[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10135-10136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5319]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022602A]


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and the Atlantic 
States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC); Public Hearings

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

[[Page 10136]]


ACTION: Public hearings, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic 
States Marine Fisheries Commission, will hold public hearings to allow 
input on Amendment 13 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The purpose of the Amendment is to 
address problems associated with the commercial fishery for black sea 
bass and to implement management alternatives for summer flounder, 
scup, and black sea bass to prevent, mitigate, or minimize adverse 
effects on essential fish habitat caused by fishing and enhance 
compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until April 15, 2002. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and times of public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, 300 S. New Street, 
Dover, DE 19904. For specific locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    The hearings will be held in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode 
Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302-674-2331, ext. 
19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This amendment would (1) revise the quarterly commercial quota 
system for black sea bass implemented in Amendment 9 to the Summer 
Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries Management Plan; (2) 
address the problem related to permit requirements for fishermen that 
have both a Northeast Black Sea Bass Permit and a Southeast Snapper/
Grouper Permit and fish for black sea bass north and south of Cape 
Hatteras, NC; (3) address the problems related to the wet storage of 
black sea bass pots/traps; (4) establish de minimus specifications for 
black sea bass under the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission 
Interstate Fisheries Management Program Charter; (5) implement tag 
requirements for black sea bass pots/traps; (6) limit the number of 
black sea bass pots/traps fished by fishermen; and (7) assess the 
impact of fishing activities on essential fish habitat and implement 
management alternatives for summer flounder, scup and black sea bass to 
prevent, mitigate, or minimize adverse effects on essential fish 
habitat caused by fishing.
    In conjunction with development of Amendment 13, the Council 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess the potential 
effects of the proposed actions, and the alternatives to those actions, 
on the human environment. This DEIS updates the information presented 
in Amendments 2, 8, and 9 for summer flounder, scup, and black sea 
bass, respectively.
    A notice of availability for the DEIS for Amendment 13 was 
published in the Federal Registeron March 1, 2002. The 45-day public 
comment period for the DEIS ends on April 15, 2002. Copies can be 
obtained from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (see 
ADDRESSES)

Dates, Times, and Locations of DEIS Hearings

    1. Monday, March 18, 2002, 7-10 p.m.--Grand Hotel, 1045 Beach Ave., 
(corner of Philadelphia and Beach Ave.) Cape May, NJ (609-884-5611)
    2. Monday, March 18, 2002, 7-10 p.m.--Best Western (Canal Club), 
100 Trowbridge Road, Bourne, MA (800-675-0008)
    3. Tuesday, March 19, 2002, 7-10 p.m.--Comfort Inn, 1940 Post Road, 
Warwick, RI (877-805-8997)
    4. Tuesday, March 19, 2002, 7-10 p.m.--Sheraton, 110 Vanderbilt 
Motor Pkwy, Smithtown, NY (631-231-1100)
    5. Tuesday, March 19, 2002, 7-10 p.m.--Ocean Pines Library, 11107 
Cathell Road, Ocean Pines, MD (410-208-4014)
    6. Wednesday, March 20, 2002, 7-10 p.m.--Quality Inn Lake Wright, 
6280 Northampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA (757-461-6251)
    7. Thursday, March 21, 2002, 7-10 p.m.--Roanoke Island Festival 
Park, 1 Festival Park, Manteo, NC (252-475-1500)
    The hearings will be tape recorded, with the tapes filed as the 
official transcript of the hearings.

Special Accommodations

    The hearings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Joanna Davis at the Council Office at least 5 
days prior to the hearing dates.

    Dated: February 28, 2002.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-5319 Filed 3-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S