[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 34424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12033]



[[Page 34424]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 050602B]
RIN 0648-AP79


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibition 
of Non-pelagic Trawl Gear in Cook Inlet in the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA); request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 60 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of 
the Gulf of Alaska Area (FMP). This amendment would prohibit the use of 
non-pelagic trawl gear in Cook Inlet.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 60 must be received by July 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendment may be mailed to Sue Salveson, 
Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori 
Gravel-Durall. Hand delivery or courier delivery of comments may be 
sent to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th St., Room 453, Juneau, AK, 
99801. Copies of Amendment 60 to the FMP and the Environmental 
Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) prepared for this action by the Council and NMFS 
are available from NMFS at the above address, or by calling the Alaska 
Region, NMFS, at (907) 586-7228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Merrill, (907) 586-7228, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each regional 
fishery management council submit any FMP or FMP amendment it prepares 
to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The 
Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or 
amendment, immediately publish a notification in the Federal Register 
that the FMP or amendment is available for public review and comment.
    Amendment 60 was adopted by the Council in September 2000. If 
approved by NMFS, this amendment would prohibit the use of non-pelagic 
trawl gear in Cook Inlet north of a line from Cape Douglas 
(58 deg.51.10' N. lat.) to Point Adam (59 deg.15.27' N. lat.). 
Amendment 60 is necessary to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
mandate that regional councils must take measures to reduce bycatch in 
the nation's fisheries.
    Public comments are being solicited on the amendment through the 
end of the comment period stated in this NOA. A proposed rule that 
would implement the amendment may be published in the Federal Register 
for public comment following NMFS' evaluation under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act procedures. Public comments on the proposed rule must be 
received by the end of the comment period on the amendment to be 
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. All 
comments received by the end of the comment period on the amendment, 
whether specifically directed to the amendment or the proposed rule, 
will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision; comments 
received after that date will not be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on the amendment.

    Dated: May 8, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-12033 Filed 5-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S