[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 53385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26552]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 222 and 223

[I.D. 101701B]
RIN 0648-AN62


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Sea Turtle Conservation 
Requirements

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

ACTION: Public hearing notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce, will hold public hearings for the purpose of 
receiving comments on the proposed rule to amend the regulations 
protecting sea turtles to enhance their effectiveness in reducing sea 
turtle mortality resulting from shrimp trawling in the Atlantic and 
Gulf Areas of the southeastern United States, published in the Federal 
Register on October 2, 2001. Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have proven 
to be effective at excluding sea turtles from shrimp trawls; however, 
NMFS has determined that modifications to the design of TEDs need to be 
made to exclude leatherbacks and large, sexually mature loggerhead and 
green turtles; several approved TED designs are structurally weak and 
do not function properly under normal fishing conditions; and 
modifications to the trynet and bait shrimp exemptions to the TED 
requirements are necessary to decrease lethal take of sea turtles. 
These proposed amendments are necessary to protect endangered and 
threatened sea turtles in the Atlantic and Gulf Areas.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates, times and 
addresses of the hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Hoffman (ph. 727-570-5312, fax 
727-570-5517, e-mail [email protected]), or Therese A. Conant 
(ph. 301-713-1401, fax 301-713-0376, e-mail [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The hearings are scheduled as follows:
    1. October 24, 2001 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Madeira Beach, FL
    2. November 1, 2001, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Charleston, SC
    3. November 5, 2001, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Beaufort, NC
    4. November 5, 2001, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Kenner, LA
    5. November 6, 2001, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Brunswick, GA
    6. November 7, 2001, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Galveston, TX
    7. November 8, 2001, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Port Isabel, TX
    8. November 9, 2001, at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cocoa, FL
    The hearings will be held in the following locations:
    1. Madeira Beach City Hall, 300 Municipal Dr., Madeira Beach, FL 
33708
    2. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources 
Research Institute Main Auditorium, 217 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, 
SC 29412
    3. Duke Marine Laboratory, I.E. Grey Library Auditorium Building, 
135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC 28516
    4. Airport Hilton, Main Ballroom, 901 Airline Dr., Kenner, LA 70062
    5. University of Georgia, Marine Extension Service Office, 715 Bay 
St., Brunswick, GA 31520
    6. Texas A&M University, Classroom Laboratory Building, Room 100, 
200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553
    7. Laguna Madre Learning Center at the Port Isabel High School 
Lecture Hall, Highway 100, Port Isabel, TX 78578
    8. Brevard Agricultural Center Auditorium, 3695 Lake Dr., Cocoa, FL 
32926

    Dated: October 16, 2001.
Wanda L. Cain,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-26552 Filed 10-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S