[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 31, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16862-16877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04469]



[[Page 16861]]

Vol. 86

Wednesday,

No. 60

March 31, 2021

Part IV





Department of Commerce





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





Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 86 , No. 60 / Wednesday, March 31, 2021 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda  

[[Page 16862]]


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

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


Fall 2020 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 pre-rulemaking, proposed 
rules, final rules, long-term actions, and rulemaking actions completed 
since the spring 2020 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 fall 2020 regulatory agenda includes regulatory 
activities that are expected to be conducted during the period November 
1, 2020, through October 31, 2021.

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 fall 2020 
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 August 11, 2020, the Office of Management 
and Budget issued guidelines and procedures for the preparation and 
publication of the fall 2020 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.
    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.
    In this edition of Commerce's regulatory agenda, a list of the most 
important significant regulatory and deregulatory actions and a 
Statement of Regulatory Priorities are included in the Regulatory Plan, 
which appears in both the online Unified Agenda and in part II of the 
issue of the Federal Register that includes the Unified Agenda.
    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. In addition, for fall 
editions of the Agenda, Commerce's entire Regulatory Plan will continue 
to be printed in the Federal Register.
    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 and submit to 
NMFS Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for the fisheries within their 
respective areas in the EEZ. Membership of these Councils is comprised 
of representatives of the commercial and recreational fishing sectors 
in addition to environmental, academic, and government interests. 
Council members are nominated by the governors and ultimately appointed 
by the Secretary of Commerce. The Councils are required by law to 
conduct public hearings on the development of FMPs and FMP amendments. 
Consistent with applicable law, environmental and other analyses are 
developed that consider alternatives to proposed actions.
    Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Councils also submit to 
NMFS proposed regulations they deem necessary or appropriate to 
implement FMPs. The proposed regulations, FMPs, and FMP amendments are 
subject to review and approval by NMFS, based on consistency with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law. 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 fall 2020 regulatory agenda follows.
    This document of the Department of Commerce was signed on January 
14, by Michael Walsh, Chief of Staff, Performing the Delegated Duties 
of General Counsel. That document with the original signature and date 
is maintained by the Department of

[[Page 16863]]

Commerce. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with 
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned 
Department of Commerce Federal Register Liaison Officer has been 
authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for 
publication, as an official document of the Department of Commerce. 
This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this 
document upon publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2021.
Asha Mathew,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce.

                General Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
144.......................  Concrete Masonry Products          0605-AA53
                             Research, Education, and
                             Promotion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          International Trade Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
145.......................  Modifications to                   0625-AB10
                             Regulations to Improve
                             Administration and
                             Enforcement of
                             Antidumping and
                             Countervailing Duty Laws.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
146.......................  Comprehensive Fishery              0648-BD32
                             Management Plan for
                             Puerto Rico,
                             Comprehensive Fishery
                             Management Plan for St.
                             Croix, Comprehensive
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             for St. Thomas/St. John.
147.......................  International Fisheries;           0648-BG04
                             South Pacific Tuna
                             Fisheries; Implementation
                             of Amendments to the
                             South Pacific Tuna Treaty.
148.......................  Illegal, Unregulated, and          0648-BG11
                             Unreported Fishing;
                             Fisheries Enforcement;
                             High Seas Driftnet
                             Fishing Moratorium
                             Protection Act (Reg Plan
                             Seq No. 6).
149.......................  Regulatory Amendment to            0648-BH70
                             the Pacific Coast
                             Groundfish Fishery
                             Management Plan to
                             Implement an Electronic
                             Monitoring Program for
                             Bottom Trawl and Non-
                             Whiting Midwater Trawl
                             Vessels.
150.......................  Atlantic Highly Migratory          0648-BI10
                             Species; Research and
                             Data Collection in
                             Support of Spatial
                             Fisheries Management.
151.......................  Establish National                 0648-BJ33
                             Insurance Requirements
                             for Observer Providers.
152.......................  Salmon Bycatch                     0648-BJ50
                             Minimization in the
                             Pacific Coast Groundfish
                             Fishery.
153.......................  2021-22 Harvest                    0648-BJ74
                             Specifications and
                             Management Measures for
                             Pacific Coast Groundfish
                             and Fishery Management
                             Plan.
154.......................  International Fisheries;           0648-BK08
                             Pacific Tuna Fisheries;
                             Fishing Restrictions for
                             Tropical Tuna in the
                             Eastern Pacific Ocean for
                             2021.
155.......................  Framework Adjustment 8 to          0648-BK11
                             the Atlantic Herring
                             Fishery Management Plan.
156.......................  Designation of Critical            0648-BC56
                             Habitat for the Arctic
                             Ringed Seal.
157.......................  Amendment and Updates to           0648-BF90
                             the Pelagic Longline Take
                             Reduction Plan.
158.......................  Designation of Critical            0648-BG26
                             Habitat for the
                             Threatened Caribbean
                             Corals.
159.......................  Atlantic Large Whale Take          0648-BJ09
                             Reduction Plan
                             Modifications to Reduce
                             Serious Injury and
                             Mortality of Large Whales
                             in Commercial Trap/Pot
                             Fisheries Along the U.S.
                             East Coast (Reg Plan Seq
                             No. 7).
160.......................  Designation of Critical            0648-BJ52
                             Habitat for Threatened
                             Indo-Pacific Reef-
                             Building Corals.
161.......................  Establishment of Time-Area         0648-BK04
                             Closures for Hawaiian
                             Spinner Dolphins Under
                             the Marine Mammal
                             Protection Act.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
162.......................  International Fisheries;           0648-BG66
                             Western and Central
                             Pacific Fisheries for
                             Highly Migratory Species;
                             Requirements to Safeguard
                             Fishery Observers.
163.......................  Area of Overlap Between            0648-BH59
                             the Convention Areas of
                             the Inter-American
                             Tropical Tuna Commission
                             and the Western and
                             Central Pacific Fisheries
                             Commission.
164.......................  Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral             0648-BH67
                             Amendment.
165.......................  Generic Amendment to the           0648-BH72
                             Fishery Management Plans
                             for the Reef Fish
                             Resources of the Gulf of
                             Mexico and Coastal
                             Migratory Pelagic
                             Resources in the Gulf of
                             Mexico and Atlantic
                             Region.
166.......................  Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries         0648-BH87
                             Conservation and
                             Management Act;
                             Traceability Information
                             Program for Seafood.
167.......................  Atlantic Highly Migratory          0648-BI09
                             Species; Regulatory
                             Amendment for the
                             Management of Atlantic
                             Swordfish.
168.......................  Amendment 8 to the                 0648-BI80
                             Atlantic Herring Fishery
                             Management Plan.
169.......................  Amendment 21 to the Summer         0648-BJ18
                             Flounder, Scup, and Black
                             Sea Bass Fishery
                             Management Plan.

