[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 45734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18813]



[[Page 45734]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XT015


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
Fisheries; Pelagic Longline Fishery Management

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

ACTION:  Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY:  This notice announces an additional public hearing for a 
proposed rule NMFS published on July 12, 2019. The proposed rule would 
adjust regulatory measures that reduce bluefin tuna bycatch in the 
pelagic longline fishery for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS).

DATES: The public hearing will be held at the Greater Atlantic Regional 
Fisheries Office in Gloucester, MA on September 19, 2019, from 5 p.m.-7 
p.m. Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted on or before 
September 30, 2019. For the specific date, time, and address 
information see the ADDRESSES section of this document.

ADDRESSES: NMFS will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule to 
adjust regulatory measures that reduce bluefin tuna bycatch in the 
pelagic longline fishery for Atlantic HMS on September 19, 2019 from 5 
p.m.-7 p.m. at the following address: National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, Hearing Room A, 55 
Great Republic Dr, Gloucester, MA 01930.
    You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by NOAA-
NMFS-2018-0035, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035, click the 
``Comment Now'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach 
your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Craig Cockrell, NMFS/SF1, 
1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: Please include the identifier NOAA-NMFS-2018-0035 
when submitting comments. Comments sent by any other method, to any 
other address or individual, or received after the close of the comment 
period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part 
of the public record and generally will be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Cudney, 727-824-5399 or Craig 
Cockrell, 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Need for Additional Hearing

    On July 12, 2019, NMFS published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 33205) that would adjust regulatory measures put in 
place to reduce bluefin tuna bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery 
for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS). Specifically, the proposed 
measures address the Northeastern United States Closed Area, the Cape 
Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, and the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear 
Restricted Area as well as the weak hook requirement in the Gulf of 
Mexico.
    In the proposed rule, NMFS scheduled a hearing in Gloucester, MA on 
July 16, 2019. Recently, NMFS has received feedback from the public 
that there was not a sufficient amount of time (i.e., three business 
days) between publication of the proposed rule and the date of the 
public hearing in Gloucester, MA for news of the hearing to be shared 
across information networks to interested constituents. Therefore, NMFS 
is scheduling this additional hearing (see ADDRESSES) in Gloucester, MA 
to gather additional comment from the affected public in this area.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 27, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-18813 Filed 8-29-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P