NOAA NEPA Document Database

This document analyzes proposed management measures that would apply exclusively to the halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) and sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) individual fishing quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI). The management measures under consideration would allow retention of legal-size halibut in pot gear in the BSAI, provided the operator holds sufficient halibut IFQ or CDQ for that IFQ regulatory area. The purpose of this action is to allow for more efficient harvest of the halibut resource by decreasing the wastage of legal-size halibut discarded in the existing BSAI sablefish pot fishery, and to potentially reduce whale depredation of halibut from hook-and-line gear.

The proposed action is to authorize a deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) gear-type targeting swordfish and other highly migratory species under the Fishery Management Plan for West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP). DSBG would be identified as a legal commercial fishing gear in the HMS FMP and pursuant regulations. Management measures for the fishery could be established in the HMS FMP or in federal regulations under the HMS FMP’s management framework.

NOAA is proposing to remove sediments containing PCBs from Operable Unit 2 (OU2) of the Manistique River Area of Concern (AOC), which are assumed to be the cause of elevated concentrations of PCBs in fish. Fish that are caught here present a human health consumption risk, resulting in a designated fish consumption “Beneficial Use Impairment” (BUI). The overall goal for the Manistique River AOC is to remove the Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) associated with the river and harbor, which will lead to delisting the site as an AOC.

This Environmental Assessment analyzes an incremental increase in the fee assessed to support observer and electronic monitoring deployment in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) groundfish and Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepsis) fisheries not in the partial coverage category under the Observer Program. Alternatives consider an incremental increase to the existing 1.25 percernt fee up to the statutory maximum of 2 percent. This action would increase the funding available for an existing data collection program. No adverse environmental impacts have been identified.

National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to issue regulations and letters of authorization to Hilcorp Alaska LLC for the take of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

NMFS has received a request from Avangrid Renewables, LLC for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey investigations associated with marine site characterization activities off the coast of North Carolina in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0508) (the Lease Area) and the coastal waters off North Carolina and Virginia where one or more cable route corridors will be established.

The restoration plan focuses on the wide-ranging and migratory oceanic species within the Open Ocean Restoration Area and proposes projects for the following four Restoration Types: Fish and Water Column Invertebrates, Sea Turtles, Marine Mammals, Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities. The TIG is proposing 18 preferred alternatives for implementation. The total estimated cost for the 18 preferred alternatives is $225,680,700. The restoration plan and proposed projects are consistent with the Trustee Council's Programmatic Restoration plan.

The supplemental environmental assessment supplements the analysis in a 2015 programmatic environmental assessment and focuses analysis on implementation of purse seine fishing effort limits for 2019 and 2020.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to issue an incidental take permit to Exelon Generating Company, LLC, under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)(B)), and the regulations governing the incidental taking of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222.307). The permit would authorize the incidental take of endangered shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum), Atlantic sturgeon (A. oxyrhychus) from the New York Bight, Chesapeake, Carolina, and South Atlantic Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) and the threatened Gulf of Maine DPS during the conduct of otherwise lawful activities associated with operation and maintenance of the Eddystone Generating Station. Specifically, these activities include surface water withdrawals from the Delaware River for cooling purposes and performance of required entrainment and impingement sampling along with other maintenance activities detailed in their application and Habitat Conservation Plan.

This EA assesses the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources’ proposal to issue regulations and a 5-year Letter of Authorization (LOA) to Texas Park and Wildlife Department for takes of small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, serious injury and mortality, incidental to conducting fishery-independent monitoring activities in Texas bays and estuaries.

The restoration actions identified in the Final EA wil compensate for effects of past wastewater discharges of DDTs and PCBs on marine waters of the Southern California Bight, including fish habitats on the Palos Verdes Shelf.

The restoration actions identified in the RP/EA will compensate the public for interim losses to coral reef resources at the T/V Port Stewart grounding sites that were not able to be recovered during Emergency Restoration.

NOAA, as the Lead Federal Trustee, prepared the Final PEIS/RP. The Restoration Plan identifies criteria and guidance to be used in selecting feasible restoration projects, and provides a framework to maximize the benefits of restoration projects to the affected resources and services in the defined areas of the Lower Willamette River. These restoration projects will compensate the public for related injuries to natural resources incurred over years of industrial activity, including the releases of hazardous substances and oil to the Portland Harbor Superfund Study Area.

We are proposing to provide additional Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitat restoration type funding to the Grand Bay Land Acquisition and Habitat Management Project that was approved in Restoration Plan I. The funds would allow for additional acquisition, management, and monitoring opportunities within the Project’s action area. We will draft a proposed supplement to Restoration Plan I that evaluates this funding increase, and make it available for public review and comment.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to pile driving activities for waterfront repairs at the USCG Monterey Station in Monterey, California. The proposed replacement of the 17 timber piles requires removal of the existing
approximately piles (16 to 18 inches in diameter), using a vibratory extractor. Each timber pile will be replaced with a 14-inch steel pipe pile installed using a vibratory hammer.

Proposed IHA must be issued in August. Permit must be provided to applicant by October 16, 2017

Ocean Wind, LLC would like to conduct high-resolution geophysical (HRG) and geotechnical survey investigations associated with marine site characterization activities off the coast of New Jersey in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0498) (the Lease Area). These geotechnical and geophysical activities may acoustically impact eight species of marine mammals in the survey area, 3 of which are endangered species. The IHA would be effective from June 2017 through April 2018.

The U.S. Air Force proposes to conduct operational evaluations of live long range strike weapons and other munitions in the BSURE area of the PMRF, Hawaii. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron (86 FWS) is the test execution organization under the 53rd Wing for all Weapon Systems Evaluation Program (WSEP) deployments. WSEP objectives are to evaluate air-to-ground and maritime weapon employment data, evaluate tactics, techniques, and procedures in an operationally realistic environment and to determine the impact of tactics, techniques, and procedures on combat Air Force training.

Permit must be issued by July 31, 2017

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has initiated developing the Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #3.1: Barataria Basin Marsh Creation (Draft Restoration Plan #3.1). This restoration plan will tier from the Strategic Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for Barataria Basin, Louisiana (Barataria Basin Strategic Restoration Plan), pursuant to the Deepwater Horizon Trustees Programmatic Restoration Plan. The Trustees initially began this restoration planning effort in April 2017 with the announcement of the intent to draft the Barataria Basin Strategic Restoration Plan. In that plan, we analyzed four strategic alternatives “to restore ecosystem-level injuries in the Gulf of Mexico through restoration of critical wetlands, coastal and nearshore habitat resources and services in the Barataria Basin.” Marsh creation and ridge restoration plus large-scale sediment diversion was selected as the strategic alternative best meeting the purpose and need for restoration in the Barataria Basin. In Draft Restoration Plan #3.1, we will consider one or more project alternatives consistent with the large-scale marsh creation approach evaluated in the Barataria Basin Strategic Restoration Plan.

This amendment and EA address updates to king mackerel management resulting from the most recent stock assessment, as well as other changes requested by stakeholders.

This action proposes to implement possession limits, an annual landing limit, and permitting and reporting requirements for certain forage species in Mid-Atlantic Federal waters to prevent the expansion of commercial fisheries on these species. This action would help ensure these species are available as prey for species important to commercial and recreational fisheries, marine mammals, and sea birds. No significant impacts to protected species are expected from this action.

A proposed rule to implement proposed measures is expected to publish by early April, with public comment running through early May. A final decision on this amendment is scheduled for mid-June.