[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 48 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12446-12447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4984]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030205B]


Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing 
Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations; 
Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold 12 public hearings in Maine, Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and 
Florida in March and April 2005 for the purpose of answering questions 
and receiving public testimony on the Atlantic Large Whale Take 
Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) draft environmental impact statement (DEIS).

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION under the heading ``Hearing Dates, 
Times, and Locations'' for the dates and locations of the public 
hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Borggaard, NMFS, Northeast 
Region, 978-281-9300 ext. 6503; Barb Zoodsma, NMFS, Southeast Region, 
904-321-2806; or Kristy Long, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301-
713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 25, 2005, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of Availability in the 
Federal Register announcing the availability of the DEIS for public 
review and comment. The public comment period on the DEIS is from 
February 25, 2005 to April 26, 2005. The public has the opportunity to 
submit comments on the document by any one of the following methods:
    (1) NMFS/Northeast Region Website: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/com. Follow the instructions on the website for submitting 
comments.
    (2) E-mail: [email protected].
    (3) Mail: Mary Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Protected Resources, NMFS, Northeast Region, 1 Blackburn Dr., 
Gloucester, MA 01930, ATTN: ALWTRP DEIS.
    (4) Facsimile (fax) to: 978-281-9394, ATTN: ALWTRP DEIS.
    (5) Public hearings: submit oral comments at one of the DEIS public 
hearings.
    NMFS has scheduled 12 public hearings on the DEIS. The purpose of

[[Page 12447]]

these hearings is to provide an opportunity for the public to ask 
questions on the DEIS, as well as to submit formal oral testimony on 
the document during the comment period. Information on these hearings 
can also be found on the ALWTRP website at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/.

Hearing Dates, Times, and Locations

    The dates, times, and locations of the hearings are as follows:
    Monday, March 14, 2005 - Virginia Beach, VA 6-9 p.m. -- Sheraton 
Oceanfront, 3501 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
    Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - Kill Devil Hills, NC 6-9 p.m. -- Ramada 
Plaza/Nag's Head Beach, 1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, 
NC 27948
    Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - Wilmington, NC 6-9 p.m. -- Ramada Inn 
Conference Center, 5001 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405
    Monday, March 21, 2005 - Barnegat Light, NJ 6- 9 p.m. -- Barnegat 
Light Volunteer Fire House, W. 10 Street & Central Avenue, Barnegat 
Light, NJ 08006
    Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - Ocean City, MD 6-9 p.m. -- Clarion Resort 
Fontainebleau Hotel, 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
    Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - Cape Canaveral, FL 6-9 p.m. -- Radisson 
Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
    Monday, March 28, 2005 - Plymouth, MA 6-9 p.m. -- Radisson Hotel - 
Plymouth Harbor, 180 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360
    Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - Newport, RI 6-9 p.m. -- Hotel Viking, 1 
Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840
    Thursday, March 31, 2005 - Gloucester, MA 6-9 p.m. -- Massachusetts 
Division of Marine Fisheries, 30 Emerson Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930
    Monday, April 4, 2005 - Ellsworth, ME 6-9 p.m. --Holiday Inn, 215 
High Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
    Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - Rockport, ME 6-9 p.m. -- Samoset Resort, 
220 Warrenton Street, Rockport, ME 04856
    Thursday, April 7, 2005 - Portland, ME 6 - 9 p.m. -- Holiday Inn By 
the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Diane Borggaard at 978-281-9300 
ext. 6503 at least 7 working days prior to the hearing date.

    Dated: March 7, 2005.
Donna S. Wieting,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries service.
[FR Doc. 05-4984 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S