[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 31032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13897]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH075


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.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold 4 public hearings, including one webinar hearing, to solicit 
public comments on the Draft Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog 
Excessive Shares Amendment to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

DATES: Written public comments must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. 
EST, September 14, 2019. The public hearings will be held between 
August 1, 2019 and September 10, 2019. For specific dates and times, 
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The hearing document is accessible electronically via the 
internet at: http://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment or by request to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State Street, Suite 201, 
Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331.
    Meeting addresses: The public hearings will be held in Cape May, 
NJ; Salisbury, MD; Warwick, RI. One additional hearing will be held by 
internet webinar. For specific locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.
    Public comments: Written comments may be sent by any of the 
following methods:
     Email to: [email protected]. Include ``SCOQ Excessive 
Shares Amendment Comments'' in the subject line.
     Via web form at: http://www.mafmc.org/comments/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment.
     Mail to: Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State Street, Suite 201, 
Dover, DE 19901. Mark the outside of the envelope ``SCOQ Excessive 
Shares Amendment Comments.''
     Fax to: (302) 674-5399.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 
526-5255.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
is preparing an amendment to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog 
FMP, known as the ``Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares 
Amendment.''
    This amendment considers a variety of approaches to ensure that no 
individual, corporation, or other entity acquires an excessive share of 
the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferrable quota 
(ITQ) privileges. In addition, this action includes measures to revise 
the process for specifying multi-year management measures, require 
periodic review of the excessive share cap level, and allow adjustments 
to be made under the frameworkable provisions of the FMP. Lastly, this 
action may also revise the management objectives for the Atlantic 
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog FMP.
    Additional information, including the amendment document are 
available at: http://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-excessive-shares-amendment.
    The Council will hold 4 public hearings on this amendment, during 
which Council staff will brief the public on the contents of the 
amendment document and alternatives under consideration, prior to 
opening the hearing for public comments. The hearings schedule is as 
follows:
    1. Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.: The Grand Hotel. 1045 
Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-5611.
    2. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.: Internet webinar. 
Connection information to be posted at www.mafmc.org/council-events 
prior to the meeting.
    3. Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.: LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 
300 S Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD 21801; telephone: (410) 546-4400.
    4. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.: Radisson Hotel 
Providence Airport. 2081 Post Rd., Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 
739-3000.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders at the Mid-
Atlantic Council Office (302) 526-5251 at least 5 days prior to the 
hearing date.

    Dated: June 25, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-13897 Filed 6-27-19; 8:45 am]
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