[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 32734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15873]


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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 meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will hold a 
public meeting in San Francisco, CA, to provide an additional 
opportunity on the west coast for public input on the proposed rule to 
implement the essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions of the Magnuson 
Act.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled to be held on July 2, 1997, from 1 p.m. 
to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn North, 275 South 
Airport Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA. 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). Notices to extend the comment period were 
published in the Federal Register on May 19, 1997, (62 FR 27214) and 
again on June 12, 1997 (62 FR 32071). 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.

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: June 12, 1997.
James P. Burgess,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-15873 Filed 6-16-97; 8:45 am]
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