[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 16764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4842]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032906D]


Environmental Impact Statement Regarding the Application for a 
Permit for Incidental Take of Protected Resources in Inshore Fisheries 
Managed by the State of Hawaii

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of cancellation of intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
cancellation of its intent to prepare an EIS to assess the potential 
impacts on the human environment of sea turtle and monk seal 
interactions with fishing activities in Hawaii State waters associated 
with an application for an individual Incidental Take Permit (ITP) 
submitted March 21, 2002, and subsequently revised and resubmitted in 
May 2005 by the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural 
Resources.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jayne LeFors, NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Region; telephone: (808) 944-2277; fax: (808) 944-2142; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS provided public notice through an 
earlier Federal Register notice of availability (67 FR 16367, April 5, 
2002) of a State of Hawaii application for an individual ITP for listed 
sea turtles in inshore marine fisheries in the Hawaiian Islands managed 
by the State of Hawaii. NMFS is responsible for analyzing these permit 
applications and authorizing those which meet legal requirements under 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On May 9, 2002, NMFS published a 
notice of intent to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in connection with agency action on the 
ITP application. On September 22, 2003 (68 FR 55023), NMFS published a 
notice of intent to hold public scoping meetings on the EIS. However, 
September 19, 2005, the State of Hawaii informed NMFS that they wished 
to withdraw and revise their application for an ITP. At that time the 
state expressed concerns that management measures identified in the ITP 
for monk seals needed further community input and agency consultation 
prior to issuance of a final ITP . NMFS will continue to work with the 
state as they revise their application. The timeline for completion of 
the revised application is uncertain and elements of the conservation 
plan may change. NMFS will publish an updated notice on the appropriate 
NEPA analysis once a revised application is received.
    As federal action (i.e., issuance of an ITP) is no longer proposed 
for the application received March 21, 2002, and amended in May 2005, 
an EIS is not needed and the notice of intent to prepare an EIS is 
cancelled.

    Dated: March 29, 2006.
Jim Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-4842 Filed 4-3-06; 8:45 am]
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