This Environmental Assessment would analyze the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources proposal to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, for the taking, by Level B harassment, of marine mammals, incidental to seismic survey in the Mediterranean Sea, October-November, 2015.
NOAA NEPA Document Database (beta)
This beta version of the NOAA NEPA Document Database catalogs environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs) that NOAA is currently developing. The Database also includes some of the EAs or EISs NOAA has completed in the past, although information may be limited and contain errors. The Database does not track proposed actions that rely on categorical exclusions. The Database also does not capture information on proposed actions for which another Federal agency is the lead agency for NEPA or when NOAA adopts another Federal agency’s EA or EIS. Please send any questions or corrections to noaa.nepa@noaa.gov with the Subject line: “NOAA NEPA Document Database comment.“
The California Department of Transportation requested an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to its proposed activity to demolish the old San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SF-OBB) using confined underwater detonation. An environmental impact statement (EIS) was prepared by the Federal Highway Administration on the environmental impacts from the SF-OBB replacement in 2001, and NMFS adopted the EIS for the issuance of IHAs in the past. However, the original EIS did not analyze the potential impacts from underwater detonation to demolish the remaining old bridge because it was not planned. Therefore, NMFS is preparing a supplemental environmental assessment to evaluate its potential impact.
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In 2013, NMFS restructured the North Pacific Observer Program to implement a scientific method to deploy observers on more vessels in the Federal fisheries and a fee system to pay for observers deployed on vessels with partial coverage. In partnership with the Council, NMFS prepared the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Proposed Amendment 86 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 76 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Restructuring the Program for Observer Procurement and Deployment in the North Pacific and a Finding of No Significant Impact. NMFS was subsequently sued on the restructured Observer Program. In August 2014, the court ordered NMFS to prepare a supplemental environmental assessment that analyzes when observer data ceases to be reliable, or of high quality, because the rate of observer coverage is too low. The court order centered on the theme that NMFS did not consider whether the restructured Observer Program would yield reliable, high quality data given likely variations in costs and revenues. The court found that the 2011 EA was inadequate because it failed to address the risk to data quality that may result from increased observer costs and decreased observer coverage. This supplemental environmental assessment directly responds to this court order.
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This Environmental Assessment analyzes the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources proposal to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, for the taking, by Level B harassment, of marine mammals, incidental to a marine geophysical survey in the Atlantic Ocean, June - August, 2015. (This is an update to a 2014 EA for the same project which was postponed until 2015).
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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to issue Permit No. 18786 to the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) for takes of marine mammals under NMFS jurisdiction for enhancement and research, pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The permit would be valid for five years and would authorize the MMHSRP to conduct emergency response of ESA-listed marine mammals, disentanglements of and health-related research on all marine mammals, and collection, receipt, transfer, import, export, analysis, and curation of marine mammal specimens. The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the MMHSRP (NMFS 2009) evaluated the effects of the various enhancement and research activities conducted by the MMHSRP. The Final PEIS did not evaluate new actions proposed by the MMHSRP: hot branding, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) use, and vaccinations. This environmental assessment supplements the analysis in the PEIS to evaluate the effects of using hot brands, UAS, and vaccinations during emergency response or research activities conducted by the MMHSRP.
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The purpose of this amendment is to modify the ACL and the annual catch target (ACT), incorporate updated stock status information from the 2014 stock assessment, modify management measures for the recreational size limit and seasons, and commercial trip limit in order to end the overfishing and rebuild the greater amberjack stock in the Gulf of Mexico. The 2014 stock assessment revealed that greater amberjack are overfished and undergoing overfishing.
The need for this amendment is that the current acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 1,780,000 pounds established in Amendment 35 to the Reef Fish FMP exceeds the 1,720,000 pound ABC recommendation for 2015 (GMFMC 2012). In addition section 600.310(g)(3) of the National Standard 1 ACL and accountability measure (AM) guidelines states that the system of ACLs and AMs should be re-evaluated, and modified if necessary, if catch exceeds the ACL for a given stock or stock complex more than once in the last four years.
