United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2018_register executive 2018-03-01 article Notices D09002ee1c7eb20fc D09002ee1c7eb2232 United States Department of Commerce originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency NMFS announces its intent to prepare a draft environmental impact analysis to assess the potential effects of alternative measures under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) for management of the pelagic longline fishery. This notice announces a public process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues relating to the management of Atlantic HMS, with a focus on area-based management measures and weak hook management measures that were implemented to reduce dead discards of bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline fishery. NMFS would use the scoping process and the draft environmental impact analysis to develop a regulatory action applicable to the pelagic longline fishery. The scoping process and draft environmental impact analysis are intended to determine if existing area-based and weak hook management measures are the best means of achieving the current management objectives and providing flexibility to adapt to fishing variability in the future, consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws. NMFS is also announcing the availability of a scoping document describing potential measures for inclusion in a future regulatory action. NMFS will hold scoping meetings to gather public comment on potential management options for area based and weak hook requirements. The time and location details of the scoping meetings are available in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. NMFS is requesting comments on the NOI to develop environmental impact assessments. NMFS also requests comments on the management options described in the scoping document concerning bluefin area-based management and weak hook measures that were implemented to minimize bluefin tuna bycatch and/or interactions, and relevant options that would meet the purpose and need for this action. 83 FR 8969 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2018-03-02/2018-04315 2018-04315 fr02mr18-28 RIN 0648-XG00 3510-22-P https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2018-03-02/2018-04315 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-03-02/html/2018-04315.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-03-02/pdf/2018-04315.pdf 3 p. 8969 8971 83 FR 8969 RIN 0648-XG00 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Pelagic Longline Fishery Management; Federal Register Vol. 83, Issue NOTICE 2018-04315 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2018-05-01 2018-03-15 3510-22-P 2018-04315 Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare a draft environmental impact analysis and hold scoping meetings; notice of availability of scoping document; request for comments.

NMFS announces its intent to prepare a draft environmental impact analysis to assess the potential effects of alternative measures under the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) for management of the pelagic longline fishery. This notice announces a public process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues relating to the management of Atlantic HMS, with a focus on area-based management measures and weak hook management measures that were implemented to reduce dead discards of bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline fishery. NMFS would use the scoping process and the draft environmental impact analysis to develop a regulatory action applicable to the pelagic longline fishery. The scoping process and draft environmental impact analysis are intended to determine if existing area-based and weak hook management measures are the best means of achieving the current management objectives and providing flexibility to adapt to fishing variability in the future, consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws. NMFS is also announcing the availability of a scoping document describing potential measures for inclusion in a future regulatory action. NMFS will hold scoping meetings to gather public comment on potential management options for area based and weak hook requirements. The time and location details of the scoping meetings are available in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. NMFS is requesting comments on the NOI to develop environmental impact assessments. NMFS also requests comments on the management options described in the scoping document concerning bluefin area-based management and weak hook measures that were implemented to minimize bluefin tuna bycatch and/or interactions, and relevant options that would meet the purpose and need for this action.

Written comments on this NOI and the scoping document must be received on or before May 1, 2018. NMFS also will host an operator- assisted public hearing conference call and webinar March 15, 2018, from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT, providing an opportunity for individuals from all geographic areas to participate in a scoping meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details, including public scoping meeting dates and locations. Craig Cockrell 301-427-8503 or Jennifer Cudney 727-824-5399, or online at https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species. Atlantic Highly Migratory Species: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries; Pelagic Longline Fishery Management , http://www.regulations.gov https://noaaevents2.webex.com/noaaevents2/onstage/g.php?MTID=e7fc24f346f6d54043131fad6e040d4bd https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail Vol. 83, no. 42 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2018-03-02 continuing daily deposited born digital 218 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2018-03-02 P0b002ee198af4d11 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr02mr18 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2018-03-02 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-03-02/pdf/FR-2018-03-02.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-03-02/xml/FR-2018-03-02.xml fdlp 8923 9133 DGPO 2018-03-01 2024-06-01 FR-2018-03-02 machine generated eng FR FR-2018-03-02 83 42