[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 23949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11085]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 042803G]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a series of public hearings to solicit comments on proposals to be 
included in the Draft Amendment 10 to the Sea Scallop Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP).

DATES: Written comments on the proposals will be accepted through July 
16, 2003. The public hearings will begin May 20, 2003 and end on June 
5, 2003. See ``Public Hearings'' for specific hearing dates.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the public hearing document or to submit 
comments, contact Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England 
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 
01950. Identify correspondence as ``Amendment 10 to Sea Scallop FMP.'' 
Hearings will be held in North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, 
Massachusetts, and Maine. Requests for special accommodations should be 
addressed to the New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone: (978) 465-0492. For 
specific locations, see ``Public Hearings''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council proposes to take action to amend 
the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP and to address the new and revised 
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996. 
The Council will consider comments from fishermen, interested parties, 
and the general public on the proposals and alternatives described in 
the public hearing document for Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Sea 
Scallop FMP. Once it has considered public comments, the Council will 
approve final management measures and prepare a submission package for 
NMFS. There will be an additional opportunity for written public 
comments on the proposed rule when it is published in the Federal 
Register.
    Major elements of the proposals in Draft Amendment 10 and a Draft 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement include: (1) rotation area 
management; (2) revisions to the overfishing definition; (3) controlled 
access to the Georges Bank closed areas; (4) gear changes to improve 
scallop yield, minimize bycatch, and potentially reduce habitat 
impacts; (5) area closures to minimize habitat impacts or avoid 
unacceptable bycatch; (6) measures to potentially reduce encounters 
with protected species; (7) new permits and rules for targeting 
scallops with a general category permit; (8) a new incidental catch 
scallop permit; (9) measures to improve reporting and data collection; 
(10) new research procedures to fund and authorize scallop-related 
research; (11) new procedures or modifications to the framework 
adjustment process to set annual specifications or to implement area 
rotation; (12) changes to the fishing year; and (13) additional 
measures related to area rotation which the Council may consider 
implementing at a future date. The Council will consider all comments 
received on these proposals until the end of the comment period on July 
16, 2003.

Public Hearings

    The dates, times, locations, and telephone numbers of the hearings 
are as follows:
    Tuesday, May 20, 2003, at 7 p.m. - Ramada Inn, 1127 Route 132, 
Hyannis, MA 02601; telephone:(508) 775-1153; and
    Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at 7 p.m. - Tavern on the Harbor, 30 
Western Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930; telephone:(978) 283-4200; and
    Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 7 p.m. - Holiday Inn, 215 High Street, 
Ellsworth, ME 04505; telephone: (207) 667-9341; and
    Thursday, May 29, 2003 at 7 p.m. Holiday Inn Express,
    110 Middle Street, Fairhaven, MA; telephone:(508) 997-1281; and
    Tuesday, June 3, 2003 at 7 p.m. Comfort Inn North, 539
    Absecon Blvd, Absecon, NJ 08201; telephone:(609) 641-7272; and
    Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at 7 p.m. - Point Plaza Suites
    and Conference Hotel; 950 J Clyde Morris Boulevard; Newport News,
    VA 23601; telephone: (757) 599-4460; and
    Thursday, June 5, 2003 at 7 p.m. Hampton Inn, 2085 W.
    15th Street, Washington, NC 27889; telephone: (252) 940-4556

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for 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: April 30, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-11085 Filed 5-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S