[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 31536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14903]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[ I.D. 052599C]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 
Mexico; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public hearings to receive comments on its ``Draft Amendment 12 
to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources 
in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, Including Environmental 
Assessment and Regulatory Impact Review,'' and ``Draft Amendment 17 to 
the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources, Including 
Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Impact Review.''

DATES: Written comments on the Draft Amendments will be accepted by the 
Gulf Council through July 14, 1999, but are preferred by July 1, 1999. 
The public hearings will be held in June. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
for specific dates and times of the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, and copies of the draft 
amendments are available from, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301, North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida 
33619. The public hearings will be held in Florida, Alabama, and Texas. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Draft Amendment 12 contains provisions for 
extending the commercial king mackerel permit moratorium for 3 or 5 
years from its current expiration date of October 15, 2000, in order to 
provide time for the Gulf and South Atlantic Councils to develop and 
implement a controlled access system for the king mackerel fishery. 
Draft Amendment 17 contains provisions for extending the commercial 
reef fish permit moratorium by 3, 4, or 5 years from its current 
expiration date of December 31, 2000, in order to provide time for the 
Gulf Council to develop and implement a controlled access system for 
the reef fish fishery.
    A total of 4 public hearings on both draft amendments will be held 
to obtain public comments on these draft amendments. The public comment 
period for these draft amendments ends on July 14, 1999; however, the 
Council prefers to receive written comments by July 1, 1999.
    Public hearings will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at all of 
the following locations:
    1. Monday, June 14, 1999--City Hall Auditorium, 3001 Municipal 
Drive, Madeira Beach, FL;
    2. Tuesday, June 15, 1999--National Marine Fisheries Service Panama 
City Laboratory, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City FL;
    3. Wednesday, June 16, 1999--Orange Beach Community Center, 27235 
Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL; and
    4. Thursday, June 17--Ellis Memorial Library, 700 West Avenue A, 
Port Aransas, TX.
    Copies of the draft amendments can be obtained by calling 813-228-
2815.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne Alford at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) by June 7, 1999.

    Dated: June 7, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-14903 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F