[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56047-56048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22266]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

RIN 0648-BB02


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly 
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 9

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: On August 7, 2014, NMFS published a proposed rule on Draft 
Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to consider management measures in the 
smoothhound shark and other Atlantic shark fisheries. As described in 
the proposed rule, NMFS is proposing measures that would: (1) Establish 
an effective date for previously-adopted smoothhound shark management 
measures finalized in Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP 
(Amendment 3) and the 2011 HMS Trawl Rule; (2) increase the smoothhound 
shark annual quota previously finalized in Amendment 3 using updated 
landings data; (3) implement the smooth dogfish-specific provisions in 
the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-348) (SCA); (4) 
implement the Atlantic shark gillnet requirements of a 2012 Shark 
Biological Opinion; and (5) modify current regulations related to the 
use of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) by Atlantic shark fishermen 
using gillnet gear. In this notice, NMFS announces the dates and 
logistics for two public hearings and two webinars to provide the 
opportunity for public comment on measures described in the proposed 
rule and Draft Amendment 9.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until November 14, 2014. The 
public hearings and webinars will occur between September 24, 2014, and 
November 4, 2014. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and 
locations.

ADDRESSES: A total of two public hearings (Toms River, NJ, and Manteo, 
NC) and two webinars will be held to provide the opportunity for public 
comment. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.
    You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by ``NOAA-
NMFS-2014-0100,'' by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0100, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to: Margo Schulze-Haugen, 
NMFS/SF1, 1315 East West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Instructions: Please include the 
identifier NOAA-NMFS-2014-0100 when submitting comments. Comments sent 
by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received 
after the close of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. 
All comments received are a part of the public record and generally 
will be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without 
change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address), 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information 
submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. 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, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. 
Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects 
of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division by email to [email protected], or 
fax to 202-395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LeAnn Hogan, Steve Durkee or Alexis 
Jackson at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Atlantic sharks, including smoothhound 
sharks, are managed under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and the 
authority to issue regulations has been delegated from the Secretary to 
the Assistant Administrator (AA) for Fisheries, NOAA. Management of 
these species is described in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its 
amendments, which are implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. 
Copies of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and previous amendments are 
available from the Highly Migratory Species Management Division Web 
page at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/documents/fmp/index.html or 
from NMFS on request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    On August 7, 2014, NMFS published a proposed rule on Draft 
Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP to consider management 
measures in the smoothhound and shark fisheries (79 FR 46217). As 
described in the proposed rule, NMFS is proposing measures that would: 
(1) Establish an effective date for previously-adopted smoothhound 
shark management measures finalized in Amendment 3 (75 FR 30484) and 
the 2011 HMS Trawl Rule (76 FR 49368); (2) increase the smoothhound 
shark annual quota previously finalized in

[[Page 56048]]

Amendment 3 using updated landings data; (3) implement the smooth 
dogfish-specific provisions in the SCA; (4) implement the Atlantic 
shark gillnet requirements of a 2012 Shark Biological Opinion; and 5) 
modify current regulations related to the use of VMS by Atlantic shark 
fishermen using gillnet gear. The SCA requires that all sharks landed 
from Federal waters in the United States be landed with their fins 
naturally attached to the carcass, but included a limited exception for 
smooth dogfish.
    The call-in information for the webinar on September 24, 2014, is 
phone number 1-888-955-8966; participant pass code 5372339. 
Participants can join the webinar at https://noaa-meets.webex.com/noaa-meets/j.php?MTID=m1b1d0c19ceabce58e2e6b2d9b9f0169c. The call-in 
information for the webinar on November 4, 2014, is phone number 1-800-
779-8718; participant pass code 9570597. Participants can join the 
webinar at https://noaa-meets.webex.com/noaa-meets/j.php?MTID=mf7fa84affe231917855ca41093d776b5. Enter your name and email 
address, and click the ``JOIN'' button. Participants that have not used 
WebEx before will be prompted to download and run a plug-in program 
that will enable them to view the webinar. Presentation materials and 
other supporting information will be posted on the HMS Web site at: 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms.

Request for Comments

    A total of two public hearings and two webinars will be held to 
provide the opportunity for public comment on potential management 
measures. See Table 1 for dates, times and locations of public 
hearings. During the public comment period, NMFS also consulted with 
the HMS Advisory Panel on September 10-11, 2014 (79 FR 48125). There 
were opportunities for public comment during open sessions held each 
day of the Advisory Panel meeting. See the following Web site for 
additional details on the Advisory Panel meeting, including the agenda, 
presentations and outreach materials: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/advisory_panels/hms_ap/index.html. Once available, 
transcripts of the Advisory Panel meeting will be posted as well.
    NMFS has also requested time on the meeting agendas of the relevant 
Regional Fishery Management Councils (i.e., the Gulf of Mexico, South 
Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils), as well as 
with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Gulf 
States Marine Fisheries Commission, to present information on the 
proposed rule and Draft Amendment 9. Information on the date and time 
of those presentations will be provided on the appropriate council 
agendas.

     Table 1--Dates, Times and Locations of Upcoming Public Hearings
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    Date and time of public                           Location contact
            hearing             Meeting locations       information
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September 24, 2014--2 p.m.-4    Webinar..........  1-888-955-8966;
 p.m.                                               Participant pass
                                                    code: 5372339;
                                                    https://noaa-meets.webex.com/noaa-meets/j.php?MTID=m1b1d0c19ceabce58e2e6b2d9b9f0169c 169c.
October 7, 2014--5 p.m.-8 p.m.  Toms River, NJ...  Public Administration
                                                    Building,
                                                    Freeholders Meeting
                                                    Room 119, 101 Hooper
                                                    Ave., Toms River, NJ
                                                    08753, 732-929-2147.
October 15, 2014--5 p.m.-8 p.m  Manteo, NC.......  Dare Country
                                                    Administration
                                                    Building,
                                                    Commissioner's
                                                    Meeting Room, 954
                                                    Marshall C. Collins
                                                    Drive, Manteo, NC
                                                    27954, (252) 475-
                                                    5700.
November 4, 2014--2 p.m.-4 p.m  Webinar..........  1-800-779-8718;
                                                    Participant pass
                                                    code: 9570597;
                                                    https://noaa-meets.webex.com/noaa-meets/j.php?MTID=mf7fa84affe231917855ca41093d776b5 76b5.
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Public Hearing Code of Conduct

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at public 
hearings, webinars, and the HMS Advisory Panel meeting to conduct 
themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each meeting, a 
representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules (e.g., alcohol is 
prohibited from the meeting room; attendees will be called to give 
their comments in the order in which they registered to speak; each 
attendee will have an equal opportunity to speak; attendees may not 
interrupt one another; etc.). NMFS representative(s) will structure the 
meeting so that all attending members of the public will be able to 
comment, if they so choose, regardless of the controversial nature of 
the subject(s). Attendees are expected to respect the ground rules, and 
those that do not will be asked to leave the meeting.

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

    Dated: September 15, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-22266 Filed 9-17-14; 8:45 am]
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