[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 60969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27720]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF916


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Habitat Committee to consider 
actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full 
Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 9:30 
a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton, 1 
Audubon Road, Wakefield, MA 01880; phone: (781) 245-9300.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda

    The Committee will review an updated coral management zone 
alternative including boundary changes and impacts analysis. They will 
then recommend final preferred deep-sea coral alternatives to the 
Council for action during its January 30-February 1 meeting, 
considering any recommendations from the Habitat Advisory Panel and 
Plan Development Team. Many aspects of the amendment have already been 
finalized. The remaining topic for consideration is a coral protection 
zone or zones along the continental slope, canyons, and seamounts south 
of Georges Bank. The Committee also plans to discuss next steps 
stemming from the anticipated January 4 NOAA Fisheries decision on 
Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. This will include a 
discussion of alternatives development for the trailing action to 
consider clam dredge exemption areas on Georges Bank and Nantucket 
Shoals, as well as a discussion about how the decision on the amendment 
might influence 2018 management priorities. They will also discuss any 
updates related to offshore wind, oil and gas development, and 
recommend specific projects for the Council to comment on during early 
2018. The Committee will hear a progress update on fishing impacts 
modeling efforts and receive updates on other habitat-related aspects 
of the Council's fishery management program, as needed, for example 
ongoing EFH consultation work. Other business may be discussed as 
necessary.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during these meetings. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising 
after publication of this notice that require emergency action under 
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has 
been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address 
the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Consistent with 16 
U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.

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

    Dated: December 20, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27720 Filed 12-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P