[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66844-66845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26852]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-AV00


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Essential Fish Habitat

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In order to provide additional opportunities for the public, 
the Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic and 
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, and other interested parties 
to comment on the Essential Fish Habitat Draft Amendment 1 to the 2006 
Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP), NMFS is extending the comment period for this action. On 
September 19, 2008, NMFS published a Notice of Availability (NOA) of a 
draft environmental impact statement and a fishery management plan 
amendment. Based on the September 19, 2008, notice, the comment period 
was scheduled to conclude on November 18, 2008. NMFS is now extending 
the comment period until December 12, 2008. Comments received by NMFS 
on the Draft Amendment will be used in the development of Final 
Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.

DATES: The deadline for comments on Draft Amendment 1 has been extended 
from November 18, 2008, as published on September 19, 2008 (73 FR 
54384), to 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action should be sent to Chris 
Rilling, Highly Migratory Species Management Division by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on EFH Amendment to 
HMS FMP.''
     Fax: 301-713-1917.
    Copies of Draft Amendment 1 to the Consolidated HMS FMP are 
available from the HMS website under ``Breaking News'' at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or by contacting Chris Rilling (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Rilling or Sari Kiraly by phone 
at (301) 713-2347 or by fax at (301) 713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801

[[Page 66845]]

et seq.) requires the identification and description of EFH in FMPs and 
the consideration of actions to ensure the conservation and enhancement 
of such habitat. The EFH regulatory guidelines (50 CFR 600.815) state 
that NMFS should periodically review and revise EFH, as warranted, 
based on available information.
    Draft Amendment 1 considers alternatives for revising EFH, 
designating a new Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) for bluefin 
tuna spawning areas in the Gulf of Mexico, and analyzes fishing impacts 
on EFH.
    Due to the timing of the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council's meeting at the beginning of December, NMFS is extending the 
comment period to provide additional opportunity for the South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, and other interested parties to comment on 
Draft Amendment 1. Copies of Draft Amendment 1 to the Consolidated HMS 
FMP are available for review (see ADDRESSES). NMFS anticipates 
completing this document and any related documents by the summer of 
2009.

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

    Dated: November 4, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-26852 Filed 11-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S