[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54794-54796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21655]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082102A]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of its SOPPS (Statement of Organization Practices and 
Procedures) Committee, Information and Education Committee, Protected 
Resources Committee, NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) 
Committee, Advisory Panel Selection Committee, Shrimp Committee, Spiny 
Lobster Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, Highly Migratory Species 
Committee, Dolphin Wahoo Committee. A public hearing on the revised 
Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan (FMP) will be held and a 
public comment period will be held to address

[[Page 54795]]

lobster issues. There will also be a full Council Session.

DATES: The meetings will be held in September 2002. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Town and Country Inn, 2008 
Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407. Telephone: (1-800) 334-6660 or 
(843) 571-1000.
    Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public 
Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer; telephone: 843-571-4366; fax: 843-769-4520; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

    1. SOPPs Committee Meeting: September 16, 2002, 10-11: a.m.
    The SOPPs Committee will meet to review the status of the Council's 
Statement of Organizational Practices and Procedures and develop 
recommended revisions.
    2. Information and Education Committee Meeting: September 16, 2002, 
11-12 Noon
    The Information and Education Committee will meet to review current 
materials, projects and activities. The Committee will also review and 
make revisions to a draft strategic plan and discuss upcoming meetings.
    3. Protected Resources Committee Meeting: September 16, 2002, 1:30-
3 p.m.
    The Protected Resources Committee will meet to develop 
recommendations for a Protected Resources Advisory Panel, discuss the 
Committee's direction and scope of its work.
    4. NEPA Committee Meeting: September 16, 2002, 3-4:30 p.m.
    The NEPA Committee will meet to review and discuss Committee 
objectives, direction and scope of its work and receive a presentation 
regarding the Pacific Groundfish PEIS (Programatic Environmental Impact 
Statement).
    5. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting (CLOSED): September 
16, 2002, 4:30-6 p.m.
    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet in to review 
current applications for advisory panel positions and develop 
recommendations.
    6. Shrimp Committee Meeting: September 17, 2002, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
    The Shrimp Committee will meet to review the draft options paper 
for Shrimp Amendment 6 and provide direction to staff regarding 
revisions. The Committee will also discuss the status of the new TED 
(Turtle Excluder Device) rule.
    7. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: September 17, 2002, 10:30-12 
Noon
    The Spiny Lobster Committee will meet to review and develop 
recommendations on Florida's request for regulatory action. The 
Committee will also review and approve a Regulatory Amendment from the 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council if it is available at the 
meeting.
    8. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: September 17, 2002, 1:30-3:30 
p.m., and continued on September 18 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will hear a status report on stock 
assessments for vermilion snapper and black sea bass and an additional 
report from NOAA Fisheries (National Marine Fisheries Service) 
Southeast Regional Office regarding capacity work in the snapper 
grouper fishery. The Committee will review a draft of Amendment 13 to 
the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and provide 
additional direction to staff. The Committee will also review a draft 
of Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper FMP and provide direction to 
staff.
    9. Highly Migratory Species Committee Meeting: September 17, 2002, 
3:30-5:30 p.m.
    The Highly Migratory Species Committee will meet to review the 
status of the listing of white marlin under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA), discuss bluefin tuna allocations and issues related to the fall 
meeting of ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tuna).
    10. Dolphin Wahoo Committee Meeting: September 19, 2002, 8:30-12: 
Noon
    Note: A public hearing regarding the revised Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo 
FMP will be held September 19th beginning at 8:30 a.m. Immediately 
following the public hearing, the Dolphin Wahoo Committee will receive 
a briefing on the status of the ACCSP (Atlantic Coastal Cooperative 
Statistics Program) including the bycatch monitoring component. The 
Committee will then review and develop recommendations on the revised 
Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo FMP.
    11. Council Session: September 19, 2002, 1:30-6 p.m.
    From 1:30-1:45 p.m., the Council will have a Call to Order, 
introductions and roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of 
the June 2002 meeting minutes.
    From 1:45-2 p.m., the Council will conduct elections for Chairman 
and Vice Chairman positions and make presentations.
    From 2-2:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Spiny 
Lobster Committee and address Committee recommendations regarding 
Florida's regulation request.
    Beginning at 2 p.m., a public comment period will be held on the 
State of Florida's request for regulation changes involving the use of 
short lobsters. Immediately following the comment period, the Council 
will discuss the issue and make recommendations to staff.
    From 2:45-3:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Dolphin Wahoo Committee and take action on the Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo 
FMP.
    From 3:30-3:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Habitat and Environmental Protection Committee.
    From 3:45-4:p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Shrimp 
Committee and approve options for Amendment 6 to the Shrimp FMP.
    From 4-4:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Snapper 
Grouper Committee.
    From 4:30-5 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Advisory 
Panel Selection Committee and appoint new advisory panel members.
    From 5-6 p.m., the Council will receive a legal briefing on 
litigation affecting the Council (CLOSED SESSION).
    12. Council Session: September 20, 2002, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 Noon
    From 8:30-8:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the SOPPs 
Committee and approve revised SOPPs for submission to the Secretary of 
Commerce.
    From 8:45-9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Information and Education Committee.
    From 9-9:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the Protected 
Resources Committee.
    From 9-9:30 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the NEPA 
Committee.
    From 9:30-10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Highly Migratory Species Committee.
    From 10-10:30 a.m., the Council will hear NMFS status reports on 
the Golden/Red Crab FMP management unit emergency request, Shrimp 
Amendment 5, the Sargassum FMP and the SAW/SARC (Stock Assessment 
Workshop/Stock Assessment Review Committee). NOAA Fisheries will also 
give status reports on landings for Atlantic king mackerel, Gulf king 
mackerel (eastern

[[Page 54796]]

zone), Atlantic Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper & golden tilefish, 
wreckfish, greater amberjack and south Atlantic octocorals.
    From 10:30-12 Noon, the Council will hear agency and liaison 
reports, discuss other business and upcoming meetings. Documents 
regarding these issues are available from the Council office (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any 
issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency 
action under section 305 (c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the 
public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action 
to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by September 6, 2002.

    Dated: August 21, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-21655 Filed 8-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S