[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72636-72637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33522]
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NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 121799E]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Public Hearings;
Advisory Panel Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings and Advisory Panel meeting; request
for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold 10 public hearings to receive comments from
fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed
regulations to implement time/area closures for Atlantic pelagic
longline fishermen who hold highly migratory species (HMS) permits. To
accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to provide
written comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the proposed
rule. In addition, NMFS will hold a joint meeting of the HMS and
Billfish Advisory Panels (APs), to discuss future fishery management
actions and advise NMFS.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting and hearing dates and
times. Written comments on the proposed rule must be received at the
appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00
p.m., eastern standard time, on February 11, 2000.
ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting and hearing
locations. For informational materials related to the AP meeting and
copies of the draft Technical Memorandum and Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (DSEIS/RIR/IRFA) contact Margo Schulze-Haugen or
Jill Stevenson at 301-713-2347, or write to Rebecca Lent.
Written comments on the proposed rule should be sent to Rebecca
Lent, Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of
Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments also may be sent
via facsimile (fax) to 301-713-1917. Comments will not be accepted if
submitted via e-mail or Internet.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze-Haugen or Jill Stevenson
at 301-713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulations that are the
subject of the hearings are necessary to address requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for the
conservation and management of HMS.
A complete description of the measures, and the purpose and need
for the proposed actions, is contained in the proposed rule, published
December 15, 1999 (64 FR 69982), and is not repeated here. Copies of
the proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or by
calling one of the listed contact persons (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
NMFS is currently considering AP member nominations for the 2000-
2002 period. NMFS will send out selection letters to new AP members
shortly and announce the new AP members to constituents via the fax
network.
Hearing and Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations
The public hearing schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, January 4, 2000--Kill Devil Hills, NC, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Ramada Inn, 1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Wednesday, January 5, 2000--Charleston, SC, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Department of Natural Resources, Marine Research Institute
Auditorium, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412
Monday, January 10, 2000--Jacksonville, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Omni Jacksonville Hotel, 245 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Tuesday, January 11, 2000--Fort Pierce, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Radisson Resort North Hutchinson Island, 2600 North A1A, Fort
Pierce, FL 34949
Wednesday, January 12, 2000--Pompano Beach, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801 NE. 6th Street, Pompano
Beach, FL 33060
Thursday, January 13, 2000--Panama City, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
National Marine Fisheries Service, Panama City Laboratory, 3500
Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408
Tuesday, January 18, 2000--Gloucester, MA, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region, One Blackburn
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930
Wednesday, January 19, 2000--Fairhaven, MA, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Seaport Inn, 110 Middle Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719
Tuesday, January 25, 2000--Port Aransas, TX, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750
Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78337
Wednesday, January 26, 2000--Miami, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel, 495 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131
Wednesday, February 2, 2000--Atlantic City, NJ, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Atlantic Community College, 1535 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic
City, NJ 08401
Wednesday, February 9, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
NOAA Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20190
The public hearing on February 9, 2000, will be held in conjunction
with the AP meeting scheduled for that day. AP meetings are open to the
public. The AP meeting schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, February 9, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 10, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday, February 11, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
NOAA Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
The Advisory Panels will discuss the ``1999 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation for Atlantic Highly Migratory
[[Page 72637]]
Species'', limited entry in HMS fisheries, bycatch reduction measures
(time/area closure proposed rule, turtle bycatch concerns), economic
data collection, assessing social impacts on HMS fishing communities,
division of the BFT Angling category, authorized gears, charter/
headboat regulations, observers, vessel upgrading and permit transfer
requirements. Issues for upcoming rulemakings include trade
restrictions and swordfish quotas, and future options for HMS fishery
management.
Special Accommodations
The hearings and the AP meeting are physically accessible to people
with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Margo Schulze-Haugen (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the hearing or
meeting.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 21, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-33522 Filed 12-21-99; 4:17 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F