[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40247-40260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16888]



[[Page 40247]]

Vol. 82

Thursday,

No. 163

August 24, 2017

Part IV





Department of Commerce





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 163 / Thursday, August 24, 2017 / 
Unified Agenda  

[[Page 40248]]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

13 CFR Ch. III

15 CFR Subtitle A; Subtitle B, Chs. I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX, and 
XI

19 CFR Ch. III

37 CFR Chs. I, IV, and V

48 CFR Ch. 13

50 CFR Chs. II, III, IV, and VI


Spring 2017 Semiannual Agenda of Regulations

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Commerce.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with Executive Order 12866, entitled 
``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
as amended, the Department of Commerce (Commerce), in the spring and 
fall of each year, publishes in the Federal Register an agenda of 
regulations under development or review over the next 12 months. 
Rulemaking actions are grouped according to prerulemaking, proposed 
rules, final rules, long-term actions, and rulemaking actions completed 
since the fall 2016 agenda. The purpose of the Agenda is to provide 
information to the public on regulations that are currently under 
review, being proposed, or issued by Commerce. The agenda is intended 
to facilitate comments and views by interested members of the public.
    Commerce's spring 2017 regulatory agenda includes regulatory 
activities that are expected to be conducted during the period April 1, 
2017, through March 31, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Specific: For additional information about specific regulatory 
actions listed in the agenda, contact the individual identified as the 
contact person.
    General: Comments or inquiries of a general nature about the agenda 
should be directed to Asha Mathew, Chief Counsel for Regulation, Office 
of the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 202-482-3151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commerce hereby publishes its spring 2017 
Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions pursuant 
to Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 
601 et seq. Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to publish an 
agenda of those regulations that are under consideration pursuant to 
this order. By memorandum of March 2, 2017, the Office of Management 
and Budget issued guidelines and procedures for the preparation and 
publication of the spring 2017 Unified Agenda. The Regulatory 
Flexibility Act requires agencies to publish, in the spring and fall of 
each year, a regulatory flexibility agenda that contains a brief 
description of the subject of any rule likely to have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, and a list 
that identifies those entries that have been selected for periodic 
review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    In addition, beginning with the fall 2007 edition, the Internet 
became the basic means for disseminating the Unified Agenda. The 
complete Unified Agenda is available online at www.reginfo.gov, in a 
format that offers users a greatly enhanced ability to obtain 
information from the Agenda database.
    Because publication in the Federal Register is mandated for the 
regulatory flexibility agendas required by the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, Commerce's printed agenda entries include only:
    (1) Rules that are in the Agency's regulatory flexibility agenda, 
in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, because they are 
likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities; and
    (2) Rules that the Agency has identified for periodic review under 
section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    Printing of these entries is limited to fields that contain 
information required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act's Agenda 
requirements. Additional information on these entries is available in 
the Unified Agenda published on the Internet.
    Within Commerce, the Office of the Secretary and various operating 
units may issue regulations. Among these operating units, the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Bureau of Industry 
and Security, and the Patent and Trademark Office issue the greatest 
share of Commerce's regulations.
    A large number of regulatory actions reported in the Agenda deal 
with fishery management programs of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS). To avoid repetition of programs and definitions, as 
well as to provide some understanding of the technical and 
institutional elements of NMFS' programs, an ``Explanation of 
Information Contained in NMFS Regulatory Entries'' is provided below.

Explanation of Information Contained in NMFS Regulatory Entries

    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (the Act) governs the management of fisheries 
within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States (EEZ). The EEZ 
refers to those waters from the outer edge of the State boundaries, 
generally 3 nautical miles, to a distance of 200 nautical miles. For 
fisheries that require conservation and management measures, eight 
Regional Fishery Management Councils (Councils) prepare Fishery 
Management Plans (FMPs) for the fisheries within their respective 
areas. Regulations implementing these FMPs regulate domestic fishing 
and foreign fishing where permitted. Foreign fishing may be conducted 
in a fishery in which there is no FMP only if a preliminary fishery 
management plan has been issued to govern that foreign fishing. In the 
development of FMPs, or amendments to FMPs, and their implementing 
regulations, the Councils are required by law to conduct public 
hearings on the draft plans and to consider the use of alternative 
means of regulating.
    The Council process for developing FMPs and amendments makes it 
difficult for NMFS to determine the significance and timing of some 
regulatory actions under consideration by the Councils at the time the 
semiannual regulatory agenda is published.
    Commerce's spring 2017 regulatory agenda follows.

 Michelle O. McClelland,
Performing the Delegated Duties of the General Counsel.

[[Page 40249]]



                 Bureau of the Census--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
17........................  Foreign Trade Regulations:         0607-AA55
                             Clarification on Filing
                             Requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


         International Trade Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
18........................  Covered Merchandise                0625-AB10
                             Referrals From the
                             Customs Service.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
19........................  Comprehensive Fishery              0648-BD32
                             Management Plan for
                             Puerto Rico.
20........................  Comprehensive Fishery              0648-BD33
                             Management Plan for St.
                             Croix.
21........................  Comprehensive Fishery              0648-BD34
                             Management Plan for St.
                             Thomas/St. John.
22........................  Omnibus Acceptable                 0648-BE65
                             Biological Catch
                             Framework Adjustment.
23........................  Modification of the                0648-BE77
                             Temperature-Dependent
                             Component of the Pacific
                             Sardine Harvest Guideline
                             Control Rule to
                             Incorporate New
                             Scientific Information.
24........................  Fishing Capacity                   0648-BF01
                             Reductions for Lobster
                             Management Areas 2 and 3.
25........................  International Fisheries;           0648-BF41
                             Western and Central
                             Pacific Fisheries for
                             Highly Migratory Species;
                             Treatment of U.S. Purse
                             Seine Fishing With
                             Respect to U.S.
                             Territories.
26........................  Omnibus Essential Fish             0648-BF82
                             Habitat Amendment 2.
27........................  Voting Criteria for a              0648-BG36
                             Referendum on a Gulf of
                             Mexico Reef Fish Catch
                             Share Program for For-
                             Hire Vessels With
                             Landings Histories.
28........................  Unmanaged Forage Fish              0648-BG42
                             Omnibus Amendment.
29........................  Amendment 114 for                  0648-BG54
                             Groundfish of the Bering
                             Sea/Aleutian Islands
                             Management Area and
                             Amendment 104 for
                             Groundfish of the Gulf of
                             Alaska; Electronic
                             Monitoring.
30........................  2017 Summer Flounder and           0648-BG68
                             Scup Recreational Harvest
                             Measures.
31........................  Designate Critical Habitat         0648-BC45
                             for the Hawaiian Insular
                             False Killer Whale
                             Distinct Population
                             Segment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
32........................  Pacific Coast Groundfish           0648-BE90
                             Fishing Capacity
                             Reduction Loan Refinance.
33........................  Pacific Coast Groundfish           0648-BF12
                             Trawl Rationalization
                             Program; Widow Rockfish
                             Reallocation in the
                             Individual Fishing Quota
                             Fishery.
34........................  Amendment 18 to the                0648-BF26
                             Northeast Multispecies
                             Fishery Management Plan.
35........................  Amendment 43 to the                0648-BG18
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             for the Reef Fish
                             Resources of the Gulf of
                             Mexico.
36........................  Protected Species Hard             0648-BG23
                             Caps for the California/
                             Oregon Large-Mesh Drift
                             Gillnet Fishery.
37........................  Reducing Disturbances to           0648-AU02
                             Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
                             From Human Interactions.
38........................  Designation of Critical            0648-BF28
                             Habitat for the Gulf of
                             Maine, New York Bight,
                             and Chesapeake Bay
                             Distinct Population
                             Segments of Atlantic
                             Sturgeon.
39........................  Regulation to Reduce               0648-BG45
                             Incidental Bycatch and
                             Mortality of Sea Turtles
                             in the Southeastern U.S.
                             Shrimp Fisheries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
40........................  Amendment 39 to the                0648-BD25
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             for the Reef Fish
                             Resources of the Gulf of
                             Mexico.
41........................  Implementation of a                0648-BD59
                             Program for
                             Transshipments by Large
                             Scale Fishing Vessels in
                             the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
42........................  Designation of Critical            0648-BC56
                             Habitat for the Arctic
                             Ringed Seal.
43........................  Mallows Bay-Potomac River          0648-BG02
                             National Marine Sanctuary
                             Designation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
44........................  Capital Construction Fund;         0648-AW57
                             Fishing Vessel Capital
                             Construction Fund
                             Procedures.
45........................  Amendment 5b to the Highly         0648-BD22
                             Migratory Species Fishery
                             Management Plan.

[[Page 40250]]

 
46........................  Regulatory Amendment 16 to         0648-BD78
                             the Fishery Management
                             Plan for the Snapper-
                             Grouper Fishery of the
                             South Atlantic Region.
47........................  Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries         0648-BF09
                             Conservation and
                             Management Act; Seafood
                             Import Monitoring Program.
48........................  Allow the Use of Longline          0648-BF42
                             Pot Gear in the Gulf of
                             Alaska Sablefish
                             Individual Fishing Quota
                             Fishery.
49........................  Atlantic Highly Migratory          0648-BF49
                             Species; Atlantic
                             Blacknose Shark
                             Commercial Retention
                             Limit.
50........................  Amendment 113 to the FMP           0648-BF54
                             for Groundfish of the
                             BSAI to Establish a
                             Catcher Vessel Fishing
                             Period and Shoreside
                             Processing Delivery
                             Requirements for Aleutian
                             Islands Pacific Cod.
51........................  Specification of                   0648-BF64
                             Management Measures for
                             Atlantic Herring for the
                             2016-2018 Fishing Years.
52........................  Amendment 19 to the                0648-BF72
                             Atlantic Sea Scallop
                             Fishery Management Plan.
53........................  Observer Coverage                  0648-BF80
                             Requirements for Catcher
                             Vessels Using Trawl Gear
                             in the Bering Sea and
                             Aleutian Islands
                             Management Area.
54........................  Framework Amendment 1 to           0648-BF81
                             the Dolphin and Wahoo
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             of the Atlantic.
55........................  Amendment 103 to the               0648-BF84
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             for Groundfish of the
                             Gulf of Alaska to
                             Reapportion Chinook
                             Salmon Prohibited Catch
                             in the Gulf of Alaska
                             Trawl Fisheries.
56........................  Framework Action to Adjust         0648-BG12
                             the Red Grouper Allowable
                             Harvest in the Gulf of
                             Mexico.
57........................  Amendment 45 to the                0648-BG19
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             for the Reef Fish
                             Resources of the Gulf of
                             Mexico.
58........................  Framework Adjustment 28 to         0648-BG46
                             the Atlantic Sea Scallop
                             Fishery Management Plan.
59........................  Designation of Critical            0648-BF32
                             Habitat for the Carolina
                             and South Atlantic
                             Distinct Population
                             Segments of Atlantic
                             Sturgeon.
60........................  Endangered and Threatened          0648-BG20
                             Species; Critical Habitat
                             for the Threatened
                             Caribbean Corals.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

Bureau of the Census (CENSUS)

Completed Actions

17. Foreign Trade Regulations: Clarification on Filing Requirements

    Legal Authority: 13 U.S.C. 301
    Abstract: The Census Bureau issues this Final Rule amending the 
Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) to reflect new export reporting 
requirements. Specifically, the Census Bureau is making changes related 
to the implementation of the International Trade Data System (ITDS), in 
accordance with the Executive Order 13659, Streamlining the Export/
Import Process for American Businesses. The ITDS was established by the 
Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006. The 
changes also include the addition of the original Internal Transaction 
Number (ITN) data element in the Automated Export System (AES). Lastly, 
the Census Bureau is making remedial changes to improve clarity of the 
reporting requirements.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/09/16  81 FR 12423
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/09/16
Final Rule..........................   04/19/17  82 FR 18383
Final Rule Effective................   07/18/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dale Kelly, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the 
Census, 4700 Silver Hill Road, Room 6K1285, Suitland, MD 20233, Phone: 
301 763-6937, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0607-AA55

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

International Trade Administration (ITA)

