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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 134 / Friday, July 14, 2017 / Notices
coverage. EM would not replace
Northeast Fishery Observer Program
(NEFOP) observers, but EM would run
concurrently on these trips. Initially,
100 percent of the video from every trip
would be reviewed for data collection to
monitor discards and support ongoing
analysis to implement an audit program
(i.e., reduce video review rates below
100 percent and/or use electronic VTR
for discard data in quota monitoring).
Given presumably high
concentrations of healthy fish stocks in
portions of groundfish closed areas, and
because vessels would be fully
monitored, the CCCFA also requested
access to portions of groundfish closed
areas to enable vessels to more
effectively target healthy fish stocks
(i.e., pollock, haddock, hake, and
redfish), while avoiding cod. If
approved, this request would help
achieve another project objective, which
is to increase participation and
incentivize the use of EM. These
exemptions would include: (1) Hook
gear (jig machines, hand gear, benthic
long lines) and sink gillnets in Closed
Area I (CAI) and Closed Area II (CAII);
(2) Hook gear (jig machines, hand gear,
benthic long lines) in the Western Gulf
of Maine (WGOM) Closure Area; and (3)
Jig gear (jig machines and hand gear) in
the Fippennies Ledge portion of Cashes
Ledge. The CCCFA did not request that
trawl gear vessels be allowed to access
these closed areas under the EFP. The
EFP would not exempt any participating
vessels from the seasonal Gulf of Maine
(GOM) Cod Protection Areas to ensure
cod spawning protection is not
undermined. EFP trips would occur
year-round (excluding seasonal
closures), although the majority of trips
would occur in the summer and fall
months. Participation in this EFP would
be heavily dependent on how many
vessels leave the already-approved EFP
(i.e., 16 percent coverage, no closed area
access), and choose to join this new EFP
(i.e., 100 percent coverage, closed area
access). There are currently 14 vessels
listed on the current EFP. Because
vessels may only participate in one of
these EFPs; these 14 vessels, plus an
additional 3 vessels, could be approved
under this new 100-percent EM EFP. If
access to the closed areas is approved,
we expect most vessels would choose to
participate in this new EFP.
All catch of groundfish stocks
allocated to sectors by vessels would be
deducted from the sector’s annual catch
entitlement for each groundfish stock.
Legal-sized regulated groundfish would
be retained and landed, as required by
the FMP. Undersized groundfish would
be handled according to the EM project
guidelines in view of cameras and

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returned to the sea as quickly as
possible. All other species would be
handled per normal commercial fishing
operations. No legal-size regulated
groundfish would be discarded, unless
otherwise permitted through regulatory
exemptions granted to the participating
vessel’s sector.
NMFS has not yet developed the full
set of business rules for an audit
program, such as the pass/fail criteria
and the video review rates. However,
under this EFP, vessels would continue
to pursue the audit model by reporting
all catch (kept and discards) on their
electronic VTR, and EM would be used
to monitor discards from each trip. This
EFP is expected to significantly increase
EM data collection by requiring EM on
100 percent of trips along with
increased opportunities for accessing
healthy fish stocks within some closed
areas. This will improve the ability to
develop and implement an audit
program, beyond the EFPs that required
EM coverage of 14 percent last year, and
16 percent this year.
The CCCFA requested a gear
exemption from the Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) regulations;
that request is being considered
separately by the Atlantic HMS
program.
The CCCFA also requested an
exemption from the Pre-Trip
Notification System (PTNS), which is
used in several fisheries for NEFOP
observer deployment and for ASM
deployment in the groundfish fishery;
we do not intend to grant that
exemption. Vessels participating in this
EFP are still required to take NEFOP
observers, and without a suitable and
fair alternative, we must still use PTNS
to facilitate and monitor observer
deployments in the fishery.
Additionally, it is highly likely that all
Federal vessels will have a pre-trip
requirement as part of the Region’s
Fishery-Dependent Data Vision (FDDV)
project. We think it is important to
retain this type of requirement, rather
than temporarily exempt vessels only to
have it replaced by a similar
requirement in the near future.
However, we recognize the concerns
expressed by the applicants, and the
fishing industry at-large regarding
reporting requirements. We expect that
the FDDV will address many of these
concerns, and that EM may offer the
ability to simplify reporting. If
approved, the applicant may request
minor modifications and extensions to
the EFP throughout the year. EFP
modifications and extensions may be
granted without further notice if they
are deemed essential to facilitate
completion of the proposed research

