[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18356-18357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07790]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD860


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC); Public 
Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a series of public hearings pertaining to Amendment 36 to the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the South Atlantic. 
The amendment addresses the establishment of Spawning Special 
Management Zones (SMZs) to protect important spawning habitat for 
species in the snapper grouper management unit. The public is asked to 
provide input on areas for consideration as well as other actions in 
the amendment.

DATES: The public hearings will be held via webinar April 20, 2015 
through April 23, 2015. A public hearing for Snapper Grouper Amendment 
36 will also be held in Key West, FL in conjunction with the SAFMC 
meeting on June 10, 2015 beginning at 5:30 p.m. With the exception of 
the public hearing in Key West, FL, all public hearings will be 
conducted via webinar accessible via the internet from the Council's 
Web site at www.safmc.net. Hearings held via webinar will begin at 6 
p.m. Registration for each webinar is required. Registration 
information will be posted on the SAFMC Web site at www.safmc.net as it 
becomes available. Any graphics, including maps, drawings or images to 
be shown during public comment should be emailed to Mike Collins at 
[email protected] prior to the public hearing. Webinar registrants 
may test/confirm their computer set up for the webinar one hour prior 
to each hearing and contact Mike Collins at (843) 763-1050 to address 
any questions regarding webinar setup. Local comment stations will also 
be provided at the locations listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates, times and 
locations of the hearings.
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, SAFMC; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; 
fax: (843) 769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Public hearing dates and local comment station addresses:
    1. April 20, 2015--Local Comment Stations: SC Department of Natural 
Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute Auditorium, 217 Fort 
Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29422-2559; telephone: (843) 953-9300 and 
Holiday Inn Express, 722 Highway 17, Little River, SC 29566; phone: 
(843) 281-9400.
    2. April 21, 2015--Local Comment Station: NC Division of Marine 
Fisheries, Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead 
City, NC 28557; telephone: (252) 726-7021.
    3. April 22, 2015--Local Comment Station: Coastal Resources 
Division, GA Department of Natural Resources, One Conservation Way, 
Brunswick, GA 31528-8687; telephone: (912) 264-7218 and Richmond Hill 
Fish Hatchery, 110 Hatercry Drive, Richmond Hill, GA 31324; telephone: 
(912) 756-3691.
    4. April 23, 2015--Local Comment Station: Hampton Inn Daytona 
Speedway, 1715 W. International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 
32114; telephone: (386) 257-4030.
    5. June 10, 2015--A public hearing will be held in conjunction with 
the SAFMC meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m.; Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 
3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040; telephone: (305) 293-1818.

Public Hearing: Amendment 36 to the Snapper Grouper FMP

    This amendment includes an approach to identify and protect 
important spawning habitat for snapper grouper species through the 
designation of Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs). The amendment 
would modify the current procedure for establishing SMZs to include 
protection of natural bottom important for spawning, allowing for the 
designation of

[[Page 18357]]

``Spawning SMZs''. The amendment would also modify the framework 
procedure to allow modifications of and/or additional Spawning SMZs 
through the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South 
Atlantic. The amendment includes sample sites for Spawning SMZ sites 
and allows for the boundary of the existing Charleston Deep Artificial 
Reef MPA off the coast of South Carolina to be moved to accommodate 
recently deployed artificial reef material. Fishing for or possession 
of snapper grouper species would be prohibited within the Spawning 
SMZs, but fishermen would be allowed to troll for pelagic species 
(e.g., mackerels, billfish, tunas, etc.). The amendment also includes 
alternatives for transit and anchoring provisions.
    Written comments may be directed to Bob Mahood, Executive Director, 
SAFMC (see ADDRESSES) or via email to: [email protected]. Note 
that email comments should specify ``Snapper Grouper Amendment 36'' in 
the Subject Line of the email. Public hearing comments for Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 36 will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on May 1, 2015. A 
copy of the public hearing document will be posted on the Council's Web 
site at www.safmc.net when it becomes available.
    During the webinars, Council staff will present an overview of the 
amendment and will be available for informal discussions and to answer 
questions via webinar. Members of the public will have an opportunity 
to go on record to record their comments for consideration by the 
Council. Area Council representatives will be present at the local 
comment stations.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the 
Council office (see ADDRESSES) 3 days prior to the hearing.

    Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are 
subject to change.


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

    Dated: April 1, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07790 Filed 4-3-15; 8:45 am]
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