[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 240 (Thursday, December 14, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 75226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21235]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 120606A]


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing meetings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is developing 
Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP to 
implement a rebuilding plan to rebuild the scup stock to the stock 
level associated with maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) and 
make the scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs) currently addressed and 
modified through the annual specification setting process modifiable 
though frameworks to the FMP.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until January 26, 2007. All 
public hearings will begin at 7 p.m. The dates and locations of the 
meetings are as follows:
     Monday, January 22, 2007: Hilton Garden Inn Providence 
Airport/Warwick, One Thuber Street,Warwick, RI 02886.
     Tuesday, January 23, 2007: Best Western East End, 1830 
Route 25, Riverhead, NY 11901.
     Wednesday, January 24, 2007: Holiday Inn, 290 State 
Highway 37 East, Toms River, NJ 08753.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through any of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, 300 S. New Street, Dover, DE 19904
     Fax: 302-674-5399
     Email: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director 
of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management, 302-674-2331, ext. 19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The purpose of these public meetings is to allow stakeholder groups 
and interested parties to comment on actions proposed in Amendment 14 
to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP. In August 2005, 
NMFS notified the Council that the scup stock has officially been 
designated as overfished. Therefore, the purpose of this amendment is 
to develop a rebuilding plan for the scup stock, thereby preventing 
overfishing and rebuilding the scup stock to the level associated with 
maximum sustainable yield (BMSY). In addition, the scup Gear 
Restricted Areas (GRAs) currently addressed and modified through the 
annual specification setting process would be made modifiable through 
frameworks to the FMP. This action is needed to improve the timing of 
implementation of modifications to the GRAs and allow those actions to 
be expedited through framework documents as opposed to annual 
specifications. The Amendment document that will be used at the 
meetings will be mailed to all entities on the Council's mailing list. 
Additional copies are readily available from the above address or via 
the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org/mid-atlantic/comments/comments.htm 
.

Special Accommodations

    The hearings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Jan Bryan (302-674-2331 ext: 18) at the Mid-
Atlantic Council office at least 5 days prior to the hearing date.

    Dated: December 6, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21235 Filed 12-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S