Notice2022-27451
Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Primary source
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Published
December 19, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces the availability of the "Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center." Publication of this notice begins the official public comment period for this SPEA. The purpose of this Draft SPEA is to evaluate potential direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of changes in research that were not analyzed in the 2018 Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), or new research activities along the U.S. West Coast, from California US-Mexico Border to Washington US-Canada Border. Select surveys in partnership with Department of Fisheries and Oceans-Canada extend this research area through British Columbia, Canada to Alaska. Where necessary, updates to certain information on species, stock status or other components of the affected environment that may result in different conclusions from the 2018 PEA are presented in this analysis.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 242 (Monday, December 19, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77555-77556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27451]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC517]
Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment for
Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Northwest Fisheries
Science Center
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft supplemental programmatic
environmental assessment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the ``Draft Supplemental
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) for Fisheries Research
Conducted and Funded by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center.''
Publication of this notice begins the official public comment period
for this SPEA. The purpose of this Draft SPEA is to evaluate potential
direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of changes in research that
were not analyzed in the 2018 Northwest Fisheries Science Center
(NWFSC) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), or new research
activities along the U.S. West Coast, from California US-Mexico Border
to Washington US-Canada Border. Select surveys in partnership with
Department of Fisheries and Oceans-Canada extend this research area
through British Columbia, Canada to Alaska. Where necessary, updates to
certain information on species, stock status or other components of the
affected environment that may result in different conclusions from the
2018 PEA are presented in this analysis.
DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than January
18, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft SPEA should be addressed to Larry
Hufnagle, Environmental Compliance Coordinator, NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC, 2725
Montlake Blvd. E, Seattle, WA 98112. The mailbox address for providing
email comments is: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcb2b1baaff2b2abbaafbff2afacb9bd9cb2b3bdbdf2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="84eae9e2f7aaeaf3e2f7e7aaf7f4e1e5c4eaebe5e5aae3ebf2">[email protected]</span></a>.
NMFS is not responsible for email comments sent to addresses other
than the one provided here. Comments sent via email, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 10-megabyte file size. A copy of the
Draft SPEA may be obtained by writing to the address specified above,
telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT), or visiting the internet at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/supplemental-programmatic-environmental-assessment-fisheries-research-conducted-and-funded">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/supplemental-programmatic-environmental-assessment-fisheries-research-conducted-and-funded</a>. Documents cited in this notice may also
be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours at the
aforementioned address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Hufnagle, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7915180e0b1c171a1c571a57110c1f17181e151c3917161818571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="204c415752454e43450e430e4855464e41474c45604e4f41410e474f56">[email protected]</span></a>, phone: (206) 310-6817.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NWFSC is the research arm of NMFS in the
Northwest Region. The purpose of NWFSC fisheries research is to produce
scientific information necessary for the management and conservation of
living marine resources along the U.S. West Coast Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) Federal waters from the California US-Mexico Border to the
Washington US-Canada Border. NWFSC's research is needed to promote both
the long-term sustainability of the resource and the recovery of
certain species, while generating social and economic opportunities and
benefits from their use. Primary research activities include: seasonal
bottom trawl surveys to support assessments of ground fish; seasonal
acoustic mid-water pelagic surveys to support the assessment of Pacific
Hake and semi-pelagic fish species; salmon surveys; marine mammal
research and surveys; Uncrewed Systems research and surveys; and
rockfish hook and line surveys in the EEZ.
NMFS has prepared the Draft SPEA under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate two alternatives for conducting and
funding fisheries and ecosystem research activities as the primary
Federal action. Additionally in the Draft SPEA, NMFS evaluates a
related action, also called a ``connected action'' under 40 CFR 1508.25
of the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), which is
the proposed promulgation of regulations and authorization of the take
of marine mammals incidental to the fisheries research under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
[[Page 77556]]
Additionally, because the proposed research activities occur in areas
inhabited by species of marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, and fish
listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened or
endangered, this Draft SPEA evaluates activities that could result in
unintentional takes of ESA-listed marine species.
The following two alternatives are currently evaluated in the Draft
SPEA:
<bullet> Alternative 1--Continue current fisheries and ecosystem
research (Status Quo/no action) as described in the 2018 NWFSC PEA.
<bullet> Alternative 2--Conduct current research with some
modifications, as well as new research activities that are planned for
the future (i.e., 2023-2028). New future research proposed under
Alternative 2 was not previously analyzed in the 2018 PEA.
The alternatives include a program of fisheries and ecosystem
research projects conducted or funded by the NWFSC as the primary
Federal action. Because this primary action is connected to a secondary
Federal action, to consider authorizing incidental take of marine
mammals under the MMPA, NMFS must identify as part of this evaluation
``(t)he means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the
species or stock and its habitat'' (Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)). NMFS must therefore identify and evaluate a
reasonable range of mitigation measures to minimize impacts to
protected species that occur in NWFSC research areas. These mitigation
measures are considered as part of the identified alternatives in order
to evaluate their effectiveness to minimize potential adverse
environmental impacts. The two action alternatives also include
mitigation measures intended to minimize potentially adverse
interaction with other protected species that occur within the action
area. Protected species include all marine mammals, which are covered
under the MMPA, all species listed under the ESA, and bird species
protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Potential direct and indirect effects on the environment are
evaluated under each alternative in the Draft SPEA. The environmental
effects on the following resources are considered: physical
environment, special resource areas, fish, marine mammals, birds, sea
turtles, invertebrates, and the social and economic environment.
Cumulative effects of external actions and the contribution of
fisheries research activities to the overall cumulative impact on the
aforementioned resources is also evaluated in the Draft SPEA for the
geographic regions in which NWFSC surveys are conducted.
NMFS requests comments on the Draft SPEA for Fisheries Research
Conducted and Funded by the National Marine Fisheries Service,
Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Please include, with your comments,
any supporting data or literature citations that may be informative in
substantiating your comment.
Dated: December 13, 2022.
Kevin Werner,
Science and Research Director, Northwest Fisheries Science Center,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-27451 Filed 12-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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