[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 246 (Thursday, December 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80418-80419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32596]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121800A]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Research Steering Committee, 
Groundfish Oversight Committee and Scallop Oversight Committee Meeting 
in January 2001 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups 
will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and 
action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meetings will be held between Wednesday, January 10, 2001, 
and Monday, January 22, 2001. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Peabody and Danvers, MA. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations.
    Council Address: New England Fishery Management Council 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950, telephone (978) 465-0492.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council, telephone (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates, Locations and Agendas

    Wednesday, January 10, 2001, at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday, January 11, 
2001, at 8:30 a.m.--Research Steering Committee Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn Peabody, One Newbury Street, Route 1, 
Peabody, MA 01960; telephone: (978) 535-4600.
    Finalize priorities for Council review and for subsequent use in 
soliciting fisheries research proposals in 2001. Review draft Request 
for Proposals to be used for fisheries research proposal solicitation.
    Wednesday, January 17, 2001, at 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Oversight 
Committee Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923; 
telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    The Groundfish Oversight Committee will continue its development of 
recommendations for management alternatives for Amendment 13 to the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This will include 
recommendations on rebuilding programs, measures to address capacity 
issues, and the four broad approaches to management that are under 
consideration (status quo, adjustments to the status quo, area 
management, and sector allocation). The Committee may also discuss 
changes to existing closed areas and measures to minimize, to the 
extent practicable, impacts on habitat. The Committees' recommendations 
will be reviewed by the Council at a future date. After approval by the 
Council, the proposed alternatives will be analyzed and a draft 
supplemental environmental impact statement and public hearing document 
prepared.
    The Committee will also identify management alternatives for a 
framework adjustment to reduce discards of Gulf of Maine cod and ensure 
mortality objectives are met for Gulf of Maine cod. The initial meeting 
for this framework adjustment will be at the January 23-25 Council 
meeting. The final meeting will not be scheduled until after receipt of 
an updated Gulf of Maine cod assessment in summer, 2001.
    Monday, January 22, 2001, at 9:30 a.m.--Scallop Oversight Committee 
Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923; 
telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    The Committee will discuss new strategies for developing management 
alternatives for Amendment 10 and develop recommendations for the final 
action in Framework Adjustment 14. The Committee will meet in a closed 
session to review advisory panel applications.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not 
be the subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Action 
will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice 
and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require

[[Page 80419]]

emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified 
of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: December 18, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-32596 Filed 12-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22-S