[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 46518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17669]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072704D]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; 
Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of 
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Region; Environmental Assessment 
for Amendment 15

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

ACTION: Notice announcing the preparation of an environmental 
assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: NMFS, in cooperation with the Gulf of Mexico and the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils), is preparing an EA in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for 
Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory 
Pelagic Resources (Amendment 15). This notice is intended to inform the 
public of the change from the preparation of a draft supplemental 
environmental impact statement (DSEIS) to the preparation of an EA for 
Amendment 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Leard; telephone: 813-228-2815 
ext. 228; fax: 813-225-7015; e-mail: [email protected]; or 
Steve Branstetter; telephone: 727-570-5796; fax: 727-570-5583; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 13, 2004 (69 FR 7187) and April 
9, 2004 (69 FR 18875), NMFS and the Councils published Notices of 
Intent in the Federal Register to prepare a DSEIS and to announce 
scoping meetings regarding the actions proposed in Amendment 15. 
Amendment 15 proposes two actions: (1) consideration of alternatives to 
address limited access in the king mackerel fishery of the Gulf of 
Mexico and South Atlantic region, and (2) a possible change in the 
fishing year for Atlantic migratory groups of king and Spanish 
mackerel.
    The fishery for king mackerel operates under a moratorium on the 
issuance of new commercial vessel permits. The moratorium is scheduled 
to expire on October 15, 2005. Amendment 15 examines alternatives that 
would allow the moratorium to expire, extend the existing moratorium 
for a designated time frame, or establish a more permanent limited 
access system for the king mackerel fishery.
    The current fishing year for Atlantic migratory groups of both king 
and Spanish mackerel extends from April 1 through March 31. The 
Councils are considering a potential change in the fishing year from an 
April 1 opening to either a January 1 opening or a March 1 opening.
    Based on comments received during the scoping process, and further 
analyses of the environmental impacts of the actions proposed in 
Amendment 15, NMFS and the Councils do not anticipate any significant 
impacts on the human environment. Consequently, NMFS and the Councils 
are initially preparing an EA rather than proceeding with the 
development of a DSEIS. If the EA results in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), the EA and FONSI will be the final 
environmental documents required by NEPA. If the EA reveals that 
significant environmental impacts may be reasonably expected to result 
from the proposed actions, NMFS and the Councils will develop a DSEIS 
to further evaluate those impacts.

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

    Dated: July 29, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-17669 Filed 8-2-04; 8:45 am]
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