[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27214-27215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13018]


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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; Public Meetings; 
Extension of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Public meetings; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the extension of the public comment period on 
the proposed regulations containing guidelines for the description and 
identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) in fishery management 
plans. The public comment period is hereby extended to June 6, 1997, to 
give members of the public additional time to review and comment on the 
proposed regulation. NMFS also announces an additional public meeting 
to be held in Charleston, SC. This meeting is added to provide an 
opportunity in the South Atlantic for public comment on the EFH 
proposed regulations.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before June 6, 1997. The 
additional public meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, May 28, 
1997, at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Requests for special accommodations and comments should be 
addressed to Office of Habitat Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-
2325. The additional public meeting will be held at Town and Country 
Inn,

[[Page 27215]]

2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC.

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 
out by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to amend their fishery management plans 
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.

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: May 13, 1997.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-13018 Filed 5-16-97; 8:45 am]
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