[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 21809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09435]



[[Page 21809]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF403


New England Fishery Management Council, Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice; Public hearings, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council will hold six 
public hearings and one webinar to solicit comments on the Omnibus Deep 
Sea Coral Amendment.

DATES: These meetings will be held May 22-26, 2017. For specific dates 
and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Written Public Comments must 
be received on or before 5 p.m. e.s.t., June 5, 2017; comments received 
prior to May 25, 2017 will be reviewed by the Habitat Committee at 
their May 30, 2017 committee meeting.

ADDRESSES: The hearing document is accessible electronically via the 
internet http://www.nefmc.org/library/omnibus-deep-sea-coral-amendment 
or by request to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England 
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 
01950; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
    Meeting addresses: The meetings will be held in Montauk, NY, 
Narragansett, RI, New Bedford, MA, Gloucester, MA, Portsmouth, NH, 
Ellsworth, ME and via webinar. For specific locations, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Public Comments: Written public hearing comments on the Omnibus 
Deep Sea Coral Amendment may be sent by any of the following methods: 
Mail to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery 
Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; 
email to the following address: [email protected] or fax to (978) 465-
3116.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New 
England Fishery Management Council; phone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The New England Fishery Management Council is conducting seven 
public hearings to solicit comments on the alternatives under 
consideration in the Draft Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment. More 
specifically, the Council is seeking feedback from the public on which 
alternatives should be selected and why. These hearings are being held 
by the Council in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act. The Council plans to take final action on the amendment during its 
June 20-22, 2017 meeting in Portland, ME.
    Deep-sea corals are fragile, slow-growing organisms that play an 
important role in the marine ecosystem and are vulnerable to various 
types of disturbance of the seafloor. The alternatives are designed to 
reduce the potential impacts of fishing activity on corals, as allowed 
under the Council's discretionary authority. Restrictions on bottom 
tending gear are being considered, with possible exemptions for some or 
all types of fixed gears. Potential coral management areas are located 
off the eastern Maine coast, in Jordan Basin and Georges Basin in the 
offshore Gulf of Maine, and in the canyon and slope region south of 
Georges Bank. The hearings are being held by the Council in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act.
    During each hearing, Council staff will brief the public on the 
draft amendment before receiving comments. The hearings will begin 
promptly at the time indicated above. If all attendees who wish to do 
so have provided their comments prior to the end time indicated, the 
hearing may conclude early. To the extent possible, the Council may 
extend hearings beyond the end time indicated above to accommodate all 
attendees who wish to speak.

Public Hearing, Dates and Locations

1. Monday, May 22, 2017, 6-8 p.m., Montauk Playhouse Community Center, 
240 Edgemere Street, Montauk, NY 11954
2. Tuesday, May 23, 2017, 1-3 p.m., University of Rhode Island Bay 
Campus, Corless Auditorium, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 
02882
3. Tuesday, May 23, 2017, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Fairfield Inn and Suites, 185 
MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740
4. Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 1-3 p.m., Mass. Dept. Marine Fisheries, 
Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Field Station, 30 Emerson Ave., 
Gloucester, MA 01930
5. Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sheraton Harborside, 250 
Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
6. Thursday, May 25, 2017, 5-7 p.m., Ellsworth High School, 299 State 
Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
7. Friday, May 26, 2017, 1-2:30 p.m., Via Webinar, Register to listen 
and participate, https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/98257139389273345

Special Accommodations

    The meetings are accessible to people with physical disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to this meeting date.

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

    Dated: May 4, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09435 Filed 5-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P