[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 251 (Tuesday, December 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79673-79674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31309]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD041


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and scoping meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a series of public hearings and scoping meetings in January. 
Public hearings will be held on Amendment 29 to the Snapper Grouper 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and South Atlantic Coastal Migratory 
Pelagic Framework Action. Public scoping will be held on Regulatory 
Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP, Amendment 24 to the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagic FMP for the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and 
Amendment 26 to the Coastal Migratory FMP for the South Atlantic and 
Gulf of Mexico. The Council will hold a separate public scoping meeting 
via webinar for the Generic Accountability Measure and Dolphin 
Allocation Amendment. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Dates and Location: The series of public hearings and scoping 
meetings will be held January 21, 2014 through January 30, 2014. The 
hearings/scoping meetings will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Council 
staff will present an overview of the amendments and will be available 
for informal discussions and to answer questions. Members of the public 
will have an opportunity to go on record at any time during the meeting 
hours to record their comments on the public hearing and scoping topics 
for consideration by the Council. Local Council representatives will 
attend the meetings and take public comment. Written comments will be 
accepted from January 10, 2014 until 5 p.m. on February 3, 2014. In 
addition, the Council will hold a separate public scoping meeting via 
webinar on February 3, 2014 at 6 p.m. for the Generic Accountability 
Measure and Dolphin Allocation Amendment. Public comment will be 
accepted on the Generic Amendment from January 17, 2014 until 5 p.m. on 
February 14, 2014. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive 
Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place 
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405, or via email to: 
[email protected] for Amendment 29 to the Snapper Grouper 
FMP; [email protected] for the Joint Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment for 2014; 
[email protected] for Regulatory Amendment 16 to the 
Snapper Grouper FMP; [email protected] for Joint Amendment 
24 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP; [email protected] 
for Joint Amendment 26 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP; and to 
[email protected] for the Generic Accountability Measure 
and Dolphin Allocation Amendment.
    Copies of the public hearing and scoping documents are available by 
contacting Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North 
Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) 
SAFMC-10. Copies will also be available online at www.safmc.net as they 
become available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North 
Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571-4366; fax: (843) 769-4520; 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Public hearings: Amendment 29 to the Snapper Grouper FMP includes 
actions that would update the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control 
Rule to incorporate methodology for determining the ABC of ``Only 
Reliable Catch Stocks'' (ORCS), adjust the ABCs for the affected 
species, and establish management measures for gray triggerfish in 
federal waters of the South Atlantic region. The Joint South Atlantic 
and Gulf of Mexico Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment for 
2014 would adjust the annual catch limits (ACLs) for both South 
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Spanish mackerel stocks.
    Scoping: Regulatory Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP 
includes alternatives to remove or modify the current seasonal closure 
for black sea bass commercial pots. Joint Amendment 24 to the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics FMP includes actions to consider changes in the 
recreational and commercial allocation for coastal migratory pelagic 
stocks with current sector allocations. Joint Amendment 26 to the 
Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP will include actions to separate the 
commercial permits for king and Spanish mackerel into designated 
permits for each region.
    Scoping via webinar: The Generic Accountability Measure and Dolphin 
Allocation Amendment would adjust Accountability Measures for species 
in the snapper grouper management complex and golden crab. The 
amendment also addresses allocations for dolphin (mahi mahi). 
Information on how to register for the webinar will be posted on the 
Council's Web site at www.safmc.net.

Public Hearing and Scoping Meeting Schedule

    January 21, 2014--Bay Watch Resort & Conference Center, 2701 S. 
Ocean Boulevard, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582; Phone: 843-272-4600.
    January 22, 2014--DoubleTree by Hilton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront, 
2717 West Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512; Phone: 252-240-
1155.
    January 27, 2014--Key West Marriott Beachside, 3841 N. Roosevelt 
Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040; Phone: 305-296-8100.
    January 28, 2014--DoubleTree by Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, 2080 
N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931; Phone: 321-783-9222.
    January 29, 2014--Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk, 1515 Prudential 
Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207; Phone: 904-396-5100.
    January 30, 2014--Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, 175 Bourne 
Avenue, Pooler, GA 31322 Phone: 912-743-8888.
    February 3, 2014--Public scoping via webinar for the Generic 
Accountability Measure and Dolphin Allocation Amendment, beginning at 6 
p.m.

[[Page 79674]]

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
3 days prior to the start of each meeting.

    Dated: December 26, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-31309 Filed 12-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P