NOAA NEPA Document Database

This Environmental Assessment analyzes the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources proposal to issue scientific research permit amendments to multiple applicants for the conduct of scientific research on the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s Whale. The proposed research includes activities that may result in Level A and Level B harassment to marine mammals.

The final rule to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale is expected in December 2017 with an effective date in early January 2018. The amendments need to be issued by early January so that funded research projects may continue as planned.

The Proposed Action is to adopt a harvest control rule to identify appropriate impact levels to SRWC from Council-managed salmon fisheries beginning in 2018 and to implement that control rule through notice-and-comment rulemaking. This harvest control rule would be analyzed in a biological opinion conducted under section 7 of the ESA and would be used to develop guidance to the Council in formulating annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries. No significant impacts to protected species are anticipated.

NMFS West Coast Region expects to provide guidance to the Pacific Fishery Management Council on fishery impacts to ESA-listed species prior to the regularly scheduled March Council meeting (March 7-14, 2018).

NMFS' proposed action is to issue an IHA to Orsted/Bay State Wind for incidental take of marine mammals due to their geophysical activities associated with site assessment for the construction and operation of a wind farm. Take authorization would be limited to Level B harassment of marine mammals. Mitigation measures would be in place to avoid take of North Atlantic right whales, but the applicant has requested authorization for behavioral harassment of up to two individuals out of precaution.

The applicant wishes to begin work April 1, 2018.

Under the Tuna Conventions Act, the United States is obligated to implement resolutions adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, which consists of countries fishing for tuna and tuna-like species in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). This programmatic EA evaluates the impacts of various management measures for U.S. commercial fishing for tropical tunas (skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye) in the EPO.

The rule would modify the baseline annual U.S. Atlantic bluefin tuna quota and subquotas, as well as the baseline annual U.S. North Atlantic albacore (northern albacore) quota. 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. The rule also would implement a minor change to the Atlantic tunas size limit regulations to address retention, possession, and landings of tunas damaged by shark bites. NMFS does not anticipate significant impacts to protected species (marine mammals or threatened and endangered species).

Goal is to implement final rule in June 2018, when the bulk of the fishery begins and when the ICCAT Recommendation enters into force.

During this project RESTORE ACT grant recipients would conduct research that aims to develop a comprehensive ecological understanding of Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales through ship-based surveys to assess the habitat, spatial distribution, and foraging ecology of Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales and incorporating a multi-faceted approach that integrates visual and acoustic monitoring, environmental sampling, trawling, biopsy sampling for genetic, stable isotope and pollutant (trace elements and persistent organic pollutants) analyses, and deployment of animal-borne tags at fine and coarse scales. This research involves directed research on 'soon-to-be-listed' endangered species: Bryde's Whales. A formal Section 7 ESA consultation has been initiated and MMPA scientific research permit and Incidental Harassment Authorization has been applied for and is in progress.

Grant recipients have research cruises to begin this research in April 2018.

The Bryde's Whales ESA-listing has not occurred yet. The release/issuance of the ESA Biological Opinion and the permit/IHA authorizations may be dependent on this listing.

NMFS is proposing to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Statoil Wind U.S. LLC to incidentally take marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys off the coast of New York as part of the Empire Wind Project in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0512) and coastal waters where one or more cable route corridors will be established.

Applicant requested IHA issuance by March 1, 2018

The EIS will analyze the proposed action to establish halibut PSC limits for the BSAI groundfish fisheries that can vary with changes in halibut abundance. Abundance-based halibut PSC limits would replace current PSC limits that establish a fixed amount of halibut PSC as the limit for each groundfish sector in the BSAI. The proposed action would apply to participants in Federal groundfish fisheries prosecuted in the BSAI using trawl and non-trawl (fixed) gear. Pacific halibut are fully utilized as a resource. It becomes increasingly expensive for the fisheries that have PSC to further limit their PSC. However, directed fisheries remain subjected to abundance-based harvest limits; therefore they are very interested in have PSC tied to halibut abundance.

Amendments 115/105/49/13/2 to the fishery management plans would update essential fish habitat information based on the best scientific information available. No significant impacts to protected species are anticipated.

