[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52760-52761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25462]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[I.D. 092499A]
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Highly Migratory Species (HMS) off the West
Coast
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an EIS; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NOAA announces its intention to prepare an EIS in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act for the proposed FMP for HMS
fisheries off the West Coast. The NMFS and Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) will jointly hold public scoping hearings in
California, Oregon, and Washington on management issues and
alternatives to be analyzed under the FMP and associated EIS.
DATES: Written comments on the intent to prepare the EIS will be
accepted on or before November 1, 1999. Public scoping meetings are
scheduled for October 12 and 13 and October 18 and 19, 1999 (see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
ADDRESSES: Written comments on suggested alternatives and potential
impacts should be sent to Larry D. Six, Executive Director, Pacific
Fishery Management Council, 2130 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 224, Portland,
OR 97201; and to Svein Fougner, Assistant Regional Administrator for
Sustainable Fisheries, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd.,
Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
specific dates and times.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Six, at 503-326-6352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dates and Times
The following locations and times have been set for scoping
meetings:
1. California - San Pedro Hilton Hotel, Madeo Ristorante and
Banquet Center, 2800 Via Cabrillo Marina, San Pedro, October 12, 1999,
beginning at 7:00 P.M.;
2. California - Hilton Monterey, Vista del Mar Banquet Room, 1000
Aguajito Road, Monterey, October 13, beginning at 7:00 P.M.;
[[Page 52761]]
3. Washington - Driftwood Room, Islander Motel, 421 Westhaven
Drive, Westport, October 18, 1999, beginning at 1:00 P.M.; and
4. Oregon - Hatfield Marine Science Center, Room 9, Newport,
October 19, 1999, beginning at 7:00 P.M.
A summary of a background information document on HMS fisheries off
the West Coast and on initial issues to be considered will be
presented, as well as potential conservation and management actions
that might be included in the FMP. Comments will be solicited from the
public on these and any other issues and management alternatives the
public cares to offer.
Management measures that may be adopted in the FMP for HMS
Fisheries off the West Coast include permit and reporting requirements
for commercial and recreational harvest of HMS resources, time and/or
area closures to minimize gear conflicts or bycatch, adoption or
confirmation of state regulations for HMS fisheries, and allocations of
some species to non-commercial use. The FMP is likely to include a
framework management process to add future new measures, including the
potential for collaborative management efforts with other Regional
Fishery Management Councils with interests in HMS resources. It would
also include essential fish habitat and habitat areas of particular
concern, including fishing and non-fishing threats, as well as other
components of FMPs required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
The proposed FMP, and its associated EIS, would be the Council's
fourth FMP for the exclusive economic zone off the West Coast.
Development of the FMP is timely, considering the new mandates under
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, efforts by the United Nations to promote
conservation and management of HMS resources through domestic and
international programs, and the increased scope of activity of the
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission in HMS fisheries in the eastern
Pacific Ocean.
Public Information Meetings
The planning process for the FMP will involve many meetings of the
Council Plan Team, and these meetings are open to the public. The
Council also will frequently discuss progress on the FMP at regular
Council meetings. All Plan Team and Council meetings will be advertised
in the Federal Register and local newspapers.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Larry Six, (see ADDRESSES), 503-
326-6352 (voice) or 503-326-6831 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the
meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 27, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25462 Filed 9-27-99; 4:56 pm]
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