[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 6 (Thursday, January 9, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1306-1307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-515]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 961030300-6369-02; I.D. 120996A]
RIN 0648-AJ30


Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)

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

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; notice of availability; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has developed a framework for guidelines to implement the 
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), as mandated by the Sustainable 
Fisheries Act. This framework will be expanded into guidelines, by 
regulation, that will assist Fishery Management Councils (Councils) in 
the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH), 
including adverse impacts on EFH, in fishery management plans (FMPs) 
and in the consideration of actions to conserve and enhance EFH. An 
advance notice of proposed rulemaking was published on November 8, 
1996, soliciting comments to assist NMFS in developing this framework 
and eventually the guidelines by regulation. NMFS now announces the 
availability of this framework and invites interested persons to submit 
written comments, information, and suggestions.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 12, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Director, Office of Habitat 
Conservation, Attention: EFH, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282. A copy of the 
framework is available (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Crockett, NMFS, 301/713-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    A copy of the framework is available via the Internet at: http://
kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/rschreib/html/anpr2.htm, or by contacting one of 
the following NMFS Offices:
    Office of Habitat Conservation, Attention: EFH, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3282; 301/713-2325.
    Northeast Regional Office, Attention: Habitat and Protected 
Resources Division, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; 508/281-
9328.
    Southeast Regional Office, Attention: Habitat Conservation 
Division, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702; 
813/570-5317.
    Southwest Regional Office, Attention: Habitat Conservation 
Division, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802; 310/
980-4041.
    Northwest Regional Office, Attention: Habitat Conservation Branch, 
911 NE. 11th Avenue, Room 620, Portland, OR 97232; 503/230-7235.

    Alaska Regional Office, Attention: Protected Resources Management 
Division, 9109 Mendenhall Road, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99801; 907/
586-7235.

    NMFS invites comments and information to support efforts to 
implement the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) mandate to 
develop guidelines by regulation to describe and identify EFH, 
including adverse impacts and conservation and enhancement actions, for 
fisheries managed by any Council or NMFS.

[[Page 1307]]

Specifically, NMFS is interested in receiving comments and information 
on: (1) The proposed tiered approach to the description and 
identification of EFH; (2) the proposed approach to the identification 
of adverse impacts to EFH; (3) the use of geographic information 
systems to display EFH; (4) potential impacts of fishing on EFH and 
conservation and management measures to minimize or mitigate those 
impacts; (5) the proposed process for NMFS to provide EFH 
recommendations to the Councils; (6) the proposed process for Federal 
and state agencies to consult with NMFS on activities that may 
adversely impact EFH; (7) the proposed procedures for NMFS to provide 
EFH conservation recommendations to Federal and state agencies; (8) the 
proposed process for Councils to comment on Federal and state 
activities that may adversely affect EFH; and (9) the proposed process 
for NMFS and the Councils to coordinate consultations and 
recommendations. NMFS also invites comments on which portions of the 
framework should be adopted by regulation.
    Background and rationale were provided in the previous advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking (61 FR 57843, November 8, 1996) and are 
not repeated here.

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

    Dated: January 3, 1997.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-515 Filed 1-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F