[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10591]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[I.D. 041797A]


Authorization for Commercial Fisheries under the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act; Take Reduction Plan Regulations and Emergency 
Regulations; Public Hearings

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 is announcing the dates, times and locations for 11 
public hearings that will address the proposed Atlantic Large Whale 
Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP or Plan) and implementing regulations 
intended to reduce the level of serious injury and mortality of 4 large 
whale stocks (right, humpback, fin, and minke) that occur incidental to 
4 east coast fisheries (northeast sink gillnet, mid-Atlantic coastal 
gillnet, American lobster pot, and southeastern U.S. shark net).

DATES: Written comments on this document, the proposed take reduction 
plan and its implementing regulations must be submitted no later than 
May 15, 1997. Testimony may also be presented at the public hearings, 
which are scheduled to be held from April 28, 1997, through May 6, 
1997. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific hearing dates and 
times.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, and copies of the 
proposed rule are available from, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office 
of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (FAX: 301-713-0376). The hearings 
will be held in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New 
Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
specific locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Chu, NMFS, Northeast Region, 
(508) 495-2291.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Pursuant to section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS 
proposed the ALWTRP and implementing regulations on April 7, 1997 (62 
FR 16519). The objective of the Plan and its regulations is to reduce 
the level of serious injury and mortality of 4 large whale stocks 
(right, humpback, fin, and minke) that occur incidental to 4 east coast 
fisheries (northeast sink gillnet, mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet, 
American lobster pot, and southeastern U.S. shark net). By this 
document, NMFS is announcing 11 public hearings which will provide the 
public with the opportunity to submit oral or written testimony on the 
proposed Plan and implementing regulations.
    NMFS requests that persons planning to speak at the hearings 
provide a written copy of their testimony to NMFS at the hearing. The 
dates, times, and locations of the hearings are scheduled as follows:
    1. Monday, April 28, 1997, 6 p.m. EST--Massachusetts Maritime 
Academy, 101 Academy Dr., Buzzards Bay, MA 02532; (508) 830-5000.
    2. Monday, April 28, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Holiday Inn at the Tower, 
Junction US Rte. 1 & 138 West, S. Kingston, RI 02881; (401) 789-1051.
    3. Tuesday, April 29, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Double Tree Club Hotel, 880 
Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502; (757) 461-9192.
    4. Wednesday, April 30, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Radisson Eastland Hotel, 
157 High Street, Portland, ME 04101; (207) 775-5411.
    5. Wednesday, April 30, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Sheraton Fontainebleau 
Hotel, 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842; (410) 524-3535.
    6. Thursday, May 1, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Trade Winds Motor Inn, 2 Park 
View Drive, Rockland, ME 04856; (207) 596-6661.
    7. Thursday, May 1, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Holiday Inn, 290 Highway - 
Route 37 East/Clifton Avenue, Tom's River, NJ 08754; (908) 244-4000.
    8. Friday, May 2, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--White Birches, Rte 1 - East of 
Ellsworth, Ellsworth, ME 04605; (207) 667-3621.
    9. Saturday, May 3, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--University of Maine, Science 
Building, Room 102, 9 O'Brien Avenue, Machias, ME 04654; (207) 255-
1200.
    10. Monday, May 5, 1997, 6 p.m. EST--Fuller School, 4 School House 
Road, Gloucester, MA 01930; (508) 281-9841.
    11. Tuesday, May 6, 1997, 7 p.m. EST--Urban Forestry Center, 45 
Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801; (603) 431-6774.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the appropriate regionalcontact 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the 
hearing date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

    Dated: April 18, 1997.
Thomas C. Eagle,
Acting Chief Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-10591 Filed 4-21-97; 11:51 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F