[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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