[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11402-11403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5998]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[030398C]


Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat

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

ACTION: Proposed recommendations for Essential Fish Habitat; notice of 
public hearings and request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS requests public comments on proposed

[[Page 11403]]

recommendations for Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) to the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) for its Fishery Management Plans (FMP) for 
salmon, groundfish, and coastal pelagics. NMFS also announces public 
hearings on the proposed recommendations in Washington, Oregon, 
California and Idaho.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 8, 1998. The public hearings 
will be held at 7:00 p.m. on:
    April 6, 1998, at the Doubletree Hotel, Columbia River, 1401 N. 
Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR (503-283-2111);
    April 14, 1998, at the NOAA Auditorium, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA (206-526-6140);
    April 15, 1998, at the Park Plaza International Hotel, 1177 Airport 
Blvd., Burlingame, CA (415-342-9200); and
    April 16, 1998; at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, 1109 Main St., Boise, ID 
(208-343-4611).

ADDRESSES: Send comments or requests for a copy of the proposed EFH 
recommendations for the salmon and groundfish FMPs to NMFS Northwest 
Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA 98115. Send comments or requests for a copy of the proposed 
EFH recommendations for the coastal pelagics FMP to NMFS Southwest 
Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Scordino, NMFS-Northwest Region, 
206-526-6143, on salmon EFH; Yvonne deReynier, NMFS-Northwest Region, 
206-526-6120, on groundfish EFH; Mark Helvey, NMFS-Southwest Region, 
707-575-7585, on coastal pelagics EFH.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 
amended the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) to establish new requirements for EFH 
descriptions in FMPs and require consultation between NMFS and Federal 
agencies on activities that may adversely impact EFH for species 
managed under FMPs. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires all Councils to 
amend their FMPs by October 1998 to describe and identify EFH for each 
managed fishery. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS 
published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on December 19, 
1997 (62 FR 66531) providing guidelines to assist the Councils in 
description and identification of EFH in FMPs (including adverse 
impacts on EFH) and consideration of actions to ensure conservation and 
enhancement of EFH. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires NMFS to 
provide each Council with recommendations and information regarding EFH 
for each fishery under that Council's authority.
    NMFS has developed proposed EFH recommendations for the Pacific 
Council's three FMPs through a process that has involved input from the 
Council, its advisory bodies, and the fishing industry at the Council's 
public meetings in September 1997, November 1997, and March 1998. NMFS 
also formed a technical team consisting of fishing industry, state, 
tribal, university and Federal individuals to provide technical input 
and advice on the development of the NMFS recommendations.
    The proposed EFH recommendations for each FMP include a description 
of EFH for the managed species, 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. Copies of 
the proposed EFH recommendations are available (see ADDRESSES). Public 
comments are requested by May 8, 1998.

Special Accommodations

    The public hearings will be 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 
hearing date.

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

    Dated: March 3, 1998.
Garry F. Mayer,
Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5998 Filed 3-6-98; 8:45 am]
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