[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 7994-7995] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-4349] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 50 CFR Part 697 [I.D. 021197A] RIN 0648-AH58 Atlantic Weakfish Fisheries; Public Hearings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS will hold three public hearings to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed regulations on the harvest and possession of weakfish in the exclusive economic zone of the Atlantic Ocean from Maine through Florida. DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule and supporting documents (Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Regulatory Impact Review (DSEIS/RIR) must be received on or before March 17, 1997. The public hearings will be held during the month of March. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and times of the public hearings. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Richard H. Schaefer, Chief, Staff Office of Intergovernmental and Recreational Fisheries (Fx2), National Marine Fisheries Service, 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 425, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Clearly mark the outside of the envelope ``Atlantic Weakfish Comments.'' The public hearings will be held in New Jersey, Delaware, and North Carolina. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the public hearing locations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Meyer/Paul Perra, 301-427-2014. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulations are necessary to be compatible with rules already implemented by the coastal states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Weakfish, and to ensure the rebuilding of the weakfish stock along the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean. A complete description of the measures, and the purpose and need for the proposed action, is contained in the proposed rule published on February 14, 1997 (62 FR 6935) and is not repeated here. Copies of the proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or calling the contact person (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the proposed rule. [[Page 7995]] The public hearings will be held as follows: Tuesday, March 4, 1997, Cape May Court House, NJ 7-9 p.m. Rutgers' Cooperative Extension Office 355 South Dennis/Court House Road (Route 657) Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 Thursday, March 6, 1997, Manteo, NC, 7-9 p.m. North Carolina Aquarium Airport Road Manteo, NC 27954 Monday, March 10, 1997, Dover, DE, 7:30-9 p.m. Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control Auditorium 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19903 The purpose of this document is to alert the interested public of hearings and provide for public participation. These hearings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Thomas Meyer by February 25, 1997 (see ADDRESSES). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-4349 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F