[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67450-67451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32532]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 111998A]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery, Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery, and Atlantic Salmon 
Fishery; Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendments

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

ACTION: Amendment to a notice of availability of an omnibus amendment 
to FMPs; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On December 1, 1998, NMFS published a notice of availability 
(NOA) of an omnibus amendment that included Amendment 11 to the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP, Amendment 9 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
FMP, and Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Salmon FMP. The NOA described the 
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) measures contained in the omnibus 
amendment. In addition to the EFH measures, Amendment 1 to the Atlantic 
Salmon FMP includes a discussion of an overfishing definition and an 
aquaculture framework adjustment process for Atlantic salmon. This 
notice informs the public that these additional measures are under 
review by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) and invites public 
comment.

DATES: Public comments must be received on or before February 1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this amendment should be sent to Jon C. 
Rittgers, Acting Regional Administrator, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. Please mark the outside of the envelope: 
``Comments on Essential Fish Habitat Amendment.''
    Copies of the amendment and the environmental assessment are 
available from Paul Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery 
Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan M. Kurland, Assistant Habitat 
Program Coordinator, 978-281-9204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 1, 1998, NMFS published a 
notification in the Federal Register (63 FR 66110) announcing that the 
New England Fishery Management Council submitted for review and 
approval by the Secretary an omnibus amendment containing EFH 
provisions that would implement the requirements of section 303(a)(7) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The 
omnibus amendment describes and identifies EFH for specified fisheries, 
discusses measures to address the effects of fishing on EFH, and 
identifies other actions for the conservation and enhancement of EFH. 
The amendment includes no new fishery management measures, so no 
regulations are proposed.
    In addition to EFH information, Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Salmon 
FMP also contains information related to the overfishing definition for 
Atlantic salmon and an aquaculture framework adjustment process for the 
Atlantic Salmon FMP. Because the December 1, 1998 notice did not 
specifically indicate that these measures were included in Amendment 1 
to the Atlantic Salmon FMP, this notice informs the public that these 
additional measures are under Secretarial review for approval, 
disapproval, or partial approval, and invites public comment. To be 
considered, comments must be received by February 1, 1999.

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


[[Page 67451]]


    Dated: December 2, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-32532 Filed 12-3-98; 4:16 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F