[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86-87]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33615]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA910


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Joint Habitat/MPA/Ecosystem 
Committee and Advisory Panel (AP) in January 2012 to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 
Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for 
formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 9:30 
a.m.

[[Page 87]]


ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire 
Street, Mansfield, MA 02048; telephone: (508) 339-2200; fax: (508) 339-
1040.
    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 purpose of this meeting is for the 
Habitat Committee, Advisory Panel, and Plan Development Team (PDT) 
members, and other interested parties, to reach a common understanding 
of the Omnibus EFH Amendment management options as currently developed, 
and to provide suggestions on how to refine and improve upon those 
options.
    Agenda items include: (1) Management alternatives related to deep-
sea corals, and (2) management options related to adverse effects 
minimization, including recommendations about research areas. For each 
topic, Council staff, assisted by other PDT members as necessary, will 
present the range of options and answer questions, followed by 
roundtable discussion between Advisory Panel, Committee and PDT 
members. It is highly recommended that AP and other participants bring 
supporting information regarding suggested changes to management area 
boundaries and associated restrictions. Coral management will be 
discussed in the morning and adverse effects management and research 
areas will be addressed in the afternoon.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. 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 Act, provided the public has 
been notified of the Council'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 Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: December 27, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-33615 Filed 12-30-11; 8:45 am]
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