[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58086-58087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23151]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 120425420-2420-01]
RIN 0648-BB92


Fisheries of the United States; National Standard 1 Guidelines; 
Reopening of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of public 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reopening the comment period on the Advance Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) published on May 3, 2012, on potential 
adjustments to the National Standard 1 Guidelines, one of 10 national 
standards for fishery conservation and management contained in Section 
301 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. 
The current comment period is scheduled to end on September 15, 2012. 
Because of the importance of NS1 to U.S. fishery management and the 
complexity of the issues, NMFS feels reopening the comment period will 
provide for a fuller range of public input on the NS1 Guideline issues. 
The comment period will close on October 12, 2012.

DATES: The comment period for the ANPR was published on May 3, 2012 (77 
FR 26238), and closed on September 15, 2012. The comment period will 
reopen on September 16, 2012, and remain open through October 12, 2012.

[[Page 58087]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the referenced ANPR, identified 
by ``NOAA-NMFS-2012-0059'', by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. To 
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a 
comment'' icon, then enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2012-0059'' 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.
     Fax: 301-713-1193, Attn: Wesley Patrick.
     Mail: Wesley Patrick; National Marine Fisheries Service, 
NOAA; 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13436; Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    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 another 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are 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: Wesley Patrick, Fisheries Policy 
Analyst, National Marine Fisheries Service, 301-427-8566.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On May 3, 2012, NMFS published an ANPR (77 FR 26238) to provide 
background information and to request public comment on potential 
adjustments to the National Standard 1 Guidelines. The ANPR provides 
the public with a formal opportunity to comment on the specific ideas 
mentioned in the ANPR, as well as any additional ideas and solutions 
that could improve provisions of the National Standard 1 Guidelines.
    The comment period on the ANPR was originally scheduled to close on 
August 1, 2012. NMFS received a request from the Western Pacific 
Regional Fishery Management Council on behalf of all eight regional 
councils, to extend the comment period on the ANPR to September 15, 
2012. On July 3, 2012, NMFS published a Federal Register notice 
extending the comment period to September 15, 2012 (77 FR 39459). 
Because of the importance of NS1 to U.S. fishery management and the 
complexity of the issues, NMFS feels reopening the comment period will 
provide for a fuller range of public input on the NS1 Guideline issues. 
NMFS is reopening the comment period and establishing a comment period 
end date of October 12, 2012.

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

    Dated: September 14, 2012.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and 
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-23151 Filed 9-14-12; 4:15 pm]
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