NMFS announces that the directed fishery for butterfish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will be closed effective 0001 hours, September 5, 2008. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest butterfish may not retain or land more than 250 lb (0.11mt) of butterfish per trip for the remainder of the year (through December 31, 2008). This action is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), propose to designate critical habitat for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (GOM DPS) of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). We previously determined that naturally spawned and several hatchery populations of Atlantic salmon which constituted the GOM DPS warrant listing as endangered under

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Mid-Atlantic Council's Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee will hold a public meeting on Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan and if time allows, also on Amendment 11.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings, September 29 October 7, 2008 at Sheraton Hotel, 401 East 6th Avenue, Anchorage, AK.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallowwater species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the fourth seasonal apportionment of the 2008 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the shallowwater species fishery in the GOA has been reached.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is reopening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the C season allowance of the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We (NMFS) announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list three ice seal species, [ringed (Phoca hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), and spotted (Phoca largha)] as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although the petition identifies ringed seals as Pusa hispida, at this time we believe that the ringed seal is more

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this proposed rule to provide potential participants information concerning a referendum for an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) commercial grouper and tilefish fisheries. This rule informs the potential participants of the procedures, schedule, and eligibility requirements that NMFS would use in

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We (NMFS and USFWS) have determined that naturally spawned and conservation hatchery populations of Atlantic salmon within the range of the Gulf of Maine (GOM) distinct population segment (DPS), including those that were already listed in November 2000, constitute a new GOM DPS and hence a ``species'' for listing as endangered or threatened

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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 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

Notice is hereby given that Michael Salmon, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 334310991, has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is convening a meeting of the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team (PLTRT). The PLTRT will discuss the proposed Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan (RIN 0648AV65) and provide updates to team members on recent research and actions.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces a meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee to the U.S. National Section to the WCPFC from 1719 September, 2008, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Meeting topics are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the NOAA Science Advisory Board. The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined in the agenda below.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops to be held in October, November, and December 2008. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet new regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 ft ([gteqt] 18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hookandline gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Through this final rule, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) amends the regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP), to delay the effective date of a broad based gear modification and remove one of the gearrelated definitions required in the recent amendment to the ALWTRP. Specifically, NMFS will delay

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes this notice to announce a 45day public comment period for the draft report titled, U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.2``Thresholds of Change in Ecosystems.''

This draft report is being released solely for the purpose of pre dissemination peer

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the take of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to the eradication of nonnative rat populations at Rat Island, AK.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This announcement provides notice of a public hearing to be held by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in California. The hearing involves an administrative appeal filed with the Department of Commerce by the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA).
Date and Location: NOAA will conduct the public hearing on

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

In preparation for the 2008 ICCAT meeting, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will convene its second and final fall meeting in October 2008.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

In preparation for the 2008 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT is announcing the convening of the first of two fall meetings.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is soliciting nominations to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as established by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). NMFS is also soliciting nominations for technical advisors to the Advisory Committee's species working groups.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration