[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73884-73885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29199]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD641


National Invasive Lionfish Prevention and Management Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of the National Invasive Lionfish 
Prevention and Management Plan; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
announces the availability of the National Invasive Lionfish Prevention 
and Management Plan (Plan). The Plan is available for public review and 
comment.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the National Invasive Lionfish 
Prevention and Management Plan are available on the Aquatic Nuisance 
Species Task Force (ANSTF) Web site, http://anstaskforce.gov. To obtain 
a hard copy of the Plan or to submit comments, see Document 
Availability and Public Comment under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret M. (Peg) Brady, NOAA Policy 
Liaison to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. 1315 East West 
Highway, SSMC 3, Rm. 15426 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-427-8655; 
Email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The ANSTF is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to 
preventing and controlling aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and 
coordinating governmental efforts of the United States with the private 
sector and other North American interests. ANSTF was established by

[[Page 73885]]

Congress with the passage of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act (NANPCA) of 1990 (NANPCA, Pub. L. 101-646, 
104 Stat. 4761, 16 U.S.C. 4701-4741) and reauthorized with the passage 
of the National Invasive Species Act (NISA) of 1996 (NISA, Pub. L. 104-
332, 110 Stat. 4073). Section 1201(d) of NANPCA designates the 
Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Director 
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the ANSTF co-chairpersons. The 
ANSTF's charter is authorized by the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA) of 1972. The charter provides the ANSTF with its core structure 
and ensures an open and public forum for its activities. To meet the 
challenges of developing and implementing a coordinated and 
complementary Federal program for ANS activities, the ANSTF members 
include 13 Federal agency representatives and 13 representatives from 
ex-officio member organizations. These members work in conjunction with 
Regional Panels and issue-specific committees to coordinate efforts 
amongst agencies as well as efforts of the private sector and other 
North American interests.

Background

    NANCPA (as amended by NISA, 1996) establishes that the ANSTF is 
responsible for coordination of national efforts to prevent the 
introduction and spread of ANS. These responsibilities include the 
development of management plans for specific high-risk invasive 
species. Species management and control plans focus on tasks that are 
essential to minimize the impact to areas where the species have 
already invaded and prevent spread into additional habitats. The plans 
are developed through a cooperative process and undergo review by the 
ANS Task Force members and Regional Panels. Successful implementation 
of these plans requires the participation of states, regional, and 
tribal entities as well as federal agencies.
    Two lionfish species (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) have been 
introduced and are now invasive along the Atlantic coast, throughout 
the Caribbean, and most recently in the Gulf of Mexico. Native to the 
waters of the Indo-Pacific region, the lionfish was first documented in 
the waters of the United States in 1985. In response to the increasing 
range and density of these invasive species and their potential to 
impact ecology, economy, and human health, the ANSTF formed an Invasive 
Lionfish Control Ad-hoc Committee (Committee). The Committee was 
charged with the development of a National Invasive Lionfish Prevention 
and Management Plan (Plan) which would serve as a guide to the ANSTF 
and other interested parties involved in management of lionfish and 
natural resources in U.S. waters. Specifically, implementation of the 
Plan would provide federal agencies and other stakeholders an 
opportunity to contribute through relevant programs and authorities to:
    (1) Prevent the further introduction of additional invasive 
lionfish.
    (2) Conduct risk assessments and research on high priority pathways 
and high risk marine invasive species.
    (3) Promote public education and awareness on invasive lionfish.
    (4) Participate in the development of early detection and rapid 
response frameworks and plans for marine environments.
    (5) Monitor invasive lionfish populations accurately and reliably.
    (6) Coordinate and control populations of invasive lionfish in a 
cost-effective and environmentally sound manner.
    (7) Provide the mechanisms and venues for coordinated and 
collaborative research and management.
    (8) Expand research efforts that focus on the biology, ecology, 
impact, and control of the species.
    (9) Provide the guidance to restore native species and habitat 
conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded.
    To achieve this vision, the Plan is structured by integrated 
management approaches that set forth the following Goals:
    (1) Prevent the Spread of Invasive Lionfish.
    (2) Coordinated Early Detection and Rapid Response.
    (3) Control and Management of Invasive Lionfish.
    (4) Assess Impacts of the Lionfish Invasion.
    In addition to the above goals, the Plan offers a list of 
scientific literature on lionfish and recommendations for future 
research needs and outreach strategies to increase support for programs 
addressing the lionfish invasion. The Plan also includes an overview of 
the leadership, communication, and coordinating roles among partners 
involved in the Committee and implementation of the Plan. Finally, the 
Plan outlines the estimated yearly funding needs to address some of the 
major knowledge and management gaps with the lionfish invasion, at the 
time of the plan's drafting. The estimated funding is intended to be a 
living list, as needs may change as more is understood about invasive 
lionfish and new ways to manage the invasion are discovered. The final 
Plan was submitted to the ANSTF on November 7, 2014. Distribution of 
the document for public comment is the final step before the ANSTF can 
consider the Plan for approval.

Document Availability

    You may obtain copies of the National Invasive Lionfish Prevention 
and Management Plan by any one of the following methods:
     Internet: http://anstaskforce.gov.
     Write: Susan Pasko, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. 1315 East West Highway, SSMC 3, Rm. 15719, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; Telephone: (301) 427-8682; Email: 
[email protected].

Request for Comments

    Comments on the National Invasive Lionfish Prevention and 
Management Plan are invited. The ANSTF will review all submitted 
comments and make revisions, as appropriate, to the Plan before 
approval. You may submit a written comment by any one of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail or hand-delivery: Susan Pasko, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. 1315 East West Highway, SSMC 3, Rm. 15719, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    All comments received by ANSTF through NOAA are part of the public 
record and may be made publicly available at any time. All personal 
identifying information (e.g., name, address, phone number, etc.), 
confidential business information, or other sensitive information 
submitted voluntarily by the sender may be publicly accessible.

    Dated: December 8, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29199 Filed 12-11-14; 8:45 am]
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