[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 176 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55135-55136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20539]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 224

[I.D. 040704A]


Endangered Fish and Wildlife; Advance Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (ANPR) for Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction; Extension of 
Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice to extend public comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public comment period on the Advance 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) published June 1, 2004. The ANPR 
announces a strategy to reduce mortalities to North Atlantic right 
whales as a result of vessel collisions. NMFS is extending the public 
comment period through November 15, 2004, to allow for adequate time to 
conduct stakeholder meetings along the Atlantic coast in association 
with the ANPR comment period.

DATES: Written and electronic comments on the ANPR must be received 
(see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time on November 
15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to:
     Mail: Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Attn: 
Right Whale Ship Strike Strategy, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
     Fax: (301)427-2522, Attn: Right Whale Ship Strike 
Strategy.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Federal Rulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov 
(follow instructions for submitting comments).
    The June 1, 2004, ANPR may be obtained at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ 
under the ``Recent News and Hot Topics'' link. Using the drop-down 
menu, the link ``Ship Strike Strategy'' provides access to the ANPR, as 
well as links to background and supporting documentation related to the 
proposed strategy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Payne, Division Chief, Office 
of Protected Resources, NMFS, at (301) 713-2322; Pat Gerrior, Fishery 
Biologist, Northeast Regional Office, NMFS, at (508) 495-2264; or Barb 
Zoodsma, Fishery Biologist, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, at (904) 
321-2806.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice provides additional opportunity 
for public involvement in the development and implementation of a 
strategy to reduce the likelihood and threat of ship strike mortalities 
to North Atlantic right whales. The strategy is described in greater 
detail in the ANPR published June 1, 2004 (69 FR 30857). In summary, it 
is a multi-faceted plan that includes potential routing changes, speed 
reductions, and the use of dynamic management areas as proposed 
operational measures.
    NMFS has already held five public meetings (Boston, MA; Jersey 
City, NJ; Wilmington, NC; Jacksonville, FL; and Silver Spring, MD) in 
July and August 2004 to present the strategy and solicit information on 
the development and implementation of the proposed new operational 
measures. The agency is extending the comment period through

[[Page 55136]]

November 15, 2004, to convene a series of smaller stakeholder meetings 
through its regional Right Whale Recovery Implementation Teams. 
Comments received during the extended ANPR comment period, and in the 
associated stakeholder meetings, will assist the agency in determining 
what actions are necessary to reduce the threat of ship collisions to 
right whales.

    Dated: September 7, 2004.
Laurie K. Allen
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-20539 Filed 9-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S