Finding of No Significant Impact for Proposed Amendment 122 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI

In preparing this Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), we reviewed the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) /Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) for Bering Sea Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Amendment 122; Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program which evaluates the affected area, the scale and geographic extent of the proposed action, and the degree of effects on those resources (including the duration of impact, and whether the impacts were adverse and/or beneficial and their magnitude). The EA is hereby incorporated by reference. The EA tiers off of the Final Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries (2004). The Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (NMFS 2007) and the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Essential Fish Habitat Identification and Conservation in Alaska (2005) are additionally incorporated by reference. 40 CFR § 1501.6(b).

The CEQ NEPA regulations, 40 CFR § 1501.6, direct an agency to prepare a FONSI when the agency, based on the EA for the proposed action, determines not to prepare an EIS because the action will not have significant effects. In view of the information presented in this document and the analysis contained in the supporting EA prepared for implementing BSAI Amendment 122; Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program, it is hereby determined that the proposed action would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. The EA is hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, all beneficial and adverse impacts of the proposed action as well as 6
mitigation measures have been evaluated to reach the conclusion of no significant impacts. Accordingly, preparation of an EIS for this action is not necessary.