[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2195-2196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-500]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[I.D. 122397J]
RIN 0648-AK23


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Precious Corals Fisheries; Draft Amendment 3

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management 
plan; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
seeking comments on Draft Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Precious Corals Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (FMP).

DATES: Comments on Draft Amendment 3 must be received by the Council 
office no later than March 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, and copies of Draft 
Amendment 3 are available from, the Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813; 808-522-8220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
808-522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council is seeking comments on Draft 
Amendment 3 to the Precious Corals FMP. Draft Amendment 3 would 
establish framework procedures for regulatory changes under the FMP. 
Under the framework procedures, new management measures may be added 
through rulemaking if new information demonstrates that there are 
biological, social, or economic concerns in the precious coral permit 
areas. The framework procedures would authorize the implementation of 
measures that may affect the fishing season, classification of coral 
beds, harvest quotas for all management unit species, size 
restrictions, gear restrictions, area restrictions, incidental catches 
and permit conditions. Each action taken under the framework processes 
would entail documentation of the analysis of impacts of that action. 
To the extent appropriate, the Council would prepare regulations, 
regulatory analyses, environmental assessments, or other documents 
depending on the scope of the action, which framework process is being 
used, and the types and

[[Page 2196]]

magnitude of impacts involved. Advance public notice, public discussion 
and consideration of public comment would be required.
    Draft Amendment 3 also would include the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the 
FMP as a new Exploratory Permit Area. At present, there are no Federal 
regulations in place that govern the harvest of precious corals in the 
EEZ surrounding the Northern Mariana Islands. The management measures 
proposed for the EEZ around the Northern Mariana Islands are consistent 
with the regulations in place for other Exploratory Permit Areas 
defined in the FMP. Exploratory Areas are the unexplored portions of 
the EEZ in which coral beds are likely to exist but where no beds have 
yet been located. The Northern Mariana Islands would be incorporated 
into a new Exploratory Permit Area, with a 1,000 kg (2,204.62 lb) 
annual harvest quota for all species of precious corals combined.
    To provide greater opportunity for public involvement, the Council 
directed its staff to formally submit the amendment for Secretarial 
review only if no substantive or critical comments are received during 
the 45-day public review period. 

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

    Dated: January 7, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-500 Filed 1-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F