[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32095-32096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13675]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD981
Vessel Monitoring System, Enhanced Mobile Transceiver Unit Type-
Approvals
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that three enhanced mobile
transceiver units (EMTU) that were previously approved for use to
comply with vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements in United
States federal fisheries are no longer approved for use.
[[Page 32096]]
This document also provides a link to the continually updated, online
list of NOAA Fisheries Service Type-Approved VMS Units.
ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the list of NMFS-approved VMS mobile
transmitting units and NMFS-approved VMS communications service
providers (including specifications), please go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/about/our_programs/vessel_monitoring.html, and
click on the ``Approved VMS Units'' link.
You may also contact the VMS Support Center at phone (888) 219-
9228, fax (301) 427-0049, or write to NMFS Office for Law Enforcement
(OLE), VMS, 1315 East West Highway, Suite 3301, Silver Spring, Maryland
20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The public may acquire this notice and
relevant updates by calling the VMS support center, email:
[email protected], phone (888) 219-9228, fax (301) 427-0049. For
questions regarding the status of VMS provider evaluations, contact
Kelly Spalding, VMS Management Analyst, phone (301) 427-2300; fax (301)
427-0049.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December 2014, the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) published in the Federal Register a final
regulation governing the technical requirements for, and NMFS' approval
of VMS units used in U.S. federal fisheries (79 FR 77399 (Dec. 24,
2014); 50 CFR part 600, subpart Q). One of the requirements set out in
the regulation is a type-approval renewal process. Under the type-
approval renewal process, VMS vendors are required to apply for a
renewal of their type-approved EMTUs/services every three years. CLS
America, Inc. and SkyMate Inc. did not submit completed applications
for type-approval renewal for some or all of their type-approved EMTUs/
services. As a result, the following EMTU/communication-services did
not receive renewal, and are therefore no longer approved for
compliance with VMS requirements in United States federal fisheries,
after September 30, 2015:
Skymate.............................. Stellar ST2500G (with messaging
terminal).
Stellar ST2500G (with closed Dell
laptop).
CLS America.......................... Thorium TST (The Thorium TST A2.0
and the Thorium LEO A2.0 are
still approved).
Current Type-Approvals
The list of type-approved EMTUs is continually changing. For the
most up to date list of type-approved VMS EMTUs, by fishery/region,
please go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/about/our_programs/vessel_monitoring.html, and click on the ``Approved VMS Units'' link.
Dated: June 1, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13675 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am]
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