Proposed Rule Stage

18.  Covered Merchandise Referrals From the Customs Service

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 114-125, sec 421
    Abstract: The Department of Commerce (the Department) is proposing 
to amend its regulations to set forth procedures to address covered 
merchandise referrals from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP or 
the Customs Service).
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Emily Beline, Department of Commerce, International 
Trade Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20230, Phone: 202 482-1096, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0625-AB10

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Proposed Rule Stage

National Marine Fisheries Service

19. Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for Puerto Rico

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This comprehensive Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan 
will incorporate, and modify as needed, federal fisheries management 
measures presently included in each of the existing species-based U.S. 
Caribbean Fishery Management Plans (Spiny Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral, 
and Queen Conch Fishery Management Plans) as those measures pertain to 
Puerto Rico exclusive economic zone waters. The goal of this action is 
to create a Fishery Management Plan tailored to the specific fishery 
management needs of Puerto Rico. If approved, this new Puerto Rico 
Fishery Management Plan, in conjunction with similar comprehensive 
Fishery Management Plans being developed for St. Croix and St. Thomas/
St. John, will replace the Spiny Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral and Queen 
Conch Fishery Management Plans presently governing the commercial and 
recreational harvest in U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone waters.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/00/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

[[Page 40251]]

    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BD32

20. Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for St. Croix

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This comprehensive St. Croix Fishery Management Plan will 
incorporate, and modify as needed, federal fisheries management 
measures presently included in each of the existing species-based U.S. 
Caribbean Fishery Management Plans (Spiny Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral, 
and Queen Conch Fishery Management Plans) as those measures pertain to 
St. Croix exclusive economic zone waters. The goal of this action is to 
create a Fishery Management Plan tailored to the specific fishery 
management needs of St. Croix. If approved, this new St. Croix Fishery 
Management Plan, in conjunction with similar comprehensive Fishery 
Management Plans being developed for Puerto Rico and St. Thomas/St. 
John, will replace the Spiny Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral and Queen Conch 
Fishery Management Plans presently governing the commercial and 
recreational harvest in U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone waters.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/00/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BD33

21. Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for St. Thomas/St. John

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This comprehensive St. Thomas/St. John Fishery Management 
Plan will incorporate, and modify as needed, federal fisheries 
management measures presently included in each of the existing species-
based U.S. Caribbean Fishery Management Plans (Spiny Lobster, Reef 
Fish, Coral, and Queen Conch Fishery Management Plans) as those 
measures pertain to St. Thomas/St. John exclusive economic zone waters. 
The goal of this action is to create a Fishery Management Plan tailored 
to the specific fishery management needs of St. Thomas/St. John. If 
approved, this new St. Thomas/St. John Fishery Management Plan, in 
conjunction with similar comprehensive Fishery Management Plans being 
developed for St. Croix and Puerto Rico, will replace the Spiny 
Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral and Queen Conch Fishery Management Plans 
presently governing the commercial and recreational harvest in U.S. 
Caribbean exclusive economic zone waters.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/00/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BD34

22. Omnibus Acceptable Biological Catch Framework Adjustment

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This action would make two administrative adjustments to 
the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Omnibus Annual 
Catch Limit Amendment: (1) Adjust the Council's risk policy so that the 
Scientific and Statistical Committee may apply an average probability 
of overfishing when recommending multi-year Acceptable Biological 
Catches; and (2) make all of the Council's fishery management plans 
consistent in allowing new status determination criteria (overfishing 
definitions, etc.) to be accepted as the best available scientific 
information.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BE65

23. Modification of the Temperature-Dependent Component of the Pacific 
Sardine Harvest Guideline Control Rule To Incorporate New Scientific 
Information

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Pursuant to a recommendation of the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to use a new temperature 
index to calculate the temperature parameter of the Pacific sardine 
harvest guideline control rule under the Fishery Management Plan. The 
harvest guideline control rule, in conjunction with the overfishing 
limit and acceptable biological catch control rules, is used to set 
annual harvest levels for Pacific sardine. The temperature parameter is 
calculated annually. The National Marine Fisheries Service determined 
that a new temperature index is more statistically sound and this 
action will adopt that index. This action also will revise the upper 
temperature limit to allow for additional sardine harvest where prior 
guidelines set catch unnecessarily low.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Barry Thom, Regional Administrator, West Coast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1201 NE. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 
97232, Phone: 503 231-6266, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BE77

24. Fishing Capacity Reductions for Lobster Management Areas 2 and 3

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.
    Abstract: This action proposes several reductions in fishing 
capacity for Lobster Management Areas 2 and 3. The proposed measures 
include: Caps on the number of traps that can be actively fished; caps 
on the number of traps associated with a permit (i.e., allowing trap 
banking); and caps on the number of traps or permits issued to a given 
owner. This action is intended to assist in rebuilding the Southern New 
England lobster stock.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 40252]]

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF01

25. International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for 
Highly Migratory Species; Treatment of U.S. Purse Seine Fishing With 
Respect to U.S. Territories

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.
    Abstract: This action would establish rules and/or procedures to 
address the treatment of U.S.-flagged purse seine vessels and their 
fishing activities in regulations issued by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service that implement decisions of the Commission for the 
Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 
Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Commission), of which the United 
States is a member. Under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Convention Implementation Act, the National Marine Fisheries Service 
exercises broad discretion when determining how it implements 
Commission decisions, such as purse seine fishing restrictions. The 
National Marine Fisheries Service intends to examine the potential 
impacts of the domestic implementation of Commission decisions, such as 
purse seine fishing restrictions, on the economies of the U.S. 
territories that participate in the Commission, and examine the 
connectivity between the activities of U.S.-flagged purse seine fishing 
vessels and the economies of the territories. Based on that and other 
information, the National Marine Fisheries Service might propose 
regulations that mitigate adverse economic impacts of purse seine 
fishing restrictions on the U.S. territories and/or that, in the 
context of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly 
Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean 
(Convention), recognize that one or more of the U.S. territories have 
their own purse seine fisheries that are distinct from the purse seine 
fishery of the United States and that are consequently subject to 
special provisions of the Convention and of Commission decisions.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   10/23/15  80 FR 64382
ANPRM Comment Period End............   11/23/15
NPRM................................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Tosatto, Regional Administrator, Pacific 
Islands Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, 
Honolulu, HI 96818, Phone: 808 725-5000, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF41

26. Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The New England Fishery Management Council voted to issue 
this update rulemaking that would revise the essential fish habitat and 
habitat areas of particular concern designation based on recent 
groundfish data. This rule would update groundfish seasonal spawning 
closures and identify Habitat Research Areas. The proposed revisions 
include adding a habitat management area in the eastern Gulf of Maine 
and modifying the existing habitat management areas in the central and 
western Gulf of Maine, while maintaining additional protections for 
large-mesh groundfish, including cod. In addition, the amendment would 
allow for the potential for development of a scallop access area within 
Georges Bank. A habitat management area would be established on Georges 
Shoal, with allowances for the clam dredge fishery. In Southern New 
England, a habitat management area in the Great South Channel would 
replace the current habitat protections further west. These revisions 
are intended to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirement to 
minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on 
essential fish habitat.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF82

27.  Voting Criteria for a Referendum on a Gulf of Mexico Reef 
Fish Catch Share Program for For-Hire Vessels With Landings Histories

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Amendment 42 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish 
Resources in the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 42) proposes to establish a 
catch share program for up to five species of reef fish for headboats 
with landings history in the Southeast Region Headboat Survey. This 
rule would inform the public of the procedures, schedule, and 
eligibility requirements that NOAA Fisheries would use in conducting 
the referendum that is required before the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council (Council) can submit Amendment 42 for Secretarial 
review.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG36

28.  Unmanaged Forage Fish Omnibus Amendment

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This amendment was initiated to prohibit the development 
of new--and expansion of existing--commercial and recreational 
fisheries in mid-Atlantic Federal waters that would exploit unmanaged 
forage fish species. This action would add unmanaged forage species as 
Ecosystem Component species to the relevant Mid-Atlantic Council 
fishery management plans. The Forage Amendment would establish: The 
list of forage species managed as Ecosystem Component species in the 
Mid-Atlantic region; Management measures for all forage Ecosystem 
Component species, except chub mackerel; Management measures for chub 
mackerel; a mechanism for establishing new fisheries or expansion of 
existing fisheries for Ecosystem Component species; and Administrative 
provisions for managing Ecosystem Component species (list of fisheries 
and fishing gear; permit requirement; monitoring; management unit; and 
framework measures).
    Timetable:

[[Page 40253]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   03/28/17  82 FR 15311
NPRM................................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG42

29.  Amendment 114 for Groundfish of the Bering Sea/Aleutian 
Islands Management Area and Amendment 104 for Groundfish of the Gulf of 
Alaska; Electronic Monitoring

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This regulation would make substantive improvements to 
the North Pacific Observer Program by giving certain vessels a choice 
to use electronic monitoring instead of observers for collecting 
fishery data. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council proposes to 
amend its fisheries research plan for the fixed gear groundfish and 
halibut fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands. The Council's fisheries research plan is implemented by the 
North Pacific Observer Program at the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science 
Center, and its purpose is to collect data necessary for the 
conservation, management, and scientific understanding of the 
groundfish and halibut fisheries off Alaska. This action would allow an 
electronic monitoring system, which consists of a control center to 
manage the data collection, onboard vessels to monitor the harvest and 
discard of fish and other incidental catch at sea, as a supplement to 
existing human observer coverage.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   03/10/17  82 FR 13302
NPRM................................   03/23/17  82 FR 14853
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/22/17
Final Action........................   09/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Balsiger, Regional Administrator, Alaska 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 
586-7221, Fax: 907 586-7465, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG54

30.  2017 Summer Flounder and Scup Recreational Harvest 
Measures

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule would propose management measures--such as 
recreational possession limits, minimum fish sizes, and seasonal 
closures--to achieve recreational harvest limits for the 2017 summer 
flounder and scup recreational fisheries. Specifically, this action 
proposes establishing conservation equivalency in Federal waters for 
the 2017 recreational summer flounder fishery. Conservation equivalency 
means that management would defer to state management measures. If NMFS 
is unable to approve the Council's recommendation of conservation 
equivalency, the rule would propose coastwide measures to be effective 
in Federal waters. This rule would also propose to maintain the 2016 
status quo recreational management measures for the scup fishery in 
2017. The recreational harvest limits for these species were already 
established in a separate rulemaking.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG68

31. Designate Critical Habitat for the Hawaiian Insular False Killer 
Whale Distinct Population Segment

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: In 2012, NMFS listed as endangered the main Hawaiian 
Islands (MHI) insular false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) 
Distinct Population Segment (DPS). The Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
requires NMFS to designate critical habitat to support the conservation 
and recovery of newly listed species. Accordingly, this proposed rule 
would designate critical habitat for the MHI insular false killer whale 
DPS in waters around the MHI. NMFS will consider the economic, national 
security, or other relevant impacts of the proposed designation, and 
would consider excluding areas where such negative impacts would 
outweigh the benefits of critical habitat designation.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8400.
    RIN: 0648-BC45

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Final Rule Stage

National Marine Fisheries Service

32. Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishing Capacity Reduction Loan Refinance

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.; 5 
U.S.C. 561 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service issued proposed 
regulations to refinance the voluntary fishing capacity reduction loan 
program implemented in 2004 in the Pacific Coast groundfish Federal 
limited-entry trawl, Washington coastal Dungeness crab, and California 
pink shrimp fisheries (collectively known hereafter as the refinanced 
reduction fisheries). The refinance loan of up to $30 million could 
establish a new industry fee system for future landings of the 
refinanced reduction fisheries. Upon publishing a final rule and 
receipt of an appropriation, the National Marine Fisheries Service 
would conduct three referenda to refinance the existing debt obligation 
in each of the refinanced reduction fisheries. If a referendum in one, 
two, or all three of the fisheries is successful, that fishery's 
current loan will be repaid in full and a new loan in the amount of the 
principal and interest balance as of the date of funding will be 
issued. The terms were prescribed in the 2015 National Defense 
Authorization Act and include a 45-year term to maturity, interest 
charged at a current Treasury interest rate, and a maximum repayment 
fee of 3 percent of ex-vessel value.
    Timetable:

[[Page 40254]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/06/15  80 FR 46941
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/08/15
Final Action........................   09/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brian Pawlak, Department of Commerce, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8621, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BE90

33. Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program; Widow 
Rockfish Reallocation in the Individual Fishing Quota Fishery

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: In January 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Service 
implemented the groundfish trawl rationalization program (a catch share 
program) for the Pacific coast groundfish limited entry trawl fishery. 
The program was implemented through Amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan and the corresponding 
implementing regulations. Amendment 20 established the trawl 
rationalization program, which includes an Individual Fishing Quota 
program for limited entry trawl participants, and Amendment 21 
established fixed allocations for limited entry trawl participants. 
During implementation of the trawl individual fishing quota program, 
widow rockfish was overfished and the initial allocations were based on 
its overfished status and management as a non-target species. The 
National Marine Fisheries Service declared the widow rockfish rebuilt 
in 2011 and, accordingly, the Pacific Fishery Management Council has 
now recommended actions to manage the increased abundance of widow 
rockfish. The action would reallocate individual fishing quota widow 
rockfish quota share to facilitate directed harvest and would lift the 
moratorium on widow rockfish quota share trading.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/29/16  81 FR 42295
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/29/16
Final Action........................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Barry Thom, Regional Administrator, West Coast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1201 NE. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 
97232, Phone: 503 231-6266, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF12

34. Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan would make necessary minor administrative adjustments 
to several groundfish sectors, as well as minor adjustments to fishing 
activity designed to protect fishery resources while maximizing 
flexibility and efficiency. Specifically, it would include the 
following management measures: Creating an accumulation limit for 
either the holdings of Potential Sector Contribution or of Northeast 
multispecies permits; creating a sub-annual catch limit that Handgear A 
permits could enroll in and other measures pertaining to fishing with 
Handgear A permits; adjusting what fishery data are considered 
confidential, specifically the price of annual catch entitlement 
transferred within a sector or leased between sectors; establishing an 
inshore/offshore boundary within the Gulf of Maine with associated 
measures, including creation of a Gulf of Maine cod sub-annual catch 
limit, adjusting the Gulf of Maine Gear Restricted Area boundary to 
align with the inshore/offshore boundary, and creating declaration time 
periods for fishing in the inshore or offshore areas; and establishing 
a Redfish Exemption Area, in which vessels could fish with a smaller 
mesh net than the standard mesh size, targeting redfish.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   12/06/16  81 FR 87862
NPRM................................   12/20/16  81 FR 92761
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/03/17
Final Action........................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF26

35. Amendment 43 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Based on a recent stock assessment and per the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, action is needed to 
adjust management measures for the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) hogfish stock 
to prevent overfishing and achieve optimum yield. Consistent with the 
stock assessment, this action would redefine the geographic range of 
the Gulf hogfish stock, set the status determination criteria, and set 
the annual catch limits. This action would also revise the hogfish 
minimum size limit to reduce the likelihood of a season closure due to 
the annual catch limit being reached and remove the provision in the 
regulations that exempts hogfish from the prohibition on the use of 
powerheads to take Gulf reef fish in the Gulf stressed area.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   11/04/16  81 FR 76908
NPRM................................   11/23/16  81 FR 84538
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/23/16
Final Action........................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG18

36. Protected Species Hard Caps for the California/Oregon Large-Mesh 
Drift Gillnet Fishery

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service intends to 
establish two-year rolling hard caps (i.e., limits) on the numbers of 
certain marine mammals and sea turtles observed killed or injured in 
the California/Oregon large-mesh drift gillnet fishery. The caps would 
be established for five marine mammal species and four sea turtle 
species. When any of the caps are reached or exceeded, the fishery 
would close for the rest of the fishing season and possibly through the 
following season. This measure was recommended by the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council in September 2015.
    Timetable:

[[Page 40255]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/13/16  81 FR 70660
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   11/23/16  81 FR 84546
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/28/16
Comment Period End..................   12/28/16
Final Action........................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Barry Thom, Regional Administrator, West Coast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1201 NE. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 
97232, Phone: 503 231-6266, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG23

37. Reducing Disturbances to Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins From Human 
Interactions

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
    Abstract: This action would implement regulatory measures under the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act to protect Hawaiian spinner dolphins that 
are resting in protected bays from take due to close approach 
interactions with humans.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   12/12/05  70 FR 73426
ANPRM Comment Period End............   01/11/06
NPRM................................   08/24/16  81 FR 57854
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/23/16
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........   11/16/16  81 FR 80629
Comment Period End..................   12/01/16
Final Action........................   09/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8400.
    RIN: 0648-AU02

38. Designation of Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine, New York 
Bight, and Chesapeake Bay Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic 
Sturgeon

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service listed four 
distinct population segments of Atlantic sturgeon as endangered--and 
one distinct population of Atlantic sturgeon as threatened--under the 
Endangered Species Act on February 6, 2012. This rule would designate 
critical habitat for the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, and Chesapeake 
Bay Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic sturgeon. A separate rule 
would designate critical habitat for the Carolina and South Atlantic 
distinct population segments of Atlantic sturgeon.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/03/16  81 FR 35701
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/01/16
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........   09/29/16  81 FR 66911
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/14/16
Final Action........................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8400.
    RIN: 0648-BF28

39.  Regulation To Reduce Incidental Bycatch and Mortality of 
Sea Turtles in the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Fisheries

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: The purpose of the proposed action is to aid in the 
protection and recovery of listed sea turtle populations by reducing 
incidental bycatch and mortality of small sea turtles in the 
Southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries. As a result of new information on 
sea turtle bycatch in shrimp trawls and turtle excluder device testing, 
NMFS conducted an evaluation of the Southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries 
that resulted in a draft environmental impact statement. This rule 
proposes to withdraw the alternative tow time restriction, which would 
require all vessels using skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing 
nets (butterfly trawls), with the exception of vessels participating in 
the Biscayne Bay wing net fishery in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to use 
turtle excluder devices designed to exclude small sea turtles.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/16/16  81 FR 91097
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/14/17
Final Action........................   06/00/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG45

