[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35349-35350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14460]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 070719377-2189-01]
RIN 0648-AV81


Confidentiality of Information; Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act

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

ACTION: Proposed rule, extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is extending

[[Page 35350]]

the date by which public comments are due concerning proposed 
regulations to revise existing regulations governing the 
confidentiality of information submitted in compliance with any 
requirement or regulation under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act or MSA). NMFS 
published the proposed rule on May 23, 2012 and announced that the 
public comment period would end on June 22, 2012. With this notice, 
NMFS is extending the comment period to August 21, 2012.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the proposed rule 
published on May 23, 2012 (77 FR 30486), is extended to August 21, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by FDMS 
Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2012-0030, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To 
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a 
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0030 in the keyword search. 
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and 
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Karl Moline, NMFS, 
Fisheries Statistics Division F/ST1, Room 12441, 1315 East West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
     Fax: (301) 713-1875; Attn: Karl Moline
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the 
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will 
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you 
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Moline at 301-427-8225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On May 23, 2012, NMFS published a proposed rule at 77 FR 30486 that 
would revise existing regulations on the handling of information 
required to be maintained as confidential under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act. The purposes of the proposed rule is to make both substantive and 
non-substantive changes necessary to comply with the MSA as amended by 
the 2006 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Reauthorization Act (MSRA) and the 1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act 
(SFA). In addition, the rule proposes to address some significant 
issues that concern NMFS' application of the MSA confidentiality 
provision to requests for information.
    NMFS received several requests from fishery management councils and 
representatives of fishing and environmental organizations to extend 
the comment period on the proposed rule in order to allow the councils 
and other organizations to review the proposed rule and solicit 
feedback from their members. We have considered these requests and 
conclude that a 60-day extension is appropriate.

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: June 7, 2012.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14460 Filed 6-12-12; 8:45 am]
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