[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32071-32072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15360]


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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 Meeting; 
Extension of Comment Period

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

ACTION: 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 July 8, 1997, to 
give members of the public additional time to review and comment on the 
proposed regulation. NMFS also announces its intent to hold at least 
one additional public meeting at a date, time, and location to be 
announced in a future notice. This meeting is added to provide an 
additional opportunity for public comment on the EFH proposed 
regulations.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before July 8, 1997. The 
date of the additional meeting will be announced in a future notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Office of Habitat

[[Page 32072]]

Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-2325. The location of the 
additional public meeting will be announced in a future notice.

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). An extension of the comment period was 
published on May 19, 1997 (62 FR 27214). 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.

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

    Dated: June 6, 1997.
James P. Burgess,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-15360 Filed 6-6-97; 4:58 pm]
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