[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 53893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20158]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 083004C]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; 
Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 
Mexico; Amendment 24

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

ACTION: Notice announcing the preparation of an environmental 
assessment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS, in cooperation with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council (Council), is preparing an environmental assessment 
(EA) for proposed Amendment 24 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef 
Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Reef Fish FMP). A notice 
published February 13, 2004, indicated that Amendment 24 would be 
supported by a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(DSEIS). This notice is intended to inform the public of the change in 
the environmental review document supporting Amendment 24.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Leard, phone: 813-228-2815 ext. 
228, fax: 813-225-7015, e-mail: [email protected]; or Phil 
Steele, phone: 727-570-5305, fax: 727-570-5583, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS, in cooperation with the Council, is 
preparing an EA for proposed Amendment 24 to the Reef Fish FMP. The EA 
will examine alternatives related to the commercial vessel reef fish 
permit moratorium, which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2005. 
Specifically, Amendment 24 includes alternatives that would: allow the 
moratorium to expire, extend the existing moratorium for a designated 
time frame, or extend the existing moratorium indefinitely.
    On February 13, 2004, NMFS and the Council published a Notice of 
Intent in the Federal Register to prepare a DSEIS in association with 
Amendment 24 (69 FR 7187). However, the preliminary environmental 
review of Amendment 24 indicated that it would not likely have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. 
Consequently, NMFS and the Council are preparing an EA, rather than 
proceeding directly with the development of a SEIS. This notice is 
intended to inform the public of this change.
    If the EA results in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), 
the EA and FONSI will be the final environmental documents required by 
the National Environmental Policy Act. If the EA reveals that 
significant environmental impacts may be reasonably expected to result 
from the proposed actions, NMFS and the Council will develop a DSEIS to 
further evaluate those impacts.

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

    Dated: August 30, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20158 Filed 9-2-04; 8:45 am]
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