National Ocean Service (NOS) is preparing this Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with NOS’s recurring projects throughout United States (U.S.) coastal and marine waters to characterize underwater features (e.g., habitat, bathymetry, marine debris). Data obtained from these projects are used to produce many products, including charts and maps that are relied upon by mariners, scientists, shipping and fishing industries, and countless other users in the U.S. and beyond. Due to the geographic and temporal scope of the Proposed Action, comprehensive data modeling approach, and complexity of the analysis, NOS later determined that a PEIS, and not a PEA, would provide the agency and the public with the appropriate framework to understand the potential impacts to critical resources such as marine mammals and to provide input on the Proposed Action.
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.“
OMAO Gulfport Lease
OMAO Lease Acquisition for Uncrewed Maritime Systems Headquarters and Pier Space in Gulfport, Mississippi. OMAO proposed to lease space and make modifications to some aspects to ensure mission alignment. The proposed action includes the analysis of the effects of the lease and renovations.
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National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fisheries Science Center Mukilteo Property Transfer Project Mukilteo, Washington
The NMFS has determined that the facilities and property at the former Mukilteo Research Station are no longer needed for execution of the NWFSC mission. Therefore, pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2002 (Public Law [P.L.] 107-107), NMFS proposes conveyance of the property to the
Port of Everett.
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The Trustees’ Final RP/EA proposes a preferred alternative to restore injured natural resources and natural resource services -- the Duke Farms Forested Floodplain and Vernal Pool Restoration. The Trustees’ preferred restoration alternative, which will be implemented by the responsible party, includes habitat restoration and public outreach and education components, as well as environmental justice benefits. The restoration activities will consist of the creation of vernal pools, native tree and shrub planting, deer fence installation, the control of invasive species, and long-term monitoring and maintenance at the Duke Farms property. This alternative encompasses the reestablishment of 112 acres of intermittently flooded palustrine forested and scrub-shrub floodplain habitat adjacent to the Raritan River, approximately three and a half miles upstream of the Site.
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Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/EA for BAYPORT CHANNEL COLLISION GALVESTON BAY, TEXAS MAY 10, 2019
The Trustees’ preferred restoration alternative is to implement both the Gordy Marsh Living Shoreline and Eastcentral Galveston Bay Oyster Reef Creation Projects using NRDA settlement funds. The primary goal of the Gordy Marsh Living Shoreline (Gordy Marsh) Project is to address the water column and shoreline injuries resulting from the Incident. The project would protect critical coastal marsh and other shoreline habitats, which help support the high diversity of fish and wildlife populations in Galveston Bay. The primary goal of the East Galveston Bay Oyster Reef Creation (Oyster Reef Creation) Project is to address the water column and shoreline injuries resulting from the Incident. The project would promote oyster growth, create habitat for important estuarine species, and enhance estuary water quality, which would help support the high diversity of fish and wildlife populations in Galveston Bay.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing to designate a national marine sanctuary to manage a nationally significant collection of shipwrecks and other cultural and underwater archaeological resources in Lake Ontario in upstate New York.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the State of Hawai'i, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), is initiating the process to consider designating marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a national marine sanctuary. Per the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), NOAA will prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the sanctuary designation process to evaluate potential environmental effects of this action.
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In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is initiating a process to consider designating a portion of waters along and offshore of the central coast of California as a national marine sanctuary. NOAA is initiating this process based on the area's qualities and boundaries as described in the community-based nomination [1] submitted on July 17, 2015, excluding any geographical overlap of the boundaries proposed for the Morro Bay 399 Area as described in the July 29, 2021 Federal Register notice.[2] The designation process will be conducted concurrently with a public process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to prepare an environmental impact statement. NOAA is initiating this public scoping process to invite comments on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the environmental impact statement that are related to designating this area as a national marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will assist NOAA in moving forward with the designation process, including preparation and release of draft designation documents, and in formulating alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement, including developing national marine sanctuary boundaries, regulations, and a management plan. This scoping process will also inform the initiation of any consultations with federal, state, or local agencies, tribes, and other interested parties, as appropriate.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) proposes to expand the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) boundary, update sanctuary-wide regulations, modify and establish new marine zones, update marine zone specific regulations, and revise the sanctuary’s non-regulatory management plan.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) proposes to issue a revised management plan and revised regulations for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). ONMS prepared this environmental assessment (EA) and a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §§ 1500-1508), and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A and its Companion Manual, “Policy and Procedures for Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and Related Authorities.”1 This EA presents to the decision makers and the public an analysis of the potential environmental consequences of the proposed action and alternatives.