The purpose of the proposed action is to set 2018 catch limits for Pacific halibut in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A. The proposed action would have low negative effects on listed salmon, Puget Sound bocaccio and yelloweye rockfish, and green sturgeon because although these species are caught as bycatch in the halibut fishery, the impacts are low because the bycatch of these species is expected to be minor compared to the overall population levels. For the remaining listed species in the action area, proposed action would have negligible effects on marine mammals, sea turtles, eulachon because these species rarely interact with halibut fisheries and this is unlikely to change because the gear, areas, and timing are not anticipated to change.

The Recreational Use Plan considers re-allocating funds originally dedicated to the Louisiana Marine Fisheries Enhancement, Research, and Science Center Early Restoration project which is not moving forward because of feasibility issues arising in the planning process. Those funds are being proposed for reallocation to fund other restoration projects in the Recreational Use Plan. Included are $22 million in project alternatives emphasizing the creation and enhancement of recreational fishing infrastructure, providing more opportunities and access to recreational fishing, and educational and outreach promoting use and stewardship of natural resources.

Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Restoration Plan / Environmental Assessment # 2 : Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities

The Strategic Restoration Plan considers a comprehensive suite of restoration techniques and approaches to address ecosystem-level injuries in the Barataria Basin and the Gulf of Mexico caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

We included large-scale sediment diversion, marsh creation, and ridge restoration techniques and approaches in the plan to help prioritize future decisions regarding projects and funding. We also selected three projects to move forward for further evaluation and planning:

The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project.
The Large-Scale Marsh Creation: Component E project in northern Barataria Basin.
The Spanish Pass Increment of the Barataria Basin Ridge and Marsh Creation project, confirming our 2017 decision to move it forward.

The purpose and need for this project is to demonstrate and test effectiveness of applying dredged material to two “isolated” marsh ponds for research purposes and study their response.

April 23, 2018 - need to have FONSI signed

NCCOS has drafted a FONSI to adopt an Army Corp of Enginneers EA. But the project was delayed do the vessel scheduling conflicts, so the permit is in the process of being amended and consultions are reinitiated and expect to be completed by late March 2018.

Develop annual management measures for the 2018 West Coast salmon commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries.

The final rule that implements this project must file with the Office of the Federal Register by May 1, 2018.

This Exempted Fishing Permit would authorize a maximum of eight bottom-trawl vessels to pilot a maximized retention electronic monitoring program in the Northeast Multispecies fishery. These vessels would be allowed to retain groundfish below the commercial minimum size, fish in year-round groundfish closed areas, and use non-regulation gear. This project would take place over a two-year period.

The target implementation date is May 1, 2018.

This Amendment address the calculation for the estimate of the vermilion snapper stock's maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and an increase in the stock annual catch limit (ACL).

Framework Adjustment 57 sets catch limits for 20 groundfish stocks, adjusts allocations for several fisheries, revises accountability measures for groundfish catch in groundfish and non-groundfish fisheries, and makes other minor changes to groundfish management measures.

We intend to implement the approved Framework 57 measures for the start of the 2018 fishing year on May 1, 2018.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has prepared this supplemental analysis to evaluate potential impacts that would result from the proposed action to revise recreational management measures for Georges Bank (GB) cod for fishing year 2018 and 2019.

Reclassifying Management Unit Species as Ecosystem Components - Amendment 4 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for American Samoa, Amendment 5 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plans for the Marianas Archipelago, and Amendment 5 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Hawaii; (RIN 0648-BH63)

This EA analyzes the potential environmental effects of the titular amendments. The proposed amendments would reclassify management unit species as ecosystem component species, consistent with the National Standards (50 CFR 600, Subpart D). The proposal is an administrative action that would not change any fishery so we do not anticipate direct effects on target or non-target species, or protected resources or their habitats.

Proposed rule - July 2018; final rule in October 2018.

This action would:

• Establish year-round special management zones for all 13 New Jersey artificial reefs; and
• Allow only handline, rod and reel, or spear fishing (including the taking of fish by hand) in these areas.