[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 63889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26322]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100802G]


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 will convene 
public meetings of the Technical Review Panel, the User Review Panel, 
and the Standing Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) from 
October 30, 2002 through November 1, 2002.

DATES: The Council's Technical Review Panel, User Review Panel, and 
Standing SSC will convene in separate meetings at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 
October 30, 2002 and will conclude by 3 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Hilton Tampa Airport 
Westshore Hotel, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL; telephone: 813-877-6688.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. 
Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619; telephone: 813-228-
2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Technical Review Panel will review the 
intermediate draft of the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) and provide the Council and contractor with 
suggestions for technical revisions. In addition the Technical Review 
Panel members serve as contract monitors.
    The User Review Panel will review the intermediate draft of the EFH 
EIS and provide the Council and contractor with suggestions for 
revisions. In addition the User Review Panel members are asked to 
provide their comments on whether the documents properly address the 
issues of each user group represented. The User Review Panel is 
comprised of representatives from the following sectors: recreational, 
charter, commercial, environmental, oil and gas industry, and wetlands 
owners.
    The Standing Scientific and Statistical Committee will review the 
intermediate draft of the EFH EIS and provide the Council and 
contractor with an evaluation of the scientific completeness and 
possible suggestions for revisions.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the agendas may come 
before the Technical and User Review Panels and the SSC for discussion, 
in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson Act), those issues may not be the subject of 
formal action during these meetings. 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 Magnuson Act, provided the public has been 
notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the 
emergency.
    Copies of the agendas of these meetings can be obtained by calling 
the Council office at 813-228-2815 (toll-free 888-833-1844).

Special Accommodations

    This meeting 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 
October 23, 2002.

    Dated: October 10, 2002.
Matteo J. Milazzo,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-26322 Filed 10-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S