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Comprehensive Amendment to the U.S. Caribbean Fishery Management Plans: Accountability Measure Guidance
The purpose of this action is to resolve inconsistencies between language in the Reef Fish, Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates fishery management plans (FMPs) of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as amended in 2012, and 50 CFR Part 622 describing the application of accountability measures (AMs) in the U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone. Specifically, language in the FMPs states that AM-based closures will remain in place until modified by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council). The applicable regulations at 50 CFR Part 622 end AM-based closures on December 31st of each fishing year, without any additional Council action. The Council is expected to opt for the AMs described in the regulations. This action would not have any significant effects.
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council is expected to take final action on this document during the August 19-20, 2015 meeting. The proposed rule is expected to be published in early November 2015.
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Regulatory Amendment 25 to the Snapper-Grouper FMP of the South Atlantic Region/EA
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council) is considering management changes to blueline tilefish, yellowtail snapper, and black sea bass in the South Atlantic Region. Blueline Tilefish: The regulatory amendment would increase the annual catch limit (ACL) and optimum yield (OY) for blueline tilefish based on a new acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendation from the South Atlantic Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. The South Atlantic Council is also considering both retaining the current buffer between ACL and the ABC (98%) and increasing the buffer (78-96%) to account for landings in the Greater Atlantic area (Maine through Virginia). Finally, the South Atlantic Council is proposing an increase to the current commercial trip limit and changing the recreational bag limit to respond to the proposed increase in ACL as they believe regulations may be relaxed as more fish are available for harvest.Yellowtail Snapper: The current fishing year for yellowtail snapper is based on the calendar year. The South Atlantic Council is proposing a summer/early fall start date of the fishing year to increase the probability that an in-season closure from the ACL being met would occur during the spawning season. In addition, changing the start date of the fishing year could provide economic benefits for commercial fishermen because yellowtail snapper obtain a higher price per pound during winter months. The South Atlantic Council is also proposing a change to the commercial accountability measure (AM) for yellowtail snapper. Currently, harvest of yellowtail snapper in the South Atlantic Region is prohibited by the commercial sector when the commercial ACL is met. Since yellowtail snapper was assessed as one stock in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions, the South Atlantic Council is proposing a change to the commercial AM so that harvest by commercial fishermen in the South Atlantic Region is prohibited when the total ACL (South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico) is met or projected to be met. Black Sea Bass: The South Atlantic Council is considering an increase to the recreational bag limit to increase the chance the recreational ACL will be landed and ensure that OY is being achieved. In 2011, the South Atlantic Council reduced the bag limit for black sea bass from 15 fish to 5 fish. Since then, the recreational ACL for black sea bass increased substantially (from 482,620 to 1,033,980 pounds whole weight) and the stock assessment indicated that black sea bass in the South Atlantic are neither overfished or undergoing overfishing.
The Council is scheduled to take final action at their December 2015 meeting.
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The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has approved a framework action to reduce the red grouper commercial and recreational ACLs and associated ACTs for 2020 and beyond. In October 2018, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee reviewed the results of an interim analysis performed by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center and recommended that the Council reduce the red grouper commercial and recreational ACLs and ACTs. In addition, there have been recent deceases in red grouper landings and public testimony at the October Council meeting expressed concern about the status of the red grouper stock. Therefore, the Council developed this framework action to reduce the ACLs and ACTs. At the Council’s request and associated with this action, NMFS is in the process of implementing an emergency rule to establish lower red grouper ACLs and ACTs for 2019.
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The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has approved Amendment 51 for review and implementation by the Secretary of Commerce. The purpose of this action is to establish status determination criteria for gray snapper, including an estimate of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) proxy, minimum stock size threshold, and optimum yield for the Gulf of Mexico gray snapper stock, consistent with the National Standard 1 guidelines and the subject fishery management plan. In addition, the action would modify the gray snapper annual catch limit (ACL) consistent with a recent stock assessment and the preferred MSY proxy, which uses the fishing mortality rate corresponding to 26% spawning potential ratio. The revised ACL would be 2.24 million pounds whole weight (mp ww) in 2020 and 2.23 mp ww for 2021 and subsequent years.
