[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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F