[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 48807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23318]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 082699C]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene a public meeting of the Texas Habitat Protection Advisory Panel 
(AP).

DATES: The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 
1999 and conclude by 3:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Houston Hobby Airport 
8181 Airport Boulevard, Houston, TX 77061; telephone: 713-645-3000.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Rester, Gulf States Marine 
Fisheries Commission; telephone: 228-875-5912.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Texas group is part of a three unit 
Habitat Protection Advisory Panel of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council. The principal role of the advisory panels is to 
assist the Council in attempting to maintain optimum conditions within 
the habitat and ecosystems supporting the marine resources of the Gulf 
of Mexico. Advisory panels serve as a first alert system to call to the 
Council's attention proposed projects being developed and other 
activities which may adversely impact the Gulf marine fisheries and 
their supporting ecosystems. The panels may also provide advice to the 
Council on its policies and procedures for addressing environmental 
affairs.
    At this meeting, the AP will discuss revision of the Council's 
Habitat Policy to include Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) provisions, an 
update on EFH assessments in Council fishery management plan 
amendments, an update on the status of the EFH lawsuit, expansion of 
the Houston Ship Channel in Galveston Bay, an informational 
presentation on artificial reefs, and a new wetland restoration 
technique.
    Although other issues not listed in this agenda may come before the 
AP 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. The AP's actions will be restricted 
to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed as 
available by this notice.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is 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 
September 14, 1999.

    Dated: September 1, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-23318 Filed 9-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F