[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 27223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12307]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

RIN 0648-BF86


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 6 to the 
Tilefish Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council has submitted Amendment 6 to the Tilefish Fishery Management 
Plan for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce. We are 
requesting comments from the public on the amendment. Amendment 6 would 
establish management measures for the blueline tilefish fishery north 
of the Virginia/North Carolina border, including: Permitting, 
recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; trip limits for both the 
commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery; and the process for 
setting specifications and annual catch limits. In addition, this 
action would set 2017 harvest limits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0025, 
by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0025, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope: ``Comments on 
Blueline Tilefish Amendment.''
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are part of the 
public record and will generally be posted to www.regulations.gov 
without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic 
comments will be accepted via Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Copies of Amendment 6, and of the draft Environmental Assessment 
and preliminary Regulatory Impact Review (EA/RIR), are available from 
the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, 
Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. The EA/RIR is also accessible via the 
Internet at: www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
978-281-9341.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments on 
Amendment 6 and its incorporated documents through the end of the 
comment period stated in this notice of availability. We will publish a 
proposed rule in the Federal Register that would implement the 
amendment's management measures for additional public comment, 
following NMFS's evaluation of the proposed rule under the procedures 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Public 
comments on the proposed rule must be received by the end of the 
comment period provided in this notice of availability to be considered 
in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. All comments 
received by August 14, 2017, whether specifically directed to the 
amendment or the proposed rule will be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on the amendment. To be considered, comments must 
be received by close of business on the last day of the comment period. 
Comments received after that date will not be considered in the 
decision to approve or disapprove Amendment 6, including those 
postmarked or otherwise transmitted by the last day of the comment 
period.
    The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council developed this 
amendment to establish management measures for the blueline tilefish 
fishery north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. This proposed 
action would establish the management framework for this fishery 
including: Permitting, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; trip 
limits for both the commercial and recreational sectors of the fishery; 
and the process for setting specifications and annual catch limits. In 
addition, this action would set harvest quotas and commercial and 
recreational management measures for the 2017 fishing year. Additional 
details of the proposed measures are available in the amendment 
document and the proposed rule.

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

    Dated: June 9, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12307 Filed 6-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P