[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19515-19516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9791]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041403D]


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 public meetings of the Technical Review Panel, the User Review 
Panel, and the Standing Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) from 
May 5, 2003 through May 7, 2003.

DATES: The Council's Technical Review Panel, User Review Panel, and 
Standing SSC will convene in separate meetings at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 
5, 2003 and will conclude by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Tampa 
Westshore, 4500 West Cypress Street, Tampa, FL; telephone: (813) 879-
4800.
    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, 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 final 
draft of the essential fish habitat environmental impact statement (EFH 
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 final 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 
final draft of the EFH EIS and provide the Council and contractor with 
an evaluation of the scientific completeness and possible suggestions 
for revisions. The SSC will also review and comment on a proposed 
Amendment 21 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan to extend the 
time period for the Madison/Swanson and Steamboat Lumps marine reserves 
beyond their June 16, 2004 expiration date.
    The Council will review these panels comments at a special Council 
meeting scheduled for June 5-6, 2003 at the New Orleans Airport Plaza 
Hotel and Conference Center. Final action to approve the EFH EIS is 
scheduled at the Council's July 14-18, 2003 meeting in Naples, FL.
    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 (MSFCMA), 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 MSFCMA, 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 
April 28, 2003.


[[Page 19516]]


    Dated: April 15, 2003.
Matteo J. Milazzo,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-9791 Filed 4-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S