[[Page 16864]]

 
170.......................  Modification of Multi-Day          0648-BJ60
                             Trip Possession Limits
                             for Federally-Permitted
                             Charter/Headboat Vessels
                             in the Fishery Management
                             Plans (FMP) in the Gulf
                             of Mexico.
171.......................  Reducing Disturbances to           0648-AU02
                             Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
                             From Human Interactions.
172.......................  Taking and Importing               0648-BB38
                             Marine Mammals: Taking
                             Marine Mammals Incidental
                             to Geophysical Surveys
                             Related to Oil and Gas
                             Activities in the Gulf of
                             Mexico (Reg Plan Seq No.
                             9).
173.......................  Revision to Critical               0648-BH95
                             Habitat Designation for
                             Endangered Southern
                             Resident Killer Whales.
174.......................  Designation of Critical            0648-BI06
                             Habitat for the Mexico,
                             Central American, and
                             Western Pacific Distinct
                             Population Segments of
                             Humpback Whales Under the
                             Endangered Species Act.
175.......................  Wisconsin-Lake Michigan            0648-BG01
                             National Marine Sanctuary
                             Designation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
176.......................  Implementation of a                0648-BD59
                             Program for
                             Transshipments by Large
                             Scale Fishing Vessels in
                             the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
177.......................  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.
178.......................  Bering Sea and Aleutian            0648-BJ42
                             Islands Pacific Cod Pot
                             Catcher/Processor License
                             Limitation Program
                             Adjustment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
179.......................  Licensing of Private Land          0648-BA15
                             Remote-Sensing Space
                             Systems.
180.......................  Commerce Trusted Trader            0648-BG51
                             Program.
181.......................  Rule to Implement the For-         0648-BG75
                             Hire Reporting Amendments.
182.......................  New England Industry-              0648-BG91
                             Funded Monitoring
                             Amendment.
183.......................  Vessel Movement,                   0648-BI45
                             Monitoring, and
                             Declaration Management
                             Enhancement for the
                             Pacific Coast Groundfish
                             Fishery; Pacific Coast
                             Groundfish Fishery
                             Management Plan.
184.......................  Framework Adjustment 59 to         0648-BJ12
                             the Northeast
                             Multispecies Fishery
                             Management Plan.
185.......................  Vessel Monitoring Systems;         0648-BJ15
                             Amendment to Type-
                             Approval Requirements.
186.......................  Amendment 21 to the                0648-BJ16
                             Atlantic Mackerel, Squid,
                             and Butterfish Fishery
                             Management Plan.
187.......................  Regulatory Amendment to            0648-BJ40
                             Adjust the North Pacific
                             Observer Program Partial
                             Coverage Fee.
188.......................  Amendment 121 to the               0648-BJ49
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             for Groundfish of the
                             Bering Sea and Aleutian
                             Islands Management Area
                             and Amendment 110 to the
                             Fishery Management Plan
                             for Groundfish of the
                             Gulf of Alaska.
189.......................  Atlantic Bluefish 2020-            0648-BJ61
                             2021 Specifications and
                             Recreational Management
                             Measures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Patent and Trademark Office--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
190.......................  Trademark Fee Adjustment           0651-AD42
                             (Reg Plan Seq No. 10).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


             Patent and Trademark Office--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
191.......................  Setting and Adjusting              0651-AD31
                             Patent Fees During Fiscal
                             Year 2020.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 16865]]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

General Administration (ADMIN)

Final Rule Stage

144. Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt.
    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 8701 et seq.
    Abstract: The Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and 
Promotion Act of 2018 (Act) (15 U.S.C. 8701 et seq.) authorizes the 
establishment of an orderly program for a program of research, 
education, and promotion, including funds for marketing and market 
research activities, that is designed to promote the use of concrete 
masonry products in construction and building (a checkoff program). The 
Act allows industry to submit a proposed order establishing such a 
program. If the Secretary determines that such a proposed order is 
consistent with and will effectuate the purpose of the Act, the 
Secretary is directed to publish the proposed order in the Federal 
Register not later than 90 days after receiving the order.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/24/20  85 FR 52059
NPRM Comment Period End.............   10/08/20  .......................
Final Action........................   03/00/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Asha Mathew, Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, Phone: 202 306-0487, 
Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0605-AA53

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

International Trade Administration (ITA)

Final Rule Stage

145. Modifications to Regulations To Improve Administration and 
Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
    Legal Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.; Pub. L. 114-125, sec. 421
    Abstract: Pursuant to its authority under Title VII of the Tariff 
Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), the Department of Commerce 
(Commerce) issued a proposed rule to modify its regulations under part 
351 of title 19 to improve administration and enforcement of the 
antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) laws. Specifically, 
Commerce proposes to modify its regulation concerning the time for 
submission of comments pertaining to industry support in AD and CVD 
proceedings; to modify its regulation regarding new shipper reviews; to 
modify its regulation concerning scope matters in AD and CVD 
proceedings; to promulgate a new regulation concerning circumvention of 
AD and CVD orders; to promulgate a new regulation concerning covered 
merchandise referrals received from U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP); to promulgate a new regulation pertaining to Commerce requests 
for certifications from interested parties to establish whether 
merchandise is subject to an AD or CVD order; and to modify its 
regulation regarding importer reimbursement certifications filed with 
CBP. Finally, Commerce proposes to modify its regulations regarding 
letters of appearance in AD and CVD proceedings and importer filing 
requirements for access to business proprietary information.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/13/20  85 FR 49472
Extension of Comment Period.........   09/10/20  85 FR 55801
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/14/20
Extension of Comment Period End.....   09/28/20
Final Action........................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jessica Link, Department of Commerce, International 
Trade Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230, Phone: 202 482-1411, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0625-AB10

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Proposed Rule Stage

National Marine Fisheries Service

146. Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for Puerto Rico, 
Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for ST. Croix, Comprehensive 
Fishery Management Plan for St. Thomas/St. John

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: In response to a recommendation of the Caribbean Fishery 
Management Council, this action would establish three new FMPs (Puerto 
Rico FMP, St. Thomas/St. John FMP and St. Croix FMP) and repeal and 
replace the existing U.S. Caribbean-wide FMPs (the FMP for the Reef 
Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), the FMP 
for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI, the FMP for 
Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the USVI, and the FMP for the 
Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and 
the USVI). For each of the Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John, and St. 
Croix FMPs, the action would also modify the composition of the stocks 
to be managed; organize those stocks for effective management; 
establish status determination criteria, management reference points, 
and accountability measures for managed stocks; identify essential fish 
habitat for stocks new to management; and establish framework measures.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   06/26/20  85 FR 38350
NPRM................................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BD32

147. International Fisheries; South Pacific Tuna Fisheries; 
Implementation of Amendments to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.

