[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 121 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 35372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14066]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XI53


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Committee, in July, 2008, to 
consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to 
the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, One 
Thurber Street, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 734-9600; fax: 
(401) 734-9700
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The committee will review public scoping 
comments on Amendment 15 and begin development of alternatives. The 
scoping issues included: implementation of annual catch limits (ACLs); 
measures to rationalize the limited access scallop fishery; revision of 
the overfishing definition; modifications to specific aspects of the 
general category limited entry program implemented by Amendment 11; 
measures to address essential fish habitat (EFH) closed areas in the 
Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) if the EFH Omnibus Amendment is 
delayed; alternatives to improve the research set-aside program and 
modifying the start date of the scallop fishing year. Other issues may 
also be discussed based on input from scoping. The committee will also 
review Section 7 Endangered Species Act Consultation for the Scallop 
FMP (Biological Opinion) and discuss potential management implications. 
The committee may discuss other topics at their discretion.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues 
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action 
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: June 18, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-14066 Filed 6-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S