[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6809]


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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 March 15, 2000, until March 27, 2000. The final 
rule was to have been effective February 10, 2000; however, its 
effectiveness was previously delayed until March 15, 2000. The final 
rule will 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 27, 2000, NMFS will assess the situation to 
determine the appropriate course of action to take at that time.

DATES: The effective date of the final rule implementing the Spiny 
Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (published on January 11, 2000, at 65 
FR 1557) and whose effectiveness was delayed until March 15, 2000 (65 
FR 7460, February 15, 2000) is further delayed until March 27, 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. A delay in 
effectiveness of the final rule was filed on February 10, 2000, and 
published on February 15, 2000 (65 FR 7460), which made the effective 
date of this rule March 15, 2000. The final rule will now be effective 
March 27, 2000.

    Dated: March 15, 2000.
Penelope D. Dalton,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-6809 Filed 3-15-00; 3:29 pm]
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