[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25382-25383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08794]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC956]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Cook Inlet 
Salmon; Public Hearing

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

ACTION: Notice; public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will hold a 
public hearing via webinar regarding an amendment to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone 
(EEZ) Off Alaska (Salmon FMP). This FMP amendment would establish 
Federal management for the salmon fisheries in the Federal (EEZ) waters 
of upper Cook Inlet.

DATES: The public hearing will take place via webinar on Thursday, May 
18, 2023, starting at 5 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) and will 
conclude no later than 8 p.m. AKDT. NMFS may close the hearing 15 
minutes after the conclusion of public testimony and after responding 
to any clarifying questions from hearing participants. Written public 
comments must be received by 5 p.m. AKDT Thursday, May 25, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held virtually rather than at a physical 
location. The link to the virtual public meeting is: https://meet.google.com/bgc-tjpu-qgt. A phone connection is also available by 
calling 1 731-393-1334 and entering the following pin number: 300 304 
724#.
    You may submit written comments regarding salmon fisheries in the 
upper Cook Inlet EEZ identified by Docket ID NOAA-NMFS-2023-0065 by 
either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov, 
search for the Docket ID indicated above, click the ``Comment Now!'' or 
``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach 
your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Gretchen Harrington, 
Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska 
Region NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99082-1668.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments sent by any other 
method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end 
of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Duncan, [email protected], 
907-586-7425, or Amy Hadfield, [email protected], 907-586-7376.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS will hold a public hearing on May 18, 
2023, to receive input from interested persons on the development of an 
amendment to the Salmon FMP and implementing regulations. Written and 
oral comments received at the public hearing will be taken into 
consideration by NMFS when preparing the amendment and implementing 
regulations.
    As a result of a 2016 Ninth Circuit ruling and the 2022 summary 
judgment opinion of the Alaska District Court in UCIDA, et al. v. NMFS, 
NMFS must implement an amendment to the Salmon FMP by May 1, 2024 to 
federally manage the salmon fisheries that occur in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) waters of upper Cook Inlet, consistent with 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) 
requirements.

[[Page 25383]]

    At its April 2023 meeting, the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) considered amending the Salmon FMP to manage the 
salmon fishery in the Cook Inlet EEZ, but chose not to take action to 
recommend an FMP amendment. The analysis prepared for the proposed FMP 
amendment, NMFS's motion for Alternative 3, and additional information 
and public documents are available on the Council's meeting agenda 
under item ``C1 Cook Inlet Salmon FMP Amendment--Final Action, 
Enforcement Committee Report'', available at https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/Details/2983. Absent a Council 
recommendation, NMFS must prepare an FMP amendment and propose 
implementing regulations pursuant to MSA section 304(c) to meet a court 
deadline. After receiving public input, NMFS will choose from among the 
Federal management options included under Alternative 3 in the analysis 
prepared for the Council.
    NMFS staff will provide a brief opening statement before accepting 
public testimony for the record. The hearing will be recorded for the 
purpose of preparing transcripts of oral comments received. Attendees 
will be asked to identify themselves before joining the hearing. After 
joining the webinar, participants will be automatically muted. During 
the public testimony portion of the hearing, to indicate you would like 
to offer a comment press the ``raise hand'' icon, or if connected by 
phone, respond when asked. When it is your turn to offer your comment, 
the moderator will recognize and unmute you. Commenters will be asked 
to provide their full name and the identity of any organization on 
whose behalf they may be speaking. In the event that attendance at the 
public hearings is large, the time allotted for each commenter may be 
limited.
    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing is 
encouraged to also submit a written copy of their statement to NMFS 
during the comment period by either of the methods identified above 
(see ADDRESSES and DATES). There are no limits on the length of written 
comments. Written statements and supporting data and information 
submitted during the comment period will be considered with the same 
weight as oral statements provided during the public hearings.
    The schedule is as follows: Thursday, May 18, 2023, Webinar--
starting at 5 p.m. AKDT and concluding no later than 8 p.m. AKDT. You 
may join the public virtual meeting from a computer, tablet, or 
smartphone by entering the following web address: https://meet.google.com/bgc-tjpu-qgt and selecting ``Join now.'' Participants 
may also connect via phone by calling 1 731-393-1334 and entering the 
following pin number when prompted: 300 304 724#.
    After the public hearing, NMFS will develop an FMP amendment and 
implementing regulation in the following months. NMFS will then publish 
a notice in the Federal Register that the FMP amendment is available 
for a 60-day public comment period, as required by MSA 304(c)(4)(B). At 
the same time, NMFS will publish proposed regulations in the Federal 
Register for a 60-day public comment period, consistent with MSA 
304(c)(6). The Council will be invited to submit comments and 
recommendations on the FMP amendment and proposed regulations during 
the public comment periods.

Special Accommodations

    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Doug Duncan, [email protected], 907-586-7425, 
or Amy Hadfield, [email protected], 907-586-7376 at least 5 working 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: April 21, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-08794 Filed 4-25-23; 8:45 am]
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