[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 29693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11802]



[[Page 29693]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051304A]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Final Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Essential Fish Habitat 
Requirements of the Fishery Management Plans of the U.S. Caribbean

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, NMFS announces the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) 
regarding a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) that was 
prepared to determine whether to amend the fishery management plans of 
the Caribbean Fishery Management Council to address essential fish 
habitat (EFH) requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This ROD documents the 
decision by NMFS to proceed with such an amendment to: describe and 
identify EFH for each fishery; identify other actions to encourage the 
conservation and enhancement of such EFH; and identify measures to 
prevent, mitigate or minimize to the extent practicable the adverse 
effects of fishing on such EFH.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and the FEIS can be obtained from NMFS, 
Southeast Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702; telephone: 727-570-5317.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Dale, Fishery Biologist, 727-
570-5317, fax: 727-570-5300; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Southeast Region was the lead agency 
responsible for preparing, under third party contract, an FEIS for the 
Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment (EFH Amendment) for the spiny 
lobster, queen conch, reef fish, and coral fishery management plans for 
the U.S. Caribbean. The FEIS evaluates alternatives for bringing the 
EFH Amendment into compliance with the EFH mandates of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. For each of the four Caribbean fisheries, the FEIS 
analyzes a range of potential alternatives to: (1) describe and 
identify EFH for the fishery; (2) identify other actions to encourage 
the conservation and enhancement of such EFH; and (3) identify measures 
to minimize, to the extent practicable, the adverse effects of fishing 
on such EFH. The FEIS contains the methods and data used in the 
analyses, background information on the physical, biological, human, 
and administrative environments, and a description of the fishing and 
non-fishing threats to EFH. The notice of availability of the FEIS was 
published on April 23, 2004 (69 FR 22025).
    The ROD documents NMFS' decision to proceed, in cooperation with 
the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council), with amending the 
spiny lobster, queen conch, reef fish, and coral fishery management 
plans for the U.S. Caribbean to implement the Council's preferred 
alternatives for identifying EFH, identifying habitat areas of 
particular concern, and preventing, mitigating, or minimizing the 
adverse effects of fishing on EFH. The ROD identifies all alternatives 
considered in reaching the decision, specifies the alternatives which 
were considered to be environmentally preferable, and identifies and 
discusses relevant factors which were balanced by NMFS in making its 
decision. A copy of the ROD will be mailed to individuals, agencies, or 
companies that commented on the draft and final EISs. In addition, 
copies of the ROD and FEIS are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 20, 2004.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-11802 Filed 5-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S