[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11129-11130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5183]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XU91


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

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

ACTION:  Supplemental Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental 
assessment (EA); request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) 
announces its intention to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS, an EA in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess 
potential effects on the human environment of alternative measures to 
address the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) requirements for annual catch limits (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 supplemental notice is to alert the interested public of the 
Council's intent to change the level of NEPA analysis from an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to an EA. In addition, this 
supplement announces an opportunity for the public to comment on the 
change.

DATES:  Written comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., EST, on 
March 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments may be sent by any of the following 
methods:
     E-mail to the following address: [email protected];
     Mail or hand deliver to Daniel T. Furlong, Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State 
Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. Mark the outside of the envelope 
``Omnibus Amendment: National Standard 1 Requirements Comments''; or
     Fax to (302) 674-5399.
    Questions about this action may be directed to the Council office 
at the previously provided address, or by request to the Council by 
telephone (302) 674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Daniel T. Furlong, Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, Room 800 North State Street, Suite 201, 
Dover, DE 19901, (telephone 302-674-2331).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 24, 2009, the Council announced its 
intention to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS, an EIS in accordance 
with NEPA to assess potential effects on the human environment of 
alternative measures to address the new Magnuson-Stevens Act 
requirements for ACLs and AMs (74 FR 12314). The Council has been in 
the process of developing an Omnibus Amendment to the FMPs for Atlantic 
mackerel, butterfish, Atlantic bluefish, spiny dogfish, summer 
flounder, scup, black sea bass, tilefish, surfclams, and ocean quahogs 
to address ACL and AM requirements since 2008.
    During the development that has occurred to date for the Omnibus 
Amendment, three public scoping hearings have been conducted, and the 
Council has conducted numerous Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT) 
Omnibus Amendment Committee, and full Council meetings, wherein 
approaches and potential alternatives have been discussed. These 
discussions have included public participation. The development process

[[Page 11130]]

has made clear that the action of the Omnibus Amendment will be 
confined to a description of process and the preparation of an EIS no 
longer appears to be necessary. Rather, the Council will develop an EA; 
if, during the development of the EA or at such time that the analysis 
indicates a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) statement cannot 
be supported, the Council will re-initiate development of an EIS. A 
public hearing draft of the Omnibus Amendment is expected to be 
available mid-2010, and the Council will conduct several public 
hearings on the draft once it is completed.

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

    Dated: March 5, 2010.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5183 Filed 3-9-10; 8:45 am]
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