[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53269-53270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22549]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082800E]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a 
public meeting of the Texas Habitat Protection Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: The AP meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on September 
19, 2000, and will conclude by 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 9190 
Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77017; telephone: 713-910-1700.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

[[Page 53270]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AP will convene to tentatively discuss 
the Houston-Galveston Ship Channel barge lane expansion, the monitoring 
plan for Wild Cow Bayou, the Corpus Christi Ship Channel deepening 
project, the new bridge project across LaVaca Bay, and the Nature 
Conservancy's EcoRegion planning efforts. The AP will also review the 
Council's Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Policy and the Council's Wetland 
Management Policy.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the AP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the AP will 
be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agendas 
and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require 
emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take 
action to address the emergency.
    The Texas Habitat AP is part of a three-unit Habitat Protection AP 
of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). The 
principal role of the advisory panels is to assist the Council in 
addressing issues related to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and other 
habitat and ecological relationships supporting the marine resources of 
the Gulf of Mexico. Advisory panels serve as a first alert system to 
call to the Council's attention proposed projects being developed and 
other activities which may adversely impact the Gulf marine fisheries 
and their supporting habitat. The APs may also provide advice to the 
Council on EFH, as well as policies and procedures for addressing 
environmental affairs.
    Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Anne Alford at the Council (see ADDRESSES) by 
September 12, 2000.

    Dated: August 29, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-22549 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22-S