Notice2024-07096
Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Primary source
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Published
April 19, 2024
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 Alaska 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 2019 Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), or new research activities in the North Pacific Ocean and marine waters off of 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 2019 PEA are presented in this analysis.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28749-28750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07096]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment for
Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Alaska Fisheries Science
Center
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US 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 Alaska 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 2019 Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC)
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), or new research activities
in the North Pacific Ocean and marine waters off of 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 2019 PEA are presented in this analysis.
DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than June 18,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft SPEA should be addressed to Rebecca
Reuter, Environmental Compliance Coordinator, NOAA/NMFS/AFSC, 7600 Sand
Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
The mailbox address for providing email comments is:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c22212a3f622d2a3f2f623f3c292d0c22232d2d622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="37595a514419565144541944475256775958565619505841">[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: Rebecca Reuter, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e99b8c8b8c8a8a88c79b8c9c9d8c9ba987868888c78e869f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="72001710171111135c001707061700321c1d13135c151d04">[email protected]</span></a>, phone: (206) 526-4234.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AFSC is the research arm of NMFS in the
Alaska Region. The purpose of AFSC fisheries research is to produce
scientific information necessary for the management and conservation of
living marine resources in the North Pacific Ocean and marine waters
off of Alaska. AFSC'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. The AFSC provides scientific data and technical advice to a
variety of management organizations and stakeholder groups, including
the NMFS Alaska Regional Office, North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (NPFMC), State of Alaska, Alaska coastal subsistence
communities, and U.S. representatives participating in international
fishery and marine mammal negotiations, as well as the fishing
industry, environmental non-governmental organizations and other
constituents.
NMFS has prepared the Draft SPEA under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) to evaluate several
[[Page 28750]]
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 mammal incidental to the
fisheries research under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
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 2019 AFSC PEA.
<bullet> Alternative 2--Conduct current research with some
modifications as well as new research activities that are planned for
the future (i.e., 2024--2029). New future research proposed under
Alternative 2 was not previously analyzed in the 2019 PEA.
The alternatives include a program of fisheries and ecosystem
research projects conducted or funded by the AFSC 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 AFSC 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 AFSC surveys are conducted.
NMFS requests comments on the Draft SPEA for Fisheries Research
Conducted and Funded by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska
Fisheries Science Center. Please include, with your comments, any
supporting data or literature citations that may be informative in
substantiating your comment.
Dated: March 29, 2024.
Robert Foy,
Science and Research Director, Alaska Fisheries Science Center,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-07096 Filed 4-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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