Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices 11731

minimal environmental impact in a Dated: March 12, 2018. the information from being included in mixed trap trawl configuration in the Emily H. Menashes, this review. first year of the project, then the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by applicant may also test the practicality , National Marine Fisheries Service. including NOAA–NMFS–2018–0041, by of deploying trawls with only the purse [FR Doc. 2018–05335 Filed 3–15–18; 8:45 am] either of the following methods: trap type in the following year. The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P • Electronic Submissions: Submit all depth of trap deployments is expected electronic public comments via the to be between 150 to 300 ft (46 to 91 m). Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Trap soak time would range from 3 to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 1. Go to www.regulations.gov/ 10 days depending on trap type and document?D=[NOAA-NMFS-2018- location. Setting and hauling of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 0041], traps is expected to occur during Administration 2. Click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, daylight hours. Bait would only be used RIN 0648–XF995 complete the required fields in the modified spiny lobster traps and 3. Enter or attach your comments. would include cowhide and fish heads. Initiation of 5-Year Review for the • Mail: Submit written comments to Lynn Lankshear, NMFS, Greater Vessels to be used in the proposed Endangered New York Bight, Atlantic Region Fisheries Office, 55 study would be three federally Chesapeake Bay, Carolina and South Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA permitted commercial fishing vessels. Atlantic Distinct Population Segments 01930 or Andrew Herndon, NMFS, Vessel crew would be responsible for of Atlantic and the Threatened Gulf of Maine Distinct Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th collecting detailed records during the Population Segment of Atlantic Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL sampling trips. Data to be collected per Sturgeon 33701. trip would include: Gear configuration Instructions: We may not consider and fishing effort data (e.g., date and AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries comments if they are sent by any other time of deployment and retrieval, Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and method, to any other address or latitude, longitude, and water depth of Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), individual, or received after the end of each deployed trawl, bait type used); Commerce. the specified period. All comments soak time per area for each trawl; ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year received are a part of the public record alternative weight and trawl review; request for information. and will generally be posted for public configurations used in different sea SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce our viewing on www.regulations.gov states and conditions; trap loss and without change. All personal identifying movement from original set position; intent to conduct a 5-year review for the threatened Gulf of Maine distinct information (e.g., name, address, etc.), protected species interactions; bycatch confidential business information, or species, amount, and disposition; and population segment (DPS) of ( oxyrinchus otherwise sensitive information lionfish catch data for each trap type. submitted voluntarily by the sender will Any fish species other than lionfish oxyrinchus), the endangered New York Bight DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, the be publicly accessible. We will accept caught in the traps would be released anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in once the traps are onboard the project endangered Chesapeake Bay DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, the endangered the required fields if you wish to remain vessels; only lionfish would be retained anonymous). as part of the project. Retained lionfish Carolina DPS of Atlantic sturgeon and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: would be sold on return to port. the endangered South Atlantic DPS of Atlantic sturgeon under the Endangered Lynn Lankshear at the above address, by The applicant has requested the EFP Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). phone at 978–282–8473 or be effective for a 2-year period from the We are required by the ESA to conduct [email protected] or Andrew date the EFP is issued. 5-year reviews to ensure that the listing Herndon at the above address, by phone NMFS finds the application warrants classification of the species remains at 727–824–5312 or Andrew.Herndon@ further consideration based on a accurate. The 5-year review must be noaa.gov. preliminary review. Possible conditions based on the best scientific and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On the agency may impose on the permit, commercial data available at the time of February 6, 2012, we listed the Gulf of if granted, include but are not limited the review; therefore, we are requesting Maine DPS of Atlantic sturgeon as to, a prohibition of conducting research submission of such information on the threatened and the New York Bight, within marine protected areas, marine status of each DPS, particularly Chesapeake Bay, Carolina and South sanctuaries, special management zones, information on population trends, Atlantic DPSs as endangered (77 FR or areas where they might interfere with distribution, abundance, habitat amount 5880 and 77 FR 5914). Section 4(c)(2)(A) managed fisheries without additional and suitability, threats, and of the ESA requires that we conduct a authorization. Additionally, NMFS may conservation measures for any DPS that review of listed species at least once require special protections for ESA- has become available since their original every five years. On the basis of such listed species and designated critical listings under the ESA in 2012. Based reviews, under section 4(c)(2)(B), we habitat, and may require particular gear on the results of this 5-year review, we determine whether a species should be markings. A final decision on issuance will make the requisite findings under delisted or reclassified from endangered of the EFP will depend on NMFS’ the ESA. to threatened or from threatened to review of public comments received on DATES: To allow us adequate time to endangered. Delisting a species must be the application, consultations with the conduct this review, we must receive supported by the best scientific and appropriate management your information no later than May 15, commercial data available and only agencies of the affected states, Councils, 2018. While we will continue to accept considered if such data substantiate that the U.S. Coast Guard, and a new information about any listed the species is neither endangered nor determination that they are consistent species at any time, failure to timely threatened for one or more of the with all applicable laws. submit the information in accordance following reasons: (1) The species is Authority: 16 U.S.C 1801 et seq. with the deadline above may preclude considered extinct; (2) the species is

