[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 93 (Thursday, May 13, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26539-26540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10896]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[Docket No. 040407106-4106-01; I.D. 040104A]
RIN 0648-AS04


List of Fisheries for 2004

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On April 13, 2004, the proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 
2004 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was published in the 
Federal Register. NMFS is extending the comment period on this proposed 
LOF to June 14, 2004.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 14, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, 
Attn: List of Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments may also be sent 
via email to [email protected] or the Federal eRulemaking 
portal: http://www.regulations.gov (Follow instructions for submitting 
comments).
    Comments regarding the burden-hour estimates, or any other aspect 
of the collection of information requirements contained in the proposed 
rule, should be submitted in writing to the Chief, Marine Mammal 
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and to David Rostker, OMB, by e-
mail at [email protected] or by fax to 202-395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Long, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-713-1401; Kim Thounhurst, Northeast Region, 978-281-
9328; Juan Levesque, Southeast Region, 727-570-5312; Cathy Campbell, 
Southwest Region, 562-980-4060; Brent Norberg, Northwest Region, 206-
526-6733; Bridget Mansfield, Alaska Region, 907-586-7642. Individuals 
who use a telecommunications device for the hearing impaired may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. 
and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 13, 2004, the proposed List of 
Fisheries

[[Page 26540]]

for 2004 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act was published in the 
Federal Register (69 FR 19365). NMFS must categorize each commercial 
fishery on the LOF into one of three categories under the MMPA based on 
the level of serious injury and mortality of marine mammals that occurs 
incidental to the fishery. NMFS must publish in the Federal Register 
any necessary changes to the LOF after notice and opportunity for 
public comment. In the proposed LOF for 2004, NMFS proposed to elevate 
the Hawaii Swordfish, Tuna, Billfish, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Oceanic Sharks 
Longline/Set Line fishery from Category III (remote likelihood of or no 
known incidental mortality and serious injury) to Category I (frequent 
incidental mortality and serious injury). In addition, NMFS provided 
that it would convene a workshop to address the scientific bases for 
this proposal, and it would consider the results of the workshop and 
public comments in its decision to classify this fishery in the final 
LOF for 2004. In order to allow sufficient time to organize and convene 
the workshop and allow for consideration of public comment based on the 
workshop as well as from other sources, NMFS is extending the public 
comment period on the proposed LOF for 2004 from May 13, 2004, to June 
14, 2004.

    Dated: May 10, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-10896 Filed 5-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S