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Long-Term Actions

National Marine Fisheries Service

40. Amendment 39 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The purpose of this action is to facilitate management of 
the recreational red snapper component in the reef fish fishery by 
reorganizing the federal fishery management strategy to better account 
for biological, social, and economic differences among the regions of 
the Gulf of Mexico. Regional management would enable regions and their 
associated communities to specify the optimal management parameters 
that best meet the needs of their local constituents thereby addressing 
regional socio-economic concerns.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice..............................   05/13/13  78 FR 27956
                                     -----------------------------------
Next Stage Undetermined.............           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Phone: 727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-
5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BD25

41. Implementation of a Program for Transshipments by Large Scale 
Fishing Vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule would implement the Inter-American Tropical 
Tuna Commission program to monitor transshipments by large-scale tuna

[[Page 40256]]

fishing vessels, and would govern transshipments by U.S. large-scale 
tuna fishing vessels and carrier, or receiving, vessels. The rule would 
establish: Criteria for transshipping in port; criteria for 
transshipping at sea by longline vessels to an authorized carrier 
vessel with an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission observer onboard 
and an operational vessel monitoring system; and require the Pacific 
Transshipment Declaration Form, which must be used to report 
transshipments in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission 
Convention Area. This rule is necessary for the United States to 
satisfy its international obligations under the 1949 Convention for the 
Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna, to which it is a 
Contracting Party.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/00/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Barry Thom, Phone: 503 231-6266, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BD59

42. Designation of Critical Habitat for the Arctic Ringed Seal

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service published a final 
rule to list the Arctic ringed seal as a threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) in December 2012. The ESA requires 
designation of critical habitat at the time a species is listed as 
threatened or endangered, or within one year of listing if critical 
habitat is not then determinable. This rulemaking would designate 
critical habitat for the Arctic ringed seal. The critical habitat 
designation would be in the northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas 
within the current range of the species.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/03/14  79 FR 71714
Proposed Rule.......................   12/09/14  79 FR 73010
Notice of Public Hearings...........   01/13/15  80 FR 1618
Comment Period Extended.............   02/02/15  80 FR 5498
                                     -----------------------------------
Final Action........................           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, Phone: 301 427-8400.
    RIN: 0648-BC56

NOS/ONMS

43. Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary Designation

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
    Abstract: On September 16, 2014, pursuant to section 304 of the 
National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and the Sanctuary Nomination 
Process (79 FR 33851), a coalition of community groups submitted a 
nomination asking NOAA to designate Mallows Bay-Potomac River as a 
national marine sanctuary. The Mallows Bay area of the tidal Potomac 
River being considered for designation as a national marine sanctuary 
is an area 40 miles south of Washington, DC, off the Nanjemoy Peninsula 
of Charles County, MD. The designation of a national marine sanctuary 
would focus on conserving the collection of maritime heritage resources 
(shipwrecks) in the area as well as expand the opportunities for public 
access, recreation, tourism, research, and education. NOAA completed 
its review of the nomination in accordance with the Sanctuary 
Nomination Process and on January 12, 2015, added the area to the 
inventory of nominations that are eligible for designation. On October 
7, 2015, NOAA issued a notice of intent to begin the designation 
process and asked for public comment on making this area a national 
marine sanctuary. Designation under the NMSA would allow NOAA to 
supplement and complement work by the State of Maryland and other 
federal agencies to protect this collection of nationally significant 
shipwrecks.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/09/17  82 FR 2254
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/31/17
Final Action........................   05/00/18
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Vicki Wedell, Phone: 301 713-7237, Fax: 301 713-
0404, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG02

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Completed Actions

44. Capital Construction Fund; Fishing Vessel Capital Construction Fund 
Procedures

    Legal Authority: 46 U.S.C. 1177 et seq.
    Abstract: This action would amend Fishing Vessel Capital 
Construction Fund (CCF) Program regulations to simplify and clarify 
them and to ease restrictions on vessel reconstruction to promote fleet 
safety, reliability and efficiency. Current regulations require an 
annual deposit of 2 percent of the anticipated cost of the CCF 
objective, that a used vessel acquired with CCF funds be reconstructed 
within 7 years of the acquisition date, that reconstruction projects 
cost a minimum of either $100,000 or 20 percent of acquisition cost, 
and that reconstruction projects be completed within 18 months of their 
commencement.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/25/14  79 FR 57496
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/10/14
Final Action........................   05/30/17  82 FR 24561
Final Action Effective..............   06/29/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brian Pawlak, Department of Commerce, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8621, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-AW57

45. Amendment 5B to the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management 
Plan

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
    Abstract: This rulemaking would implement management measures for 
dusky sharks based on the latest stock assessment, which determined 
dusky sharks are still overfished and still experiencing overfishing, 
taking into consideration comments received on the proposed rule and 
Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery 
Management Plan. This rulemaking considers a range of commercial and 
recreational management measures in both directed and incidental shark 
fisheries including, among other things, gear modifications, time/area 
closures, permitting, shark

[[Page 40257]]

identification requirements, and reporting requirements.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/18/16  81 FR 71672
Public Hearing......................   11/14/16  81 FR 79409
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/22/16
Final Action........................   04/04/17  82 FR 16478
Final Action Effective..............   06/05/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Alan Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable 
Fisheries, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Room 13362, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, Phone: 301 713-2334, Fax: 301 713-0596, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BD22

46. Regulatory Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Regulatory Amendment 16 contained an action to address 
the prohibition on the use of black sea bass pots annually from 
November 1 through April 30 that was implemented through Regulatory 
Amendment 19. The prohibition was a precautionary measure to prevent 
interactions between black sea bass pot gear and whales listed under 
the Endangered Species Act during large whale migrations and the right 
whale calving season off the southeastern coast. The South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, through Regulatory Amendment 16, removed 
the closure, changed the length of the closure, and changed the area of 
the closure. The goal was to minimize adverse socio-economic impacts to 
black sea bass pot endorsement holders while maintaining protection for 
Endangered Species Act-listed whales in the South Atlantic region.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/11/16  81 FR 53109
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/12/16
Final Rule..........................   12/29/16  81 FR 95893
Final Rule Effective................   01/30/17
Stay of Final Rule..................   01/31/17  82 FR 8820
Correction..........................   02/21/17  82 FR 11156
Correction Effective................   02/21/17
Stay of Final Rule Effective........   03/21/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BD78

47. Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act; Seafood 
Import Monitoring Program