[[Page 16866]]

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 973 et seq.
    Abstract: Under authority of the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, 
this rule would implement recent amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries 
between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the 
Government of the United States of America (also known as the South 
Pacific Tuna Treaty). The rule would include modification to the 
procedures used to request licenses for U.S. vessels in the western and 
central Pacific Ocean purse seine fishery, including changing the 
annual licensing period from June-to-June to the calendar year, and 
modifications to existing reporting requirements for purse seine 
vessels fishing in the western and central Pacific Ocean. The rule 
would implement only those aspects of the Treaty amendments that can be 
implemented under the existing South Pacific Tuna Act.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/00/21
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BG04

148. Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported Fishing; Fisheries 
Enforcement; High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 6 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 0648-BG11

149. Regulatory Amendment to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 
Management Plan to Implement an Electronic Monitoring Program for 
Bottom Trawl and Non-Whiting Midwater Trawl Vessels

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The proposed action would implement a regulatory 
amendment to the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan to allow bottom trawl and midwater 
trawl vessels targeting non-whiting species the option to use 
electronic monitoring (video cameras and associated sensors) in place 
of observers to meet requirements for 100-percent observer coverage. By 
allowing vessels the option to use electronic monitoring to meet 
monitoring requirements, this action is intended to increase 
operational flexibility and reduce monitoring costs for the fleet.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BH70

150. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Research and Data Collection in 
Support of Spatial Fisheries Management

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rulemaking would address conducting research in 
areas currently closed to fishing for Atlantic highly migratory species 
(HMS)--during various times or by certain gear-- to collect fishery-
dependent data. A number of time/area closures or gear-restricted areas 
have been implemented over the years through various rulemakings, 
limiting fishing for Atlantic highly migratory species in those areas 
for a variety of reasons including reducing bycatch. These time/area 
closures have been implemented in consultation with the HMS Advisory 
Panel to protect species consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries 
Conservation and Management Act (e.g., to reduce bycatch in the pelagic 
longline fishery off the east coast of Florida), the Endangered Species 
Act (e.g., to protect sea turtles in the North Atlantic), and the 
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (e.g., to protect spawning bluefin tuna 
in the Gulf of Mexico). Fishery-dependent data supports effective 
fisheries management, and areas that restrict fishing effort often have 
a commensurate decrease in fishery-dependent data collection. Programs 
to facilitate research and data collection, such as those that would be 
covered by this rulemaking, could assess the efficacy of closed areas, 
improve sustainable management of highly migratory species, and may 
provide benefits to commercial and recreational fishermen.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/00/21
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kelly Denit, Director, Office of Sustainable 
Fisheries, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13362, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, Phone: 301 427-8500, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BI10

151. Establish National Insurance Requirements for Observer Providers

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1855(d)
    Abstract: NMFS is proposing to establish uniform, nationally 
applicable minimum insurance requirements for companies that provide 
observer or at-sea monitor services for federally managed fisheries 
subject to monitoring requirements. This action would supersede 
outdated or inappropriate regulatory insurance requirements thereby 
easing the regulatory and cost burden for observer/at-sea monitor 
providers. Additionally, this action would mitigate potential liability 
risks associated with observer and at-sea monitor deployments for 
vessel owners and shore side processors that are subject to monitoring 
requirements.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Evan Howell, Director, Office of Science and 
Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8100, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BJ33

152. Salmon Bycatch Minimization in the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The proposed action would implement salmon bycatch 
minimization measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery to comply 
with the terms and conditions of a December 2017 biological opinion on 
Endangered Species Act-listed salmon interactions

[[Page 16867]]

in the groundfish fishery. The proposed action would establish 
additional management tools (e.g. area-based closures and gear 
restrictions) the Council and NMFS could use as needed to keep fishery 
sectors within Chinook and coho salmon bycatch guidelines as 
established in a prior rulemaking. The proposed action would establish 
the rules or circumstances under which the fishery sectors would be 
allowed to access an established salmon bycatch Reserve. Under the 
proposed action, NMFS is required to take an action before fishery 
participants can access the Reserve; such action may include 
implementation of a measure such as an area-based closure or gear 
restriction, or approval of a plan outlining how a whiting cooperative 
will minimize its salmon bycatch. Finally, the proposed action would 
change the bycatch levels at which the trawl fishery would be closed in 
order to preserve 500 Chinook salmon as bycatch so that the 
recreational and fixed gear fisheries could continue operating in years 
of high trawl fishery bycatch.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/20/20  85 FR 66519
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/19/20
Final Action........................   01/00/21
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BJ50

153.  2021-22 Harvest Specifications and Management Measures 
for Pacific Coast Groundfish and Fishery Management Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Every other year, the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) makes recommendations to set biennial allowable harvest 
levels for Pacific Coast groundfish, and recommends management measures 
for commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries that are designed to 
achieve those harvest levels consistent with the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. For the 2021-22 biennium, the 
Council has recommended: harvest specifications, including overfishing 
limits, acceptable biological catches, and annual catch limits; and 
management measures to achieve those specifications. The specifications 
and management measures that would be forwarded by this action would be 
in effect from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   09/02/20  85 FR 54529
NPRM................................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BJ74

154.  International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Fishing 
Restrictions for Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean for 2021

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.
    Abstract: In the fall 2020, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC) is expected to adopt a binding resolution regarding 
conservation measures for tropical tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean 
(EPO) during 2021. As required under the Tuna Conventions Act, 16 
U.S.C. 951 et seq., this rulemaking action would implement that 
resolution domestically. Provisions to be implemented include those 
expected for tropical tuna (bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack) for 2021, 
and potentially beyond if the IATTC resolution applies beyond 2021. 
Additionally, should the IATTC resolution do so, as is expected, this 
rulemaking action would continue to apply provisions of currently 
applicable regulations for purse seine vessels of class sizes 4-6 
(carrying capacity greater than 182 metric tons (mt)) fishing for 
tropical tuna in the EPO. This includes a 72-day closure, a time/area 
closure in the EPO for 31 days, and a requirement that all tropical 
tuna be retained on board and landed, except fish considered unfit for 
human consumption for reasons other than size. The rule is expected to 
continue to allow a single exception on the final set of a trip, when 
there may be insufficient well space remaining to accommodate all the 
tuna caught in that set. The rule is also expected to continue to limit 
catch of bigeye tuna by longline vessels greater than 24 meters in 
overall length to 750 metric tons per year.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BK08

155.  Framework Adjustment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery 
Management Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: In response to action by the New England Fishery 
Management Council based on the most recent stock assessment, this 
rulemaking action would set 2021-2023 fishing year specifications and 
adjust current herring measures. Changes in herring specifications may 
impact the Atlantic mackerel fishery because the fisheries often 
operate concurrently. Accordingly, this action would adjust current 
measures by providing more flexibility to participants in the Atlantic 
herring fishery in order to facilitate increased participation in the 
Atlantic mackerel fishery. The objectives of this action are to meet 
the overall goal of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan of 
managing the Atlantic herring fishery at long-term sustainable levels 
consistent with the National Standards of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BK11

