[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 232 (Monday, December 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 63812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30570]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 285, 630, 644, and 678

[I.D. 112296A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Consolidation of 
Regulations

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold six public hearings to receive comments from 
fishery participants and other members of the public on the proposed 
consolidation of existing Highly Migratory Species (HMS) regulations. 
The proposed rule would provide the public with a single reference 
source for the regulations applying to Atlantic tunas, swordfish, 
billfish, and sharks, which is clearer and easier to use than the 
existing regulations. The proposed rule is part of the President's 
Regulatory Reinvention Initiative.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times of 
hearings. Written comments and suggestions on the consolidation must be 
received on or before December 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of the hearings. 
Written comments should be sent to Christopher Rogers, Office of 
Sustainable Fisheries, (F/SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Copies of the proposed rule 
are available from the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Rogers, (301) 713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A complete description of the measures, and 
the purpose and need for the proposed action, are contained in the 
proposed rule published November 6, 1996 (61 FR 57361) and are not 
repeated here.
    NMFS requests comments or suggestions for further consolidation or 
elimination of obsolete or duplicative provisions contained in the 
proposed revision to Atlantic HMS regulations. Comments concerning the 
impacts of identified and or other substantive changes are also 
requested.
    The public hearings are scheduled as follows:
    1. Monday, December 9, 1996, 1 to 3 p.m.--NOAA Building 2, Room 
14316, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910;
    2. Monday, December 9, 1996, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.--Virgin Islands 
Gamefish Association, Red Hook, St. Thomas, USVI 00802;
    3. Tuesday, December 10, 1996, 6 to 9 p.m.--NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702;
    4. Tuesday, December 10, 1996, 7 to 10 p.m.--Ponce Hilton, Malecon 
Avenue, Playa de Ponce, Ponce, PR 00732;
    5. Wednesday, December 11, 1996, 6 to 10 p.m.--Kings Grant Quality 
Inn, Route 128 at Trask Lane, Danvers, MA 01923;
    6. Friday, December 13, 1996, 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.--North Carolina 
Aquarium, Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954.
    The meeting locations are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Christopher Rogers at (301) 713-
2347 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
    To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to 
provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the 
proposed rule.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: November 25, 1996.
George Darcy,
Acting Office Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-30570 Filed 11-29-96; 8:45 am]
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