[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54122-54123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21988]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV031


Draft Outline for a Work Plan for a Federal Aquaculture 
Regulatory Task Force

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On behalf of the National Science and Technology Council's 
Subcommittee on Aquaculture, NOAA announces the availability of the 
Draft Outline for a Work Plan for a Federal Aquaculture Regulatory Task 
Force for public review and comment.

DATES: NOAA will consider public comments received on or before 
November 8, 2019.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: You may download the Draft Outline for a Work 
Plan for a Federal Aquaculture Regulatory Task Force at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/SCA/taskforce.html.
    Submitting Comments: Interested persons may submit comments by any 
of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic public comments 
to [email protected].
     Mail: Susan Bunsick, Attn: Aquaculture Work Plan Comments, 
Office of Aquaculture, F/AQ, 1315 East-West Highway, 12th Floor, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    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 by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be made available for public viewing upon 
request. 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. NMFS will accept anonymous comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration--Susan Bunsick, [email protected], 301-427-8325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The U.S. national policy on aquaculture states that (from the 
National Aquaculture Act of 1980): ``Congress declares that aquaculture 
has the potential for reducing the United States trade deficit in 
fisheries products, for augmenting existing commercial and recreational 
fisheries, and for producing other renewable resources, thereby 
assisting the United States in meeting its future food needs and 
contributing to the solution of world resource problems. It is, 
therefore, in the national interest, and it is the national policy, to 
encourage the development of aquaculture in the United States.''
    The Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA), previously known as the 
Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture (IWGA) and the Joint 
Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA), is a statutory subcommittee that 
operates under the Committee on Environment of the National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC) under the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy in the Executive Office of the President. It is co-chaired by 
the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and the White 
House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Members include the 
Department of Agriculture,

[[Page 54123]]

Department of Commerce, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the 
Interior, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency 
and the Office of Management and Budget. The SCA serves as the Federal 
interagency coordinating group to increase the overall effectiveness 
and productivity of Federal aquaculture research, regulation, 
technology transfer, and assistance programs. This interagency 
coordinating group has been functioning since before the National 
Aquaculture Act was signed into law in 1980.
    This draft outline lays out the components of a Work Plan for a 
Federal Aquaculture Regulatory Task Force. The proposed goal of this 
plan is to address the Federal strategic goal of improving regulatory 
efficiency and predictability for domestic freshwater and marine 
aquaculture under existing laws and regulations. The plan proposes to 
describe key interagency and federal-state issues raised by aquaculture 
regulations relating to permitting and aquatic animal health as well as 
the key science and technology needs to facilitate streamlined 
regulations and timely management decisions under current regulations.

Next Steps

    The public is encouraged to review and comment on the Draft Outline 
for a Work Plan for a Federal Aquaculture Regulatory Task Force. After 
the public comment period ends, NOAA and the SCA will consider and 
address the comments received before issuing a draft work plan.

Invitation to Comment

    NOAA, on behalf of the National Science and Technology Council's 
Subcommittee on Aquaculture, seeks public review and comment on the 
Draft Outline for a Work Plan for a Federal Aquaculture Regulatory Task 
Force (see ADDRESSES above). Before including your address, telephone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, please be aware that your entire comment, including your 
personal identifying information, will become part of the public 
record.

    Authority: This outline and plan is being issued under the 
following authorities: National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (Public Law 
96-362, 94 Stat. 1198, 16 U.S.C. 2801, et seq.) and the National 
Aquaculture Improvement Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-198, 99 Stat. 
1641).

    Dated: October 3, 2019.
David O'Brien,
Acting Director, Office of Aquaculture, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-21988 Filed 10-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P