Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery, Scoping Process, 64941-64943 [E6-18682]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 214 / Monday, November 6, 2006 / Notices
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requested, must submit a written
request to the Assistant Secretary for
Import Administration, Room B–099,
within 30 days of the date of publication
of this notice. Requests should contain:
(1) The party’s name, address and
telephone number; (2) the number of
participants; and (3) a list of issues to be
discussed. See 19 CFR 351.310(c).
Issues raised in the hearing will be
limited to those raised in the respective
case briefs. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309,
interested parties may submit written
comments in response to these
preliminary results. Unless the time
period is extended by the Department,
case briefs are to be submitted within 30
days after the date of publication of this
notice, and rebuttal briefs, limited to
arguments raised in case briefs, are to be
submitted no later than five days after
the time limit for filing case briefs.
Parties who submit arguments in this
proceeding are requested to submit with
the argument: (1) A statement of the
issues, and (2) a brief summary of the
argument. Case and rebuttal briefs must
be served on interested parties, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.303(f).
The Department will issue the final
results of this administrative review,
including the results of its analysis of
issues raised in any written briefs, not
later than 120 days after the date of
publication of this notice, pursuant to
section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.
Assessment Rates
The Department shall determine, and
CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on
all appropriate entries, in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.212. The Department
intends to issue assessment instructions
to CBP 15 days after the date of
publication of the final results of
review.
With respect to Agro Dutch, we
intend to calculate importer-specific
assessment rates for the subject
merchandise by aggregating the
dumping margins calculated for all of
the U.S. sales examined and dividing
this amount by the total entered value
of the sales examined. We will instruct
CBP to assess antidumping duties on all
appropriate entries covered by this
review if any importer-specific
assessment rate calculated in the final
results of this review is above de
minimis (i.e., at or above 0.50 percent).
See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1). The final
results of this review shall be the basis
for the assessment of antidumping
duties on entries of merchandise
covered by the final results of this
review and for future deposits of
estimated duties, where applicable. The
Department clarified its ‘‘automatic
assessment’’ regulation on May 6, 2003.
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See Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Proceedings: Assessment of
Antidumping Duties, 68 FR 23954 (May
6, 2003) (Assessment Policy Notice).
This clarification will apply to entries of
subject merchandise during the period
of review produced by companies
included in these final results of
reviews for which the reviewed
companies did not know that the
merchandise it sold to the intermediary
(e.g., a reseller, trading company, or
exporter) was destined for the United
States. In such instances, we will
instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed
entries at the all-others rate if there is no
rate for the intermediary involved in the
transaction. See Assessment Policy
Notice for a full discussion of this
clarification.
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective for all
shipments of the subject merchandise
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the
publication date of the final results of
this administrative review, as provided
by section 751(a)(1) of the Act: (1) The
cash deposit rate for the reviewed
company will be that established in the
final results of this review, except if the
rate is less than 0.50 percent, and
therefore, de minimis within the
meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1), in
which case the cash deposit rate will be
zero; (2) for previously reviewed or
investigated companies not listed above,
the cash deposit rate will continue to be
the company-specific rate published for
the most recent period; (3) if the
exporter is not a firm covered in this
review, a prior review, or the original
less-than-fair-value (LTFV)
investigation, but the manufacturer is,
the cash deposit rate will be the rate
established for the most recent period
for the manufacturer of the
merchandise; and (4) the cash deposit
rate for all other manufacturers or
exporters will continue to be 11.30
percent, the ‘‘All Others’’ rate made
effective by the LTFV investigation (see
Notice of Amendment of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value and Antidumping Duty
Order: Certain Preserved Mushrooms
From India, 64 FR 8311 (February 19,
1999)). These requirements, when
imposed, shall remain in effect until
publication of the final results of the
next administrative review.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a
preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding
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64941
the reimbursement of antidumping
duties prior to liquidation of the
relevant entries during this review
period. Failure to comply with this
requirement could result in the
Secretary’s presumption that
reimbursement of antidumping duties
occurred and the subsequent assessment
of double antidumping duties.
This administrative review and notice
are published in accordance with
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.221.
