[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 38981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19113]



[[Page 38981]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 060297C]


An Evaluation of Potential Shrimp Virus Impacts on Cultured 
Shrimp and Wild Shrimp Populations in the Gulf of Mexico and 
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Coastal Waters

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce, on behalf of the Joint 
Subcommittee on Aquaculture.

ACTION: Public meetings; additional meeting added.

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SUMMARY: The Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA); Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, released a report on June 5, 1997, describing 
the potential impacts of shrimp viruses on cultured shrimp and on wild 
shrimp populations in the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. Atlantic 
coastal waters. Comments received in writing, or at public meetings, 
will be used to help develop plans for an ecological risk assessment on 
shrimp viruses. Three public meetings have been previously scheduled 
and a fourth public meeting is being added to accommodate public 
interest.

DATES: Public meetings have been previously scheduled at the following 
locations: Charleston, SC on July 15; Mobile, AL on July 21; and 
Brownsville, TX on July 23. A fourth public meeting will be held on 
July 25 in Thibodeaux, Louisiana. Comments may be provided at any of 
four public meetings. Consideration will be given to comments received 
on or before August 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of a report prepared for the JSA entitled, ``An 
Evaluation of Shrimp Virus Impacts on Cultured Shrimp and on Wild 
Shrimp Populations in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern U.S. Atlantic 
Coastal Waters'' (the shrimp virus report) may be obtained by 
contacting NMFS Assistant Administrator's Office of Industry and Trade, 
at: 301-713-2379 ext 141 or by accessing the NMFS Home Page, at: http:/
/kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/oit/oit.html. To help ensure that written 
comments are considered, send an original and three copies to Mr. 
Jerome Erbacher, Office of Industry & Trade, Room 3675, SSMC3, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or facsimile to (301) 
713-2384. To attend any of the public meetings, contact the Eastern 
Research Group, Inc. (ERG) Conference Line, (617)674-7374.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact Dr. 
Thomas McIlwain, Chairperson of the JSA Shrimp Virus Work Group, NMFS, 
3209 Frederick Street, Pascagoula, MS 39567, (601) 762-4591 or Dr. 
Thomas C. Siewicki, 219 Ft. Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, (803) 
762-8534.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For background information please see the 
notice published in the Federal Register on June 11, 1997 (62 FR 
31790). Three public meetings have been previously scheduled and a 
fourth public meeting is being added to accomodate public interest. The 
fourth meeting will be held on July 25 in Thibodeau, LA.

    Dated: July 15, 1997.
David L. Evans,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-19113 Filed 7-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F