[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 23744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11245]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[I.D. 120996A]


Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat (EFH); Public 
Meetings

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

ACTION: Public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will hold public 
meetings to allow for input on the proposed rule to implement essential 
fish habitat (EFH) provisions of the Magnuson Act.

DATES: The meetings are scheduled to be held from May 12 to May 21, 
1997. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to 
Office of Habitat Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-2325.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS issued proposed regulations containing guidelines for the 
description and identification of EFH in fishery management plans, 
adverse impacts on EFH, and actions to conserve and enhance EFH on 
April 23, 1997 (62 FR 19723). The regulations would also provide a 
process for NMFS to coordinate and consult with Federal and state 
agencies on activities that may adversely affect EFH. The guidelines 
are required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The purpose of the rule is to 
assist fishery management councils in fulfilling the requirements set 
forth by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to amend their FMPs to describe and 
identify EFH, minimize adverse effects on EFH, and identify other 
actions to conserve and enhance EFH. The purpose of the coordination 
and consultation provisions is to specify procedures for adequate 
consultation with NMFS on activities that may adversely affect EFH.

Public Meetings

    All public meetings will begin at 7 p.m., except the Seattle, 
Washington, public meeting, which will begin at
    7:30 p.m. The dates and locations of the hearings are scheduled as 
follows:
    1. Monday, May 12, 1997--Meadowlands Hilton, Solarium Room; Two 
Harmon Plaza, Secaucus, NJ.
    2. Tuesday, May 13, 1997--Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza; 333 Poydras 
Street, New Orleans, LA.
    3. Tuesday, May 20--NMFS Northwest Regional Headquarters, 
Auditorium Building 9; 7600 Sand Point Way, NW., Seattle, WA.
    4. Wednesday, May 21--Centennial Hall, Hickel Room; 101 Egan Drive, 
Juneau, AK.

Special Accommodations

    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Lee Crockett (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: April 25, 1997.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-11245 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]
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