[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 58121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28928]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 111301A]


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 (Council) will 
convene a public meeting of the Texas Habitat Protection Advisory Panel 
(AP).

DATES: The AP meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on December 4, 
2001, and will conclude by 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hobby Airport Hilton, 8181 
Airport Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77061; telephone 713-645-3000.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida, 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. 
Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida, 33619; telephone 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At this meeting, the AP will discuss the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service terracing project in Galveston Bay; the 
Jumbilee Cove habitat restoration project; the Galveston Bay Foundation 
terracing project in Galveston Bay; the use of oil dispersants on a 
shallow water oil spill of opportunity; and review the Council's 
Freshwater Inflow Policy. The AP will also receive an update on the 
Essential Fish Habitat Environmental Impact Statement.
    The Texas Habitat AP is part of a three-unit Habitat Protection AP 
of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. The principal role of 
the APs 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. 
APs 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.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agendas may come 
before the AP for discussion, 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 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

    Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815. 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 November 27, 
2001.

    Dated: November 15, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-28928 Filed 11-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P