[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 176 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 49467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23798]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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


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 Florida/Alabama Habitat Protection 
Advisory Panel (AP).
DATES: The meeting will begin at a.m. on Tuesday, September 28, 1999 
and conclude by p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Tampa Aiport 
Westshore, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: 813-877-6688.
    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 Florida/Alabama 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, impact of two 
new gas pipelines between Mobile, AL and central Florida, status of the 
new marine reserves off the Florida panhandle, and an update on 
Alabama's expansion of their artificial reef zone.
    Although other issues not on the 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 21, 1999.

    Dated: September 7, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-23798 Filed 9-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F