[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31807-31808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12505]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 700

RIN 0648-AV53


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Proposed Environmental Review 
Process for Fishery Management Actions; Meeting Announcements

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces three public meetings to solicit comments on 
the proposed rule that would revise and update the NMFS procedures for 
complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the 
context of fishery management actions developed pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- 
Stevens Act).

DATES: The meetings will be held on June 25 in Washington, D.C. from 
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time; on July 15 in St. Petersburg, FL 
from 6 pm to 8 p.m. Eastern time; and on July 24 in Seattle, WA from 
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Pacific time.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the following locations:
    Council on Environmental Quality, 722 Jackson Place, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503; telephone: 202 395 5750.
    National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; telephone: 727-824-5301.
    Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center, 17620 International 
Boulevard, Seattle, WA 98188; telephone: 206-244-4800.

[[Page 31808]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Leathery at (301) 713-2239 or 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 14, 2008, NMFS published a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register (73 FR 27998) that would revise and update 
the NMFS procedures for complying with the NEPA in the context of 
fishery management actions developed pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act. These regulations are modeled on the Council of Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the procedural provisions of 
NEPA, 40 CFR parts 1500-1508, with specific revisions to the existing 
NMFS procedures made pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSRA). The procedures 
are designed to conform to the timelines for review and approval of 
fishery management plans and plan amendments developed pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Further, these procedures are intended to 
integrate applicable environmental analytical procedures, including the 
timeframes for public input, with the procedure for the preparation and 
dissemination of fishery management plans, plan amendments, and other 
actions taken or approved pursuant to the MSA in order to provide for 
timely, clear, and concise analysis that is useful to decisionmakers 
and the public, reduce extraneous paperwork, and effectively involve 
the public. NMFS is holding these public meeting to solicit public 
comments on the proposed rule.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other aids, and requests for 
special accommodations or needs should be directed to Steve Leathery at 
(301) 713-2239 at least 5 business days in advance of the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1854(i)

    Dated: May 30, 2008.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-12505 Filed 6-3-08; 8:45 am]
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