[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7719-7720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3638]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223

[I.D 020904A]
RIN 0648-AR69


Sea Turtle Conservation; Public Hearing Notification

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is announcing its 
intent to hold a public hearing to inform interested parties of the 
proposed prohibitions and restrictions on Virginia pound net leaders 
and to accept public comments on this action.

DATES: NMFS will hold a public hearing at the Holiday Inn SunSpree 
Resort - Virginia Beach, on Thursday, February 19, 2004, at 7 p.m., 
eastern daylight time.

ADDRESSES: The Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort - Virginia Beach is located 
at 3900 Atlantic Avenue, at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and 39th 
Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (ph. 757-428-1711). The public hearing 
will take place in the Cape Henry Room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Upite (ph. 978-281-9328 x6525), 
NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was issued on February 6, 
2004 (69 FR 5810), which proposes to prohibit the use of all pound net 
leaders from May 6 to July 15 each year in the Virginia waters of the 
mainstem Chesapeake Bay, south of 37[deg] 19.0' N. lat. and west of 
76[deg] 13.0' W. long., and all waters south of 37[deg] 13.0' N. lat. 
to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, 
and the portion of the James River downstream of the Hampton Roads 
Bridge Tunnel (I-64) and the York River downstream of the Coleman 
Memorial Bridge (Route

[[Page 7720]]

17). Additionally, the rule proposes to prohibit the use of all leaders 
with stretched mesh greater than or equal to 8 inches (20.3 cm) and 
leaders with stringers from May 6 to July 15 each year in the Virginia 
waters of the Chesapeake Bay outside the aforementioned closed area, 
extending to the Maryland-Virginia State line (approximately 37[deg] 
55' N. lat., 75[deg] 55' W. long.) and the Rappahannock River 
downstream of the Robert Opie Norris Jr. Bridge (Route 3), and from the 
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the COLREGS line at the mouth of the 
Chesapeake Bay. Additional information on the justification for this 
action can be found in that proposed rule.
    NMFS recognizes the need and importance to obtain public comment on 
the proposed action. In addition to the February 19 meeting announced 
in this notice, NMFS is accepting written comments on the proposed 
action. Written comments on the proposed rule or requests for copies of 
the literature cited, the draft Environmental Assessment, or Regulatory 
Impact Review and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis should be 
addressed to the Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected 
Resources, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Comments 
and requests for supporting documents may also be sent via fax to 978-
281-9394. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the 
Internet. The public comment period closes at 5 p.m., eastern daylight 
time, on March 8, 2004.
    In preparing the final rule for this action, NMFS will fully 
consider the public comments received during the 30-day comment period 
(either in writing or verbally during the public hearing).

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Carrie Upite, telephone 978-281-3928 x6525, fax 978-281-
9394, at least 5 days before the scheduled meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: February 12, 2004.
Laurie K. Allen,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-3638 Filed 2-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S