Dated: October 31, 2006.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E6–18669 Filed 11–3–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 102706B]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery,
Scoping Process
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact
statement (SEIS) and hold scoping
meetings; request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council)
announces its intent to prepare, in
cooperation with NMFS, a supplemental
environmental impact statement (SEIS)
to assess the potential effects on the
human environment of alternative
measures for managing the Northeast
(NE) multispecies fishery pursuant to
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
This notice announces a public process
for determining the scope of issues to be
addressed and for identifying the
significant issues relating to
management of the multispecies fishery.
The Council will use the scoping
process and the SEIS to develop
Amendment 16 to the NE Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
DATES: The Council will discuss and
take scoping comments at public
meetings in November and December
2006 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
Written scoping comments must be
received on or before 5 p.m., local time,
December 29, 2006.
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 214 / Monday, November 6, 2006 / Notices
Purpose of Action
Amendment 13 established a
requirement and a process for a midpoint review of rebuilding progress and
adjustments to management measures as
necessary to continue rebuilding. As
part of this process, each groundfish
stock will be assessed in 2008. Stock
size and fishing mortality rates will be
estimated, and status determination
criteria will be reviewed. This
information will be used to determine
adjustments to Amendment 13 measures
that are necessary to continue
rebuilding and achieve optimum yield
from the fishery. Amendment 16 to the
FMP would implement any revisions to
management measures necessary to
continue the rebuilding programs
adopted by Amendment 13.
Amendment 16 and its accompanying
SEIS will be focused on the adjustments
that are necessary to comply with the
mid-term adjustment procedures of the
FMP, to meet the fishing mortality rate
objectives of the FMP, and to ensure
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul that all groundfish stocks rebuild.
J. Howard, Executive Director, New
In addition to considering
England Fishery Management Council,
adjustments to the current effort control
(978) 465–0492.
management system as modified by
Amendment 13 and subsequent
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
frameworks, the Council may consider
Background
other management systems that may
replace or supplement the existing effort
The NE Multispecies FMP manages
controls. Members of the public are
cod (Gadus morhua), haddock
encouraged to submit proposals for
(Melanogrammus aeglefinus), white
alternative management schemes during
hake (Urophycis tenuis), pollock
the scoping process. The Council will
(Pollachius virens), Acadian redfish
evaluate proposals received and may
(Sebastes fasciatus), yellowtail flounder develop them into alternatives that will
(Limanda ferrugineus), winter flounder
be considered in Amendment 16. To
(Psuedopleuronectes americanus),
guide in the development of proposals,
witch flounder (Glyptocephalus
the Council will specify in the scoping
cynoglossus), American plaice
document the types of issues that must
(Hippoglossoides platessoides),
be addressed for a proposal to warrant
windowpane flounder (Scopthalmus
further consideration. A workshop will
aquosos), Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus be held at a Groundfish Oversight
hippoglossus), and ocean pout
Committee meeting on November 3,
(Macrozoarces americanus). These
2006, to develop advice on these
species are managed as 19 individual
standards. The Council will use the
stocks. The Council has managed these
information from the workshop to
species as a unit under the FMP since
establish the standards at the Council
1985. Management measures include
meeting on November 14 - 16, 2006.
limited and open access permit
This information should be available
categories, limits on fishing time
shortly after the Council meeting.
through days-at-sea (DAS) allocations,
Proposals should be as fully developed
gear requirements, closed areas, and
as possible when submitted in order to
retention limits. These measures have
facilitate a prompt review and decision
been adopted through a series of
on whether to include the proposal in
amendments and adjustments to the
the amendment. Because of the limited
original FMP. The most recent
time available for the development of
amendment (Amendment 13,
this amendment, the Council may not
implemented on May 1, 2004)
consider alternative management
established rebuilding programs for 12
schemes that are suggested outside of
stocks. For most of these overfished
the scoping process.
stocks, the goal is to rebuild to a
The Northeast Fisheries Science
biomass that will support maximum
Center is planning to assess stocks of
wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) and cusk
sustainable yield by 2014.
The Council will take
scoping comments at public meetings in
Ellsworth, Maine; Portland, Maine;
Portsmouth, New Hampshire;
Gloucester, Massachusetts; Fairhaven,
Massachusetts; South Kingstown, Rhode
Island; Riverhead, New York; and New
York City, New York. For specific
locations and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. Written comments and
requests for copies of the scoping
document and other information should
be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive
Director, New England Fishery
Management Council, 50 Water Street,
Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950,
telephone (978) 465–0492. Comments
may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to
(978) 465–3116 or via e-mail to
comments@nefmc.org. Include in the
subject line the following identifier:
‘‘Groundfish Amendment 16 Scoping
Comments.’’ The scoping document is/
will be accessible electronically via the
Internet at https://www.nefmc.org.
