[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41995-41996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21069]


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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; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Alaska Region of the NMFS will hold an essential fish 
habitat (EFH) core team meeting to discuss the following items: 
strategic investment framework, EFH proposal process, habitat areas of 
particular concern (HAPC) proposals, EFH research needs,

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integrating EFH information and research findings into the plan team 
process, and the role and responsibilities of the EFH core team.

DATES: The Alaska Region core EFH team will meet Monday September 14, 
1998, and Tuesday, September 15, 1998, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Monday and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

ADDRESSES: The EFH core team will meet in Seattle, Washington, at the 
NOAA, NMFS, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, in 
Building Four, Room 2039. Questions should be addressed to Habitat 
Conservation Division, ATTN: Cindy Hartmann, 709 W. 9th , Suite 461, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; telephone: (907) 586-7585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Hartmann, NMFS, (907) 586-7585, 
e-mail: Cindy.H[email protected]; or Dave Witherell, North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), (907) 271-2809, e-mail: 
David.W[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The NMFS Alaska Region core EFH team was formally established in 
April, 1997, to implement the EFH provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The 
Magnuson-Stevens Act defined EFH as ``those waters and substrate 
necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to 
maturity.'' In June 1998, the NPFMC adopted plan amendments for five 
fish management plans (FMPs) to incorporate EFH provisions. These 
provisions included identification and description of EFH including 
HAPC, identification of research and information needs, and 
identification of potential adverse effects on EFH due to fishing and 
non-fishing activities. The NPFMC is accepting proposals to identify 
HAPC, and to establish conservation measures to minimize, to the extent 
practicable, adverse impacts from fishing on HAPC. Proposals are due by 
Monday, August 17, 1998. Additional details and guidelines for HAPC 
proposals are available from the NPFMC office. At the September 14, 
1998, meeting the EFH core team will be making recommendations on HAPC 
proposals and developing their own proposals. This meeting is open to 
the public.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Cindy Hartmann, (907) 586-7235, at least 5 
working days prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: July 31, 1998.
Joseph R. Blum,
Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21069 Filed 8-5-98; 8:45 am]
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