[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51312-51313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20437]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD047


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Generic Accountability Measure and Dolphin Allocation Amendment

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

ACTION: Notice announcing the preparation of an environmental 
assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), is preparing an EA for 
the Generic Accountability Measure (AM) and Dolphin Allocation 
Amendment. This notice is intended to inform the public of the change 
from the preparation of a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) 
to an EA for this amendment. The Generic AM and Dolphin Allocation 
Amendment would amend the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for the 
Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, the Snapper-Grouper Fishery 
of the South Atlantic Region, and the Golden Crab Fishery of the South 
Atlantic Region. The Generic AM and Dolphin Allocation Amendment will 
consider alternative AMs for snapper-grouper species and golden crab, 
as well as alternatives to modify existing commercial and recreational 
sector allocations for dolphin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Michie, Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A NOI to prepare a DEIS for the Generic AM 
and Dolphin Allocation Amendment was

[[Page 51313]]

published on January 31, 2014 (79 FR 5379). The NOI indicated the 
amendment would be supported by an environmental impact statement, 
which was the preliminary determination at the time the original 
purpose and need of the amendment was drafted. When the Council first 
requested development of this amendment the allocation applied to 
dolphin and snapper-grouper species.
    The Council subsequently removed snapper-grouper species from the 
allocation action, which left only dolphin allocations and AM 
modifications for snapper-grouper species and golden crab as amendment 
actions. A reassessment of the actions in the amendment relative to the 
National Environmental Policy Act indicates an EA is appropriate. 
Therefore, a DEIS will not be prepared for the Generic AM and Dolphin 
Allocation Amendment at this time.
    The EA for the Generic AM and Dolphin Allocation Amendment would 
consider alternatives to modify existing AMs for snapper-grouper 
species and golden crab to provide consistency among species, and 
ensure overfishing does not occur. The EA would also consider 
alternatives to modify existing sector allocations for dolphin.
    The Council held public hearings in August 2014 to discuss the 
actions included in the Generic AM and Dolphin Allocation Amendment.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 22, 2014.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-20437 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
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