[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65867-65868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26795]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC329


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS); notice of initiation of scoping process; notice of scoping 
meetings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) 
announces its intent to prepare an amendment (Amendment 15) to the 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and 
Butterfish (MSB) and to prepare an EIS to analyze the impacts of any 
proposed management measures. The Council is initiating a public 
process to determine the scope of alternatives to be addressed in the 
amendment and EIS. This amendment currently will address the following 
issue: Whether the Council should begin direct federal management of 
river herrings (alewife and/or blueback herring) and/or shads (American 
and/or hickory). Additional issues may be added depending on the 
outcome of the scoping process. NMFS and the Council are alerting the 
interested public of the commencement of the scoping process and 
providing for public participation in compliance with environmental 
documentation requirements.

DATES: Public comments on Amendment 15 scoping must be received no 
later than 11:59 p.m., eastern standard time, on December 5, 2012. 
Scoping hearings will be held on the following dates:
     Nov 14, 2012, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.: Internet Webinar: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/268451473; While anyone with internet 
access can join the webinar, there will also be a listening post at: 
Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd 
Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, (757) 247-2200.
     Nov 15, 2012, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.: Internet Webinar: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/625483785; While anyone with internet 
access can join the webinar, there will also be a listening post at: 
New York Marine Resources Bureau Headquarters; 205 North Belle Mead 
Rd., Suite 1, East Setauket, NY 11733, (631) 444-0430.
     Nov 19, 2012, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.: Congress Hall, 251 Beach Ave, 
Cape May, NJ 08204, 888-944-1816.
     Nov 20, 2012, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.: Radisson Hotel Providence 
Airport; 2081 Post Road; Warwick, RI 401-739-3000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on Amendment 15 may be sent by any of the 
following methods:
     Email to the following address: [email protected]. 
Include ``Scoping Comments on MSB 15'' in the subject;
     Mail to Chris Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, 
Dover, DE 19901. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Scoping Comments on 
MSB 15'' or
     Fax to Chris Moore, Ph.D., (302) 674-5399. Include 
``Scoping Comments on MSB 15'' in the fax.
    Requests for copies of the scoping document and other information 
should be directed to Chris Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, 
Dover, DE 19901, toll-free telephone: (877) 446-2362. The scoping 
document is also accessible via the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org/fmp/msb.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Moore, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Toll-free telephone: 
(877) 446-2362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this amendment is to consider 
measures for direct river herring and shad (RH/S) management by the 
Council. Currently, RH/S are managed by the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) but there are interactions with federal 
fisheries in federal waters. More direct management by the Council may 
help RH/S conservation efforts, which do not appear to have yet rebuilt 
many RH/S stocks. The amendment will consider whether the current 
management framework for river herring and shad is sufficient for 
conservation and management of these species and whether Federal 
management under the Magnuson-Stevens Act would address any 
deficiencies and/or inefficiencies. If management under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act can address those issues, the amendment will consider a 
range of measures for Federal involvement/management. More details on 
the topics addressed in this supplementary information section may be 
found in the Amendment 15 scoping document (see above for how to obtain 
scoping document).
    The Council will first gather information during the scoping 
period. This is the first and best opportunity for members of the 
public to raise concerns related to the scope of issues that will be 
considered in Amendment 15. The Council needs your input both to 
identify management issues and develop effective alternatives. Your 
comments early in the amendment development process will help us 
address issues of public concern in a thorough and appropriate manner. 
Comments can be made in writing, electronically, or during the scoping 
hearings as described above. If the Council decides to move forward 
with Amendment 15, the Council will develop a range of management 
alternatives to be considered and prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to analyze the impacts of the management alternatives 
being considered as required by the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA). Impacts may be direct, indirect, individual, or cumulative. A 
draft EIS will be distributed for public review. During a 45-day public 
comment period (which will also include public hearings) the public may 
comment on any aspect of the draft EIS. Following a review of the 
comments, the Council will then choose preferred management measures 
for submission with the Final EIS to the Secretary of Commerce for 
publishing of a proposed and then final rule, both of which have 
additional comment periods.
    Special Accommodations: The scoping hearings are accessible to 
people with physical disabilities. Requests for sign language 
interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Chris 
Moore, Ph.D. (see contact info above) at least 5 days prior to the 
meeting date. Please contact Jason Didden at [email protected] or (302) 
526-5254 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date if you would like to 
confirm that your computer is set up to access the webinar. The webinar 
works for most

[[Page 65868]]

computers, but sometimes there are technical problems with remote voice 
communication from online participants. In such cases, participants may 
still use a chat feature in the webinar to submit written comments or 
questions.

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

    Dated: October 26, 2012.
William D. Chappell,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26795 Filed 10-30-12; 8:45 am]
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