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Framework Adjustment 9 builds on measures implemented in Amendment 14 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (effective February 24, 2014) and proposes management measures to further enhance catch monitoring and address slippage in the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
If implemented, Framework 9 would establish the following measures for limited access mackerel vessels: Slippage consequence measures, and a requirement that slippage events be reported via the vessel monitoring system daily catch report. Slippage consequence measures would require Tier 1, 2, and 3 mackerel vessels to move 15-nautical miles following an allowable slippage event (due to safety, mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny dogfish) and terminate a fishing trip and return to port following a non-allowable slippage event (due to any other reason than described above).
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This temporary rule responds to an emergency action request from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The rule would implement commercial and recreational possession limits for the unregulated blueline tilefish fishery in the Mid-Atlantic region to reduce the risk of overfishing the stock while the Council develops a long-term management plan. No significant impacts are anticipated on protected resources or non-target species.
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We propose to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization (Authorization) to the Huna Totem Corporation (HTC) at Hoonah Alaska under the MMPA for the incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals, incidental to construction activities associated with the for the re-development of the Icy Strait Point Cruise Ship Terminal. Endangered species include humpback whale and stellar sea lion
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NMFS proposes to modify Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) base quotas for all domestic fishing categories. This action is necessary to implement binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NMFS does not anticipate significant impacts to protected species (marine mammals or threatened and endangered species).
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Install a USCRN station that consists of three, equally-spaced instruments: an aluminum station with a sensor tower, solar panels, and precipitation gauge with a double alter windshield mounted on a base. Total area of clear space needed is approximately 625SF. No significant impacts anticipated to any flora, fauna, etc.
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We are preparing a proposed rule to set the subject specifications, adjust and correct the northern red hake accountability measures (AM), and implement regulations to clarify what can be done in a specifications action for the small-mesh multispecies fishery.
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The Proposed Action is to adopt a harvest control rule to identify appropriate impact levels to LCR coho from Council-managed salmon fisheries beginning in 2015. This harvest control rule would be used in a biological opinion conducted under section 7 of the ESA, and would be used in guidance to the Council in developing annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries.
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Establish annual management measures for the 2015 ocean salmon fisheries managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
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This framework action sets the quotas for harvesting red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico for 2015, 2016, 2017, and subsequent years. The quota can be increased slightly based on the results of the most recent stock assessment.
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EA (for SAE FONSI)
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EA (for Hilcorp FONSI)
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NMFS has received a request from SAExploration Inc. (SAE) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to a proposed oil and gas exploration seismic survey program in Cook Inlet, Alaska between March , 2015 and October 30, 2015. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to SAE to incidentally take marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, during the specified activity.
SAE requests authorization to take nine marine mammal species by Level B harassment. These nine marine mammal species are: Cook Inlet beluga whale; humpback whale; minke whale; killer whale; harbor porpoise; Dall’s porpoise; gray whale; harbor seal; and Steller sea lion
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This document provides information about, and analyses of, setting recreational bag limits for Pacific bluefin tuna related management measures for 2015 and subsequent years for fisheries covered by the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS), which are developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). No impacts with protected species of concern are anticipated.
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NMFS proposes to approve and implement through regulations measures included in Framework Adjustment 26 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which the New England Fishery Management Council adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. The purpose of Framework 26 is to prevent overfishing, improve yield-per-recruit, and improve the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. Framework 26 proposed measures would set scallop fishery specifications for fishing year 2015, including days-at-sea allocations, individual fishing quotas, and sea scallop access area allocations. The framework would also set precautionary default 2016 specifications, in case NMFS implements the next framework after the March 1, 2016, start of fishing year 2016, and the fishery must operate under transitional measures. Framework 26 proposed measures would also: Close a portion of the Elephant Trunk Access Area and extend the boundaries of the Nantucket Lightship Access Area to protect small scallops; adjust the State Waters Exemption Program; allow for Vessel Monitoring System declaration changes for vessels to steam home with product on board; implement a proactive accountability measure to protect windowpane flounder and yellowtail flounder; align two gear measures designed to protect sea turtles; and implement other measures to improve the management of the scallop fishery. Aligning the gear designed to protect sea turtles involves modifying existing regulations implemented under the Endangered Species Act; therefore, this action would be implemented under joint authority of the Endangered Species Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.