[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 1829] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-620] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 122297H] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is convening a meeting of the Pacific coast groundfish essential fish habitat (EFH) technical team to review EFH descriptions for groundfish and adverse effects on groundfish EFH. The meeting is open to the public. DATES: The technical team meeting is on January 30, 1998, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Pacific Fishery Management Council offices, 2130 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 224, Portland, OR. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne deReynier, NMFS, 206-526-6120. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is in the process of developing recommendations on EFH for Pacific coast groundfish in accordance with recent amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. EFH recommendations to be presented to the Pacific Fishery Management Council for an amendment to the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) include a description of EFH for groundfish species managed by the FMP; a description of adverse effects to EFH, including fishing and non-fishing threats; and a description of measures to ensure the conservation and enhancement of EFH. NMFS has formed a technical team consisting of individuals from fishing industry, environmental, state, tribal, and Federal interests and agencies to provide technical input and advice on the development of the NMFS recommendations. The technical team will meet on January 30 and in early March to review draft EFH documents as they are prepared. The first meeting of the technical team is scheduled for January 30, 1997, and will focus on the description of EFH. The meetings will be open to the public, and the public will have an opportunity to comment. EFH documents will be available at the meeting. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be requested at least 5 working days prior to the meeting date (see FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 5, 1998. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-620 Filed 1-9-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F