[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 29595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12117]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


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 Habitat Oversight Committee 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 Friday, June 8, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Clarion Hotel, 1230 Congress 
Street, Portland, ME 04102; telephone: (207) 774-561; fax: (207) 871-
0510.
    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: There are three major topics for Habitat 
Committee consideration at this meeting. First, the Committee will 
recommend updated boundaries for some of the potential adverse effects 
minimization areas that will be forwarded to a joint process with the 
Groundfish Committee (these measures are part of Omnibus Essential Fish 
Habitat Amendment 2). Updated boundary recommendations from the PDT 
were discussed at the April Committee meeting, but decision-making was 
deferred. Second, the Committee will consider (1) a draft Memorandum of 
Understanding with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council related 
to coordination of broad-scale coral management efforts and (2) the 
possibility of splitting coral alternatives out of Omnibus EFH 
Amendment 2 and into a separate management action. Coral alternatives 
were approved for analysis by the Council on April 26. Finally, the PDT 
will provide an update to the Committee about (1) the development of 
Dedicated Habitat Research Areas and (2) analysis of the coral 
measures.
    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: May 15, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12117 Filed 5-17-12; 8:45 am]
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