[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2404]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 697

[Docket No. 010918229-1229-01; I.D. 022301A]
RIN 0648-AP15


American Lobster Fishery

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: In a document published in the Federal Register on January 3, 
2002, NMFS requested comments on proposed regulations to implement 
proposed management measures for the American lobster fishery in the 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from Maine through North Carolina on or 
before February 19, 2002. This proposed rule document considers 
revisions to Federal American lobster regulations that are designed to 
be compatible with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 
(Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. 
The intent of this document is to announce an extension of the public 
comment period from February 19, 2002, to February 28, 2002.

DATES: Receipt of comments on the proposed rule is extended from 
February 19, 2002, to February 28, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rule should be sent to, and copies 
of supporting documents, including a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Regulatory Impact Review and an Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis, are available from the Director, State, Federal 
and Constituent Programs Office, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the 
Internet. Comments regarding the collection-of-information requirements 
contained in the proposed rule should be sent to Harry Mears at the 
above address, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 (ATTN: NOAA Desk 
Officer).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Ross, NMFS, Northeast Region, 
978-281-9234.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As announced in the Federal Register on 
January 3, 2002 (67 FR 282), NMFS requested comments on proposed 
regulations to implement proposed management measures for the American 
lobster fishery in the EEZ from Maine through North Carolina on or 
before February 19, 2002. In a letter to the NMFS Northeast Regional 
Administrator dated January 7, 2002, the Commission requested an 
extension of the public comment period to allow for full discussion and 
public comment on the proposed Federal American lobster regulations at 
a public meeting of the Commission's American Lobster Board scheduled 
to occur during the week of February 18, 2002. Therefore, by this 
document, NMFS is extending the public comment period from February 19, 
2002, to February 28, 2002. There were no changes from the proposed 
rule previously published.

    Dated: January 25, 2002.
Jon Kurland,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-2404 Filed 1-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S