Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Implementation of Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission on Management of Tropical Tunas in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean from 2015-2020

The proposed action is NMFS' domestic implementation of the conservation and management measures of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, pursuant to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Implementation Act, on the "tropical tunas" or bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna from 2015 through the end of 2020. A rulemaking associated with one aspect of the Programmatic EA must be made effective before a certain longline bigeye tuna catch limit is reached, which could be as early as August 2015, if not earlier. A rulemaking associated with one aspect of the Programmatic EA must be made effective before a certain longline bigeye tuna catch limit is reached, which could be as early as August 2015, if not earlier. As such, we will be providing a copy of the programmatic EA and FONSI to PPI when the proposed rule publishes and requesting that PPI conduct its review during the public comment period, rather than after the public comment period ends.