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ADDRESSES:
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(Brosme brosme) in 2007. The Council
will consider the results of those
assessments when developing this
action and may adopt measures
necessary to manage those stocks.
Measures Under Consideration
The Council may consider several
types of management measures to
continue the multispecies rebuilding
program including, but not limited to:
• Changes to the current DAS
management system, such as
modifications to DAS allocation and
use, changes to gear requirements,
modified possession limits, additions or
changes to seasonal and year-round
closed areas, or changes to special
management programs;
• Recreational fishery measures such
as seasons, bag limits, or area closures;
• Total allowable catch management
systems;
• Area management systems;
• Individual quota systems, including
individual transferable quota systems;
and
• Sector management systems.
The types of measures under
consideration include those described
in Amendment 13 as well as alternative
management systems that may be
suggested during this scoping process.
Information on specific topics for which
the Council is soliciting comment is in
the scoping document, which will be
available on the Council web site
(https://www.nefmc.org) on or about
November 15.
Scoping Process
It is the Council’s and NMFS’s intent
to encourage all persons affected by or
otherwise interested in the management
of NE multispecies to participate in the
process to determine the scope and
significance of issues to be analyzed in
the SEIS and amendment. All such
persons are encouraged to submit
written comments (see ADDRESSES) or
comment at one of the scoping
meetings. Persons submitting written
comments may wish to address the
specific measures introduced in the
previous section. The scope of the SEIS
consists of the range of actions,
alternatives, and impacts to be
considered. Alternatives may include
the following: not amending the FMP
(taking no action); developing an
amendment that contains management
measures such as those discussed in this
notice; or other reasonable courses of
action. Impacts may be direct, indirect,
or cumulative.
This scoping process also will
identify and eliminate from further
detailed analysis issues that are not
significant. After the scoping process is
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 214 / Monday, November 6, 2006 / Notices
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
completed, the Council will proceed
with the development of Amendment 16
and the Council will prepare an SEIS to
analyze the impacts of the range of
alternatives considered in the
amendment.
To ensure that the fishery continues
to meet the Amendment 13 rebuilding
objectives, any revisions to management
measures included in Amendment 16
need to be implemented by May 1, 2009.
In order to incorporate the latest catch
and survey data into the proposed
adjustment, the assessment of
groundfish stocks scheduled for 2008
(the Groundfish Assessment and Review
Meeting, or GARM) cannot be
conducted until August 2008. Therefore,
because of the lengthy process involved
with evaluating the impacts of any
changes to the FMP, the Council and
NMFS propose to start the
environmental review process as early
as possible. As such, it will be necessary
to develop and publish a draft SEIS for
Amendment 16 using the best available
data prior to the August 2008 GARM.
The intent is to fully evaluate an
adequate range of alternatives in the
draft SEIS to project the full range of
likely impacts resulting from any
proposed adjustments to management
measures. The Council will then hold
public hearings to receive comments on
the draft amendment and on the
analysis of its impacts presented in the
draft SEIS. Once the GARM has
evaluated the status of groundfish stocks
in August 2008, that information will be
incorporated into the final SEIS to
further refine the precision of the
impact analysis presented in the draft
SEIS.
Scoping Hearing Schedule
The Council will discuss and take
scoping comments at the
followingpublic meetings:
1. Monday, November 27, 2006, from
5 – 8 p.m.; Holiday Inn, US Route 1&3,
Ellsworth, ME 04605; telephone:(207)
667–9341.
2. Tuesday, November 28, 2006, from
5 – 8 p.m.; Eastland Park Hotel, 157
High Street, Portland, ME 04101;
telephone: (207) 775–5411.
3. Wednesday, November 29, 2006,
from 5 – 8 p.m.; Urban Forestry Center,
45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH;
telephone:(603) 431–6774.
4. Thursday, November 30, 2006, from
5 – 8 p.m.; Massachusetts Department of
Marine Fisheries Annisquam River
Station, 30 Emerson Avenue,
Gloucester, MA 01950; (978) 282–0308.