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1857 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service implemented 
regulatory changes to improve the administration of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act prohibition on the 
entry into interstate or foreign commerce of any fish taken in 
violation of any foreign law or regulation. The rule included 
adjustments to permitting and reporting requirements to provide for 
traceability of seafood products offered for entry into the U.S. supply 
chain, and to ensure that these products were lawfully acquired and are 
properly labeled. Requirements for an international trade permit and 
reporting on the origin of certain imported or exported fishery 
products were previously established by regulations applicable to a 
number of specified fishery products. This rulemaking extended those 
existing permitting and reporting requirements to additional fish 
species and seafood products.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/05/16  81 FR 6210
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   03/31/16  81 FR 18558
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/05/16
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/12/16
Final Rule..........................   12/09/16  81 FR 88975
Final Rule Effective................   01/09/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John Henderschedt, Director, Office for 
International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, Department of Commerce, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East West 
Highway, Room 10362, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8314, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF09

48. Allow the Use of Longline Pot Gear in the Gulf of Alaska Sablefish 
Individual Fishing Quota Fishery

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.
    Abstract: This action amended Federal regulations to allow 
fishermen to use longline pot gear to harvest sablefish in the Gulf of 
Alaska Individual Fishing Quota fishery. Hook-and-line gear is 
currently the only authorized gear type in the sablefish Individual 
Fishing Quota fishery. The action authorized Individual Fishing Quota 
fishermen to use either longline pot gear or hook-and-line gear in the 
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota fishery. Some fishermen would like 
to use longline pot gear because it is less prone to whale interactions 
than hook-and-line gear. The action established management measures to 
minimize conflicts between hook-and-line and longline pot gear on the 
fishing grounds and to prevent significant consolidation of sablefish 
Individual Fishing Quota onto fewer vessels.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   08/08/16  81 FR 52394
NPRM................................   08/19/16  81 FR 55408
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/19/16
Final Rule..........................   12/28/16  81 FR 95435
Final Rule Effective................   01/27/17
Stay of Final Rule..................   01/31/17  82 FR 8810
Stay of Final Rule Effective........   01/31/17
Final Action........................   02/07/17  82 FR 9501
Final Action Effective..............   03/11/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Balsiger, Regional Administrator, Alaska 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 
586-7221, Fax: 907 586-7465, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF42

49. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Blacknose Shark 
Commercial Retention Limit

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule evaluated the management measures for blacknose 
sharks in the Atlantic region. It considered, among other things, a 
range of commercial management measures in both directed and incidental 
shark fisheries including, but not limited to,

[[Page 40258]]

retention limits. In addition, this action addressed commercial 
retention limits to help prevent early closures of the non-blacknose 
small coastal shark management group and fully utilize the quota.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/03/16  81 FR 51165
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/20/16
Final Action........................   12/14/16  81 FR 90241
Final Action Effective..............   01/13/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Alan Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable 
Fisheries, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Room 13362, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, Phone: 301 713-2334, Fax: 301 713-0596, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF49

50. Amendment 113 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI To Establish a 
Catcher Vessel Fishing Period and Shoreside Processing Delivery 
Requirements for Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule restricted participation in the Aleutian 
Islands Pacific cod fishery. This action was necessary to provide 
stability to catcher vessels that participate in the Aleutian Islands 
Pacific cod fishery and the shoreside processors to which they deliver, 
and to the communities in which these processors are located. 
Specifically, this rule established catch limits for Pacific cod in the 
Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea. The revised allocation was 
intended to provide catcher vessels with a sufficient opportunity to 
harvest Pacific cod in an inshore fishery by restricting participation 
in the fisheries by catcher processors that can harvest significantly 
larger volumes of Pacific cod further offshore. This rule included 
provisions to relieve the restrictions on catcher processor 
participation if catcher vessels would not be able to harvest the 
allocation or Aleutian Islands shoreside processors would not be able 
to process catcher vessel harvests of Pacific cod.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   07/19/16  81 FR 46883
NPRM................................   08/01/16  81 FR 50444
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/31/16
Final Action........................   11/23/16  81 FR 84434
Final Action Effective..............   11/23/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Balsiger, Regional Administrator, Alaska 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 
586-7221, Fax: 907 586-7465, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF54

51. Specification of Management Measures for Atlantic Herring for the 
2016-2018 Fishing Years

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The Atlantic herring fishery specifications were annual 
catch amounts for the 2016-2018 fishing years, January-December. These 
specifications are required by regulation to be set for 3 years. These 
specifications changed the current catch limit levels and continued to 
prevent overfishing of the herring resource and achieve optimum yield. 
The catch limits established in these specifications set a constant 
catch amount available to the industry that provided a stable allowable 
catch for 3-year business planning purposes. In addition, the 
specifications added catch that was not caught under last year's catch 
limit for one management area and reduced catch that exceeded the catch 
limits set in other management areas. Finally, the specifications set 
annual gear-specific and area-specific catch caps for river herring and 
shad, consistent with Framework Adjustment 3 to the Atlantic Herring 
Fishery Management Plan.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/21/16  81 FR 40253
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/21/16
Final Action........................   11/01/16  81 FR 75731
Final Action Effective..............   12/01/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF64

52. Amendment 19 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Amendment 19 incorporated a specifications process into 
the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan and changed the start 
of the fishing year. Developing specifications to set annual or 
biennial allocations will allow for a more efficient process for 
setting annual allocations than currently possible through framework 
adjustments. By adjusting the start of the scallop fishing year, the 
National Marine Fisheries Service would be able to implement simple 
specifications actions at the start of the fishing year on a more 
consistent basis.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   07/20/16  81 FR 47152
NPRM................................   08/16/16  81 FR 54533
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/15/16
Final Action........................   11/03/16  81 FR 76516
Final Action Effective..............   12/05/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF72

53. Observer Coverage Requirements for Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule allowed the owner of a catcher vessel in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area trawl limited access 
fisheries to annually choose to have the vessel placed in the full 
observer coverage category for all fishing in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area in the upcoming year. Under the 
previous regulations for the North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut 
Observer Program, catcher vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area trawl limited access fisheries were assigned to 
the partial observer coverage category. Vessels in the partial observer 
coverage category must carry an observer on selected fishing trips, 
whereas vessels in the full

