Finding of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment for a Regulatory Amendment to Modify Monitoring and Enforcement Requirements in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Freezer Longline Fleet

The action analyzed is a change to the management of the “other species” Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve category in the groundfish CDQ fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This change will allow NOAA Fisheries to discontinue apportioning the “other species” CDQ reserve among CDQ managing organizations (CDQ groups) and instead directly manage this reserve. Modifying the management of the “other species” CDQ reserve will relieve a constraint that could curtail some groundfish CDQ fisheries. It will result in increased economic benefits for communities participating in the western Alaska CDQ Program.

In view of the information presented in this document and the analysis contained in the supporting Environmental Assessment, it is determined that the regulatory amendment to modify monitoring and enforcement requirements in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands freezer longline fleet will not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. In addition, all beneficial and adverse impacts of the proposed action have been addressed to reach the conclusion of no significant impacts. Accordingly, preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for this action is not necessary.