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considered to be recovered; and/or (3) factors or threats; (4) conservation Dated: March 12, 2018. the original data available when the measures that have been implemented Angela Somma, species was listed, or the interpretation that benefit the species; and (5) other Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of such data, were in error (see 50 CFR new information, data, or corrections of Protected Resources, National Marine 424.11(d)). A 5-year review ends with a including, but not limited to, taxonomic Fisheries Service. determination of whether the species or nomenclatural changes, identification [FR Doc. 2018–05306 Filed 3–15–18; 8:45 am] should be delisted or the listing status of erroneous information contained in BILLING CODE 3510–22–P changed. A 5-year review does not the list of endangered and threatened change the listing status of the species. species, and improved analytical Changes to the listing status of a species DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE methods for evaluating extinction risk. can only be made following publication of a proposed rule with an opportunity Since there are no recovery plans for National Oceanic and Atmospheric for public comment and our any of the DPSs, we will analyze the Administration consideration of the comments before available information for the 5-year RIN 0648–XG092 making a final determination to review relative to the ESA definitions of reclassify or delist the species. endangered and threatened and in the North Pacific Fishery Management The ESA implementing regulations at context of the five listing factors. The Council; Public Meeting 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish five factors are: (1) The present or AGENCY: a notice in the Federal Register threatened destruction, modification, or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and announcing those species currently curtailment of its habitat or range; (2) Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under active review. This notice overutilization for commercial, Commerce. announces our active review of the Gulf recreational, scientific, or educational ACTION: of Maine DPS of Atlantic sturgeon purposes; (3) disease or predation; (4) Notice of public meetings. currently listed as threatened, and the the inadequacy of existing regulatory active review of the New York Bight, SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery mechanisms; or, (5) other natural or Chesapeake Bay, Carolina, and South Management Council (Council) and its Atlantic DPSs of Atlantic sturgeon that manmade factors affecting its continued advisory committees will meet April 2 are currently listed as endangered. existence. through April 10, 2018, in Anchorage, Background information for the Gulf During the 5-year review, we are also AK. of Maine, New York Bight, and required to consider whether the 1996 DATES: The meetings will be held Chesapeake Bay DPSs of Atlantic DPS policy (61 FR 4722; February 7, Monday, April 2 through Tuesday, April sturgeon is available on the NMFS 1996) is appropriately applied to the 10, 2018. See SUPPLEMENTARY GARFO website: https:// species. The DPS Policy specifies that INFORMATION for specific dates and www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ we consider the available information times. protected/atlsturgeon/index.html. with respect to three elements. These Background information for the Carolina ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at elements are: (1) The discreteness of the the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 W 3rd and South Atlantic DPSs of Atlantic population segment in relation to the sturgeon is available on the NMFS Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501. remainder of the of the species to which SERO website at: http:// Council address: North Pacific it belongs; (2) the significance of the sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_ Fishery Management Council, 605 W resources/sturgeon/index.html. population segment to the species to 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK which it belong; and (3) the population 99501–2252; telephone (907) 271–2809. Public Solicitation of New Information segment’s in relation FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To ensure that the 5-year review is to the ESA’s standards for listing (i.e., is Diana Evans, Council staff; telephone: complete and based on the best the population segment endangered or (907) 271–2809. available scientific and commercial threatened?). Because the five DPSs of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: information, we are soliciting Atlantic sturgeon have already been information that has become available classified as DPSs following the 1996 Agenda since the 2012 listing determination DPS policy, a re-evaluation of the DPSs The Council will begin its plenary from the public, concerned will not be necessary, unless there is session at 8 a.m. in the Aleutian Room governmental agencies, tribes, the new information specific to these DPSs on Wednesday, April 4, continuing scientific community, industry, relevant to the application of the policy. through Tuesday, April 10, 2018. The environmental entities, and any other Scientific and Statistical Committee If you wish to provide information for interested parties concerning the status (SSC) will begin at 8 a.m. in the King this 5-year review, you may submit your of each of the five DPSs of Atlantic Salmon/Iliamna Room on Monday, sturgeon. For example, we are aware information and materials electronically April 2, and continue through that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries at www.regulations.gov or via mail (see Wednesday, April 4, 2018. The Commission has just completed an ADDRESSES section). We request that all Council’s Advisory Panel (AP) will Atlantic Sturgeon Benchmark Stock information be accompanied by begin at 8 a.m. in the Dillingham/ Assessment. This is an example of new supporting documentation such as Katmai Room on Tuesday, April 3 and information we will consider during our maps, bibliographic references, or continue through Friday April 6, 2018. review. Categories of requested reprints of pertinent publications. We The Enforcement Committee will meet information include: (1) Species biology also would appreciate the submitter’s on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the Birch/ including, but not limited to, population name, address, and any association, Willow Room from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. trends, distribution, abundance, institution, or business that the person Monday, April 2, 2018 Through demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat represents; however, anonymous Tuesday, April 10, 2018 conditions including, but not limited to, submissions will also be accepted. amount, distribution, and suitability; (3) Council Plenary Session: The agenda Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. status and trends of identified limiting for the Council’s plenary session will

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