[[Page 40259]]

observer coverage category must carry an observer for all of their 
fishing activity. Owners of trawl catcher vessels requested to be 
allowed to voluntarily choose full coverage to obtain observer data 
from all of their fishing trips to better manage their halibut 
prohibited species catch.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/07/16  81 FR 44251
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/08/16
Final Action........................   09/30/16  81 FR 67113
Final Action Effective..............   10/31/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Balsiger, Regional Administrator, Alaska 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 
586-7221, Fax: 907 586-7465, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF80

54. Framework Amendment 1 to the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Management 
Plan of the Atlantic

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Dolphin Wahoo 1 established a commercial trip limit after 
a specified percentage of the commercial sector annual catch limit has 
been reached and would continue until the end of the fishing year or 
until the entire commercial annual catch limit is met, whichever comes 
first.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/30/16  81 FR 42625
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/01/16
Final Rule..........................   12/29/16  81 FR 96388
Final Rule Effective................   01/30/17
Stay of Final Rule..................   01/31/17  82 FR 8820
Delayed Effective Date..............   03/21/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF81

55. Amendment 103 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Gulf of Alaska To Reapportion Chinook Salmon Prohibited Catch in the 
Gulf of Alaska Trawl Fisheries

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; 16 
U.S.C. 773 et seq.; Pub. L. 08-199
    Abstract: This action allowed the National Marine Fisheries Service 
to reapportion unused Chinook salmon prohibited species catch within 
and between trawl sectors in the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries to 
reduce the potential for early fishery closures. Amendments 93 and 97 
to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and 
implementing regulations established Chinook salmon prohibited species 
catch limits for pollock and non-pollock trawl fisheries. Specifically, 
this action: Allowed the National Marine Fisheries Service to 
reapportion remaining Chinook salmon prohibited species catch among 
trawl catcher vessel sectors and from the trawl catcher/processor 
sector to trawl catcher vessel sectors based on criteria established 
for inseason reapportionments and within specified limits; increased 
management flexibility without exceeding the current overall 32,500 
Chinook salmon prohibited species catch limit or negating the current 
prohibited species catch limits under Amendments 93 and 97; and 
increased the likelihood that groundfish resources are more fully 
harvested, and minimized the adverse socioeconomic impacts of the 
fishery closures on harvesters, processors, and communities.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   05/26/16  81 FR 33456
NPRM................................   06/16/16  81 FR 39237
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/18/16
Final Action........................   09/12/16  81 FR 62659
Final Action Effective..............   10/12/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Balsiger, Regional Administrator, Alaska 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 
586-7221, Fax: 907 586-7465, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF84

56. Framework Action To Adjust the Red Grouper Allowable Harvest in the 
Gulf of Mexico

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This Framework Action adjusted the red grouper allowable 
harvest in the Gulf of Mexico, consistent with the results of a 2015 
stock assessment. The commercial annual catch limit and annual catch 
target were adjusted from 6.03 million pounds gutted weight and 5.72 
million pounds gutted weight, to 8.19 million pounds gutted weight, and 
7.78 million pounds gutted weight, respectively. The recreational 
annual catch limit and annual catch target were adjusted from 1.9 
million pounds gutted weight and 1.73 million pounds gutted weight, to 
2.58 million pounds gutted weight, and 2.37 million pounds gutted 
weight, respectively. These increases in the annual catch limits and 
annual catch targets provided more quota to the commercial fisherman 
and were expected to extend the recreational fishing season, which has 
been closed in-season in recent years, through the end of the year.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/26/16  81 FR 48728
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/25/16
Final Action........................   10/12/16  81 FR 70365
Final Action Effective..............   10/12/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG12

57. Amendment 45 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council developed 
and implemented separate federal for-hire and private angling 
components for red snapper management measures to better prevent 
overfishing while achieving the optimum yield. Amendment 40 defined the 
components, allocated the recreational red snapper quota between the 
components, and established a three-year sunset provision for the 
components. The purpose of this action was to extend the sector 
separation

[[Page 40260]]

sunset provision established in Amendment 40 for five additional years 
to allow completion of component-focused management strategies.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   08/25/16  81 FR 58466
NPRM................................   09/08/16  81 FR 62069
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/24/16
Final Action........................   12/02/16  81 FR 86971
Correction..........................   12/07/16  81 FR 88135
Final Action Effective..............   01/03/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, Regional Administrator, Southeast 
Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 
727 824-5305, Fax: 727 824-5308, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG19

58.  Framework Adjustment 28 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Fishery Management Plan

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This action sets management measures for the scallop 
fishery for the 2017 fishing year, including the annual catch limits 
and annual catch targets for the limited access and fleets, as well as 
days-at-sea allocations and sea scallop access area trip allocations. 
Furthermore, Framework 28 would implement additional measures to set 
the limited access general category individual fishing quota based on 
spatial management, prevent the shucking of scallops off the days-at-
sea clock, and reduce discard mortality.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/19/17  82 FR 6472
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/07/17
Final Action Effective..............   03/23/17
Final Action........................   03/27/17  82 FR 15155
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9287, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG46

59. Designation of Critical Habitat for the Carolina and South Atlantic 
Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service listed four 
distinct population segments of Atlantic sturgeon as endangered--and 
one distinct population of Atlantic sturgeon as threatened--under the 
Endangered Species Act on February 6, 2012. This action proposes to 
designate critical habitat for the Carolina and South Atlantic Distinct 
Population Segments of Atlantic sturgeon, both listed as endangered.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/03/16  81 FR 36077
Correction..........................   06/28/16  81 FR 41926
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/01/16
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........   09/29/16  81 FR 66911
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/14/16
Merged With 0648-BF28...............   03/23/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8400.
    RIN: 0648-BF32

60. Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the 
Threatened Caribbean Corals

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service listed five 
Caribbean corals in the Southeast Region as threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act on October 10, 2014. This rule proposes to 
designate critical habitat for the five listed corals and revises 
critical habitat for the previously-listed corals Acropora palmata and 
Acropora cervicornis.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merged With 0648-BG26...............   05/01/17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8400.
    RIN: 0648-BG20
[FR Doc. 2017-16888 Filed 8-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P