[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 62487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25008]



[[Page 62487]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL34


Pacific 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 Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) ad hoc 
groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a 
work session, which is open to the public, to develop terms of 
reference (TOR) for proposals to change areas closed to bottom contact 
fishing gear and for modifications to groundfish Essential Fish Habitat 
(EFH) and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC).

DATES: The work session will be held Tuesday, December 9, 2008, from 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, December 10, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The work session will be held at the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council Office, Large Conference Room, 7700 NE Ambassador 
Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220-1384; telephone: (503) 820-2280.
    Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE 
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220-1384.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chuck Tracy, Staff Officer, 
Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (503) 820-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the work session is to 
develop TOR for proposed changes to areas closed to bottom contact gear 
and modifications to groundfish EFH and HAPC. The TOR will help guide 
prospective applicants in submitting proposals that are scientifically 
based and contain adequate information on which the Council can base a 
determination of merit. Recommendations for TOR are tentatively 
scheduled to be presented to the Council for approval at the March, 
2009 Council meeting in Seattle, WA.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda 
may come before the EFHRC for discussion, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal EFHRC action during this meeting. EFHRC action will 
be restricted to those issues specifically listed 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 EFHRC'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 Ms. Carolyn Porter at (503) 820-2280 at least 5 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: October 16, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25008 Filed 10-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S