[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 165 (Thursday, August 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43676-43677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20686]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XR14


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scallop 
Advisory Panel and Scallop Oversight Committee will hold two meetings 
to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meetings will be held September 15 and 16, 2009. For 
specific dates and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 
Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401)732-6000; fax: 
(401)732-0261.
    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 advisory panel's and oversight committee 
meeting schedules and agendas are as follows:

1. Scallop Advisory Panel Meeting - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 
beginning at 9 a.m.

    The advisory panel will review Amendment 15 Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) alternatives and analyses. The primary goal of 
Scallop Amendment 15 is to consider alternatives to comply with new 
requirements of the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and 
Management Act, specifically implementing annual catch limits (ACLs). 
In addition, this action is considering alternatives to address excess 
capacity in the limited access scallop fishery with leasing and permit 
stacking alternatives. Lastly, this action is considering a number of 
alternatives to adjust several aspects of the overall scallop 
management program such as revising the overfishing definition, 
specific adjustments to the general category management program, a 
specific alternative to address EFH closures on Georges Bank, 
adjustments to the current scallop research set-aside program, and 
changing the scallop fishing year from March 1 to May 1. The panel will 
identify preferred alternatives for the Scallop Committee to consider. 
The advisory panel will also provide input on development of Framework 
21. Framework 21 includes specifications for the 2010 fishing year 
including days-at-sea (DAS) allocations, access area schedule and 
measures for the general category scallop fishery. Other measures under 
consideration are possible consideration of a new scallop access area 
closure in the Great South Channel, minor modifications to the observer 
set-aside program, and compliance with the recent Loggerhead sea turtle 
biological opinion.

2. Scallop Oversight Committee Meeting - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 
beginning at 9 a.m.

    The Committee will review Amendment 15 DEIS alternatives and 
analyses. The Committee will consider input from the Advisory Panel 
when identifying preferred alternatives for the Council to consider 
later in September. The Council is scheduled to approve the final range 
of alternatives and draft analyses included in Amendment 15 DEIS for 
public hearings at the September Council meeting. The committee will 
also continue development of alternatives for Framework 21. Framework 
21 includes specifications for the 2010 fishing year and other 
measures.

[[Page 43677]]

    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups 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

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES), at 
least 5 working days prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: August 24, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-20686 Filed 8-26-09; 8:45 am]
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