[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39484-39485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18738]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071699D]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and public scoping hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Council (Council) will hold a 
public meeting of its Ecosystem and Habitat Panel (EHAP). The Council 
also will hold a public scoping hearing.

DATES: The meeting and hearing will be held on August 4-5, 1999, from 
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the 
meeting and hearing agenda.

ADDRESSES: The meeting and hearing will be held at the Council office's 
conference room, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii; 
telephone: (808) 522-8220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EHAP will discuss and may make 
recommendations to the Council on the agenda items below. The order in 
which agenda items will be addressed may change. The meeting also will 
serve as a public scoping hearing on management alternatives to be 
analyzed in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Coral 
Reef Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan (CRE-FMP).

Agenda

Wednesday, August 4, 8:30 a.m.

    I. Summary of progress to date on the CRE-FMP.
    II. Implementation of plan/timetable for completion of the
    CRE-FMP.
    III. Review of a draft CRE-FMP:
    (A) Review of fishery management units (fish, invertebrates, 
other); (B) Review of initial proposed measures/alternatives/
    impacts: (1) permit and reporting requirements: (2) designation of 
marine protected areas (criteria, specific candidate sites); (3) 
allowable harvest gear/prohibited practices; (4) framework regulatory 
process: (i) aquaculture/possession permit for live rock/coral; (ii) 
prohibition of anchoring by fishing vessels on Guam's offshore banks; 
(iii) designation of zones for mooring buoy installation and anchoring 
requirement and (iv) requirement for permanent marking of passive 
fishing gear; (C) Proposed non-regulatory management measures: (1) 
facilitation of local management; (2) creation of incentives for 
sustainable use; and (3) public education outreach.

Thursday, August 5, 8:30 a.m.

    A public scoping hearing will be convened regarding proposed 
preparation of an EIS for the CRE-FMP under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) process. Additional matters are as follows:
    (A) Suggestions for addressing existing laws and policies:
    (1) Endangered Species Act; (2) Marine Mammal Protection Act;
    (3) Administrative Procedure Act; (4) Coastal Zone Management Act; 
(5) Regulatory Flexibility Act; (6) Paperwork Reduction Act; (7) 
Executive Orders; (8) Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, Sustainable Fisheries Act, and Essential Fish Habitat; 
B. Preliminary draft regulations; C. Additional concerns regarding CRE-
FMP development; D. Review of draft report from the Coral Reef 
Ecosystem Plan Team meeting; E. Review of public comments received; F. 
Public comment; and G. Scheduling of next Coral Reef Ecosystem Plan 
Team meeting.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
the EHAP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted 
to those issues specifically identified in this agenda.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 
522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.


[[Page 39485]]


    Dated: July 16, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-18738 Filed 7-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F