The U.S. Department of Commerce declared a federal fisheries resource disaster for New Jersey and New York, opening the door for emergency federal funding for the region's industry. Aid could include reimbursement for losses, equipment repair and replacement, restoration of ecosystems and fisheries, and job retraining, according to an announcement of the aid.

NMFS proposes specifications for the 2013 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries, and the 2014 summer flounder and scup fisheries, and provides notice of two projects that may be requesting exempted fishing permits as part of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Research Set-Aside Program. The implementing regulations for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year for each of these species and to provide an opportunity for public comment. Furthermore, regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require that NMFS allow the public an opportunity to comment on applications for exempted fishing permits. Accordingly, in addition to proposing catch specifications, NMFS announces exempted fishing permit requests, in accordance with the fishery management plan and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Comments must be received on or before December 3, 2012.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of New Jersey (FEMA-4086-DR), dated October 30, 2012, and related determinations.

Effective Date: November 5, 2012.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Rhode Island (FEMA-4089-DR), dated 11/03/2012.

    Incident: Hurricane Sandy.

    Incident Period: 10/26/2012 through 10/31/2012.

    Effective Date: 11/03/2012.

    Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 01/02/2013.

    Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 08/05/2013.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of New Jersey (FEMA-4086-DR), dated 10/30/2012.

    Incident: Hurricane Sandy.

    Incident Period: 10/26/2012 and continuing.

    Effective Date: 11/05/2012.

    Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/31/2012.

    EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/31/2013.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Connecticut (FEMA-4087-DR), dated 10/30/2012. 

    Incident: Hurricane Sandy.

    Incident Period: 10/27/2012 and continuing.

Effective Date: 10/30/2012.

    Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/31/2012.

    Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/31/2013.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of NEW YORK (FEMA-4085-DR), dated 10/30/2012.

Incident: Hurricane Sandy. Incident Period: 10/27/2012 and continuing. Effective Date: 10/30/2012.

Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/31/2012.

The Hurricane Sandy Pollution Response Unified Command is responding to numerous areas throughout New York and New Jersey with environmental threats caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Responders with the unified command are assessing affected areas and environmentally sensitive areas for pollution and hazardous materials. The assessments will be used to appropriately respond to the identified areas of pollution.

The unified command has created branches, divisions and task forces to safely and efficiently respond to these impacted areas.

Liquid Robotics®, an ocean data service provider and developer of the Wave Glider®, the first wave powered autonomous marine robot, reports one of their Wave Gliders named Mercury battled through Hurricane Sandy and successfully piloted through winds up to 70 knots, all the while transmitting weather data in real time. One hundred miles due east of Toms River, New Jersey, the weather sensors on the Wave Glider gathered dramatic data from the ocean surface, reporting a plunge in barometric pressure of over 54.3 mbars to a low of 946 mbars as Sandy neared landfall.

The Joint Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.