[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 1, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64213-64214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9008]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 091106B]
RIN 0648-AU84


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Commercial Shark 
Management Measures

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for 12 days on an 
October 5, 2006, proposed rule regarding the first 2007 fishing season 
for Atlantic sharks. Due to late dealer reports that may substantially 
change landings estimates of large and small coastal sharks during the 
first trimester of 2006 for the Gulf of Mexico, NMFS is extending the 
comment deadline on that proposed rule from November 1, 2006, until 
November 13, 2006.

DATES: The deadline for written comments on the October 5, 2006 (71 FR 
58778) proposed rule has been extended from November 1 to no later than 
5 p.m. on November 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to 
Michael Clark, Highly Migratory Species Management Division via:
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Please mark on the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Proposed Rule 
for 2007 1st Trimester Season Lengths and Quotas.''
     Fax: 301-713-1917.
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Include in the subject line the following 
identifier: ``I.D. 091106B''.
    Copies of the associated draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and 
other relevant documents are available on the Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division's website at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms or by 
contacting Michael Clark (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Clark or Karyl Brewster-Geisz 
by phone: 301-713-2347 or by fax: 301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fishery is managed under 
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). NMFS recently finalized a 
Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (HMS FMP) 
that consolidated and replaced previous FMPs for Atlantic Billfish and 
Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks (October 2, 2006; 71 FR 58058). 
The HMS FMP is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    On October 5, 2006 (71 FR 58778), NMFS published a proposed rule 
that requested comments on the draft EA and scheduled three public 
hearings throughout October 2006 to receive comments from fishery 
participants and other members of the public regarding the first 2007 
fishing season for Atlantic sharks. Based on late dealer reports that 
may substantially change landings estimates of large and small coastal 
sharks in the Gulf of Mexico during the first trimester of 2006, NMFS 
is extending the comment period on this proposed rule. NMFS is still 
updating the landings estimates and will release them in a future 
Federal Register notice. At this time, NMFS does not expect the 
landings estimates or the proposed measures to change substantially in 
the South Atlantic or North Atlantic regions. In order to incorporate 
these updated landings and to provide adequate opportunities for public 
comment by constituents, NMFS is extending the public comment period on 
the proposed rule and draft EA to 5 p.m., November 13, 2006.

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


[[Page 64214]]


    Dated: October 26, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9008 Filed 10-27-06; 2:36 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S