The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces the extension of temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These restrictions will continue to apply to lobster trap and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is publishing its proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2007, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed LOF for 2007 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. NMFS must categorize each commercial fishery on the LOF into one of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application to renew and modify a permit for scientific research from Hagar Environmental Science (HES) in Richmond, California (1105). The permit would affect federally endangered Central California Coast coho salmon, threatened Central California Coast steelhead, and threatened South Central

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries has received an application for a permit to conduct research for scientific purposes from Elise Kelley, researcher at the University of California at Santa Barbara, in Santa Barbara County, California. The requested permit would affect the Southern California Coast Distinct Population Segment of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given that Earth Tech Northeast Inc. (Joseph Falbo, Responsible Party), One World Financial Center, 200 Liberty Street, 25\th\ Floor, New York, New York 10281, has been issued a permit to conduct scientific research on shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) on the Hudson River, New York.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is reopening directed fishing for Greenland turbot for vessels using hookandline gear in the Bering Sea subarea in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2006 total allowable catch (TAC) of Greenland turbot for vessels using hookandline gear in the Bering Sea subarea in the Bering

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces the extension of temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These restrictions will continue to apply to lobster trap and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of collectionofinformation requirements contained in regulations implementing the amendments to the
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Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), Crustaceans FMP, and Precious Corals FMP. The intent of this final rule is to inform the public of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 136th meeting to consider and take action on pending recommendations regarding a request to longline fish within the Main Hawaiian Islands longline exclusion zone, addition of Heterocarpus shrimps to the appropriate Western Pacific Council fishery management plan and several

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application from the Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County (Grant PUD), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (YN) for a direct take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee is hosting a public workshop, which is open to the public, on December 1820, 2006. The primary purpose of the meetings is to evaluate aspects of the Council's groundfish harvest policies and assessment methodologies.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue a final rule designating critical habitat for the Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca) distinct population segment (DPS). Three specific areas are designated, (1) the Summer Core Area in Haro Strait and waters around the San Juan Islands; (2) Puget Sound; and (3) the Strait of Juan

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This rule continues management measures implemented by a June 16, 2006, emergency interim final rule that were set to expire on December 13, 2006. In the June 16, 2006, emergency action, NMFS implemented an observer service provider program for the Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) fishery including criteria for becoming an approved observer service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces partial approval of an Operations Plan and Sector Contract titled ``GB Cod Fixed Gear Sector Operations Plan and Agreement'' (together referred to as the Sector Operations Plan), and the associated allocation of Georges Bank (GB) cod, consistent with regulations implementing Amendment 13, as modified by Framework Adjustment (FW) 42

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces changes to management measures in the commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), are intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announce a 5year review of the Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The Caribbean monk seal was listed as endangered in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 (32 FR 4001) and then again in 1979 following its re assessment

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announce the availability for public review of the Proposed Recovery Plan (Plan) for Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca). NMFS is requesting review and comment on the Plan from the public and all interested parties.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given that David Mann, Ph.D., College of Marine Science, The University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, 140 Seventh Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 has been issued a permit to conduct research on certain cetacean species.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS reduces the trip limit in the commercial hook-and-line fishery for king mackerel in the northern Florida west coast subzone to 500 lb (227 kg) of king mackerel per day in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to amend regulations governing the U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery to enable a more thorough utilization of the U.S. North Atlantic swordfish quota. The U.S. North Atlantic swordfish quota is derived from the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and is implemented under the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Allocation Committee(GAC) will hold a working meeting which is open to the public.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the availability for public review of the draft revised Recovery Plan (Plan) for the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi). NMFS is soliciting review and comment on the Plan from the public and all interested parties, and will consider and address all substantive comments received during

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

On September 29, 2006, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the availability of the Proposed Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Recovery Plan (Plan) for public review and comment. In this notice, NMFS is extending the public comment period for this proposal to January 29, 2007. NMFS is soliciting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given that Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 166 Water Street, Room 211, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 025431097, [Responsible Party: Nancy
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Thompson], has been issued a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1448.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration