[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 48996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23796]



[[Page 48996]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 082901A]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statements (SEISs) for the Essential Fish Habitat 
(EFH) Components of the Monkfish, Atlantic Herring, and Atlantic Salmon 
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs); Change of Date Time, and Location for 
Public Scoping Meeting and Extension of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Change in date, time, and location of public scoping meeting 
and extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS recently announced its intent to prepare SEISs in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) 
for the EFH components of the Monkfish, Atlantic Herring, and Atlantic 
Salmon FMPs. NMFS will hold a public scoping meeting and accept written 
comments to determine the range of management alternatives to be 
addressed in the SEISs to describe and identify EFH for these 
fisheries, minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of 
fishing on EFH, and identify other actions to encourage the 
conservation and enhancement of EFH. NMFS is changing the date, time 
and location of the public scoping meeting and extending the public 
comment period.

DATES: NMFS will accept written comments through November 21, 2001. The 
public scoping meeting will be held on November 7, 2001, at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the intent to prepare the SEISs and 
requests for the scoping document or other information should be 
directed to the National Marine Fisheries Service, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn: Louis A. Chiarella. Comments may also be 
sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9301. NMFS will not accept 
unsigned faxes or comments by e-mail. The public scoping meeting will 
be held at the Friend Room, Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave., 
Gloucester, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louis A. Chiarella, Essential Fish 
Habitat Coordinator, 978-281-9277, fax 978-281-9301, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 10, 2001 (66 FR 46979), NMFS 
published notification of its intention to prepare SEISs for the EFH 
components of the Monkfish, Atlantic Herring, and Atlantic Salmon FMPs. 
See the September 10, 2001, Federal Register notification for 
background and scoping information related to the development of these 
SEISs. NMFS is changing the time and date of the public scoping meeting 
as detailed below. The meeting is being postponed because the original 
schedule conflicted with a New England Fishery Management Council 
meeting. The comment period is being extended to allow sufficient time 
for the public to develop written comments after the postponed scoping 
meeting is held.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Louis A. Chiarella (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 18, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-23796 Filed 9-21-01; 1:49 pm]
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