[[Page 16868]]

156. Designation of Critical Habitat for the Arctic Ringed Seal

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    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
Proposed Rule 2.....................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BC56

157. Amendment and Updates to the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
    Abstract: Serious injury and mortality of the Western North 
Atlantic short-finned pilot whale stock incidental to the Category I 
Atlantic pelagic longline fishery continues at levels exceeding their 
Potential Biological Removal. This proposed action will examine a 
number of management measures to amend the Pelagic Longline Take 
Reduction Plan to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury of 
short-finned pilot whales taken in the Atlantic Pelagic Longline 
fishery to below Potential Biological Removal. Potential management 
measures may include changes to the current limitations on mainline 
length, new requirements to use weak hooks (hooks with reduced breaking 
strength), and non-regulatory measures related to determining the best 
procedures for safe handling and release of marine mammals. The need 
for the proposed action is to ensure the Pelagic Longline Take 
Reduction Plan meets its Marine Mammal Protection Act mandated short- 
and long-term goals.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BF90

158. Designation of Critical Habitat for the Threatened Caribbean 
Corals

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: NMFS listed 5 Caribbean corals as threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act on October 10, 2014. Critical habitat shall be 
designated to the maximum extent prudent and determinable at the time a 
species is proposed for listing (50 CFR 424.12). We concluded that 
critical habitat was not determinable for the 5 corals at the time of 
listing. However, we anticipated that critical habitat would be 
determinable in the future given on-going research. We, therefore, 
announced in the final listing rules that we would propose critical 
habitat in separate rulemakings. This rule proposes to designate 
critical habitat for the 5 Caribbean coral species listed in 2014. A 
separate proposed critical habitat rule is being prepared for the 15 
Indo-Pacific corals listed as threatened in 2014. The proposed 
designation for the Caribbean corals may include marine waters in 
Florida, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Navassa Island, and Flower 
Garden Banks containing essential features that support all stages of 
life history of the corals. The proposed rule is not likely to have an 
annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely 
affect the economy. NMFS has contacted the Departments of the Navy, Air 
Force, and Army as well as the U.S. Coast Guard requesting information 
related to potential national security impacts that may result from the 
critical habitat designation. Based on information provided, we 
concluded that there will be an impact on national security in only 1 
area offshore Dania Beach, FL, and will propose to exclude it from the 
designations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/27/20  85 FR 76302
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/26/21
Final Rule..........................   04/00/21
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BG26

159. Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Modifications To Reduce 
Serious Injury and Mortality of Large Whales in Commercial Trap/Pot 
Fisheries Along the U.S. East Coast

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 7 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 0648-BJ09

160. Designation of Critical Habitat for Threatened Indo-Pacific Reef-
Building Corals

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: On September 10, 2014, NMFS listed 20 species of reef-
building corals as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, 15 in 
the Indo-Pacific and five in the Caribbean. Of the 15 Indo-Pacific 
species, seven occur in U.S. waters of the Pacific Islands Region, 
including in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Mariana 
Islands, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas. This proposed rule would 
designate critical habitat for the seven species in U.S. waters 
(Acropora globiceps, Acropora jacquelineae, Acropora retusa, Acropora 
speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, Isopora crateriformis, and Seriatopora 
aculeata). A separate proposed rule will designate critical habitat for 
the listed Caribbean coral species. The proposed designation may cover 
coral reef habitat around 13 island or atoll units in the Pacific 
Islands Region, including three in American Samoa, one in Guam, seven 
in the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, and two in Pacific Remote 
Island Areas, containing essential features that support reproduction, 
growth, and survival of the listed coral species. NMFS has contacted 
the Departments of the Navy, Air Force, and Army as well as the U.S. 
Coast Guard

[[Page 16869]]

requesting information related to potential national security impacts 
that may result from the critical habitat designation. Based on 
information provided, we will determine whether to propose to exclude 
any areas based on national security impacts.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/27/20  85 FR 76262
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/26/21
Final Rule..........................   04/00/21
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BJ52

161.  Establishment of Time-Area Closures for Hawaiian Spinner 
Dolphins Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1382 et seq.
    Abstract: This rulemaking action under the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act (MMPA) proposes to establish mandatory time-area closures of 
Hawaiian spinner dolphins' essential daytime habitats at five selected 
sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). In considering public 
comments in response to a separate proposed rule related to spinner 
dolphin interactions (81 FR 57854), NMFS intends these regulatory 
measures to prevent take of Hawaiian spinner dolphins from occurring in 
inshore marine areas at essential daytime habitats, and where high 
levels of disturbance from human activities are most prevalent.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BK04

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Final Rule Stage

National Marine Fisheries Service

162. International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for 
Highly Migratory Species; Requirements To Safeguard Fishery Observers

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule would establish requirements to enhance the 
safety of fishery observers on highly migratory species fishing 
vessels. This rule would be issued under the authority of the Western 
and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act, and 
pursuant to decisions made by the Commission for the Conservation and 
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central 
Pacific Ocean. This action is necessary for the United States to 
satisfy its obligations under the Convention on the Conservation and 
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central 
Pacific Ocean, to which it is a Contracting Party.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/20/20  85 FR 66513
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/19/20
Final Action........................   01/00/21
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BG66

163. Area of Overlap Between the Convention Areas of the Inter-American 
Tropical Tuna Commission and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Commission

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.
    Abstract: Under authority of the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Convention Implementation Act and the Tuna Conventions Act, 
an area of overlap (overlap area) exists between the respective areas 
of competence of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of 
Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean 
and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. NMFS proposes to 
change the application of the two Commissions' management decisions in 
the overlap area to specifically apply Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission management measures in the overlap area rather than those of 
the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory 
Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean that currently 
apply there.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   06/12/18  83 FR 27305
ANPRM Comment Period End............   07/12/18
NPRM................................   11/07/19  84 FR 60040
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/22/19
Final Rule..........................   06/22/20  85 FR 37376
Final Rule Effective................   07/22/20
Final Action; Announcement of          11/00/20
 Effectiveness of Collection-of-
 Information Requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BH59

164. Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This action would implement the New England Fishery 
Management Council's Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment. The Amendment 
would implement measures that reduce impacts of fishing gear on deep-
sea corals in the Gulf of Maine and on the outer continental shelf. In 
doing so, this action would prohibit the use of mobile bottom-tending 
gear in two areas in the Gulf of Maine (Mount Desert Rock and Outer 
Schoodic Ridge), and it would prohibit the use of all gear (with an 
exception for red crab pots) along the outer continental shelf in 
waters deeper than a minimum of 600 meters.

