[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45419-45420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15886]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XB99


South 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 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a meeting of its Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel; Advisory Panel 
Selection Committee (Closed Session); Standard Operations, Policy, and 
Procedures (SOPPs) Committee; Finance Committee; Scientific and 
Statistical Selection Committee (Closed Session); Information and 
Education Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Shrimp Committee; 
Mackerel Committee; Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program Committee; 
Ecosystem-based Management Committee; Southeast Data, Assessment, and 
Review (SEDAR) Committee; and a meeting of the full Council. The 
Council will also hold a meeting of the LAP Program Exploratory 
Workgroup and a public scoping meeting regarding Amendment 16 to the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to address overfishing for gag 
grouper and vermilion snapper. The scoping meeting is included in an 
earlier Federal Register Notice.

DATES: The meetings will be held September 17, 2007 through September 
21, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Avista Resort, 300 North 
Ocean Boulevard, N. Myrtle Beach, SC 29582; telephone: (1-800) 968-8986 
or (843) 249-2521. Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, 
Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) SAFMC-10; fax: 
(843) 769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

1. Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel Meeting: September 17, 2007, 1 p.m. 
until 6 p.m.; September 18, 2007 from 8 a.m. until 12 noon (Concurrent 
Sessions)

    The Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel will deal with issues 
surrounding Amendment 16 (Gag & Vermilion Snapper management) and 
Amendment 15. They will develop recommendations for Snapper Grouper 
Committee and Council consideration.

2. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting: September 17, 2007, 1 
p.m. until 3 p.m. (Closed Session)

    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will review applications and 
develop recommendations for advisory panel appointments for Council 
consideration.

3. SOPPs Committee Meeting: September 17, 2007, 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

    The SOPPs Committee will receive an update on the status of 
Secretarial review of Council SOPPs, develop changes to SOPPs as 
necessary, and consider recommended changes to the Administrative 
Handbook.

4. Finance Committee Meeting: September 17, 2007, 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 
p.m.

    The Finance Committee will receive an update on the Activities 
Schedule and the status of the Calendar Year 2007 budget.
    Note: A public scoping meeting for Amendment 16 to the Snapper 
Grouper Fishery Management Plan to address overfishing for gag grouper 
and vermilion snapper will take place at 6 p.m. on September 17, 2007. 
(This meeting was included in an earlier FRN).

5. LAP Program Exploratory Workgroup Meeting: September 18, 2007, 1 
p.m. until 6 p.m. and September 19, 2007, 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. 
(Concurrent Sessions)

    The LAP Program Exploratory Workgroup will meet to discuss the 
Draft Working document, bulleted items under ``Prerequisites for an 
Industry Supported LAP Program'', and enforcement issues. Also being 
discussed, Outreach Sub-Committee update, data updates, data collection 
presentations, and collection options.

6. Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee Meeting: September 
18, 2007, 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. (Closed Session)

    The SSC Selection Committee will meet to review applications and 
develop recommendations for SSC appointments. The Committee will also 
discuss guidelines for SSCs being developed by NOAA Fisheries.

7. Information and Education Committee Meeting: September 18, 2007, 9 
a.m. until 11 a.m.

    The Information and Education Committee will receive an update on 
outreach efforts for the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular 
Concern (HAPC) and Experimental Closed Area, review advisory panel 
comments and develop recommendations for outreach regarding marine 
protected areas, Limited Access Privilege Programs, the Council's 
Fishery Ecosystem Plan, and Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery 
Management Plan. The Committee will also receive a presentation on NOAA 
Fisheries Services' FishWatch Consumer Seafood Web site.

[[Page 45420]]

8. SEDAR Committee Meeting: September 18, 2007, 11 a.m. until 12 noon

    The SEDAR Committee will provide guidance to the Council 
representatives for the October SEDAR Steering Committee meeting.

9. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: September 18, 2007, 1:30 p.m. 
until 6 p.m. and September 19, 2007, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will review the results of black sea 
bass pot research and develop direction to staff for Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 16 addressing overfishing for gag grouper and vermilion 
snapper. The Committee will also develop recommendations for completing 
the public hearing draft of Snapper Grouper Amendment 15 and approve 
the amendment for public hearing.

10. Mackerel Committee Meeting: September 19, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 4 
p.m.

    The Mackerel Committee will review the framework document for 
changing the Atlantic Spanish Mackerel trip limit and approve the 
document for submission to the Secretary of Commerce for formal review. 
The Committee will also discuss geographical allocation of the 
commercial king mackerel quota.

11. Shrimp Committee Meeting: September 19, 2007, 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    The Shrimp Committee will review the analysis of options to be 
considered in Shrimp Amendment 7 (addressing rock shrimp permit issues) 
and provide guidance to staff.

12. Ecosystem-based Management Committee Meeting: September 20, 2007, 8 
a.m. until 12 noon

    The Ecosystem-based Management Committee will receive a update on 
the status of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan, presentations on Coral HAPCs 
and deepwater corals, and recommend management options to include in 
the Ecosystem Comprehensive Amendment. The Committee will also receive 
reports on Ocean Observing Systems and a recent alternative energy 
workshop.

13. Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program Committee Meeting: September 
20, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

    The LAP Program Committee will receive a presentation on the Gulf 
Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and updates 
concerning the LAP Program Workgroup.

14. Council Session: September 20, 2007, 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and 
September 21, 2007, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

Council Session: September 20, 2007, 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    From 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda, approve the June 2007 meeting minutes, elect a 
Chair and Vice-Chair, and make presentations.
    From 4 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., the Council will review Experimental 
Fishing Permit applications.
    From 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., the Council will receive a presentation 
on Amendment 2 to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Fishery Management Plan.
    From 4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report on 
Working Waterfronts.
    From 5:15 p.m. - 6 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Mackerel Committee and take action as appropriate.
    5:15 p.m. - Public Comment Session: Public comment regarding the 
Mackerel Framework Document addressing the Atlantic Spanish mackerel 
fishing trip limit.

Council Session: September 21, 2007, 8 a.m. - 12 noon.

    From 8 a.m. - 8:15 a.m., the Council will receive a NOAA General 
Counsel briefing on litigation issues (CLOSED SESSION).
    From 8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Snapper Grouper Committee and approve Amendment 15 for public 
hearing, approve alternatives for Amendment 16, and consider other 
Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    From 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Shrimp Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
LAP Program Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Ecosystem-based Management Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SEDAR Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Finance Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Advisory Panel Selection Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
SSC Selection Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the SOPPs Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Information and Education Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:45 a.m. - 12 noon, the Council will receive status reports 
from NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries' 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center, agency and liaison reports, and 
discuss other business including upcoming meetings.
    Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the 
subjects of formal Council action during this meeting. 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 action to address the emergency.
    Except for advertised (scheduled) public hearings and public 
comment, the times and sequence specified on this agenda are subject to 
change.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by September 12, 2007.

    Dated: August 9, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15886 Filed 8-13-07; 8:45 am]
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