30d FRN

47136

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 18, 2018 / Notices

has the potential to injure a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has
the potential to disturb a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild by causing disruption of behavioral
patterns, including, but not limited to,
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (Level B
harassment).

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Summary of Request
On August 10, 2015, we received an
adequate and complete request from
NWFSC for authorization to take marine
mammals incidental to fisheries
research activities. On June 13, 2016 (81
FR 38516), we published a notice of
proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register, requesting comments and
information related to the proposed rule
for thirty days. The final rule was
published in the Federal Register on
July 27, 2018 (83 FR 36370). For
detailed information on this action,
please refer to those documents. The
regulations include mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements
for the incidental take of marine
mammals during fisheries research
activities in the specified geographic
region.
NWFSC conducts fisheries research
using trawl gear used at various levels
in the water column, longlines with
multiple hooks, seine nets, and other
gear. If a marine mammal interacts with
gear deployed by NWFSC, the outcome
could potentially be Level A
harassment, serious injury (i.e., any
injury that will likely result in
mortality), or mortality. We pooled the
estimated number of incidents of take
resulting from gear interactions and
assessed the potential impacts
accordingly. NWFSC also uses various
active acoustic devices in the conduct of
fisheries research, and use of these
devices has the potential to result in
Level B harassment of marine mammals.
Level B harassment of pinnipeds hauled
out on land may also occur as a result
of visual disturbance from vessels
conducting NWFSC research. NWFSC is
authorized to take individuals of sixteen
species by Level A harassment, serious
injury, or mortality and of 28 species by
Level B harassment.
Authorization
We have issued an LOA to NWFSC
authorizing the take of marine mammals
incidental to fishery research activities,
as described above. Take of marine
mammals will be minimized through
implementation of the following
mitigation measures: (1) Implementation
of a ‘‘move-on’’ rule in certain
circumstances that is expected to reduce

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the potential for physical interaction
with marine mammals; (2) use of a
marine mammal excluder device in
certain trawl nets; and (3) use of
acoustic deterrent devices on certain
trawl nets. Additionally, the rule
includes an adaptive management
component that allows for timely
modification of mitigation or monitoring
measures based on new information,
when appropriate. The NWFSC will
submit reports as required.
Based on these findings and the
information discussed in the preamble
to the final rule, the activities described
under these LOAs will have a negligible
impact on marine mammal stocks and
will not have an unmitigable adverse
impact on the availability of the affected
marine mammal stock for subsistence
uses.
Dated: August 27, 2018.
Cathryn E. Tortorici,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–20186 Filed 9–17–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Aleutian Islands Pollock Fishery
Requirements.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0513.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular (extension of
a currently approved collection).
Number of Respondents: 1.
Average Hours per Response: 16.
Burden Hours: 16.
Needs and Uses: This request is for
extension of a currently approved
collection.
Amendment 82 to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (FMP) established a
framework for the management of the
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) directed
pollock fishery. An AI pollock fishery
was allocated to the Aleut Corporation,
Adak, Alaska, for the purpose of
economic development in Adak, Alaska.
The Aleut Corporation is identified in
Public Law 108–199 as a business

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incorporated pursuant to the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.). Regulations implementing
the FMP appear at 50 CFR part 679.
Each year at least 14 days before
harvesting pollock or processing pollock
in the AI directed pollock fishery, the
Aleut Corporation selects harvesting
vessels and processors for participation
in this fishery. The Aleut Corporation
submits its selected participants to the
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) for approval. On approval,
NMFS mails the Aleut Corporation a
letter that includes a list of the approved
participants. A copy of this letter must
be retained on board each participating
vessel and on site each shoreside
processor at all times.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; individuals or
households.
Frequency: Annually.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
This information collection request
may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow
the instructions to view Department of
Commerce collections currently under
review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to OIRA_Submission@
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.
Dated: September 13, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–20212 Filed 9–17–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Coastal and
Estuarine Land Conservation Planning,
Protection or Restoration
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 November 19,
2018.
SUMMARY:

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