[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59771-59772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29772]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 090701F]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; King and 
Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Reopening of scoping and comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reopening the scoping and comment period for the 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Fishery Management Plan for 
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crabs (FMP).

DATES: Written comments must be received by December 10, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on issues and alternatives for the EIS 
should be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK, 
99802, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to the Federal Building, 709 
West 9\th\ Street, Juneau, AK, 99802. Comments may be sent via 
facsimile (fax) to 907-586-7557. NMFS will not accept comments by e-
mail or Internet.

[[Page 59772]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Harrington, (907) 586-7228 or 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS published in the Federal Register a 
notice of intent to prepare an EIS on the BSAI crab FMP that announced 
scoping meetings and requested written public comments (66 FR 48410, 
September 20, 2001). The reason for undertaking the analysis, and the 
issues to be analyzed, are detailed in that notice of intent and not 
repeated here.
    Scoping for the EIS began on September 20, 2001. This notice 
reopens the scoping period from November 16 to December 10, 2001, to 
provide the public with additional time to submit written comments. 
NMFS is reopening the scoping period at the request of members of the 
public. No further public scoping meetings are presently planned or 
anticipated.
    Scoping is an early and open process for determining the scope of 
issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues 
related to the proposed action. A principal objective of the scoping 
and public involvement process is to identify a reasonable range of 
management alternatives that, with adequate analysis, will delineate 
critical issues and provide a clear basis for distinguishing among 
those alternatives and selecting a preferred alternative.
    NMFS is seeking written public comments on the scope of issues that 
should be addressed in the EIS, the range of alternatives that should 
be considered for management of the BSAI crab fisheries, and on the 
environmental, social, and economic issues to be considered in the 
analysis.
    The proposed action to be addressed in the EIS is the 
rationalization of the BSAI crab fisheries. An EIS is necessary to take 
a programmatic look at the FMP and possible alternatives to the FMP in 
light of proposed programs to rationalize the BSAI crab fisheries. The 
rationalization programs under consideration will result in substantial 
changes to many of the current management measures and possibly the 
framework of the FMP. These programmatic changes may significantly 
affect the environment.
    Given this proposed action, the scope of the EIS will be a 
programmatic review of the FMP, examining all activities addressing the 
conduct of the BSAI crab fisheries, including components of proposed 
rationalization programs and potential changes to the management of the 
fisheries under these programs. The scope of the analysis is intended 
to be broad enough for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and 
NMFS to make an informed decision on a rationalization program and 
undertake further analysis of other changes to the FMP as necessary 
with the implementation of these programs.

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

    Dated: November 26, 2001.
Jonathan Kurland
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-29772 Filed 11-27-01; 3:39 pm]
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