[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 56741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21289]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 072704A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Commercial Shark 
Management Measures; Rescheduling of Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Rescheduling of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is concerned about a lack of participation by commercial 
shark fishermen in three public hearings for a proposed rule that was 
published in the Federal Register on September 17, 2004, because of an 
overlap between the dates of the hearings and the commercial shark 
fishing season. These hearings are being held to receive comments from 
fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed 
shark regulations.

DATES: The hearings scheduled for September 28, 2004, in Manteo, NC, 
September 29 in Cocoa Beach, FL, and September 30 in Madeira Beach, FL, 
are canceled. The public hearings are rescheduled for October 5, 2004, 
from 7-9 p.m. in Madeira Beach, FL; October 6, 2004, from 6:30-8:30 
p.m. in Cocoa Beach, FL; and October 7, 2004, from 7-9 p.m. in Manteo, 
NC.
    Written comments on the September 17, 2004, proposed rule (69 FR 
56024) must be received no later than 5 p.m. on October 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held at the following locations:
    1. City of Madeira Beach, 300 Municipal Dr., Madeira Beach, FL 
33708,
    2. Cocoa Beach Public Library, 550 North Brevard Avenue, Cocoa 
Beach, FL 32931, and
    3. North Carolina Aquarium, Roanoke Island, Airport Road, Manteo, 
NC 27954.
    Written comments on the proposed rule or the Draft Environmental 
Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (Draft EA/RIR/IRFA) may be submitted to Christopher Rogers, 
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Proposed Rule for 
LCS and SCS Quota Adjustments.''
     Fax: 301-713-1917.
     Federal e-Rulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Include in the subject line the following identifier: I.D. 072704A.
    Copies of the Draft EA/RIR/FRFA or Amendment 1 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks or its 
implementing regulations, may be obtained by using the above mailing 
address, and are also available on the internet at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Chris Rilling, 
or Mike Clark by phone: 301-713-2347 or by fax: 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed under 
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. The Fisheries Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, 
Swordfish, and Sharks (HMS FMP) and Amendment 1 to the HMS FMP are 
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. On September 17, 2004, 
NMFS published a proposed rule (69 FR 56024) that would adjust the 
regional and trimester quotas for Large Coastal Sharks (LCS) and Small 
Coastal Sharks (SCS) based on updated landings information, among other 
things. Complete descriptions of the measures, as well as the purpose 
and need for the proposed actions, are contained in the proposed rule 
and are not repeated here.
    The September 17, 2004, proposed rule (69 FR 56024) specified, 
among other things, the dates, times, and locations of three public 
hearings. NMFS is concerned about a lack of participation by commercial 
shark fishermen because of an overlap between the dates of the hearings 
and the commercial shark fishing season that ends in the South Atlantic 
on September 30, 2004. Accordingly, NMFS is canceling and rescheduling 
the public hearings. The hearing previously scheduled for September 28, 
2004, in Manteo, NC, has been canceled and rescheduled for October 7, 
2004, in Manteo, NC. The hearing previously scheduled for September 29, 
2004, in Cocoa Beach, FL, has been canceled and rescheduled for October 
6, 2004, in Cocoa Beach, FL. The hearing previously scheduled for 
September 30, 2004, in Madeira Beach, FL, has been canceled and 
rescheduled for October 5, 2004, in Madeira Beach, FL (see DATES and 
ADDRESSES).

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Chris Rilling, (301) 713-2347, at 
least 7 days prior to the hearing in question.

    Dated: September 16, 2004.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-21289 Filed 9-17-04; 2:38 pm]
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