[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46892-46893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13307]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080906D]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold its 134th meeting to consider and take action on pending 
recommendations regarding fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
(NWHI) commensurate with the provisions of Proclamation 8031 which 
established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. 
The Council will also hold a public hearing during this 134th Council 
meeting.

DATES: The 134th Council meeting and public hearing will be held at 2 
p.m. (Hawaii Standard Time) on Wednesday, August 30, 2006. For specific 
dates, times and locations of the public hearing, and the agenda for 
the 134th Council meeting, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The 134th Council meeting and public hearing will be held at 
the Council's office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 
96813. For participants residing in American Samoa, the Northern 
Mariana Islands, Hawaii and the continental United States, the 134th 
Council meeting telephone conference call-in-number is: 1-888-482-3560; 
Access Code: 522-8220. For Guam and international participants, the 
call-in-number is: 1-647-723-3959; Access Code: 522-8220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: (808) 522-8220; fax: (808) 522-8226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    On June 15, 2006, President George W. Bush signed Presidential 
Proclamation No. 8031 establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Marine National Monument (NWHI monument). The proclamation set apart 
and reserved the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for the purpose of 
protecting the historic objects, landmarks, prehistoric structures and 
other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon 
lands owned and controlled by the Federal Government of the United 
States. Proclamation No. 8031 directs the Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of the Interior (the Secretaries) to prohibit access into the 
NWHI monument unless authorized, and limit or regulate virtually all 
activities through a permit and zoning system among other measures.
    In establishing the NWHI monument, Proclamation No. 8031 assigns 
primary management responsibility of marine areas of the NWHI monument 
to the Secretary of Commerce, NOAA, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Interior. The proclamation assigns the Secretary of the 
Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) with sole 
responsibility for management of the areas of the monument that overlay 
the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of Midway 
National Memorial and the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce. Proclamation No. 8031 also 
requires the Secretary of Commerce to manage the NWHI monument in 
consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the State of Hawaii 
and directs the Secretaries to promulgate any additional regulations 
needed for the proper care and management of the monument objects 
identified above, to the extent authorized by law.
    At this 134th meeting, the Council will consider and take action on 
pending recommendations regarding fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands commensurate with the provisions of Proclamation 8031 which 
established the NWHI monument.

134th Council Meeting Agenda

    1. Introductions
    2. Approval of Agenda
    3. Implementation of Fishing Regulations for the NWHI Monument
    4. Public Hearing
    5. Council Discussion and Action
    6. Other Business

[[Page 46893]]

    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council action during its 134th meeting. Council action will 
be restricted to those issues listed in this document and any issue 
arising after publication of this document that requires 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.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 
522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 9, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13307 Filed 8-14-06; 8:45 am]
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