[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29286-29287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-2527]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051705A]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a joint meeting of its Snapper Grouper Committee and Advisory 
Panel, a meeting of its Snapper Grouper Committee, Joint Executive and 
Finance Committees, Protected Resources Committee, Joint Ecosystem and 
Habitat Committees, and a meeting of the full Council. In addition, 
there will be a public scoping meeting addressing the Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan and Comprehensive Amendment and public comment will be taken on 
Council consideration of an Interim Rule addressing overfishing for 
snapper grouper species.

DATES: The meeting will be held in June 2005. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Radisson Resort at the Port, 
8701 Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920; Telephone: (1-800) 
333-3333 or 321/ 784-0000, FAX 321/783-7718.
    Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public 
Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information
    Officer; telephone: 843/571-4366 or toll free at 866/SAFMC-10; fax: 
843/769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

1. Joint Snapper Grouper Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting: June 13, 
2005, 1:30 p.m. 5 p.m. and June 14, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-12 noon

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will meet jointly with the Snapper 
Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) to review the results of the updated black 
sea bass assessment and receive a report from the Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC). In addition, the Committee and AP will 
review the draft of Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery 
Management Plan regarding mandates under the Sustainable Fisheries Act 
to address overfishing and discuss the potential for Interim Rule. The 
Committee and AP will also discuss species to be considered in future 
stock assessments through the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 
(SEDAR) process and receive a presentation from NOAA Fisheries, 
Southeast Regional Office regarding linking permits and landings 
databases.
    Note: A public scoping meeting on the Fishery Ecosystem Plan and 
Comprehensive Amendment will be held June 13, 2005 beginning at 6:00 
p.m. The Council will also accept public comment on Council 
consideration of an Interim Rule addressing overfishing for snapper 
grouper species immediately following the scoping meeting.

2. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: June 14, 2005, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. 
and June 15, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-12 noon

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will review Amendment 13B to the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan and finalize for public 
hearings. The Committee will also discuss the potential for Interim 
Rule and discuss species for future SEDAR assessments.

3. Joint Executive Committee and Finance Committee Meeting: June 15, 
2005, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

    The Committees will develop the Council's positions on 
reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, review NOAA's Ocean Action Plan, the Office of 
Management and Budget's (OMB) Peer Review Bulletin, and NOAA Fisheries' 
Report to Congress.

4. Protected Resources Committee Meeting: June 16, 2005, 8:30 a.m. 
10:30 a.m.

    The Protected Resources Committee will discuss a proposal for 
installation of a wind farm in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off 
the coast of Georgia. The Committee will receive

[[Page 29287]]

updates on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Program's Proposed 
Rule and plan, the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Program, Acropora 
(coral) species proposed listing under the Endangered Species Act, and 
Biological Opinions for both Amendment 6 to the Shrimp Fishery 
Management Plan and Amendment 15 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics 
(mackerel) FMP. The Committee will also discuss any protected resources 
concerns, if necessary, for Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper FMP 
with regards to the Biological Opinion.

5. Joint Ecosystem and Habitat Committees Meeting: June 16, 2005, 10:30 
a.m.-3 p.m.

    The Ecosystem and Habitat Committees will meet jointly to review 
and approve the Council's Energy Policy. The Committees will also 
review and approve an Outline for the Fishery Ecosystem Plan and 
discuss issues relevant to Sargassum management.

6. Council Session: June 16, 2005, 3 p.m. 5 p.m. and June 17, 2005, 
8:30 a.m.-12 noon

    From 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m., the Council will call the meeting order, 
make introductions and roll call, adopt the meeting agenda, and approve 
earlier meeting minutes.
    From 3:30 p.m.-4 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Joint Executive/Finance Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4 p.m.-4:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Protected Resources Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Joint Ecosystem and Habitat Committees and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:30 p.m.-5 p.m., the Council will receive a briefing from 
NOAA General Counsel on litigation. (CLOSED SESSION).
    Council Session: June 17, 2005, 8:30 a.m. 12 noon.
    From 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Snapper Grouper Committee and approve Amendment 13B to the Snapper 
Grouper FMP for public hearings and/or take other action as 
appropriate.
    From 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m., the Council will hear status reports from 
NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast Fishery 
Science Center.
    From 11 a.m.-12:00 noon, the Council will receive agency and 
liaison reports, discuss other business and upcoming meetings.
    Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the 
subjects of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action 
will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice 
and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require 
emergency action under section 305 (c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take 
final action to address the emergency.
    Except for advertised (scheduled) public hearings and public 
comment, the times and sequence specified on this agenda are subject to 
change.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by June 10, 2005.

    Dated: May 17, 2005.
Tracey Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-2527 Filed 5-19-05; 8:45 am]
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