[[Page 16870]]

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   08/26/19  84 FR 44596
NPRM................................   01/03/20  85 FR 285
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/18/20
Final Action........................   12/00/20
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BH67

165. Generic Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans for the Reef 
Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Coastal Migratory Pelagic 
Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This action, recommended by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council, would modify data reporting for owners or operators 
of federally permitted for-hire vessels (charter vessels and headboats) 
in the Gulf of Mexico, requiring them to declare the type of trip (for-
hire or other) prior to departing for any trip, and electronically 
submit trip-level reports prior to off-loading fish at the end of each 
fishing trip. The declaration would include the expected return time 
and landing location. Landing reports would include information about 
catch and effort during the trip. The action would also require that 
these reports be submitted via approved hardware that includes a global 
positioning system attached to the vessel that is capable, at a 
minimum, of archiving global positioning system locations. This 
requirement would not preclude the use of global positioning system 
devices that provide real-time location data, such as the currently 
approved vessel monitoring systems.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   06/21/18  83 FR 28797
NPRM................................   10/26/18  83 FR 54069
Correction..........................   11/08/18  83 FR 55850
Comment Period Extended.............   11/20/18  83 FR 58522
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/26/18
Comment Period Extended End.........   01/09/19
Final Rule..........................   07/21/20  85 FR 44005
Final Rule Effective................   01/05/21
Final Action; Announcement of          12/00/20
 Effectiveness for Delayed
 Provisions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BH72

166. Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act; 
Traceability Information Program for Seafood

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Other.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; Pub. L. 115-141
    Abstract: On December 9, 2016, NMFS issued a final rule that 
established a risk-based traceability program to track seafood from 
harvest to entry into U.S. commerce. The final rule included, for 
designated priority fish species, import 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 represented. Shrimp and abalone 
products were included in the final rule to implement the Seafood 
Import Monitoring Program, but compliance with Seafood Import 
Monitoring Program requirements for those species was stayed 
indefinitely due to the disparity between Federal reporting programs 
for domestic aquaculture of shrimp and abalone products relative to the 
requirements that would apply to imports under Seafood Import 
Monitoring Program. In section 539 of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2018, Congress mandated lifting the stay on inclusion of shrimp 
and abalone in Seafood Import Monitoring Program and authorized the 
Secretary of Commerce to require comparable reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements for domestic aquaculture of shrimp and abalone. This 
rulemaking would establish permitting, reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements for domestic producers of shrimp and abalone from the 
point of production to entry into commerce.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/11/18  83 FR 51426
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/26/18  .......................
Final Action........................   03/00/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Alexa Cole, Director, Office of International 
Affairs and Seafood Inspection, Department of Commerce, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8286, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BH87

167. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Regulatory Amendment for the 
Management of Atlantic Swordfish

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: Upon recommendation of the HMS Advisory Panel, this 
action would modify existing management measures for North Atlantic 
swordfish under the 2006 Consolidated FMP in U.S. Atlantic and 
Caribbean waters. This rulemaking would increase default retention 
limits for the Commercial Caribbean Small Boat (CCSB) and Swordfish 
General Commercial permits and adding inseason adjustment criteria for 
the CCSB permits. This proposed action is intended to provide 
additional opportunities to more fully harvest the U.S. North Atlantic 
swordfish quota, which has been significantly under harvested for many 
years.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   04/27/20  85 FR 23315
NPRM Comment Period End.............   06/26/20  .......................
Final Action........................   12/00/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kelly Denit, Director, Office of Sustainable 
Fisheries, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13362, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, Phone: 301 427-8500, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BI09

168. Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.

[[Page 16871]]

    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: In response to a recommendation by the New England 
Fishery Management Council, this action proposes measures for a long-
term acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule to address the 
biological and ecological requirements of the Atlantic herring stock, 
including explicitly accounting for Atlantic herring's role in the 
ecosystem, and minimizing localized depletion and user group conflict 
when effort in the Atlantic herring fishery overlaps (spatially and 
temporally) with effort in fisheries targeting predators of Atlantic 
herring (e.g., tuna, groundfish) or ecotourism industries. 
Specifically, this action would implement a control rule generating an 
ABC intended to meet specific criteria identified by the New England 
Fishery Management Council, including low variability in yield, low 
probability of the stock becoming overfished, low probability of a 
fishery shutdown, and catch limits set at a relatively high proportion 
of maximum sustainable yield. This action would specify that ABC would 
be set for a 3-year period, but would allow ABC to vary year-to-year in 
response to projected changes in biomass.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   08/21/19  84 FR 43573
NPRM................................   10/09/19  84 FR 54094
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/25/19  .......................
Final Action........................   11/00/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BI80

169. Amendment 21 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Fishery Management Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rulemaking action proposes measures recommended by 
the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission that would adjust the current state-by-state 
commercial quota allocations in the summer flounder fishery and update 
the goals and objective for summer flounder fishery management in the 
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP). The revised quota allocation would maintain the current state-
by-state allocation percentages when distributing the annual coastwide 
quota up to 9.55 million pounds. In years when the coastwide quota is 
above 9.55 million pounds, additional quota beyond this trigger would 
be distributed in equal shares to all states except Maine, Delaware, 
and New Hampshire (i.e., states with very little directed fishing 
effort), which would split one percent of the additional quota. The 
current state-by-state quota allocations have not been adjusted since 
originally implemented in 1993. The intent of this amendment is to 
modify the allocations to respond to changes in summer flounder 
distribution while also recognizing the states' historical reliance on 
summer flounder. The Council and Board intend to review the adjusted 
quota allocations again in no more than 10 years.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   07/29/20  85 FR 45571
NPRM................................   08/12/20  85 FR 48660
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/11/20  .......................
Final Action........................   11/00/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BJ18

170. Modification of Multi-Day Trip Possession Limits for Federally-
Permitted Charter/Headboat Vessels in the Fishery Management Plans 
(FMP) in the Gulf of Mexico

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule would promote efficiency in the utilization of 
the reef fish and CMP resources and a potential decrease in regulatory 
discards by providing the owners and operators of federally permitted 
for-hire vessels greater flexibility in determining when to allow 
passengers to retain the possession limit on multi-day trips. The rule 
would modify the on-board possession limit for federal for-hire trips 
in the Gulf of Mexico, which currently allows anglers to retain two 
daily bag limits on a trip more than 24 hours, after the first 24 hours 
of that trip. The rule would increase the required trip duration to 
more than 30 hours, but would allow anglers to retain the second daily 
bag limit at any time after the federal for-hire vessel leaves the 
dock. All other requirements to retain the possession limit would be 
unchanged. In addition, this rule would modify the language in 
622.21(a)(3)(iii) and 622.22(a)(3)(iii). The change would remove the 
wording `sequentially coded' from the sentence `NMFS will provide each 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) dealer the necessary paper forms, 
sequentially coded, and instructions for submission of the forms to the 
RA'.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/28/20  85 FR 45363
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/27/20  .......................
Final Action........................   11/00/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BJ60

