[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59349-59350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23768]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 190909-0024]
RIN 0648-BI77


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Habitat Clam Dredge 
Exemption Framework

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 59350]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS reopens the comment period on the proposed rule to 
implement the New England Fishery Management Council's Habitat Clam 
Dredge Exemption Framework Adjustment to its Fishery Management Plans 
that published on September 17, 2019. The New England Fishery 
Management Council requested the comment period be reopened due to 
concerns that an error in a URL in the proposed rule may have prevented 
some individuals from submitting comments. Reopening the comment period 
through November 18, 2019, and including the correct URL should ensure 
all interested parties are able to comment on the proposed action.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published September 17, 
2019 (84 FR 48899), is reopened. Public comment must be received by 
November 18, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2019-0043, 
by either of the following methods:
    Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
    1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0043-0001.
    2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields.
    3. Enter or attach your comments.

--OR--

    Mail: Submit written comments to Michael Pentony, Regional 
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic 
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930. Mark the outside of the envelope: ``Comments on the Proposed 
Rule for Habitat Clam Dredge Exemption Framework.''
    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 for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 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).
    A draft environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared for this 
action that describes the proposed measures and other considered 
alternatives, as well as provides an analysis of the impacts of the 
proposed measures and alternatives. Copies of the specifications 
document, including the EA and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA), are available on request from Thomas Nies, Executive 
Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 
2, Newburyport, MA 01950. These documents are also accessible via the 
internet at www.nefmc.org.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to the Greater Atlantic Regional 
Fisheries Office and by email to [email protected] or fax to 
(202) 395-7285.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Great South Channel Habitat Management Area (GSC HMA) was 
created by the final rule to implement the New England Fishery 
Management Council's Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 (OHA2) (83 FR 15240; 
April 9, 2018). The use of all mobile bottom-tending fishing gear is 
prohibited in the GSC HMA. The GSC HMA contains complex benthic habitat 
that is important for juvenile cod and other fish species, and it is 
susceptible to the adverse impacts of fishing gear. The OHA2 included a 
1-year delay of the GSC HMA closure that allowed the surfclam fishery 
to continue fishing with hydraulic clam dredges in the GSC HMA. This 
delay was intended to give the Council time to determine if a long-term 
exemption is warranted. The 1-year delay ended on April 9, 2019, and 
the GSC HMA is now closed to all mobile bottom-tending fishing gear.
    On September 17, 2019, NMFS published in the Federal Register a 
proposed rule to implement the Clam Dredge Exemption Framework with a 
30-day comment period that closed on October 17, 2019 (84 FR 48899). 
Full details of the proposed measures are provided in the proposed rule 
and are not repeated here. Subsequently, NMFS received a request from 
the Council to extend the comment period due to concerns that an error 
in a URL in the proposed rule may have prevented some individuals from 
submitting comments. NMFS is reopening the comment period on the 
proposed rule through November 18, 2019, and is including the correct 
URL to ensure all interested partied have an opportunity to submit 
comments. Comments submitted during the prior comment period have been 
incorporated into the public record, and will be fully considered 
during the preparation of our final determination.

    Dated: October 25, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-23768 Filed 11-1-19; 8:45 am]
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