[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 84 (Monday, May 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20464-20465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10179]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XO02


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Atlantic Mackerel, 
Butterfish, Atlantic Bluefish, Spiny Dogfish, Summer Flounder, Scup, 
Black Sea Bass, Tilefish, Surfclam, and Ocean Quahog Annual Catch 
Limits and Accountability Measures Omnibus Amendment; Scoping Process

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

ACTION:  Notice; extension of comment period on intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY:  The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) extends 
the comment period on its intention to prepare, in cooperation with 
NMFS, an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
to assess potential effects on the human environment of alternative 
measures to address the new Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act requirements for annual catch limits

[[Page 20465]]

(ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) in an omnibus amendment to the 
fishery management plans (FMPs) for Atlantic mackerel, butterfish, 
Atlantic bluefish, spiny dogfish, summer flounder, scup, black sea 
bass, tilefish, surfclams, and ocean quahogs.
    This notice announces an extension of the comment period for the 
public process of determining the scope of issues to be addressed, and 
for identifying the significant issues related to the implementation of 
ACLs and AMs for these fisheries. This notice is to alert the 
interested public of additional time to prepare and submit comments 
during the scoping process.

DATES:  Written comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., EST, on 
May 31, 2009.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments may be sent by any of the following 
methods:
     E-mail to the following address: [email protected]v;
     Mail or hand deliver to Daniel T. Furlong, Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115 Federal 
Building, 300 South New Street, Dover, Delaware 19904-6790. Mark the 
outside of the envelope ``Omnibus Amendment: National Standard 1 
Requirements Scoping Comments''; or
     Fax to (302) 674-5399.
    The scoping document may also be obtained from the Council office 
at the previously provided address, or by request to the Council by 
telephone (302) 674-2331, or via the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org/mid-atlantic/comments/comments.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Daniel T. Furlong, Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, Room 2115 Federal Building, 300 S. New St., 
Dover, DE 19904-6790, (telephone 302-674-2331).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An initial notice of intent (NOI) to prepare 
an EIS and conduct public scoping meetings in support of ACL and AM 
development for an omnibus amendment to Council FMPs was published in 
the Federal Register on March 24, 2009 (74 FR 12314). The initial NOI 
contained detail on the topics to be addressed in the EIS and 
information on topics that may be considered for further development by 
the Council to address Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act ACL and AM requirements. Those details are not repeated 
here.
    The initial NOI indicated that public comment was to be submitted 
to the Council by 5:00 p.m., EST, May 15, 2009. This subsequent 
announcement extends the previously published public comment period to 
5 p.m., EST, on May 31, 2009. The extension is provided to permit the 
public and other interested parties additional time to develop and 
submit comments on the NOI.
    The initially announced scoping hearings contained in the March 24, 
2009, announcement remain unchanged.

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

    Dated: April 28, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-10179 Filed 5-1-09; 8:45 am]
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