Table of Contents Table of Contents.........................

Table of Contents Table of Contents.....................................................................i

Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

for a Fishery Management Plan Amendment

to Establish a New Program for Observer Procurement and Deployment in the North Pacific

November 22, 2004

North Pacific Fishery Management Council

Anchorage, Alaska

National Marine Fisheries Service

Alaska Regional Office

Juneau, Alaska

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Seattle, Washington

Table of Contents Table of Contents.....................................................................i

Table of Contents Table of Contents.....................................................................i

Table of Contents

Table of Contents.....................................................................List of Tables.......................................................................List of Acronyms....................................................................Chapter 1

Chapter 2Purpose and Need......................................................1.1Introduction.....................................................1.2Background on the Observer Program................................1.2.1Previous attempts to restructure the program: Research Plan and Joint Partnership Agreement.................................1.2.2Extensions of the Interim Program since 1998...................1.3Purpose and need for action........................................Description of the Alternatives............................................2.1Summary of the alternatives........................................2.2Program scope: Which vessels and processors will be included?..........2.3Coverage requirements...........................................2.3.1Characteristics of Tier 1 fisheries............................2.3.2Characteristics of Tier 2 fisheries............................2.3.3Characteristics of Tier 3 fisheries............................2.3.4Characteristics of Tier 4 fisheries............................2.3.5Proposed tier classifications for vessels and processors...........2.3.6Inseason deployment issues.................................2.4Funding mechanism.............................................2.4.1 Types of fees............................................2.4.2Fee based on percentage of the ex-vessel value of landed catch ....2.4.3Daily observer fee based on actual coverage costs...............2.4.4Federal funds............................................2.4.5Other types of user fees that are not analyzed further.............2.4.6Fee collection: Who is responsible for collecting the fee?.........2.4.7Uniform or variable fees?..................................2.4.8Supplemental fee options for special programs..................2.4.9Initial fee percentage......................................2.4.10Process for adjusting fee percentages.........................2.4.11Start-up funding and Federal funds...........................2.4.12Restrictions on the use of fee proceeds........................2.5Technological and equipment requirements...........................2.5.1Electronic fishing logbook..................................2.5.2Check-in/check-out system for vessels and processors. ..........2.5.3Additional equipment and technologies not currently under

consideration............................................2.6Contracting process and the role of observer providers..................i

Table of Contents Table of Contents.....................................................................i

Chapter 3

Chapter 42.7Detailed summary of the alternatives................................2.8Alternatives rejected from further analysis...........................2.9Related NEPA and fishery description documents......................2.10Coordination of program restructuring with GOA Rationalization.........2.11Applicable laws and statutory changes required to implement the alternativesEnvironmental Assessment..............................................3.1Affected environment and management of the fisheries.................3.2Environmental impacts of the alternatives............................3.2.1Effects of expiration of the program under the no action alternative.3.2.2Effects on fish species.....................................3.2.3Effects on prohibited species................................3.2.4Effects on marine mammals................................3.2.5Effects on seabirds........................................3.2.6Effects on endangered or threatened species....................3.2.7Ecosystem considerations..................................3.2.8Habitat impacts..........................................3.3 Context and intensity as required by NEPA...........................3.4Cumulative effects..............................................Regulatory Impact Review: Economic Effects of the Alternatives................4.1Introduction....................................................4.1.1 What is a regulatory impact review?..........................4.1.2 Statutory authority........................................4.1.3Purpose and need for action.................................4.1.4Description of the alternatives...............................4.2Description of the fishery ........................................4.2.1Catcher processors (CPs)...................................4.2.2Motherships.............................................4.2.3Groundfish catcher vessels (CVs)............................4.2.4Shoreside processors......................................4.2.5Observer provider companies...............................4.3Observer coverage levels under the Alternatives.......................4.3.1Description of and basis for Tier 1 coverage....................4.3.2Description of and basis for Tier 2 coverage............. …… 此处隐藏：42035字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……