[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5335]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 697

[I.D. 091696A]


Atlantic Coast Weakfish Fisheries; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of additional public hearing; extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On February 21, 1997, NMFS announced 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.
    Due to requests from the public, NMFS now announces one additional 
public hearing in New Bern, NC and extends the comment deadline.
    To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to 
provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the 
proposed rule.

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 April 1, 1997.
    The New Bern, NC hearing will be held on Thursday, March 27, 1997, 
from 7-9 p.m.

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 hearing will be held at the 
following location:
    Sheraton Grand New Bern, 1 Bicentennial Park, New Bern, NC 28563.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Meyer/Paul Perra, 301-427-2014.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The hearing announcement was published on 
February 21, 1997, (62 FR 7994).
    A complete description of the measures, and the purpose and need 
for the proposed action, is contained in the proposed rule published 
February 14, 1997 (62 FR 6935), and is not repeated here. A copy of the 
proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or calling the 
contact person (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    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 for the New Bern, NC 
hearing should be directed to Thomas Meyer by March 17, 1997 (see 
ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1851 note.

    Dated: February 27, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5335 Filed 3-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F