[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62044-62045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19400]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[Docket No. 230419-0106]
RIN 0648-BI10


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly 
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 15

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period; notice of 
rescheduled public hearing.

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SUMMARY: On May 5, 2023, NMFS published the proposed rule for Draft 
Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) regarding spatial fisheries management 
and electronic monitoring (EM) cost allocation. In the proposed rule, 
NMFS announced a comment period ending on September 15, 2023. Due to 
requests from multiple constituents, NMFS is extending the comment 
period for this action to October 2, 2023. Furthermore, NMFS canceled 
the Amendment 15 public hearing originally scheduled for August 29, 
2023, in Panama City, Florida due to Hurricane Idalia and reschedules 
it for September 18, 2023.

DATES: The comment period on Draft Amendment 15 to the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP has been extended from September 15, 2023, as 
published on May 5, 2023 (88 FR 29050), to October 2, 2023. The 
Amendment 15 public hearing originally scheduled on August 29, 2023 is 
rescheduled for September 18, 2023. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
the meeting date and time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, as published 
on May 5, 2023 (88 FR 29050), identified by ``NOAA-NMFS-2019-0035,'' by 
electronic submission. Submit all electronic public comments via the 
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2019-0035, click the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required 
fields, and enter or attach your 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 https://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). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted 
in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Written 
comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the 
collection-of-information requirements contained in this proposed rule 
may also be submitted via https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function.
    The location of the rescheduled Amendment 15 public hearing has not 
changed. The Amendment 15 public hearing will be held in Panama City, 
FL. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the meeting date and time.
    Copies of the supporting documents--including the draft 
environmental impact statement (DEIS), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), 
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), the Three-Year Review 
of the IBQ Program, and the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and amendments 
are available from the HMS website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species or by contacting Steve Durkee 
([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Durkee ([email protected]), 
Larry Redd, Jr. ([email protected]), or Karyl Brewster-Geisz 
([email protected]) at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 2023, NMFS published a proposed 
rule (88 FR 29050) for Draft Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS 
FMP. Draft Amendment 15 and its proposed rule considers changes to 
Atlantic HMS fishery management measures regarding four commercial 
longline spatial management areas and the administration and funding of 
the HMS pelagic longline EM program. In the proposed rule, NMFS 
announced a 133-day comment period ending on September 15, 2023. During 
the public comment period, NMFS received requests from multiple 
constituent groups, including the Billfish Foundation and Blue Water 
Fishermen's Association, to extend the public comment period. 
Constituents noted the complexity and length of the Amendment and the 
use of a spatial modeling tool, HMS Predictive Spatial Modeling 
(PRiSM), as reasons for needing more time to read, understand, and 
provide relevant public comments. Furthermore, forecasted impacts from 
Hurricane Idalia necessitated canceling a previously scheduled public 
hearing in Panama City, Florida. The extended comment period provides 
additional time to the hold the rescheduled hearing. After considering 
the request, NMFS has determined that it is reasonable to extend the 
comment period to allow sufficient time for HMS Advisory Panel members 
and other constituents to fully consider the analyses, data, and 
conclusions relevant to the proposed management measures and to allow 
additional opportunities for public comment. Therefore, NMFS is 
extending the comment period until October 2, 2023, for a total of 150 
days for public input on the proposed rule. Comments received during 
the comment period will assist NMFS in determining final management 
measures, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP.
    Due to forecasted impacts from Hurricane Idalia, NMFS canceled the 
Amendment 15 public hearing originally scheduled for August 29, 2023 in 
Panama City, FL. NMFS has rescheduled the Amendment 15 public hearing 
at the same location on September 18, 2023 (Table 1).

[[Page 62045]]



              Table 1--Dates, Times, and Locations of Upcoming Public Hearings and Conference Calls
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                                                                                       Street address/webinar
                Venue                                   Date/time                           information
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Public Hearing.......................  September 18, 2023, 5 p.m.-8 p.m            National Marine Fisheries
                                                                                    Service, Southeast Fisheries
                                                                                    Science Center, 3500 Delwood
                                                                                    Beach Road, Panama City, FL
                                                                                    32408.
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    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 1, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-19400 Filed 9-5-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P