘‘Act’’), and 19 CFR 351.214(i)(1) require the Department to issue the preliminary results of a new shipper review within 180 days after the date on which the new shipper review was initiated and final results within 90 days after the date on which the preliminary results are issued. However, the Department may extend the deadline for completion of the preliminary results of a new shipper review to 300 days if it determines that the case is extraordinarily complicated. See section 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) of the Act; see also 19 CFR 351.214(i)(2) Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Review DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE VerDate Mar<15>2010 Innerspring Units From the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review, 75 FR 62107 (October 7, 2010). The preliminary results of this review are currently due no later than March 28, 2011. Jkt 223001 The Department has determined that the review is extraordinarily complicated as the Department must issue, and analyze the responses to, additional supplemental questionnaires concerning Quan Li’s and Yongnuo’s sales practices and factors of production. Moreover, the Department needs additional time to analyze the bona fide nature of Quan Li’s and Yongnuo’s sales, which includes gathering data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Based on the timing of the case and the additional information that must be gathered, the preliminary results of this new shipper review cannot be completed within 180 days. Therefore, the Department is extending the time limit for completion of the preliminary results of this new shipper review by 65 days from the original March 28, 2011, deadline. As a result, the preliminary results will now be due no later than June 1, 2011. The final results continue to be due 90 days after the issuance of the preliminary results. We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with sections 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) and 777(i) of the Act. Dated: March 17, 2011. Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. [FR Doc. 2011–7227 Filed 3–25–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17107 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA295 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public comment on an application for exempted fishing permit. AGENCY: This notice announces receipt of an application and the public comment period for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from Mr. John Gauvin of Gauvin and Associates, LLC. If granted, this permit would allow the applicant to continue the development and testing of a salmon excluder device for the Bering Sea pollock trawl fishery. This activity is intended to promote the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) by reducing salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock trawl fishery. DATES: Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. A.l.t. April 27, 2011. Interested persons may comment on the EFP application and on the environmental assessment during the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) March 28 through April 5, 2011, meeting in Anchorage, AK. SUMMARY: The Council meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 500 West Third Ave., Anchorage, AK. Send comments to Galen Tromble, Acting Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by ‘‘RIN 0648–XA295,’’ by any one of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at http://www.regulations.gov. • Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. • Fax: 907–586–7557. • Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM 28MRN1 Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES 17108 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 59 / Monday, March 28, 2011 / Notices submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. Copies of the EFP application and the environmental assessment (EA) are available from the Alaska Region, NMFS Web site at http:// www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Grady, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the domestic groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) under the FMP. The Council prepared the FMP under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing the groundfish fisheries of the BSAI appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. The FMP and the implementing regulations at §§ 600.745(b) and 679.6 authorize issuance of EFPs to allow fishing that would otherwise be prohibited. Procedures for issuing EFPs are contained in the implementing regulations. NMFS received an application for an EFP from Mr. Gauvin in November 2010. The purposes of the EFP project would be to improve the performance of the salmon excluder device developed under EFP 08–02 from 2008 to 2010, and to validate the performance of this device for pollock trawl gear used in the BSAI. Focused efforts of the EFP project would be on using an excluder device to reduce chum salmon bycatch and refinement to the Chinook salmon excluder device. The goal is to develop a device for pollock trawl gear that reduces salmon bycatch without significantly lowering catch rates of pollock. The EFP would allow for development and testing of the salmon excluder device from August 2011 through November 2012, for several weeks in each pollock A and B season. Testing in each season would allow the device to be used under salmon occurrence and pollock fishing practices specific to each season. Testing in the A season would catch primarily Chinook salmon and roe-bearing pollock, while testing in the B season would catch Chinook and chum salmon and pollock that are not likely to be roe-bearing. EFP fishing would be conducted by one to two vessels in each season. To test the salmon excluder device, exemptions would be necessary from regulations for salmon bycatch management, observer requirements, closure areas, and total allowable catch amounts (TACs) for groundfish. The taking of salmon during the experiment is crucial for determining the VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:14 Mar 25, 2011 Jkt 223001 effectiveness of the device. Salmon taken during the experiment would not be counted toward the Chinook and chum salmon bycatch limits under § 679.21(e)(1)(vii) and f(2). The amount of chum salmon bycatch by the pollock trawl industry during the EFP period could potentially approach or exceed the chum salmon bycatch limits under § 679.21(e). If the EFP chum salmon were counted toward the chum salmon bycatch limits, the EFP salmon may create an additional burden on the pollock trawl fishermen not participating in the intercooperative agreement for chum salmon bycatch reduction by causing earlier closures of the Chum Salmon Savings Area. More information regarding the intercooperative agreement for salmon bycatch reduction is at 72 FR 61070 (October 29, 2007). Information regarding Amendment 91 for Bering Sea Chinook salmon bycatch management is at 75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010. Approximately 2,500 chum salmon and 125 Chinook salmon for each B season and 125 chum salmon and 600 Chinook salmon for one A season would be required to support the project. In total, the applicant would be limited to harvesting 5,125 chum salmon and 850 Chinook salmon for the time period of the EFP. The experimental design requires this quantity of salmon to ensure statistically valid results. The applicant also has requested an exemption from the Chum Salmon Savings Area (§§ 679.21(e)(7)(vii) and 679.22(a)(10)), the Bering Sea Pollock Restriction Area (§ 679.22(a)(7)(ii)), and the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (§ 679.22(a)(7)(vii)). These overlapping areas occur in locations of salmon concentration. The experiment must be conducted in areas of salmon concentration sufficient to ensure a statistically adequate sample size. These locations are ideal for conducting the experiment and ensuring that the vessel encounters sufficient concentrations of salmon and pollock for meeting the experimental design. Groundfish taken under the EFP would be exempt from the TACs specified in the annual harvest specifications (§ 679.20). A total of 2,500 metric tons (mt) of groundfish (primarily pollock) would be taken during each season of the EFP for a total of 7,500 mt over the duration of the EFP. Approximately 98 percent of the groundfish harvested is expected to be pollock. The experimental design requires this quantity of pollock to ensure a statistically adequate sample size for measuring pollock escapement through the salmon excluder device. The EFP pollock harvest would not be PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 included in the harvest applied against the Bering Sea groundfish TACs, including the 2011 pollock TAC of 1,266,400 mt and 2012 pollock TAC of 1,253,658 mt. The acceptable biological catches (ABC) for Bering Sea pollock in 2011 and 2012 are 1,270,000 mt and 1,600,000 mt, respectively. Because of very little groundfish incidental catch in the pollock fishery, the harvest of other fish species during the EFP fishing is expected to be 25 mt to 75 mt per season. The majority of these other species harvested under the EFP likely would be Pacific cod, skates, flatfish, halibut, and jellyfish. The amount of groundfish harvest under the EFP and by the commercial groundfish fisheries is not expected to exceed the ABCs for groundfish species in either 2011 or 2012. Using a catcher/processor for the EFP study would require exemption from the Catcher Vessel Operating Area (CVOA) restriction (§ 679.22(a)(5)) because of the location of the Chinook salmon concentration in the CVOA. Catcher/ processors are prohibited from operating in the CVOA during the B season. The EFP fishing may be done by either a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor. It may be necessary for the EFP applicant to use a catcher/processor to conduct tows in this area to ensure encountering sufficient pollock and salmon concentrations to meet the experimental design. The EFP would include an exemption from the observer requirements at § 679.50. The applicants would use ‘‘sea samplers’’ who are NMFS-trained observers. They would not be deployed as NMFS observers, however, at the time of the EFP fishing. The ‘‘sea samplers’’ would conduct the EFP data collection and perform other observer duties that normally would be required for vessels directed fishing for pollock. The activities under the EFP are not expected to have a significant impact on the human environment as analyzed in the EA for this action (see ADDRESSES). The EFP would be subject to modifications pending any new relevant information regarding the 2012 fishery, including pollock harvest specifications. In accordance with § 679.6, NMFS has determined that the proposal warrants further consideration and has forwarded the application to the Council to initiate consultation. The Council will consider the EFP application during its March 28 through April 5, 2011 meeting, which will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage, AK. The applicant has been invited to appear in support of the application. E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM 28MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 59 / Monday, March 28, 2011 / Notices Public Comments Public comments are being solicited on the application and the EA through the end of the comment period stated in this notice. To be considered, comments must be received by 5 p.m. A.L.T. on the last day of the comment period; that does not mean postmarked or otherwise transmitted by that date. Copies of the application and EA are available for review from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Interested persons also may comment on the application and on the EA at the March/April 2011 Council meeting during public testimony. Information regarding the meeting is available at the Council’s Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ npfmc/. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 23, 2011. Margo Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–7240 Filed 3–25–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA285 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Extension for Exempted Fishing Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing permit (EFP) application contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. This EFP extension would exempt four commercial fishing vessels from the restriction on fishing for, catching, possessing, landing, and selling female red crabs in excess of one standard tote for the purpose of research on an experimental female red crab fishery that is being conducted in conjunction with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs. Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:14 Mar 25, 2011 Jkt 223001 Comments must be received on or before April 12, 2011. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods: • E-mail: nero.efp@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments on Red Crab EFP Extension.’’ • Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on Red Crab EFP Extension.’’ • Fax: (978) 281–9135. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Knoell, Fisheries Management Specialist, 978–281–9224, Carly.Knoell@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP extension was submitted on February 28, 2011, by Dr. Richard Wahle of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences; Dr. Yong Chen of the School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine; and Mr. Jon Williams of the New England Red Crab Harvesters’ Association to conduct commercial fishing activities that the regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize four vessels to catch, possess, land, and sell female red crabs in excess of one standard tote of female red crab, as specified at 50 CFR 648.263(a)(3). Vessels would remain subject to all other commercial fishing regulations, including red crab possession limits and days-at-sea restrictions. The primary goal of the experimental fishery is to harvest non-egg-bearing females to expand the red crab market and increase efficiency in the harvesting process. In addition, an experimental fishery that includes non-egg-bearing females has provided an opportunity to conduct at-sea sampling, renewed tagging, and model development to better evaluate the growth and reproductive performance of the population, as well as the impact of current and proposed harvesting on yields and egg production. This aspect of the project is conducted by an onboard researcher under the direction of Dr. Wahle. The EFP was initially issued July 23, 2009, for 1 year, expiring July 22, 2010. An extension was granted July 26, 2010, through the end of the fishing year (February 28, 2011). A subsequent extension is now being requested due to initial logistical delays and additional time to complete research and funding components of this study. No additional exemptions will be included in the extension of this EFP and the activities of the study remain consistent with the DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17109 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan. If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP throughout the year. 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: March 23, 2011. Margo Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–7239 Filed 3–25–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Availability of Seats for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice and request for applications. AGENCY: The ONMS is seeking applications for the following vacant seats on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Diving, Education (alternate), Research (alternate), Tourism (alternate) and Agriculture (alternate). Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen should expect to serve until February 2014. The Research alternate and Agriculture alternate should expect to serve until February 2013 because the seats were vacated prematurely. DATES: Applications are due by April 15, 2010. ADDRESSES: Application kits may be obtained from 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA, 93940 or online at http://montereybay.noaa.gov/. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM 28MRN1
[Pages 17107-17109]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7240]
RIN 0648-XA295
ACTION: Notice; public comment on an application for exempted fishing
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of an application and the public
comment period for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from Mr. John
Gauvin of Gauvin and Associates, LLC. If granted, this permit would
allow the applicant to continue the development and testing of a salmon
excluder device for the Bering Sea pollock trawl fishery. This activity
is intended to promote the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) by reducing salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock trawl
DATES: Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. A.l.t. April 27,
2011. Interested persons may comment on the EFP application and on the
environmental assessment during the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) March 28 through April 5, 2011, meeting in Anchorage,
ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 500
West Third Ave., Anchorage, AK. Send comments to Galen Tromble, Acting
Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division,
identified by ``RIN 0648-XA295,'' by any one of the following methods:
submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not
Copies of the EFP application and the environmental assessment (EA)
are available from the Alaska Region, NMFS Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Grady, 907-586-7228.
under the FMP. The Council prepared the FMP under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing the
groundfish fisheries of the BSAI appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679.
The FMP and the implementing regulations at Sec. Sec.  600.745(b) and
679.6 authorize issuance of EFPs to allow fishing that would otherwise
be prohibited. Procedures for issuing EFPs are contained in the
NMFS received an application for an EFP from Mr. Gauvin in November
2010. The purposes of the EFP project would be to improve the
performance of the salmon excluder device developed under EFP 08-02
from 2008 to 2010, and to validate the performance of this device for
pollock trawl gear used in the BSAI. Focused efforts of the EFP project
would be on using an excluder device to reduce chum salmon bycatch and
refinement to the Chinook salmon excluder device. The goal is to
develop a device for pollock trawl gear that reduces salmon bycatch
without significantly lowering catch rates of pollock.
The EFP would allow for development and testing of the salmon
excluder device from August 2011 through November 2012, for several
weeks in each pollock A and B season. Testing in each season would
allow the device to be used under salmon occurrence and pollock fishing
practices specific to each season. Testing in the A season would catch
primarily Chinook salmon and roe-bearing pollock, while testing in the
B season would catch Chinook and chum salmon and pollock that are not
likely to be roe-bearing. EFP fishing would be conducted by one to two
vessels in each season.
To test the salmon excluder device, exemptions would be necessary
from regulations for salmon bycatch management, observer requirements,
closure areas, and total allowable catch amounts (TACs) for groundfish.
The taking of salmon during the experiment is crucial for determining
the effectiveness of the device. Salmon taken during the experiment
would not be counted toward the Chinook and chum salmon bycatch limits
under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(vii) and f(2). The amount of chum salmon
bycatch by the pollock trawl industry during the EFP period could
potentially approach or exceed the chum salmon bycatch limits under
Sec.  679.21(e). If the EFP chum salmon were counted toward the chum
salmon bycatch limits, the EFP salmon may create an additional burden
on the pollock trawl fishermen not participating in the
intercooperative agreement for chum salmon bycatch reduction by causing
earlier closures of the Chum Salmon Savings Area. More information
regarding the intercooperative agreement for salmon bycatch reduction
is at 72 FR 61070 (October 29, 2007). Information regarding Amendment
91 for Bering Sea Chinook salmon bycatch management is at 75 FR 53026,
Approximately 2,500 chum salmon and 125 Chinook salmon for each B
season and 125 chum salmon and 600 Chinook salmon for one A season
would be required to support the project. In total, the applicant would
be limited to harvesting 5,125 chum salmon and 850 Chinook salmon for
the time period of the EFP. The experimental design requires this
quantity of salmon to ensure statistically valid results.
The applicant also has requested an exemption from the Chum Salmon
Savings Area (Sec. Sec.  679.21(e)(7)(vii) and 679.22(a)(10)), the
Bering Sea Pollock Restriction Area (Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(ii)), and the
Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(vii)). These
overlapping areas occur in locations of salmon concentration. The
experiment must be conducted in areas of salmon concentration
sufficient to ensure a statistically adequate sample size. These
locations are ideal for conducting the experiment and ensuring that the
vessel encounters sufficient concentrations of salmon and pollock for
meeting the experimental design.
Groundfish taken under the EFP would be exempt from the TACs
specified in the annual harvest specifications (Sec.  679.20). A total
of 2,500 metric tons (mt) of groundfish (primarily pollock) would be
taken during each season of the EFP for a total of 7,500 mt over the
duration of the EFP. Approximately 98 percent of the groundfish
harvested is expected to be pollock. The experimental design requires
this quantity of pollock to ensure a statistically adequate sample size
for measuring pollock escapement through the salmon excluder device.
The EFP pollock harvest would not be included in the harvest applied
against the Bering Sea groundfish TACs, including the 2011 pollock TAC
of 1,266,400 mt and 2012 pollock TAC of 1,253,658 mt. The acceptable
biological catches (ABC) for Bering Sea pollock in 2011 and 2012 are
1,270,000 mt and 1,600,000 mt, respectively. Because of very little
groundfish incidental catch in the pollock fishery, the harvest of
other fish species during the EFP fishing is expected to be 25 mt to 75
mt per season. The majority of these other species harvested under the
EFP likely would be Pacific cod, skates, flatfish, halibut, and
jellyfish. The amount of groundfish harvest under the EFP and by the
commercial groundfish fisheries is not expected to exceed the ABCs for
groundfish species in either 2011 or 2012.
Using a catcher/processor for the EFP study would require exemption
from the Catcher Vessel Operating Area (CVOA) restriction (Sec.
679.22(a)(5)) because of the location of the Chinook salmon
concentration in the CVOA. Catcher/processors are prohibited from
operating in the CVOA during the B season. The EFP fishing may be done
by either a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor. It may be necessary
for the EFP applicant to use a catcher/processor to conduct tows in
this area to ensure encountering sufficient pollock and salmon
concentrations to meet the experimental design.
The EFP would include an exemption from the observer requirements
at Sec.  679.50. The applicants would use ``sea samplers'' who are
NMFS-trained observers. They would not be deployed as NMFS observers,
however, at the time of the EFP fishing. The ``sea samplers'' would
conduct the EFP data collection and perform other observer duties that
normally would be required for vessels directed fishing for pollock.
The activities under the EFP are not expected to have a significant
impact on the human environment as analyzed in the EA for this action
(see ADDRESSES). The EFP would be subject to modifications pending any
new relevant information regarding the 2012 fishery, including pollock
consider the EFP application during its March 28 through April 5, 2011
meeting, which will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage, AK. The
Public comments are being solicited on the application and the EA
through the end of the comment period stated in this notice. To be
considered, comments must be received by 5 p.m. A.L.T. on the last day
of the comment period; that does not mean postmarked or otherwise
transmitted by that date. Copies of the application and EA are
available for review from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Interested persons also
may comment on the application and on the EA at the March/April 2011
Council meeting during public testimony.
site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc/.
[FR Doc. 2011-7240 Filed 3-25-11; 8:45 am]