Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2006/05/30/E6-8264.html
Timestamp: 2020-07-13 21:19:30
Document Index: 532965049

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'arts 600', '§ 679', '§ 679', 'art 679', '§ 679', 'arts 600', 'art 679']

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit, 30659-30660 [E6-8264] :: 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, 30659-30660 [E6-8264]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit, 30659-30660 [E6-8264]
Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 2006 / Notices maximum of 365 days after the last day of the anniversary month of an order for which a review is requested, and (2) the final results to 180 days (or 300 days if the Department does not extend the time limit for the preliminary results) from the date of publication of the preliminary results. Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Review We determine that it is not practicable to complete the preliminary results of this review within the original time limits. Specifically, a complex affiliation issue has been raised. Korea Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., has reported that it is affiliated with Hwangyoung Steel Industries Co. Ltd., and has reported the home market sales and cost of production for this company. The Department needs more time to evaluate the affiliation issue and the reported data more thoroughly. For these reasons, we are extending the time limit for completion of the preliminary results until no later than September 30, 2006. We intend to issue the final results no later than 120 days after publication of the preliminary results. This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(3)(A) and 777(i) of the Act. Dated: May 23, 2006. Stephen J. Claeys, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E6–8276 Filed 5–26–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 051606C] Notice of Availability of Records of Decision for the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),Commerce; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Interior; National Parks Service (NPS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability of the three Records of Decision for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Natural Resource Restoration Plan. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES AGENCIES: SUMMARY: The NOAA, USFWS, and NPS collectively announce the availability of their Records of Decision (RODs) for the VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:51 May 26, 2006 Jkt 208001 Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Natural Resource Restoration Plan. NOAA, USFWS, and NPS are members of the natural resource trustee council planning and implementing natural resource restoration under the terms of the final settlement of litigation against the Montrose Chemical Corporation and other defendants. NOAA is the lead Federal agency, and USFWS and NPS are cooperating Federal agencies. The final EIS was released to the public for 30 days after the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on November 11, 2005. The ROD documents the selection of Alternative 2 (the preferred alternative) in the final EIS. Copies of the RODs may be obtained by written request to Trina Heard, NOAA GCNR, 501 West Ocean Blvd. Suite 4470, Long Beach, CA 90802; by email request to Trina.Heard@noaa.gov; or by calling Trina Heard at (562) 980–4070. The documents are also available on the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program web site at www.montroserestoration.gov. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Restore seabirds to San Miguel Island; • Restore alcids to Santa Barbara Island; • Restore seabirds to San Nicolas Island; • Restore seabirds to Scorpion and Orizaba Rocks; and • Restore seabirds to Baja California Pacific Islands. The NOAA, USFWS, and NPS reached their decision after taking into account the evaluation factors listed in the Restoration Plan EIS and in 43 CFR Part 11.82, the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations, and other applicable laws and regulations listed in Section 8 of the final EIS. The final selected program (Alternative 2) includes minor modifications based on public comments. As documented in the FEIS, this alternative was deemed to be the environmentally preferred course of action. Dated: May 24, 2006. William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–8265 Filed 5–26–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S Greg Baker, Program Manager, Montrose Settlements Restoration Program, 345 Middlefield Road, MS–999, Menlo Park, CA 94025, or Greg.Baker@noaa.gov, (650) 329–5048. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a summary of the RODs. NOAA, USFWS, and NPS selected final Restoration Plan EIS Alternative 2. Alternative 2 describes a first phase, $25 million course of action to restore natural resources injured by past releases of DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) into Southern California coastal waters. The selected actions restore fishing and fish habitat, seabirds, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons over a broad geographic area within the Southern California Bight. The restoration actions are: • Construct artificial reefs and fishing access improvements; • Provide public information to restore lost fishing services; • Restore full tidal exchange wetlands; • Augment funds for implementing Marine Protected Areas in California; • Complete the NCI Bald Eagle Feasibility Study before deciding on further restoration actions; • Monitor the recovery of peregrine falcons on the Channel Islands; PO 00000 30659 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 052406A] 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; receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation. If granted, the EFP would allow the applicant to test trawl gear modifications that may reduce Pacific halibut bycatch rates for trawlers targeting Pacific cod in the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This project is intended to promote the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and National Standard 9 of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by developing gear that may reduce bycatch. E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM 30MYN1 30660 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 2006 / Notices Copies of the EFP application and the environmental assessment (EA) are available by writing to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS, P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Walsh. The application and EA are also available from the Alaska Region, NMFS website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Gasper, 907–586–7228 or jason.gasper@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the domestic groundfish fisheries in the GOA under the FMP. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP under the MagnusonStevens Act. Regulations governing the groundfish fisheries of the GOA appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. The FMP and the implementing regulations at §§ 679.6 and 600.745(b) authorize issuance of EFPs to allow fishing that would be otherwise prohibited. Procedures for issuing EFPs are contained in the implementing regulations. NMFS received an EFP application from Alaska Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation in April 2006. The proposed EFP would allow for the testing of a modification to trawl gear commonly used in the Central GOA that may reduce Pacific halibut bycatch rates in the Central GOA trawl fishery. GOA trawl fishery Pacific halibut bycatch is controlled by a prohibited species catch (PSC) limit. Once reached, a PSC limit closes a fishery regardless of the available target species quota. These closures impose a cost on the industry in the form of unharvested groundfish quota. Therefore, a reduction in PSC bycatch rates may allow the industry to harvest a greater proportion of the total allowable catch (TAC) of groundfish. The proposed EFP’s primary objective is to reduce Pacific halibut bycatch rates without substantially reducing the target species catch (Pacific cod). The Alaska Marine Conservation Alliance developed the EFP in cooperation with NMFS scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC). The project has the following three performance goals: (1) To reduce current Pacific halibut bycatch rates by 40 percent; (2) to not reduce the target species catch by more than 10 percent; and (3) to be functional for a typical GOA trawl vessel which has limited deck space and may have only aft reels. The degree to which the excluder meets these performance goals will be evaluated by the applicant and the AFSC. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:51 May 26, 2006 Jkt 208001 The project will take two weeks to conduct between August 1, 2006, and August 30, 2006. The project may be extended by the Regional Administrator to occur during a two week period between August 1, 2007 and August 30, 2007. Continuation of the experiment in 2007 would allow refinement of the trawl gear modification and time to address statistical issues discovered during the 2006 experiment. August was chosen by the applicant because trawl vessels are not fishing for Pacific cod and are thus available to fish the EFP permit. Fishing would occur in the Central GOA, primarily in the Portlock Bank and Albatross Bank areas near Kodiak Island, Alaska. Fishing would be conducted by six trawl vessels each equipped with ordinary trawl gear. Participating vessels would be vessels that operate in the Central GOA Pacific cod trawl fishery. The proposed EFP exempts the applicant from fishery closures and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits. These exemptions are necessary to allow the permit holder to efficiently conduct the project and minimize Central GOA trawl fishery impacts. The EFP would exempt the applicant from Central GOA directed fishing closures implemented under §§ 679.20, 679.21, 679.23 or 679.25. Retained amounts of groundfish other than Pacific cod would be limited to the relevant maximum retainable amount specified in Table 10 of 50 CFR part 679, using Pacific cod as the basis species from which maximum retainable amounts would be calculated. The proposed EFP would also exempt the applicant from observer requirements at §§ 679.50, 679.7(a)(3), and 679.7(g). The total allowable groundfish harvest for the proposed EFP is 1,300 metric tons (mt), of which 950 mt is expected to be Pacific cod and 350 mt is expected to be other groundfish species. Sufficient TAC amounts for several groundfish species likely to be taken during the project may be fully utilized by the groundfish fishery. Therefore, groundfish harvested under the EFP would not be deducted from the TAC amounts specified in the annual harvest specifications (71 FR 10870, March 3, 2006). The PSC limit for Pacific halibut may be reached during the project, requiring the closure of the Central GOA trawl fisheries in accordance with 50 CFR 600.745(b) and 50 CFR 679.25. Halibut PSC limits closed the Central GOA trawl fishery for flatfish before the TAC was taken in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Therefore, to limit the impact on other Central GOA groundfish fisheries, halibut mortality from the project is PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 limited to a maximum of 90 mt and would not be counted against the annual PSC limit. The proposed EFP would exempt a vessel from halibut PSC limits at 50 CFR 679.21(d)(3) and permit up to 90 mt of halibut mortality as determined through consultation with the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the AFSC. In accordance with 50 CFR 600.745(b) and 50 CFR 679.6, NMFS has determined that the proposal warrants further consideration and has initiated consultation with the Council by forwarding the application to the Council. The Council will consider the EFP application during its June 5–13, 2006 meeting in Kodiak, Alaska. The applicant has been invited to appear in support of the application. Interested persons may comment on the application at the Council meeting during public testimony. Information regarding the June 2006 Council meeting is available at the Council’s website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ npfmc/council.htm. Copies of the application and EA are available for review from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 24, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–8264 Filed 5–26–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 052306C] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a public meeting of the Ad Hoc Grouper Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Advisory Panel (AHGIFQAP). DATES: The AHGIFQAP meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 15 and conclude no later than 3 p.m. on Friday, June 16, 2006. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 555 North Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33609; telephone: (813).875–1555. E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM 30MYN1
[Pages 30659-30660]
[FR Doc No: E6-8264]
[I.D. 052406A]
ACTION: Notice; receipt of an application for an exempted fishing
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of an application for an
exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the Marine Conservation Alliance
Foundation. If granted, the EFP would allow the applicant to test trawl
gear modifications that may reduce Pacific halibut bycatch rates for
trawlers targeting Pacific cod in the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA).
This project is intended to promote the objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and National
Standard 9 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by developing gear that may reduce bycatch.
