[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32095-32096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13675]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD981


Vessel Monitoring System, Enhanced Mobile Transceiver Unit Type-
Approvals

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that three enhanced mobile 
transceiver units (EMTU) that were previously approved for use to 
comply with vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements in United 
States federal fisheries are no longer approved for use.

[[Page 32096]]

This document also provides a link to the continually updated, online 
list of NOAA Fisheries Service Type-Approved VMS Units.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the list of NMFS-approved VMS mobile 
transmitting units and NMFS-approved VMS communications service 
providers (including specifications), please go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/about/our_programs/vessel_monitoring.html, and 
click on the ``Approved VMS Units'' link.
    You may also contact the VMS Support Center at phone (888) 219-
9228, fax (301) 427-0049, or write to NMFS Office for Law Enforcement 
(OLE), VMS, 1315 East West Highway, Suite 3301, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The public may acquire this notice and 
relevant updates by calling the VMS support center, email: 
[email protected], phone (888) 219-9228, fax (301) 427-0049. For 
questions regarding the status of VMS provider evaluations, contact 
Kelly Spalding, VMS Management Analyst, phone (301) 427-2300; fax (301) 
427-0049.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December 2014, the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) published in the Federal Register a final 
regulation governing the technical requirements for, and NMFS' approval 
of VMS units used in U.S. federal fisheries (79 FR 77399 (Dec. 24, 
2014); 50 CFR part 600, subpart Q). One of the requirements set out in 
the regulation is a type-approval renewal process. Under the type-
approval renewal process, VMS vendors are required to apply for a 
renewal of their type-approved EMTUs/services every three years. CLS 
America, Inc. and SkyMate Inc. did not submit completed applications 
for type-approval renewal for some or all of their type-approved EMTUs/
services. As a result, the following EMTU/communication-services did 
not receive renewal, and are therefore no longer approved for 
compliance with VMS requirements in United States federal fisheries, 
after September 30, 2015:

 
Skymate..............................  Stellar ST2500G (with messaging
                                        terminal).
                                       Stellar ST2500G (with closed Dell
                                        laptop).
CLS America..........................  Thorium TST (The Thorium TST A2.0
                                        and the Thorium LEO A2.0 are
                                        still approved).
 

Current Type-Approvals

    The list of type-approved EMTUs is continually changing. For the 
most up to date list of type-approved VMS EMTUs, by fishery/region, 
please go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/about/our_programs/vessel_monitoring.html, and click on the ``Approved VMS Units'' link.

    Dated: June 1, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13675 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P