[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7460-7461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3513]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 990713189-9335-02; I.D. 060899B]
RIN 0648-AK79


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Spiny Dogfish 
Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effectiveness.

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SUMMARY: NMFS delays the effective date of a final rule published 
January 11, 2000, from February 10, 2000, until March 15, 2000. The 
final rule will

[[Page 7461]]

implement approved management measures for the spiny dogfish fishery, 
as contained in the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This 
action is being taken in order to provide the Mid-Atlantic and New 
England Fishery Management Councils (Councils) with the opportunity to 
come to an agreement on how to proceed with implementation of the FMP. 
If the Councils have not reached an agreement by March 15, 2000, NMFS 
will assess the situation to determine the appropriate course of action 
to take at that time.

DATES: Unless as otherwise specified above, the final rule implementing 
the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (published on January 11, 
2000 at 65 FR 1557) is effective March 15, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Pearson, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, at 978-281-0279.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMP was developed jointly by the 
Councils, with the Mid-Atlantic Council having the administrative lead. 
A Notice of Availability for the FMP was published in the Federal 
Register on June 29, 1999 (64 FR 34759), and solicited public comment 
through August 30, 1999. The proposed rule to implement the FMP was 
published in the Federal Register on August 3, 1999 (64 FR 42071), and 
solicited public comments through September 17, 1999. NMFS made the 
decision to partially approve the FMP on September 29, 1999. A final 
rule to implement the FMP was published in the Federal Register January 
11, 2000 (65 FR 1557), to be effective on February 10, 2000. The final 
rule will now be effective March 15, 2000.

    Dated: February 10, 2000.
Penelope D. Dalton,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Services.
[FR Doc. 00-3513 Filed 2-10-00; 3:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F