[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 9640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4684]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022403B]


New England 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Oversight Committee and 
Advisory Panel in March 2003, to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone. Recommendations from these 
groups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and 
action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meetings will be held on March 19, 2003, and March 25, 2003. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates, times, locations and 
agendas.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Portland, ME, and Danvers, MA.
    Council address: 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA, 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council, 978-465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates, Times, Locations and Agendas

    On Wednesday, March 19, 2003, the Herring Advisory Panel Meeting 
will meet at 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, 
Portland, ME 04101; telephone: 207-775-2311. The Panel will review 
results of the Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee (TRAC) 
assessment of the herring resource. They will identify issues for 
inclusion in the scoping document for Amendment 2 to the Herring 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). (Amendment 1 will address Essential Fish 
Habitat (EFH) issues separately.) They will also review a timeline for 
preparation of annual specifications and Amendment 2 development.
    On Tuesday, March 25, 2003, the Herring Oversight Committee Meeting 
will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Ferncroft, 50 Ferncroft Road, 
Danvers, MA, 01923; telephone: 978-777-2500. The oversight committee 
will review results of the TRAC assessment of the herring resource. 
They will finalize a list of issues to be included in the scoping 
document for Amendment 2 to the Herring FMP (Amendment 1 will address 
EFH issues separately). They will also discuss the timeline and 
location of the Amendment 2 scoping meetings. They will review timeline 
for preparation of annual specifications and Amendment 2 development.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this notice may come 
before these groups for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during these meetings. 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 Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take final actions to address such emergencies.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for special accommodations, sign language 
interpretation, or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. 
Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: February 24, 2003.
Theophilus R. Brainerd,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-4684 Filed 2-27-03; 8:45 am]
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