[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 36973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15691]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 061203H]


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 Groundfish Advisory Panel and 
Groundfish Oversight Committee in July, 2003 to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 
Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council 
for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meetings will be held between July 8-10, 2003. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held the Holiday Inn, One Newbury 
Street, Peabody, MA 01960; telephone: (978) 535-4600.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 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 and Agendas

    Tuesday, July 8, 2003, 9:30 a.m.-Groundfish Advisory Panel Meeting
    The advisory panel will review the draft Amendment 13, including 
the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS). 
Amendment 13 proposes major changes to groundfish management 
regulations, and the advisory panel will review the proposed measures 
and the analyses of impacts in the draft document. They will also 
consider identifying preferred alternatives. Any recommendations of the 
panel will be presented to the Groundfish Committee on July 8-9, and to 
the full Council later that month. After Council approval, the draft 
Amendment and DSEIS will be taken to public hearings in the fall of 
2003, with a final Council decision planned in November, 2003.
    Wednesday, July 9, 2003, 9:30 a.m. and Thursday, July 10, 2003, 
8:30 a.m.-Groundfish Oversight Committee.
    The committee will review the draft of Amendment 13, including the 
DSEIS. Amendment 13 proposes major changes to groundfish management 
regulations, and the committee will review the proposed measures and 
the analyses of impacts in the draft document. They will also consider 
changes to the Special Access Program measure that will facilitate 
proposals for rotational management in the scallop fishery by providing 
a mechanism to access groundfish closed areas. They may develop 
recommendations for preferred alternatives, for labeling an alternative 
``considered but rejected,'' or for clarifying measures or analyses. 
Any recommendations of the Committee will be presented to the full 
Council during a meeting scheduled for July 15-17, 2003. After Council 
approval, the draft Amendment and DSEIS will be taken to public 
hearings in the fall of 2003, with a final Council decision planned in 
November, 2003.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. 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 Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: June 12, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15691 Filed 6-19-03; 8:45 am]
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