[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 45307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17317]



[[Page 45307]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071904E]


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 Gulf of Mexico

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 Gulf of Mexico 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 Dr. 
Richard Leard, Deputy Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council, The Commons at Rivergate, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 
North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619-2266; telephone 813-228-2815; fax 
813-225-7015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Leard, Council staff contact, 
813-228-2815, or David Dale, NMFS staff contact, 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 
shrimp, red drum, reef fish, stone crab, and coral and coral reef 
fishery management plans for the Gulf of Mexico and the spiny lobster 
and coastal migratory pelagic fishery management plans for the Gulf of 
Mexico and South Atlantic. The FEIS evaluates alternatives for bringing 
the EFH Amendment into compliance with the EFH mandates of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. For each of the 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 June 
25, 2004 (69 CFR 35597).
    The ROD documents NMFS's decision to proceed, in cooperation with 
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council for the joint fishery management 
plans, with amending the shrimp, red drum, reef fish, stone crab, and 
coral and coral reef fishery management plans for the Gulf of Mexico 
and the spiny lobster and coastal migratory pelagic fishery management 
plans for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic to implement the 
Council's preferred alternatives for identifying EFH and 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 
the Council (see ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: July 23, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-17317 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
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