[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 41216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17662]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RIN 0648-AW83]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Environmental Assessment for 
Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 
Fishery Management Plan

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic 
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) instead an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as previously announced through 
publication of a Notice of Intent published on May 27, 2008. NMFS 
intends to prepare the EA under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) to assess the potential effects on the human environment of 
proposed alternatives and actions under Amendment 4 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP. The EA will analyze potential environmental 
impacts of various alternatives to permitting and reporting 
requirements for commercial HMS fisheries in U.S. waters of the 
Caribbean as well as examine management alternatives to improve catch 
reporting and data collection in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Atlantic Tunas Convention 
Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Fairclough by phone: (727) 824-
5399, or by fax: (727) 824-5398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and the Atlantic tuna, 
swordfish, and billfish fisheries are managed under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and ATCA. The Consolidated HMS FMP is implemented by 
regulations at 50 CFR Part 635. Copies of the Consolidated HMS FMP are 
available from NMFS on request.
    NMFS announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) for Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) instead an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) as previously announced through publication of a 
Notice of Intent published on May 27, 2008 (73 FR 30381). NMFS intends 
to prepare the EA under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to 
assess the potential effects on the human environment of proposed 
alternatives and actions under Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS 
FMP. The EA will analyze potential environmental impacts of various 
alternatives to permitting and reporting requirements for commercial 
HMS fisheries in U.S. waters of the Caribbean as well as examine 
management alternatives to improve catch reporting and data collection 
in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands consistent with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other 
relevant Federal laws.
    After consideration of substantive comments received through formal 
scoping and other means, NMFS has determined that an EA would provide 
an appropriate level of NEPA review for Amendment 4 to the Consolidated 
HMS FMP and preparation of an EIS is not necessary. NMFS anticipates 
that the proposed action would have a low level of potential adverse 
environmental impacts due to the limited geographic area of the 
Caribbean HMS fishery, small size of the vessels involved, the 
relatively low number of known participants, and the use of traditional 
handgears. Additionally, the potential adverse impacts to protected 
species would be expected to be minimal.

    Dated: July 7, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-17662 Filed 7-12-11; 8:45 am]
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