[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 78063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30316]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD685


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
developing an Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (called ``Measures to Protect Deep Sea 
Corals from Impacts of Fishing Gear'') that will address minimizing the 
impacts of fishing gear on deep sea corals in the Mid-Atlantic.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until Wednesday, January 28, 
2015. Five public hearings will be held during this comment period. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent by any of the following 
methods:
     Email to the following address: [email protected]; Include 
``Deep Sea Corals Amendment Comments'' in the subject line;
     Mail or hand deliver to Dr. Christopher M. Moore, 
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North 
State Street, Suite 201, Dover, Delaware 19901. Mark the outside of the 
envelope ``Deep Sea Corals Amendment Comments''; or
     Fax to (302) 674-5399.
     A web form for submitting comments is available on the 
Council's Web site: http://www.mafmc.org/comments/deep-sea-corals. The 
draft Amendment document may be obtained from the Council office at the 
previously provided address, or by request to the Council by telephone 
(302) 674-2331, or via the Internet at http://www.mafmc.org.
     Comments may also be provided verbally at any of the five 
public hearings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, 
DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331. The Council's Web site, 
www.mafmc.org also has details on the meeting location, webinar listen-
in access, and public hearing materials.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Council has initiated an amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish FMP in order to minimize the impacts of fishing 
gear on deep sea corals in the mid-Atlantic. The Council has approved a 
range of alternatives proposing designation of deep sea coral 
protection zones, under the discretionary authority described in 
section 303(b)(2)(b) of the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). 
These zones would consist of areas where use of certain gear types (all 
bottom-tending gear or all mobile bottom-tending gear) would be 
restricted in order to protect deep sea corals from physical damage 
caused by fishing gear. Although this action is being taken through the 
Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP, these measures could 
apply to any federally regulated fishing activity occurring within the 
proposed areas in the Mid-Atlantic Council region. Additionally, this 
amendment proposes to modify the framework provisions of the FMP and 
require Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) for all Illex squid vessels. 
For more information and to access the public hearing document, visit: 
http://www.mafmc.org/actions/msb/am16.

Public Hearings

    The dates and locations of the public hearings are as follows.
     Monday, January 12, 2015, 7 p.m., Hyatt Place Long Island/
East End, 451 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901, telephone: (631) 
208-0002;
     Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 7 p.m., The Grand Hotel, 1045 
Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204, telephone: (609) 884-5611;
     Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 7 p.m., Washington Marriott 
at Metro Center, 775 12th Street NW., Washington, DC 20005, telephone: 
(202) 737-2200;
     Thursday, January 15, 2015, 7 p.m., Hilton Virginia Beach 
Oceanfront, 3001 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, VA 23451, telephone: 
(866) 460-7456;
     Friday, January 16, 2015, 7 p.m., Ocean Pines Library, 
11107 Cathell Rd., Berlin, MD 21811, telephone: (410) 208-4014;
     Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 7 p.m., Internet webinar, 
Connection information to be available at http://www.mafmc.org or by 
contacting the Council (see ADDRESSES above).

Special Accommodations

    These public hearings are accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should 
be directed to Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to 
the meeting date.

    Dated: December 22, 2014.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-30316 Filed 12-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P