[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20944-20945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10487]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 042202D]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Sea Turtle and Whale 
Protection Measures; Fishing Vessel Permits; Charter Boat Operations

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings; extension of comment period; request 
for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS will hold four public hearings to receive comments from 
fishery participants and other members of the public on two proposed 
rules. The first would implement sea turtle and whale protection 
measures for the bottom longline, pelagic longline, and shark gillnet 
fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS). The comment 
period on this proposed rule is extended to May 20, 2002, to coincide 
with the comment period of the supporting Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) issued for the rule. The second 
proposed rule would amend the consolidated regulations governing the 
Atlantic HMS fisheries to define operations and regulations for HMS 
Charter/Headboats (CHBs), require an Atlantic HMS recreational permit, 
adjust the timeframe for permit category changes for Atlantic HMS and 
Atlantic tunas permits, clarify the regulations regarding the retention 
of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) in the Gulf of Mexico by recreational 
and HMS CHB vessels, and clarify NMFS' authority to set different BFT 
recreational fishing retention limits by vessel type (e.g., charter 
boats, headboats). To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or 
wishing to provide written comments, NMFS also solicits written 
comments on these proposed rules.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for hearing dates and times.
    Written comments on the proposed rule implementing protection 
measures for sea turtles and whales must be received no later than 5 
p.m., eastern standard time, on May 20, 2002, which was extended from 
May 10, 2002.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for hearing locations.
    For copies of the proposed rule implementing protection measures 
for sea turtles and whales and the DSEIS contact Tyson Kade or Margo 
Schultze-Haugen at 301-713-2347, or write to Christopher Rogers.
    For copies of the proposed rule on CHB and recreational HMS 
permits, contact Brad Mchale or Pasqulae Scida at 978-281-9260.
    Written comments on these proposed rules should be sent to 
Christopher Rogers, Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Comments also may be sent via facsimile (fax) to 301-713-1917. Comments 
will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyson Kade and Margo Schulze-Haugen at 
301-713-2347 about the sea turtle and whale protection measures and 
Brad Mchale and Pasquale Scida at 978-281-9260 about CHB and 
recreational HMS permits.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulations that are the 
subjects of these hearings are necessary to address requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the 
Endangered Species Act.
    A complete description of the sea turtle and whale protection 
measures and the purpose and need for the

[[Page 20945]]

proposed action are contained in the proposed rule, published April 10, 
2002 (67 FR 17349), and are not repeated here. Copies of the proposed 
rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or by calling the 
listed contact person (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    The proposed rule addressing CHB and recreational HMS permits will 
publish in the Federal Register on April 26, 2002. Upon publication, 
copies of the proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) 
or by calling the listed contact person (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

Hearing Dates, Times, and Locations

    The hearings for these proposed rules will be conducted jointly at 
the identified locations. NMFS intends to dedicate half of the hearing 
time to each proposed rule. The public hearing schedule is as follows:
    Wednesday, May 8, 2002-Panama City, FL, 7-9 p.m.--NMFS Panama City 
Laboratory, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408
    Monday, May 13, 2002-Barnegat Light, NJ, 7-9 p.m.-- Barnegat Light 
Fire House, 10th and Boulevard Street, Long Beach Island, Barnegat 
Light, NJ 08006
    Wednesday, May 15, 2002-Riverhead, NY, 7-9 p.m.-- Riverhead Town 
Hall, 200 Howell Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901
    Friday, May 17, 2002-Silver Spring, MD, 2-4 p.m.--NOAA Science 
Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Public Hearings Code of Conduct

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public 
hearings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each 
public hearing, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules 
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be 
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to 
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and 
attendees should not interrupt one another). The NMFS representative 
will attempt to structure the hearing so that all attending members of 
the public will be able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of 
the controversial nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to 
respect the ground rules, and, if they do not, they will be asked to 
leave the hearing.

Special Accommodations

    The hearings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Tyson Kade (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) 
at least 7 days prior to the hearing.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 24, 2002.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-10487 Filed 4-24-02; 3:20 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S