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and have minimal impacts that do not
change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request. Any
fishing activity conducted outside the
scope of the exempted fishing activity
would be prohibited.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 11, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–14820 Filed 7–13–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Billfish Tagging
Report Card
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:

The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before September 12,
2017.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at pracomments@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Gerard DiNardo, NOAA
Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
(858) 546–7106, or gerard.dinardo@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:

I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a
currently approved information
collection. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
operates a billfish tagging program.
Tagging supplies are provided to
volunteer anglers. When anglers catch
and release a tagged fish they submit a

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 134 / Friday, July 14, 2017 / Notices

brief report on the fish and the location
of the tagging. The information obtained
is used in conjunction with tag returns
to determine billfish migration patterns,
mortality rates, and similar information
useful in the management of the billfish
fisheries. This program is authorized
under 16 U.S.C. 760(e), Study of
migratory game fish; waters; research;
purpose.
II. Method of Collection
Information is submitted by mail, via
a paper form the size of a postcard.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0009.
Form Number(s): NOAA Form 88–
162.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
collection).
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
1000.
Estimated Time per Response: 5
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 83.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $0.

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IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: July 11, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017–14862 Filed 7–13–17; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration

Dated: July 7, 2017.
Jennifer Lukens,
Director for the Office of Policy, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–14797 Filed 7–13–17; 8:45 am]

RIN 0648–XF494

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open public meetings.
AGENCY:

This notice sets forth the
schedule and proposed agenda of a
forthcoming meeting of the Marine
Fisheries Advisory Committee
(MAFAC). The members will discuss
and provide advice on improving
resilience of coastal fishing
communities.

SUMMARY:

The meeting is scheduled for
August 9, 2017, 2–5 p.m., Eastern
Daylight Time.
ADDRESSES: Public access is available at
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any
member of the public wishing to
participate may contact Heidi Lovett,
(301) 427–8034; email: heidi.lovett@
noaa.gov.
DATES:

The
MAFAC was established by the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), and,
since 1971, advises the Secretary on all
living marine resource matters that are
the responsibility of the Department of
Commerce. The charter and other
information are located online at http://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Matters To Be Considered
The Committee is convening to
discuss and finalize their
recommendations on improving
resilience of coastal fishing
communities. Other administrative
matters may be considered. This date,
time, and agenda are subject to change.
Time and Date
The meeting is scheduled for August
9, 2017, 2–5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time
by conference call. Conference call
information for the public will be
posted at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
ocs/mafac/ by July 26, 2017.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Heidi Lovett, 301–
427–8034 by July 26, 2017.

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Judicial Proceedings Since Fiscal Year
2012 Amendments Panel; Notice of
Federal Advisory Committee Meeting
General Counsel of the
Department of Defense, Department of
Defense.
ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory
Committee meeting.
AGENCY:

The Department of Defense
(DoD) is publishing this notice to
announce that the following Federal
Advisory Committee meeting of the
Judicial Proceedings Since Fiscal Year
2012 Amendments Panel will take
place.
DATES: Open to the public, Wednesday,
July 26, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15
p.m. and Thursday, July 27, 2017, from
9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: One Liberty Center, Suite
1432, 875 North Randolph Street,
Arlington, Virginia 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maria Fried, 703–571–2664 (Voice),
703–693–3903 (Facsimile),
whs.pentagon.em.mbx.judicial-panel@
mail.mil (Email). Mailing address is One
Liberty Center, 875 N. Randolph Street,
Suite 150, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
Web site: http://jpp.whs.mil/. The most
up-to-date changes to the meeting
agenda can be found on the Web site.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Due to
circumstances beyond the control of the
Designated Federal Officer and the
Department of Defense, the Judicial
Proceedings Since Fiscal Year 2012
Amendments Panel was unable to
provide public notification concerning
its meeting on July 26 through 27, 2017,
as required by 41 CFR 102–3.150(a).
Accordingly, the Advisory Committee
Management Officer for the Department
of Defense, pursuant to 41 CFR 102–
3.150(b), waives the 15-calendar day
notification requirement.
This meeting is being held under the
provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5
U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the
Government in the Sunshine Act of
1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and
41 CFR 102–3.140 and 102–3.150.
For meeting information please
contact the staff director, Captain
SUMMARY:

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