[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41697-41698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15486]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 061402A]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene a public meeting via conference call of the Spiny Lobster 
Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: This meeting will be via conference call on July 2, 2002, 
beginning at 8 a.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: A listening station will be available at the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL; Contact: Sophia 
Howard at 305-361-4285.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Swingle, Executive Director, 
Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; 
telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Spiny Lobster Advisory Panel (AP) will 
convene by conference call to review and comment on a proposed federal 
rule that would complement a rule drafted by the Florida Fish and 
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC). The proposed rule would allow 
vessels in transit to have on board an additional sublegal-size lobster 
for each trap aboard, in addition to the current limit of 50 sublegal-
size lobsters. All such lobsters are held in aerated live wells. The 
proposed rule is being implemented by the framework procedure 
implemented by Spiny Lobster Amendment 2 approved by the NMFS October 
27, 1989 (54 FR 48059). The procedure approved in the amendment by 
NMFS, the Council, and the state of Florida, allows implementation of 
this type of rule in the exclusive economic zone by the Regional 
Administrator (RA) of NMFS if he/she concurs that the rule is 
consistent with the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan 
(FMP), and with federal law. In making that decision, the RA considers 
the comments of the Councils. The Councils may consider the comments of 
the AP and the Scientific and Statistical

[[Page 41698]]

Committee (SSC) who are forwarded this proposal by the FFWCC, along 
with a copy of the administrative record for the state actions in 
approval of the state rule.
    A copy of the agenda can be obtained by contacting the Council (see 
addresses above).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the agenda may come 
before the Spiny Lobster AP for discussion, in accordance with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), 
those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this 
meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically 
identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of 
this notice that require emergency action under section 305 (c) of the 
MSFCMA, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent 
to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    The listening station is physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne Alford at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) by June 25, 2002.

    Dated: June 14, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-15486 Filed 6-18-02; 8:45 am]
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