The purpose of this action is to consider modifications to the process for setting recreational bag, size, and season limits (i.e., measures) for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. This action is needed to ensure that measures aim to prevent overfishing, are reflective of stock status, appropriately account for uncertainty in the recreational data, take into consideration angler preferences, and provide an appropriate level of stability and predictability in changes from year to year.
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.“
This action proposes to change the Gulf of Mexico commercial trip limit for gray triggerfish from 16 to 25 fish in light of an increase in the commercial annual catch limit (ACL). Projections indicate increasing the trip limit will not lead to early closures of the fishery or exceedance of commercial ACL. No potential significant impacts or any known issues or problems with the project have been determined at this time. The action is supported by the affected fishery and is not expected to lead to overfishing.
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Amendment 50 would modify management of South Atlantic red porgy. Actions include establishing a new rebuilding plan, and revising the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, annual optimum yield, sector allocations, accountability measures, and management measures for the commercial and recreational sectors. Amendment 50 would end overfishing of South Atlantic red porgy, rebuild the stock, and achieve optimum yield while minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse social and economic effects.
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The Northwest Fisheries Science Center is proposing to install a new seawater treatment, distribution system and head tank to replace the existing system at the MRS, and to construction of up to four additional single or two-story buildings to house hatcheries, laboratories and offices at the site.
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Amendment 34 to the CMP FMP would update the Atlantic migratory group king mackerel acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, recreational annual catch targets, and sector allocations based on the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 38 Update assessment (SEDAR 38 Update 2020). Additionally, Amendment 34 to the CMP FMP proposes changes to management measures for Atlantic king mackerel and Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel. At this time, there are no critical or other timing needs, and this action is not expected to be controversial. We are not aware of any specific alternative that is being advocated for or against by a relevant stakeholder or other interested party. There are no known litigation risks.
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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for NORTH CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO, INTEGRATED MULTI-TROPHIC AQUACULTURE (IMTA) DEMONSTRATION, RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND OUTREACH
The proposed federal action is to fund projects that are consistent with the scope of the S-K Program. The proposed project is the establishment of the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system, including deployment of the AquaFort system, siting of the AquaFort, larval rearing and cage stocking, growout operation, harvesting of product, environmental monitoring, training and outreach.
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Oregon CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
Sufficiency analysis and FONSI for Oregon CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
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Mississippi CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
Sufficiency analysis and FONSI for Mississippi CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
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Hawaii CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
Sufficiency analysis and FONSI for Hawaii CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
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EA for Boundary Change for South Slough NERR
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Sufficiency analysis and FONSI for full approval of the Washington coastal nonpoint pollution control program
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Alabama CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
Sufficiency analysis and FONSI for Alabama CZMP Coastal Nonpoint Program Full Approval
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Final rule to designate reintroduced fish in the upper Yuba River as a nonessential experimental population under Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 10(j), and establish a limited set of take prohibitions for the experimental population.
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DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED APPLICATION OF PROTECTIVE REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 4(D) OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT FOR THE THREATENED BANGGAI CARDINALFISH
Under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) shall issue regulations they deem necessary and advisable for the conservation of species listed as threatened. The Secretary may also apply any of the prohibitions in Section 9(a)(1) of the ESA, including prohibiting import, export, take, and interstate commerce. This proposed ESA 4(d) rule would issue regulations for the threatened Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). This is the accompanying EA to this Proposed Rule.
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Management Measures developed to limit Pacific Ocean salmon fishery impacts on SONCC Coho salmon off the Western Coast of the lower 48 contiguous U.S.
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Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Conducted and Funded by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
NMFS PIFSC (and their contracted staff) wrote a programmatic EA for their fisheries research program, which also includes PR1's action of issuance of an LOA authorizing take of marine mammals incidental to the fisheries research activities. The draft PEA was published in 2015 and PIFSC is finishing the final PEA now.
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Proposed 2023 Specifications; U.S. Territorial Bigeye Tuna Longline Catch and Allocation Limits
NMFS proposes a 2023 limit of 2,000 metric tons (t) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. Pacific territory (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NMFS would allow each territory to allocate up to 1,500 t each year to U.S. longline fishing vessels in a specified fishing agreement that meets established criteria, but the overall allocation limit among all territories may not exceed 3,000 t. As an accountability measure, NMFS would monitor, attribute, and restrict (if necessary) catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna, including catches made under a specified fishing agreement. The proposed 2023 catch limits and accountability measures for each U.S. participating territory are identical to those that the Council recommended and NMFS implemented in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The proposed catch limits and accountability measures would support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
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NMFS is analyzing the effects of select changes to harvest setting policies and fishery accountability measures in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery within our ongoing multi-species adaptive management program. No significant impacts are expected.
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NMFS WCR proposes to issue Scientific Research and Enhancement Permit 26342 (and subsequent permit renewals) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) and thereby allow them to rescue and relocate endangered black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) in response to emergency events. Permit 26342 and subsequent permit renewals would authorize UCSC to: collect and remove black abalone from the wild, hold the rescued black abalone in captivity for one day to several months, release them to field sites, and conduct post-release monitoring. If UCSC seeks and receives NMFS’s approval, they may also use a subset of the rescued abalone in spawning, culturing, and experimental outplanting studies. All activities would be conducted in rocky intertidal reefs along the California coast within the range of black abalone as well as at approved land-based facilities. NMFS WCR did not identify any potential significant impacts or known issues or problems with the project.
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Environmental Assessment on NOAA's Coordination and Continued Operation of the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR) leads the administration and coordination of the National Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN). The STSSN currently responds to, and documents, sick, injured and dead sea turtles that are found in coastal areas under U.S. jurisdiction along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Although the STSSN has been in operation for several decades, the National Coordination role formally shifted to the Office of Protected Resources in January 2022, which prompted an evaluation of STSSN operations, development of a formal Operating Procedures document, which are subject to this National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.