Federal Register #NOAANMFS20230113

Planning and Environmental Impact Analysis for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska State Waters

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, is launching a multi-year planning initiative to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters. - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Scope of Initiative: - Preparation and analysis of a PEIS to evaluate alternatives for identifying AOAs in the Gulf of Alaska - Focus on shellfish and seaweed aquaculture (finfish aquaculture is excluded by state law) - Includes scientific analysis, public engagement, and collaboration with state and federal agencies - Services Requested: - Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas - Environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural impact analysis - Public scoping and stakeholder engagement - Public Scoping Meetings for Monkfish and Skate Fishery Improvements (New England and Mid-Atlantic regions) - Unique Requirements: - No specific products or part numbers are requested; this is a planning and information-gathering effort - Public input is solicited on the scope, types of aquaculture, technologies, potential impacts, and mitigation strategies - Collaboration with multiple agencies, including Alaska state departments, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Notable Locations: - Gulf of Alaska state waters (primary focus for AOAs) - Federal offices and public meeting locations in New England and Mid-Atlantic regions - No OEMs or commercial vendors are specified at this stage; this is not a procurement for goods or commercial services.

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) intends to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to evaluate alternatives for identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in state waters within the Gulf of Alaska. This planning initiative aims to promote American seafood competitiveness and economic growth by identifying suitable locations for shellfish and seaweed aquaculture, excluding finfish due to state law. The PEIS will assess potential environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural impacts of identifying AOAs and siting aquaculture facilities, with public scoping meetings scheduled to gather input.

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