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Final environmental assessment, environmental assessment/regulatory impact review for proposed Amendment 107 to the fishery management plan for groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area : establishing transit areas through walrus protection areas at Round Island and Cape Peirce, North Bristol Bay, Alaska
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2014
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[PDF-3.62 MB]
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Alternative Title:Establishing Transit Areas through Walrus Protection Areas, December, 2014;Environmental Assessment for Establishing Transit Areas through Walrus Protection Areas at Round Island and Cape Peirce, Northern Bristol Bay, Alaska (RIN 0648-BE24);
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Description:This document evaluates alternatives to allow vessels with Federal Fisheries Permits (FFPs) to transit walrus protection areas at Round Island and Cape Peirce from April 1 through August 15 while tendering herring or salmon or delivering groundfish to trampers or processors. The purpose of this action is to maintain suitable protection for walruses on Round Island and Cape Peirce, restore access to vessels with FFPs serving as tenders for the northern Bristol Bay herring and salmon fisheries to the routes used by tenders before implementation of GOA FMP Amendment 83, to allow vessels delivering groundfish access to the route north of Round Island, and to reduce the likelihood of disturbance to walrus on Hagemeister Island and Cape Peirce. Alternatives include: 1) no action -- vessels with FFPs remain excluded from the walrus protection area, 2) open portion of the Round Island walrus protection area to transit with three options of increasing distance and 3) open portion of the Cape Peirce walrus protection area to transit. Three transit options are considered under Alternative 2: 1) open up to 3 nm from Round Island, 2) open up to 4.5 nm from Round Island, and 3) open up to 6 nm from Round Island. The Council recommended Alternative 2, Option 1 and Alternative 3 as the Preferred Alternative. None of the alternatives analyzed, including the Preferred Alternative, are likely to result in significant impacts to the human environment of northern Bristol Bay, or to result in significant economic impacts to individuals or entities in northern Bristol Bay.
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Content Notes:lead agency: U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region ; preparer: Steve A. MacLean; contributors: John V. Olson, Steve Lewis, Dr. Lewis Queirolo, Mary Wunderlich.
"December 2014."
"Location: Exclusive economic zone off Alaska"--Cover letter.
Accompanied by: PPI NEPA cover letter for Environmental Assessment (EA), Responsible Program Manager: Balsiger, James W., Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), from Patricia A. Montanio, NOAA NEPA Coordinator, signed for Patricia A. Montanio, by Kristen A. Tronvig, on December 18, 2014; Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from James W. Balsiger, signed for James W. Basliger, on December 16, 2014.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 78-82).
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Rights Information:Public Domain
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Compliance:Library
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