[[Page 30660]]
ADDRESSES: Copies of the EFP application and the environmental
assessment (EA) are available by writing to Sue Salveson, Assistant
Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS,
P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Walsh. The application
and EA are also available from the Alaska Region, NMFS website at
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Gasper, 907-586-7228 or
jason.gasper@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
manages the domestic groundfish fisheries in the GOA under the FMP. The
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Regulations governing the groundfish
fisheries of the GOA appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. The FMP and
the implementing regulations at Sec. Sec.  679.6 and 600.745(b)
authorize issuance of EFPs to allow fishing that would be otherwise
prohibited. Procedures for issuing EFPs are contained in the
NMFS received an EFP application from Alaska Marine Conservation
Alliance Foundation in April 2006. The proposed EFP would allow for the
testing of a modification to trawl gear commonly used in the Central
GOA that may reduce Pacific halibut bycatch rates in the Central GOA
trawl fishery. GOA trawl fishery Pacific halibut bycatch is controlled
by a prohibited species catch (PSC) limit. Once reached, a PSC limit
closes a fishery regardless of the available target species quota.
These closures impose a cost on the industry in the form of unharvested
groundfish quota. Therefore, a reduction in PSC bycatch rates may allow
the industry to harvest a greater proportion of the total allowable
catch (TAC) of groundfish.
The proposed EFP's primary objective is to reduce Pacific halibut
bycatch rates without substantially reducing the target species catch
(Pacific cod). The Alaska Marine Conservation Alliance developed the
EFP in cooperation with NMFS scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science
Center (AFSC). The project has the following three performance goals:
(1) To reduce current Pacific halibut bycatch rates by 40 percent; (2)
to not reduce the target species catch by more than 10 percent; and (3)
to be functional for a typical GOA trawl vessel which has limited deck
space and may have only aft reels. The degree to which the excluder
meets these performance goals will be evaluated by the applicant and
the AFSC.
The project will take two weeks to conduct between August 1, 2006,
and August 30, 2006. The project may be extended by the Regional
Administrator to occur during a two week period between August 1, 2007
and August 30, 2007. Continuation of the experiment in 2007 would allow
refinement of the trawl gear modification and time to address
statistical issues discovered during the 2006 experiment. August was
chosen by the applicant because trawl vessels are not fishing for
Pacific cod and are thus available to fish the EFP permit. Fishing
would occur in the Central GOA, primarily in the Portlock Bank and
Albatross Bank areas near Kodiak Island, Alaska. Fishing would be
conducted by six trawl vessels each equipped with ordinary trawl gear.
Participating vessels would be vessels that operate in the Central GOA
Pacific cod trawl fishery.
The proposed EFP exempts the applicant from fishery closures and
prohibited species catch (PSC) limits. These exemptions are necessary
to allow the permit holder to efficiently conduct the project and
minimize Central GOA trawl fishery impacts. The EFP would exempt the
applicant from Central GOA directed fishing closures implemented under
Sec. Sec.  679.20, 679.21, 679.23 or 679.25. Retained amounts of
groundfish other than Pacific cod would be limited to the relevant
maximum retainable amount specified in Table 10 of 50 CFR part 679,
using Pacific cod as the basis species from which maximum retainable
amounts would be calculated. The proposed EFP would also exempt the
applicant from observer requirements at Sec. Sec.  679.50, 679.7(a)(3),
and 679.7(g).
The total allowable groundfish harvest for the proposed EFP is
1,300 metric tons (mt), of which 950 mt is expected to be Pacific cod
and 350 mt is expected to be other groundfish species. Sufficient TAC
amounts for several groundfish species likely to be taken during the
project may be fully utilized by the groundfish fishery. Therefore,
groundfish harvested under the EFP would not be deducted from the TAC
amounts specified in the annual harvest specifications (71 FR 10870,
The PSC limit for Pacific halibut may be reached during the
project, requiring the closure of the Central GOA trawl fisheries in
accordance with 50 CFR 600.745(b) and 50 CFR 679.25. Halibut PSC limits
closed the Central GOA trawl fishery for flatfish before the TAC was
taken in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Therefore, to limit the impact on other
Central GOA groundfish fisheries, halibut mortality from the project is
limited to a maximum of 90 mt and would not be counted against the
annual PSC limit. The proposed EFP would exempt a vessel from halibut
PSC limits at 50 CFR 679.21(d)(3) and permit up to 90 mt of halibut
mortality as determined through consultation with the International
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the AFSC.
In accordance with 50 CFR 600.745(b) and 50 CFR 679.6, NMFS has
determined that the proposal warrants further consideration and has
initiated consultation with the Council by forwarding the application
to the Council. The Council will consider the EFP application during
its June 5-13, 2006 meeting in Kodiak, Alaska. The applicant has been
invited to appear in support of the application. Interested persons may
comment on the application at the Council meeting during public
testimony. Information regarding the June 2006 Council meeting is
available at the Council's website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/
council.htm.
Copies of the application and EA are available for review from NMFS
[FR Doc. E6-8264 Filed 5-26-06; 8:45 am]