[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 18, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5425]



[[Page 14428]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 071121736-7619-01]
RIN 0648-AR78


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Experimental Permitting Process, 
Exempted Fishing Permits, and Scientific Research Activity

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS extends the public comment period on the proposed rule 
containing revised definitions for certain regulatory terms, and 
procedural and technical changes to the regulations addressing 
scientific research activities, exempted fishing, and exempted 
educational activities under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act. NMFS has received a request to extend the comment 
period for the proposed rule beyond its current 90-day comment period. 
The extension of the comment period for an additional 15 days is 
intended to ensure that NMFS provides adequate time for fishery 
management councils, stakeholders and members of the public to comment 
on the proposed revisions. The comment deadline is extended from March 
20, 2008, to April 4, 2008.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-AR78, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov
     Fax: 301-713-1193, Attn: Jason Blackburn
     Mail: Alan Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable 
Fisheries, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
Attn: EFP Comments
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic 
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or 
Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Blackburn at 301-713-2341, or by 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule that covers NMFS' proposed 
revisions to the regulations addressing scientific research activities, 
exempted fishing, and exempted educational activities under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act was published 
on December 21, 2007 (72 FR 72657), with a comment period ending date 
of March 20, 2008. After receiving several requests to extend the 
comment period, NMFS has decided to extend it for an additional 15 days 
through April 4, 2008.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 13, 2008.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5425 Filed 3-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S