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The proposed actions in this framework amendment would designate 30 artificial reef sites in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off North Carolina and four artificial reef sites in the EEZ off South Carolina as special management zones (SMZ). The proposed actions would also prohibit the use of certain gear types in the SMZs and limit harvest to the recreational bag limit by some or all of the gear.
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Modification of the Gulf of Mexico Lane Snapper Catch Limits and Accountability Measures Framework to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
The action would increase the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) lane snapper overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and annual catch limit consistent with the most recent stock assessment and recommendations from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Science and Statistical Committee. The proposed rule would also modify the accountability measures to require a closure in any year in which the annual catch limit is met or projected to be met. The need for the rule is to update existing lane snapper catch limits and accountability measures based on the best scientific information available and to achieve optimum yield consistent with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, while preventing overfishing.
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The purpose of this document is to modify the Gulf red snapper catch limits including the OFL, ABC, sector ACLs and sector ACTs based on the interim analyses completed by the SEFSC. This action is to use the best scientific information available to prevent overfishing while achieving optimum yield, consistent with the red snapper rebuilding plan and the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
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Amendment 32 proposes to modify Gulf Migratory Group cobia (Gulf Group cobia) recreational data monitoring data units from Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Coastal Household Telephone Survey to MRIP Fishing Effort Survey and reduce the Gulf Group cobia acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limits (ACL), and annual catch targets based on the most recent stock assessment (Southeast Data Assessment and Review 28 Update). Further, Amendment 32 proposes to increase the Gulf Group cobia minimum size limit in the Florida East Coast (FLEC) Zone; reduce the possession limit and implement a vessel and trip limit across the Gulf Group cobia range; modify the Gulf and FLEC zone apportionment of the Gulf Group cobia stock ACL; and modify the FLEC Zone sector allocation. Amendment 32 also proposes changes to the CMP Framework procedure to clarify South Atlantic Fishery Management Council responsibilities for Gulf Group cobia and make some clarifying updates to language regarding the ABC Control Rule.
The need for the rule is to end overfishing of Gulf Group cobia as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act , update existing Gulf Group cobia catch limits to be consistent with best scientific information available and contemporary data collection methods, and to clarify the Gulf and South Atlantic Councils’ responsibilities in the CMP FMP framework procedure.
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Emergency Action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico: Modify the Greater Amberjack Recreational Fixed Closed Season
The temporary emergency rule would modify the greater amberjack recreational fixed closed season to be August 1 – 31 and November 1 – July 31 (open September 1 – October 31). This action is being taken in response to a request made by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) at its June 2022 meeting. The recreational fishing year is from August 1 through July 31, and the current recreational fixed closed season allows fishing from August through October and then in May. In response to the most recent greater amberjack stock assessment (SEDAR 70 2020), which determined that greater amberjack is not making adequate rebuilding progress and is still both overfished and experiencing overfishing, the Council requested that NOAA Fisheries implement an emergency rule to modify the 2022/2023 recreational fishing season to only be open in September and October of 2022. This rule is intended to reduce overfishing, reduce the probability of an annual catch limit overage and subsequent payback for the recreational sector, and reduce the severity of a postseason payback that could possibly prevent the recreational season from opening in the 2023/2024 fishing year while the Council develops long-term measures to end overfishing and rebuild the stock with Reef Fish Amendment 54. Further, current regulations do not allow the portion of an overage that could not be paid back in the following year to be carried over to the second year. The failure to reduce overfishing and mitigate for the entire overage of recreational harvest that is projected to occur in the 2022/2023 under the current fixed closed season would result in serious conservations issues to the greater amberjack stock and may prevent it from rebuilding by 2027.
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The purpose is to modify the Gulf red snapper catch limits including the OFL, ABC and stock ACL, sector ACLs, and sector ACTs based on the 2022 catch analysis completed by the SEFSC and approved as the best scientific information available by the SSC. There are no known issues or potential significant impacts associated with this action.