171. Reducing Disturbances to Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins From Human 
Interactions

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    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
NPRM Comment Period Reopened End....   12/01/16  .......................
Final Action........................   11/00/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

[[Page 16872]]

    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

172. Taking and Importing Marine Mammals: Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in 
the Gulf of Mexico

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 9 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 0648-BB38

173. Revision to Critical Habitat Designation for Endangered Southern 
Resident Killer Whales

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: The proposed action would revise the designation of 
critical habitat for the endangered Southern Resident killer whale 
distinct population segment, pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered 
Species Act. Critical habitat for this population is currently 
designated within inland waters of Washington. In response to a 2014 
petition, NMFS is proposing to expand the designation to include areas 
occupied by Southern Resident killer whales in waters along the U.S. 
West Coast. Impacts from the designation would stem mainly from Federal 
agencies' requirement to consult with NMFS, under section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act, to ensure that any action they carry out, 
permit (authorize), or fund will not result in the destruction or 
adverse modification of critical habitat of a listed species. Federal 
agencies are already required to consult on effects to the currently 
designated critical habitat in inland waters of Washington, but 
consultation would be newly required for actions affecting the expanded 
critical habitat areas. Federal agencies are also already required to 
consult within the Southern Resident killer whales' range (including 
along the U.S. West Coast) to ensure that any action they carry out, 
permit, or fund will not jeopardize the continued existence of the 
species; this requirement would not change with a revision to the 
critical habitat designation.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/19/19  84 FR 49214
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/18/19  .......................
Final Rule..........................   02/00/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BH95

174. Designation of Critical Habitat for the Mexico, Central American, 
and Western Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales 
Under the Endangered Species Act

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
    Abstract: This action will propose the designation of critical 
habitat for three distinct population segments of humpback whales 
(Megaptera novaeangliae) pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered 
Species Act. The three distinct population segments of humpback whales 
concerned--the Mexico, Central American, and Western Pacific distinct 
population segments--were listed under the Endangered Species Act on 
September 8, 2016, thereby triggering the requirement under section 4 
of the Endangered Species Act to designate critical habitat to the 
maximum extent prudent and determinable. Proposed critical habitat for 
these three distinct population segments of humpback whales will 
include marine habitats within the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea and 
will likely overlap with several existing designations, including 
critical habitat for leatherback sea turtles, North Pacific right 
whales, Steller sea lions, southern resident killer whales, and the 
southern distinct population segment of green sturgeon. Impacts from 
the designations for humpback whales would stem from the statutory 
requirement for Federal agencies to consult with NMFS, under section 7 
of the Endangered Species Act, to ensure that any action they carry 
out, authorize, or fund will not result in the destruction or adverse 
modification of humpback whale critical habitat. Within many of the 
areas we are evaluating for potential proposal as critical habitat for 
the humpback whales distinct population segments, Federal agencies are 
already required to consult on effects to currently designated critical 
habitat for other listed species. Federal agencies are also already 
required to consult with NMFS under section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act to ensure that any action they authorize, fund or carry out will 
not jeopardize the continued existence of the listed distinct 
population segments of humpback whales.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/09/19  84 FR 54354
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/09/19  .......................
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   11/27/19  84 FR 65346
NPRM Comment Period Extended End....   01/31/20  .......................
Final Action........................   01/00/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BI06

NOS/ONMS

175. Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary Designation

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
    Abstract: On December 2, 2014, pursuant to section 304 of the 
National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the Sanctuary Nomination Process 
(79 FR 33851), a coalition of community groups submitted a nomination 
asking NOAA to designate an area of Wisconsin's Lake Michigan waters as 
a national marine sanctuary. The area is a region that includes 875 
square miles of Lake Michigan waters and bottomlands adjacent to 
Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee counties and the cities of Port 
Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Two Rivers. It includes 80 miles 
of shoreline and extends 9 to 14 miles from the shoreline. The area 
contains an extraordinary collection of submerged maritime heritage 
resources (shipwrecks) as demonstrated by the listing of 15 shipwrecks 
on the National Register of Historic Places. The area includes 39 known 
shipwrecks, 123 reported vessel losses, numerous other historic 
maritime-related features, and is adjacent to communities that have 
embraced their centuries-long relationship with Lake Michigan. NOAA 
completed its review of the nomination in accordance with the Sanctuary 
Nomination Process and on February 5, 2015, added the area to the 
inventory of nominations that are eligible for

[[Page 16873]]

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 National 
Marine Sanctuaries Act would allow NOAA to supplement and complement 
work by the State of Wisconsin and other Federal agencies to protect 
this collection of nationally significant shipwrecks.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/09/17  82 FR 2269
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/31/17  .......................
Final Action........................   01/00/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Russ Green, Department of Commerce, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC 20230, Phone: 
989 766-3359, Email: [email protected].
    Jessica Kondel, Policy and Planning Division Division Chief, 
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, Bldg. SSMC4, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, Phone: 240 533-0647.
    RIN: 0648-BG01

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Long-Term Actions

National Marine Fisheries Service

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

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    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 
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Determined....................           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    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  .......................
                                     -----------------------------------
To Be Determined....................           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Tosatto, Phone: 808 725-5000, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BF41

178. Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod Pot Catcher/Processor 
License Limitation Program Adjustment

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: In response to a recommendation by the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council), this action announces the 
establishment of a control date for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
(BSAI) Pacific cod pot catcher/processor sector. Currently, pot 
catcher/processor vessels fishing for Pacific cod in the BSAI are 
required to have a License Limitation Program (LLP) that is endorsed 
for fishing Pacific cod by gear type, operational type, and area. The 
Council is evaluating participation and effort in the BSAI Pacific cod 
catcher/processor fishery in response to a potential need to control 
entry and participation in the Pacific cod pot catcher/processor 
sector. Specifically, the Council is considering options to address and 
potentially eliminate latent Bering Sea pot catcher/processor endorsed 
LLPs (which are LLP endorsements not recently utilized) in order to 
increase stability for Pacific cod-dependent pot catcher/processors, 
maintain consistently low rates of halibut and crab bycatch, and ensure 
that condensed fishing seasons do not result in safety-at-sea concerns. 
The Council may use the control date if it decides to recommend 
removing latent BSAI Pacific cod endorsements on pot catcher/processor 
LLPs to limit participation in the sector. Any fishing activity after 
the control date would not be assured to be considered should the 
Council recommend and NMFS implement a regulatory amendment to remove 
latent LLP endorsements. This announcement is intended, in part, to 
promote awareness of the potential

