[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3699-3700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1042]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE89


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South 
Atlantic; Amendment 18

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

ACTION:  Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS); notice of scoping meetings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) 
intends to prepare a DEIS to assess impacts on the natural and human 
environment of management measures proposed in its draft Amendment 18 
to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources 
of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Region (FMP).

DATES:  Written comments on the scope of the issues to be addressed in 
the DEIS will be accepted until February 22, 2008, at 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES:  Comments may be sent by any of the following methods, mail: 
Kate Michie, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, 
St. Petersburg, FL 33701; phone: 727-824-5305; fax: 727-824-5308; e-
mail: [email protected]. Scoping documents are available from the 
Council's Web site at www.safmc.net.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, 4055 Faber Place 
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405; phone: 843-571-4366, toll 
free 1-866-SAFMC-10;fax: 843-769-4520; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mackerel fishery of the Gulf of Mexico 
and South Atlantic region in the exclusive economic zone is managed 
under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council and implemented by 
NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    Amendment 18 would allocate the Atlantic migratory group king 
mackerel commercial quota by region to prevent early closure in one 
state from negatively impacting fishing in another state. Given the 
level of commercial catch and the potential change in the commercial 
quota after the 2008 Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 
assessment, it is possible the commercial quota would be harvested 
before the end of the fishing year. If the quota is reached by October 
or November, 2008, and a closure is necessary, this could have large, 
negative impacts to fishermen in North Carolina.
    This NOI is intended to inform the public of the preparation of a 
DEIS in support of Amendment 18 to the FMP to establish regional 
allocations for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel. Options 
suggested thus far to allocate the quota by region include: state by 
state quotas; semi-annual quotas (i.e., March 1 through September 30 
and October 1 through the end of February, or March 1 through August 31 
and September 1 through the end of February); and regional quotas 
(i.e., for Georgia and Florida, and for North Carolina and South 
Carolina).
    Following consideration of public scoping comments, the Council 
plans to begin preparation of the draft Mackerel Amendment 18/DEIS 
after the 2008 SEDAR stock assessment has been completed. The Council 
and its Scientific and Statistical Committee will review the draft 
Mackerel Amendment 18/DEIS in 2009. If the Council approves the 
document, public review will take place in May 2009.
    A Federal Register notice will announce the availability of the 
DEIS associated with this amendment, as well as a 45-day public comment 
period, pursuant to regulations issued by the Council on Environmental 
Quality for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and to 
NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6. The Council will consider public 
comments received on the DEIS in developing the final environmental 
impact statement (FEIS), and before voting to submit the final 
amendment to NMFS for Secretarial review, approval, and implementation. 
NMFS will announce in the Federal Register the availability of the 
final amendment and FEIS for public review during the Secretarial 
review period, and will consider all public comments prior to final 
agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the final 
amendment.

Scoping Meetings, Times, and Locations

    All meetings will begin at 2 p.m. In addition to Amendment 18, the 
Council intends to scope three other amendments at this series of 
meetings. Separate NOIs have been prepared for each amendment. The 
meetings will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for information packets or for sign language interpretation or 
other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council (see ADDRESSES).
    Monday, February 4, 2008 - The Mutiny Hotel, 2951 South Bayshore 
Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133; phone: 305-441-2100.
    Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 
Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920; phone: 321-784-0000.
    Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - Quality Inn, 125 Venure Drive, 
Brunswick, GA 31525; phone: 912-265-4600.

[[Page 3700]]

    Thursday, February 7, 2008 - Sheraton New Bern, 100 Middle Street, 
New Bern, NC 28560; phone: 252-638-3585.
    Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 
International Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418; phone: 843-308-
9331.

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

    Dated: January 16, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1042 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am]
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