[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4241-4242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1389]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 012407A]


Mid-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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), its 
Bycatch/Limited Access Privilege Program (LAPP) Committee, its 
Ecosystem Committee, its Tilefish Committee, its Executive Committee, 
and its Law Enforcement Committee will hold public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 through 
Thursday, February 15, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Select, 630 
Naamans Rd., Claymont, DE; telephone: (302) 791-2700.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. 
New Street, Dover, DE 19904.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 674-2331, 
ext. 19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

    10 a.m. to 12 noon - The Bycatch/LAPP Committee will meet.
    1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - The Ecosystem Committee will meet.
    4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - The Tilefish Committee with meet.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

    8 a.m. to 10 a.m. - The Executive Committee will meet.
    10 a.m. - The Council will convene, at which time Regular Council 
business will be conducted. The Council will receive a report on the 
outcome on the 44th Stock Assessment Review.
    2 p.m. to 4 p.m. - The Council will review Framework 7 to the 
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 
[Meeting1].
    4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - The Council will meet to review and approve 
Amendment 14 to Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP [Scup 
Rebuilding Plan].

Thursday, February 15, 2007

    8 a.m. to 9 a.m. - The Law Enforcement Committee will meet.
    9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - The Council will convene and receive a 
presentation on Northeast Monitoring Program (NEAMAP).
    10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. - The Council will received an update from 
the South Atlantic Council regarding its Snapper-Grouper FMP.
    11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - The Council will review and adopt Amendment 
9 to Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish FMP.
    11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - The Council will discuss Amendment 10 to 
the Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish FMP.
    1:30 p.m. until adjournment - The Council will receive committee 
reports and address any continuing or new business.
    Agenda items for the Council's committees and the Council itself 
are:
    The Bycatch/LAPP Committee will review and evaluate public comments 
on proposed Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) 
Amendment, discuss and develop a Council position regarding Secretarial 
submission of the SBRM Amendment, and review the reauthorized Magnuson-
Stevens Act (MSA) LAPP charge.
    The Ecosystems Committee will discuss: NMFS perspective on 
liquified natural gas (LNG) facilities and windmill farms, industry 
(Blue Water Wind) perspective on offshore energy sources, Ecosystem 
Approach to Fishery Management, reauthorized MSA study requirement for 
regional ecosystem based management and research, exclusive economic 
zone (EEZ) artificial reef management, Corps of Engineers (COE) permit 
conditions, and special management zones.
    The Tilefish Committee will review Fishery Management Action Team 
(FMAT) progress regarding Amendment 1 and provide guidance regarding 
future actions.
    The Executive Committee will review new requirements regarding the 
reauthorized MSA and associated timelines. As a minimum, the Committee 
will discuss the role of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 
in future Council actions; discuss how best to integrate MSA and 
National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA); address 
overcapitalization and excess harvesting capacity; and, discuss the 
integration of cooperative research, experimental fishing permits and 
research set-aside (RSA). The Committee will also discuss utilization 
of Joint Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission/Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council (ASMFC/MAFMC) advisors.
    When the Council convenes, it will conduct its regular business 
session and receive a report on the 44th Stock Assessment Review to 
include surfclams, ocean quahogs and skate. Meeting 1 of Framework 7 to 
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP will be held to review 
options/alternatives regarding a mechanism to change biological 
reference points during the specification setting process following 
stock assessment reviews. The Council will then review and discuss 
public hearing and written comments concerning Amendment 14 to the 
Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP [Scup Rebuilding Plan], 
decide and adopt final measures to be included in Amendment 14, and 
approve Amendment 14 for Secretarial submission.
    The Law Enforcement Committee will discuss enforcement priorities 
for the 2007 fishing year, address maritime security issues impacting 
the fishing industry, and develop list of potential actions for the 
Committee in 2007.
    The Council will receive a presentation on the NEAMAP and receive 
an update from the South Atlantic Council regarding its Snapper-Grouper 
FMP. The Council will review and approve Amendment 9 to Squid, 
Mackerel, and Butterfish FMP for Secretarial submission. The Council

[[Page 4242]]

will receive an update on the timeline and status of butterfish 
rebuilding efforts and discuss the use and role of SSC in addressing 
butterfish stock rebuilding (Amendment 10 to Squid, Mackerel, and 
Butterfish FMP). This will be followed by committee reports and any 
continuing or new business.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, these issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council action during these meetings. 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 actions 
to address such emergencies.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 674-2331 
ext: 18, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 25, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1389 Filed 1-29-07; 8:45 am]
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