[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 52 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 12749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4884]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223

[Docket No. 070122014-7057-02, I.D. 011907A]
RIN 0648-AV04


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Sea Turtle Conservation 
Requirements

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

ACTION:  Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public 
comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In response to requests from members of the public, NMFS 
extends the public comment period on an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (ANPR) regarding potential amendments to regulatory 
requirements for turtle excluder devices (TEDs) for an additional 60 
days, through May 18, 2007, for the purpose of receiving comments on 
the ANPR, published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2007.

DATES:  Comments will be accepted through May 18, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments on the ANPR and requests for literature 
cited should be addressed to Michael Barnette, Southeast Regional 
Office, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701. Comments may also be sent via fax to 727-824-
5309, via email to [email protected], or to the Federal eRulemaking 
portal: http://www.regulations.gov (follow instructions for submitting 
comments).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Michael Barnette (ph. 727-824-5312, 
fax 727-824-5309, e-mail [email protected]), Ellen Keane (ph. 
978-281-9300 x6526, fax 978-281-9394, e-mail [email protected]), or 
Tanya Dobrzynski(ph. 301-713-2322, fax (301) 427-2522, e-mail 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 15, 2007, NMFS published an ANPR regarding potential 
amendments to the regulatory requirements for TEDs (72 FR 7382). The 
ANPR announced that NMFS is considering amendments to the regulatory 
requirements for TEDs. Specific changes NMFS is considering include 
increasing the size of the TED escape opening currently required in the 
summer flounder fishery; requiring the use of TEDs in the flynet, 
whelk, calico scallop, and Mid-Atlantic sea scallop trawl fisheries; 
and moving the current northern boundary of the Summer Flounder 
Fishery-Sea Turtle Protection Area off Cape Charles, Virginia, to a 
point farther north. Other potential measures are also being 
considered. The objective of the proposed measures would be to 
effectively protect all life stages and species of sea turtle in 
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico trawl fisheries where they are vulnerable 
to incidental capture and mortality. NMFS is seeking public comment on 
these potential amendments to the TED regulations. NMFS is also 
soliciting public comment on the need for, and development and 
implementation of, other methods to reduce bycatch of sea turtles in 
any commercial or recreational fishery in the Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico where sea turtle conservation measures do not currently exist. 
That Federal Register notice initiated a 30-day public comment period 
scheduled to end on March 19, 2007.
    NMFS subsequently received requests from the public to extend the 
comment period. These requests stated that more time is necessary to 
more fully review and provide comments on issues mentioned in the ANPR. 
In this document NMFS is extending the public comment period for an 
additional 60 days, until May 18, 2007, to allow additional time for 
these requesters and other interested parties to provide comments.

    Dated: March 13, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4884 Filed 3-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P