[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 14656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5751]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031105F]


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 hearing.

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SUMMARY: On March 14, 2005, NMFS announced its intent to 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). NMFS will hold an additional public hearing in 
East Machias, Maine in April 2005.

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 DEIS is open for public comment 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 another public hearing on the DEIS in addition 
to the 12 already announced (70 FR 12446, March 14, 2005). The purpose 
of 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 the public 
hearings can also be found on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction 
Plan (ALWTRP) website at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/.

Hearing Dates, Times, and Locations

    The date, time, and location of the hearing is as follows:
    Wednesday, April 6, 2005 - East Machias, ME - 6-9 p.m.--Washington 
Academy (Gardner Gym), One High Street, East Machias, ME 04630

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 17, 2005.
Donna S. Weiting,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5751 Filed 3-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S