[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 56 (Friday, March 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15138-15139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5778]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XG51


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (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 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene 
public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held April 7, 2008 through April 11, 2008. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 4914 
Constitution Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Council

Thursday, April 10, 2008

    1 p.m.--The Council meeting will begin with a review of the agenda 
and minutes.
    1:15 p.m.-1:20 p.m.--The Council will approve the members of the 
Outreach and Education Committee.
    1:20 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--The Council will receive public testimony on: 
(a) exempted fishing permits (EFPs), if any; (b) Final Action on Reef 
Fish Amendment 30B; and (c) Generic Aquaculture Amendment. An Open 
Public Comment Period regarding any fishery issue of concern will be 
immediately following completion of public testimony for a maximum of 1 
hour. People wishing to speak before the Council should complete a 
public comment card prior to the comment period.

Friday, April 11, 2008

    The Council will review and discuss reports from the previous three 
days' committee meetings as follows:
    8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Reef Fish Management;
    10:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.--Ad Hoc Allocation;
    10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.--Shrimp Management;
    11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel/Red Drum;
    11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.--Habitat Protection;
    11:45 a.m.-12 noon--Budget/Personnel;
    12 noon-12:15 p.m.--AP Selection;
    12:15 p.m.-12:30 p.m.--SSC Selection;
    12:30 p.m.-12:45 p.m.--Operator Permits;
    12:45 p.m.-1 p.m.--The Council will review regulations for Reef 
Fish Amendment 30B.
    1 p.m.-1:30 p.m.--The Council will discuss Other Business item.
    1:30 p.m.--The Council will conclude its meeting.

Committees

Monday, April 7, 2008--ALL CLOSED SESSIONS

    1 p.m.-3 p.m.--CLOSED SESSION--Budget/Personnel Committee will 
interview and select a Staff Biologist. It will review the Executive 
Director's position description, rating sheet, and interview questions.
    3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.--CLOSED SESSION--AP Selection Committee will 
review attendance and appoint new nominees to the AP.
    4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--CLOSED SESSION--SSC Selection Committee will 
review attendance and appoint new nominees to the SSC.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

    8 a.m.-12 noon & 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--The Reef Fish Management 
Committee will meet to discuss Approval of Public Hearing Draft of Reef 
Fish Amendment 29; Final Action on Reef Fish Amendment 30B; and a 
Report of Ad Hoc Recreational Red Snapper AP Meeting.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

    8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--The Ad Hoc Allocation Committee will meet to 
discuss Organizational Issues.
    10:30 a.m.-12 noon--The Operator Permits Committee will discuss an 
Operator Permits Options Paper.
    1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.--The Shrimp Management Committee will meet to 
discuss the Shrimp Vessel Effort; AP recommendations; and receive a 
Report on Electronic Logbooks for Shrimp Fishery.
    3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--The Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel/Red Drum Management 
Committee will meet to discuss the Generic Aquaculture Amendment.
    5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.--Informal Questions and Answer Session.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

    8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--The Habitat Protection Committee will discuss

[[Page 15139]]

Proposed Management Action for Flowers Garden Banks and receive an 
Update on LNG Facilities.
    10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--CLOSED SESSIONS--Council will discuss AP and 
SSC Selections and Budget/Personnel Issues.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the Council and Committees for discussion, in accordance with 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during these meetings. Actions of the Council and Committees will be 
restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agendas 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 
action to address the emergency. The established times for addressing 
items on the agenda may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the 
timely completion of discussion relevant to the agenda items. In order 
to further allow for such adjustments and completion of all items on 
the agenda, the meeting may be extended from, or completed prior to the 
date established in this notice.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina Trezza at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: March 18, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5778 Filed 3-20-08; 8:45 am]
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