[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 27, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 76441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7848]



[[Page 76441]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 051603C]
RIN 0648-AQ65


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Amendments to the Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks and the 
FMP for Atlantic Billfish

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

ACTION: Rescheduling and addition of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: Due to the damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and 
the subsequent cancellation of three public hearings previously 
scheduled on the draft consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and proposed rule, NMFS is rescheduling 
public hearings in Orange Beach, AL, and Key West, FL. NMFS is also 
adding an additional hearing location in Houma, LA, to provide 
constituents an opportunity to comment from regions in close proximity 
to New Orleans, LA. The draft consolidated HMS FMP and the proposed 
rule describe a range of management measures that could impact 
fishermen and dealers for all HMS fisheries.

DATES: The public hearings will be held on January 11, 2006, from 7 
p.m. to 10 p.m. local time, on January 30, 2006, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
local time, and on February 1, 2006, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. local time. 
Written comments must be received by March 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held in the following locations:
     January 11, 2006 -- Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. 
Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040;
     January 30, 2006 -- Orange Beach Senior Center, 26251 
Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561; and
     February 1, 2006 -- 1268 Highway 182 West, Houma, LA 
70364.
    Written comments on the proposed rule and draft HMS FMP may be 
submitted to Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Highly Migratory species Management 
Division:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
the following identifier: Atlantic HMS FMP.
     Mail: 1315 East-West Highway, silver spring, MD 20910. 
Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Draft HMS FMP.''
     Fax: 301-427-2592
     Federal e-rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Stirratt or Karyl Brewster-
Geisz at (301) 713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic HMS fisheries are managed under 
the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention 
Act (ATCA). The FMP for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks, 
finalized in 1999, and the FMP for Atlantic Billfish, finalized in 
1988, are implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    On August 19, 2005 (70 FR 48804), NMFS published a proposed rule 
that, among other things, announced the availability of the draft 
consolidated HMS FMP. Included in this proposed rule was a list of 24 
public hearings throughout September and October 2005. These hearings 
were scheduled for NMFS to receive comments from fishery participants 
and other members of the public regarding the proposed rule and draft 
HMS FMP. NMFS is requesting comments on any of the alternatives or 
analyses described in this proposed rule and in the draft HMS FMP. NMFS 
also requests comments on specific items related to those alternatives 
to clarify certain sections of the regulatory text or in analyzing 
potential impacts of the alternatives, including: the costs of 
outfitting a commercial vessel with green-stick gear; proxy 
designations for the HMS identification workshops; the number of 
fishing floats that may be possessed or deployed from longline vessels 
and how floats should be defined; whether or not the indicator species 
proposed to be listed at 50 CFR part 635 in tables 2 and 3 of Appendix 
A are appropriate; and proposed billfish measures. For more information 
on the alternatives or specific requests for comments please see the 
proposed rule and draft HMS FMP. Comments on the draft HMS FMP may be 
submitted via writing, email, fax, or phone (see ADDRESSES).
    Due to the damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, NMFS 
cancelled three public hearings that were scheduled for September 6, 8, 
and 21, 2005, in Orange Beach, AL, New Orleans, LA, and Key West, FL, 
respectively. NMFS is now rescheduling the public hearings in Orange 
Beach, AL, and Key West, FL, and adding a public hearing in Houma, LA. 
For specific information about public hearing dates, times, and 
locations see DATES and ADDRESSES.
    NMFS continues to be interested in alternative outreach mechanisms 
(i.e., informal face-to-face meetings) for the purposes of obtaining 
public comment from individuals that are not able to attend public 
hearings due to natural disasters. As such, NMFS will consider requests 
for informal meetings on a case by case request basis. To request an 
informal meeting contact Heather Stirratt (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).
    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public 
hearings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each 
public hearing, a NMFS representative will explain the ground rules 
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be 
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to 
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and 
attendees should not interrupt one another). The NMFS representative 
will attempt to structure the hearing so that all attending members of 
the public will be able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of 
the controversial nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to 
respect the ground rules, and, if they do not, they will be asked to 
leave the hearing.

Special Accommodations

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

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 20, 2005.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E5-7848 Filed 12-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S