[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51398-51399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24115]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF751


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment on the 
Effects of Issuing an Incidental Take Permit No. 21293

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the ``Draft Environmental 
Assessment (EA) on the Effects of Issuing an Incidental Take Permit 
(ITP) (No. 21293) to Mr. Jack Rudloe, Gulf Specimen Marine 
Laboratories, Inc. (GSML), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (ESA). Publication of this notice begins the official 
public comment period for this draft EA. Per the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the purpose of the draft EA is to evaluate the 
potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts caused by the 
issuance of Permit No. 21293 to GSML for the incidental take of Gulf 
sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) or loggerhead (Caretta caretta 
Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment), green (Chelonia 
mydas North Atlantic Distinct Population Segment), Kemp's ridley 
(Lepidochelys kempii) and leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys 
coriacea) associated with the otherwise lawful trawling activities in 
Florida state waters of Bay, Gulf, Franklin, and Wakulla Counties to 
harvest marine organisms for the purpose of supplying entities 
conducting scientific research and educational activities. All comments 
received will become part of the public record and will be available 
for review. An electronic copy of the revised application and proposed 
conservation plan may be obtained by contacting NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) or visiting 
the internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/esa_review.htm.

DATES: Written comments must be received at the appropriate address or 
fax number (see ADDRESSES) on or before December 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The EA is available for download and review at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/esa_review.htm under the section heading 
ESA Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permits and Applications. The application is 
also available upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office: Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13535, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301)427-8403; fax (301)713-4060.
    You may submit comments, identified by ``NOAA-NMFS-2017-0132'', by 
any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0132 click the ``Comment Now'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Fax: (301) 427-8403; Attn: Ron Dean or Angela Somma.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Endangered Species 
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13535, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Attn: Ron Dean or 
Angela Somma.
    Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the above methods 
to ensure that we receive, document, and consider them. Comments sent 
by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received 
after the end of the comment period may not be considered. All comments 
received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted 
for public viewing on http://www.regulations.gov without change. All 
personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information 
submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. We 
will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if 
you wish to remain

[[Page 51399]]

anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Dean or Angela Somma, (301) 427-
8403.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulations 
prohibits the `taking' of a species listed as endangered or threatened. 
The ESA defines ``take'' to mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, 
wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any 
such conduct. NMFS may issue permits, under limited circumstances to 
take listed species incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise 
lawful activities. Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA provides for 
authorizing incidental take of listed species. The regulations for 
issuing incidental take permits for threatened and endangered species 
are promulgated at 50 CFR 222.307.
    NMFS received a permit application from GSML on February 4, 2016. 
Based on our review of the application, we requested further 
information and clarification. On July 22, 2016, GSML submitted 
supplemental information to its application. NMFS and GSML held further 
discussions on amount and extent of anticipated takes and 
clarifications of gear type to be used. On March 16, 2017, NMFS 
notified GSML of this approach, and GSML confirmed the updated approach 
on March 21, 2017.
    On April 12, 2017, we published a notice of application receipt and 
requested review and comment on the application and conservation plan 
in the Federal Register (82 FR 17638). The public comment period for 
the application and conservation plan ended May 12, 2017.
    Through this notice, we are making the Draft EA available for 
comment and review. The EA analyzes the effects to the human and 
natural environment caused by the issuance of ITP No. 21293 to GSML for 
the incidental take of Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) and 
loggerhead (Caretta caretta Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct 
Population Segment), green (Chelonia mydas North Atlantic Distinct 
Population Segment), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and 
leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) associated with the 
otherwise lawful trawling activities in Florida state waters of Bay, 
Gulf, Franklin, and Wakulla Counties to harvest marine organisms for 
the purpose of supplying entities conducting scientific research and 
educational activities. As required by regulations implementing section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, the conservation plan must specify, based on 
the best scientific and commercial data available:
     The impact which will likely result from the taking;
     How the applicant will minimize and mitigate those 
impacts, and the funding available to implement;
     What alternative actions the applicant considered, and why 
those actions are not being pursued;
     Other measures the Secretary of Commerce may require; and
     All sources of data relied on in preparing the plan.
    The conservation plan prepared by GSML describes measures designed 
to monitor, minimize, and mitigate the incidental take of ESA-listed 
species.

Alternatives Considered

    In preparing the Draft EA, NMFS considered the following 2 
alternatives for the action:
    Alternative 1--No Action. Under the No Action alternative no ITP 
would be issued for the incidental take of Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser 
oxyrinchus desotoi), or loggerhead (Caretta caretta Northwest Atlantic 
Ocean Distinct Population Segment), green (Chelonia mydas North 
Atlantic Distinct Population Segment), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii) and leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) associated 
with the otherwise lawful trawling activities in Florida state waters 
of Bay, Gulf, Franklin, and Wakulla Counties to harvest marine 
organisms for the purpose of supplying entities conducting scientific 
research and educational activities. GSML would not receive an 
exemption from the ESA prohibitions against take.
    Alternative 2--(Proposed) Issue ITP as Requested in Application. 
Under Alternative 2, an ITP would be issued to exempt GSML from the ESA 
prohibition on taking ESA listed species.
    The Draft EA presents the scientific and analytic basis for 
comparison of the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the 
alternatives. Regulations for implementing NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4331 et 
seq.) require considerations of both the context and intensity of a 
proposed action (40 CFR 1508.27). This alternative would eliminate the 
possible risk to sea turtles, Gulf sturgeon, and benthic habitat 
associated with the trawling activity. However, it would not allow GSML 
to conduct its trawling, which would affect its non-profit activities. 
GSML is engaged in marine education, research, and coastal 
conservation. Since NMFS has concluded, in its biological opinion, 
pursuant to section 7(b) of the ESA, that ITP No. 21293, as proposed, 
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the leatherback, 
loggerhead, green, Kemp's ridley turtles and Gulf sturgeon and is not 
likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat, it 
would be difficult to justify denial of the permit.

Social and Economic Impacts

    NMFS would not issue an ITP under the No Action Alternative 
(Alternative 1). Because no incidental take permit would be issued, 
GSML would not receive an exemption from the ESA prohibitions against 
take; therefore, any incidental takes of ESA listed species under NMFS' 
jurisdiction would not be exempted. Because this alternative would 
affect GSML's ability to engage in marine education, research, and 
coastal conservation, the No Action Alternative would have more of a 
socio-economic impact than the other alternative.
    The issuance of the Permit as Requested in the Application 
(Alternative 2 Proposed Action) would allow GSML to continue to engage 
in marine education, research, and coastal conservation. This would 
result in less socio-economic costs than the No Action alternative 
(Alternative 1).

Next Steps

    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. The 
application, supporting documents, public comments, and views already 
received by the agency, as well as those submitted in response to this 
notice, will be fully considered and evaluated as we prepare the final 
EA and determine whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact. 
The final NEPA document and ITP determinations will not be completed 
until after the 30-day comment period ends. NMFS will publish a record 
of its final action in the Federal Register. We will also make any 
final NEPA documents available to the public.

    Dated: October 27, 2017.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24115 Filed 11-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P