[[Page 16874]]

eligibility criteria for future access to discourage speculative entry 
into the BSAI Pacific cod sector while the Council and NMFS consider 
whether and how access to the sector should be further controlled.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   12/10/19  84 FR 67421
ANPRM Comment Period End............   12/10/19  .......................
NPRM................................   11/00/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Balsiger, Phone: 907 586-7221, Fax: 907 586-
7465, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BJ42

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Completed Actions

179. Licensing of Private Land Remote-Sensing Space Systems

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt.
    Legal Authority: 51 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA's) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information 
Service proposes to revise its final rule issued on April 26, 2006, 
addressing the licensing of private land remote sensing space systems. 
The purpose of this revision is to modify NOAA's requirements for the 
licensing, monitoring and compliance of operators of private land 
remote sensing space systems under title II of the Land Remote Sensing 
Policy Act of 1992. These modifications are intended to address changes 
in remote sensing technology and business practices since the issuance 
of the final rule. The revision is intended to facilitate the further 
development of the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry, while 
preserving essential U.S. national security interests, foreign policy, 
and international obligations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   06/29/18  83 FR 30592
ANPRM Comment Period End............   08/28/18  .......................
NPRM................................   05/14/19  84 FR 21282
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/15/19  .......................
Final Rule..........................   05/20/20  85 FR 30790
Comment Period End..................   06/19/20  .......................
Final Rule Effective................   07/20/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Alan D. Robinson, Program Coordinator for 
Commercial Remote Sensing, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 1335 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, Phone: 301 713-3387, Fax: 301 713-2032, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BA15

180. Commerce Trusted Trader Program

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdraws 
the Commerce Trusted Trader Program proposed rule, which published in 
the Federal Register on January 17, 2018. The proposed voluntary 
program was intended to offer qualified importers electing to 
participate in the program a reduction in reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements and streamlined entry into U.S. commerce for seafood 
imports subject to the Seafood Import Monitoring Program. Upon 
consideration of public comment, NMFS has determined that this program 
will not provide the anticipated benefits to industry.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/17/18  83 FR 2412
NPRM Comment Period End.............   03/19/18  .......................
Withdrawal..........................   09/18/20  85 FR 58321
Withdrawal Effective................   09/18/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Alexa Cole, Director, Office of International 
Affairs and Seafood Inspection, Department of Commerce, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8286, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG51

181. Rule to Implement the For-Hire Reporting Amendments

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule implements Amendment 39 for the Snapper-Grouper 
Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, Amendment 9 for the Dolphin and 
Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, and Amendment 27 to the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Regions 
(For-Hire Reporting Amendments). The For-Hire Reporting Amendments rule 
implements mandatory weekly electronic reporting for charter vessel 
operators with a Federal for-hire permit in the snapper-grouper, 
dolphin wahoo, or coastal migratory pelagics fisheries; reduces the 
time allowed for headboat operators to complete their electronic 
reports; and requires location reporting by charter vessels with the 
same level of detail currently required for headboat vessels.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   03/14/18  83 FR 11164
NPRM................................   04/04/18  83 FR 14400
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/04/18  .......................
Final Rule..........................   02/24/20  85 FR 10331
Final Rule Effective................   09/01/20  .......................
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date.   08/07/20  85 FR 47917
Final Rule; Delay of Effective Date    01/04/21  .......................
 Effective.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BG75

182. New England Industry-Funded Monitoring Amendment

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rule implements measures for industry funding and 
prioritizing available Federal funding to pay for additional 
monitoring, consistent with specific monitoring coverage targets 
recently set by the New England Fishery Management Council, for New 
England fishery management plans. Specifically, this action would 
modify all the New England fishery management plans to allow 
standardized development of future, plan-specific, industry-funded 
monitoring programs. This action would also prioritize industry-funded

[[Page 16875]]

monitoring programs across New England fishery management plans when 
available Federal funding falls short of the total needed to fully fund 
all monitoring programs. Finally, this rule implements industry-funded 
monitoring requirements for the Atlantic Herring fishery management 
plan.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   09/19/18  83 FR 47326
NPRM................................   11/07/18  83 FR 55665
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/24/18  .......................
Final Action........................   02/07/20  85 FR 7414
Final Action Effective..............   03/09/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BG91

183. Vessel Movement, Monitoring, and Declaration Management 
Enhancement for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rulemaking action implements the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council's action to implement various measures that provide 
more efficient and effective monitoring, improve enforcement of 
restricted areas, and reduce costs for the Pacific coast groundfish 
fleet. This action would: Increase the required frequency of signals 
transmitted from type-approved vessel monitoring system (VMS) units 
from once per hour to every 15 minutes to provide finer-scale vessel 
location data; allow vessels to use alternative VMS units; add a VMS 
declaration to indicate when a vessel is testing gear; allow vessels 
participating in the midwater trawl whiting fishery to change their 
declaration while at-sea to select a new whiting fishery; and allow 
vessels to move pot gear from one management area to another during a 
single trip while retaining fish from the primary management area.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/10/19  84 FR 54579
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/12/19  .......................
Final Action........................   06/11/20  85 FR 35594
Final Action Effective..............   07/13/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BI45

184. Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This rulemaking action proposes to implement management 
measures included in the New England Fishery Management Council's 
Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (Framework 59) developed in response to new scientific 
information. The proposed action would set fishing years 2020-2022 
specifications for 15 groundfish stocks, and fishing year 2020 total 
allocable catches (TAC) for the three U.S./Canada stocks: Eastern 
Georges Bank cod, Eastern Georges Bank haddock, and Georges Bank 
yellowtail flounder. This action would also revise the Georges Bank cod 
incidental TAC to remove the allocation to the Closed Area I Hook Gear 
Haddock Special Access Program, and as necessary in response to any new 
data coming from the Marine Recreational Information Program, address 
commercial/recreational allocation issues.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/29/20  85 FR 32347
NPRM Comment Period End.............   06/15/20  .......................
Final Action Effective..............   07/28/20  .......................
Final Action........................   07/30/20  85 FR 45794
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BJ12

185. Vessel Monitoring Systems; Amendment to Type-Approval Requirements

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The U.S. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) program type-
approves enhanced mobile transceiver units (EMTUs) for use in the U.S. 
Currently, the only option for transferring VMS data from ship to NMFS 
is by satellite-linked communication services. All owners of vessels 
participating in the NOAA VMS program are required to carry a NMFS-
approved EMTU or MTU to comply with the Vessel Monitoring System 
requirements. This rule would modify the type-approval requirements to 
allow for communication service by cellular EMTUs (EMTU-Cs), in 
addition to satellite-only models. The need for the rule is to set out 
procedures and requirements for initial type-approvals; compliance 
with, and revocations and appeals of type-approvals; and technical, 
service, and performance specifications. This would allow EMTU-Cs to be 
type-approved and used in certain federally managed fisheries with a 
VMS requirement. Generally, cellular communication services come at a 
significantly lower cost than satellite services. A lower cost could 
ease the financial burden on fishermen, while providing NMFS with 
additional capabilities to manage fishery resources, and to protect 
marine species and ecologically sensitive areas.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/24/20  85 FR 4257
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/24/20  .......................
Final Action........................   07/08/20  85 FR 40915
Final Action Effective..............   08/07/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: James Landon, Department of Commerce, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Hwy, Bldg SSMC 
3, Room 3151, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301 427-8245, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BJ15

186. Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish 
Fishery Management Plan

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

[[Page 16876]]

    Abstract: In response to action by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council to integrate chub mackerel as a stock managed under 
the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan, 
this rulemaking action replaces preliminary chub mackerel management 
measures implemented in August 2017 under the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus 
Amendment that expire December 31, 2020. The objective of this action 
is to sustainably manage chub mackerel consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The action would: 
Identify chub mackerel management goals and objectives; designate chub 
mackerel essential fish habitat; create a chub mackerel management 
unit; specify chub mackerel status determination criteria; set chub 
mackerel acceptable biological catch and annual catch limits; establish 
a process to set chub mackerel catch limits and distribute them among 
commercial and recreational fisheries; create accountability measures 
to prevent overfishing; and establish chub mackerel permit and 
reporting requirements.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   02/14/20  85 FR 8534
Notice of Availability Comment         04/14/20  .......................
 Period End.
NPRM................................   03/09/20  85 FR 13603
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/08/20  .......................
Final Rule..........................   08/04/20  85 FR 47103
Correction..........................   08/18/20  85 FR 50793
Final Rule Effective................   09/03/20  .......................
Correction Effective................   09/03/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BJ16

187. Regulatory Amendment To Adjust the North Pacific Observer Program 
Partial Coverage Fee

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: In response to a recommendation by the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, this action would modify the fee percentage 
assessed on groundfish and halibut landings made by vessels operating 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska management 
areas. This action would increase the observer fee from 1.25 percent to 
1.65 percent of the ex-vessel value of landings made by vessels that 
are not in the full coverage category. Fee revenues are used to fund 
deployment of observers and electronic monitoring (EM) in the partial 
coverage category of the North Pacific Observer Program. This action is 
necessary to provide additional funding to deploy observers and EM in 
the partial coverage category to better meet monitoring objectives for 
the North Pacific Observer Program. Section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act establishes that data collected 
by well-trained, independent observers and EM are a cornerstone of the 
sustainable management of Federal fisheries off Alaska.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/09/20  85 FR 13618
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/08/20  .......................
Final Action........................   07/10/20  85 FR 41424
Final Action Effective..............   08/10/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BJ40

188. Amendment 121 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 110 to 
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: This action implements the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council's Amendments to the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 
(Amendment 121) and Gulf of Alaska (Amendment 110) Groundfish Fishery 
Management Plans (FMPs). These Amendments would move sculpins into the 
Ecosystem Component of the FMPs, which is a category of non-target 
species that are not in need of conservation and management. Magnuson-
Stevens Act National Standard guidelines include options to identify 
non-target species in FMPs (species caught incidentally during the 
pursuit of target stocks in a fishery) that do not require conservation 
and management as ecosystem component species. As an Ecosystem 
Component, this action proposes that catch specifications for sculpins 
(Overfishing Level, Acceptable Biological Catch, Total Allowable Catch) 
would no longer be required, but instead, regulations would prohibit 
directed fishing forsculpins, require recordkeeping and reporting to 
monitor and report catch of sculpins annually, and establish a sculpins 
maximum retainable amount when directed fishing for groundfish species 
at 20 percent to discourage retention while allowing flexibility to 
prosecute groundfish fisheries. This action would free up approximately 
5,000 metric tons (mt) of total allowable catch (TAC) under the 2 
million mt optimum yield limit for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 
management area. This TAC could be allocated to any groundfish target 
species during the annual harvest specifications process, thereby 
allowing for some flexibility with allocations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Availability..............   03/23/20  85 FR 13610
NPRM................................   04/23/20  85 FR 22703
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/23/20  .......................
Final Action........................   07/10/20  85 FR 41427
Final Action Effective..............   08/10/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-BJ49

189. Atlantic Bluefish 2020-2021 Specifications and Recreational 
Management Measures

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    Abstract: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has developed 
and recommended proposed 2020-21 bluefish fishery specifications. This 
action would revise bluefish fishery catch limits for fishing years 
2020 and 2021, as well as recreational management measures to constrain 
catch to these new limits and prevent overfishing. The August 2019

[[Page 16877]]

operational assessment incorporated revised Marine Recreational 
Information Program estimates into its analyses and biological 
reference points. This assessment determined that the bluefish stock is 
overfished but not subject to overfishing. Using this new information, 
the Council recommends revising bluefish catch specifications to 
prevent overfishing from occurring. This action also proposed Council-
recommended reductions in recreational bag limit or private anglers and 
for for-hire (charter/party). All other management measures, including 
recreational season and minimum fish size would remain unchanged. Given 
the stock status, the fishery will be operating under interim measures 
promulgated under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act until this action is finalized.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/11/20  85 FR 27703
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/26/20  .......................
Final Action........................   06/29/20  85 FR 38794
Final Action Effective..............   06/29/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater 
Atlantic Region, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, Phone: 978 281-9283, Fax: 978 281-9207, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 0648-BJ61

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)

Final Rule Stage

190. Trademark Fee Adjustment

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 10 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 0651-AD42

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)

Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)

Completed Actions

191. Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2020

    E.O. 13771 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt.
    Legal Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); 5 U.S.C. 500; 15 U.S.C. 1123; 
35 U.S.C. 32; 35 U.S.C. 41; Pub. L. 113-227; 35 U.S.C. 3(a)(2)(A); 35 
U.S.C. 21; 35 U.S.C. 23; 35 U.S.C. 134; 35 U.S.C. 135; Pub. L. 112-29; 
35 U.S.C. 6; 35 U.S.C. 311; 35 U.S.C. 231; 35 U.S.C. 321-326; Pub. L. 
112-274
    Abstract: The USPTO operates like a business in that it fulfills 
requests for intellectual property products and services that are paid 
for by users of those services. The USPTO takes this action to set and 
adjusts patent fee amounts to provide sufficient aggregate revenue to 
cover aggregate cost of operations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/31/19  84 FR 37398
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/30/19  .......................
Final Action........................   08/03/20  85 FR 46932
Correction..........................   09/18/20  85 FR 58282
Final Action Effective..............   10/02/20  .......................
Correction Effective................   10/02/20  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brendan Hourigan, Director, Office of Planning and 
Budget, Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 
1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, Phone: 571 272-8966, Fax: 571 273-
8966, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 0651-AD31

[FR Doc. 2021-04469 Filed 3-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P