5. Tuesday, December 5, 2006, from 5
– 8 p.m.; Best Western East End, 1830
Route 25, Riverhead, NY 11901;
telephone: (631) 369–2200.
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17:31 Nov 03, 2006
Jkt 211001
6. Wednesday, December 6, 2006,
from 5 – 8 p.m.; Holiday Inn South
Kingstown, 3009 Tower Hill Road, So.
Kingstown, RI 02674; telephone: (401)
789–1051.
7. Thursday, December 7, 2006, from
5 – 8 p.m.; Holiday Inn Express, 110
Middle Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719;
telephone: (508) 997–1281.
8. Wednesday, December 12, 2006,
from 7 – 9 p.m.; Skyline Hotel,725 10th
Avenue, New York, NY 10019;
telephone: (212) 586–3400.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are accessible to
people with physical disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Paul J. Howard
(see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 30, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6–18682 Filed 11–3–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 103006C]
Marine Mammals; File No. 373–1868
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
permit.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the Point Reyes Bird Observatory
(PRBO) Conservation Science (Dr.
William J. Sydeman, Responsible Party),
3820 Cypress Drive, # 11 Petaluma, CA
94954 has applied in due form for a
permit for scientific research on
pinnipeds in California.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail
comments on the new applications,
amendment requests must be received
on or before December 6, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The applications and
related documents are available for
review upon written request or by
appointment in the following office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach,
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64943
CA 90802–4213; phone (562)980–4001;
fax (562)980–4018.
Written comments or requests for a
public hearing on these applications
should be mailed to the Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division,
F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should
set forth the specific reasons why a
hearing on this particular request would
be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by
facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided
the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy
submitted by mail and postmarked no
later than the closing date of the
comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by
e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include
in the subject line of the e-mail
comment the relevant document
identifier: File No. 373–1868.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Sloan or Dr. Tammy Adams,
(301)713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations
governing the taking and importing of
marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The PRBO proposes to study and
monitor population trends, health, and
ecology of pinnipeds in California,
specifically at the Farallon Islands,
Point Reyes Peninsula, Ano Nuevo
Island, San Francisco Bay, and in
Sonoma County near the Russian River.
Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii)
and northern elephant seals (Mirounga
angustirostris) are the primary species of
study; researchers will also remotely
survey California sea lions (Zalophus
californianus), Steller sea lions
(Eumetopias jubatus), and northern fur
seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and their
responses to changes in the
environment. By monitoring these
species, managers will be alerted to
changes in the condition of pinniped
populations and of the coastal marine
ecosystems of central California.
Research and monitoring activities will
include (1) capture and handling of
harbor seals and northern elephant seals
in order to dye-mark, attach flipper tags
and scientific instruments, and collect
tissue samples, (2) surveys and photodocumentation of all species in order to
quantify numbers by sex and age class
annually and seasonally, and (3)
incidental Level B disturbances related
to research activities. An estimated
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64941-64943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18682]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 102706B]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast
Multispecies Fishery, Scoping Process
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact
statement (SEIS) and hold scoping meetings; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) announces
its intent to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS, a supplemental
environmental impact statement (SEIS) to assess the potential effects
on the human environment of alternative measures for managing the
Northeast (NE) multispecies fishery pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This notice announces a public
process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for
identifying the significant issues relating to management of the
multispecies fishery. The Council will use the scoping process and the
SEIS to develop Amendment 16 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management
Plan (FMP).
DATES: The Council will discuss and take scoping comments at public
meetings in November and December 2006 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
Written scoping comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., local
time, December 29, 2006.
[[Page 64942]]
ADDRESSES: The Council will take scoping comments at public meetings in
Ellsworth, Maine; Portland, Maine; Portsmouth, New Hampshire;
Gloucester, Massachusetts; Fairhaven, Massachusetts; South Kingstown,
Rhode Island; Riverhead, New York; and New York City, New York. For
specific locations and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Written
comments and requests for copies of the scoping document and other
information should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2,
Newburyport, MA 01950, telephone (978) 465-0492. Comments may also be
sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 465-3116 or via e-mail to
comments@nefmc.org. Include in the subject line the following
identifier: ``Groundfish Amendment 16 Scoping Comments.'' The scoping
document is/will be accessible electronically via the Internet at
https://www.nefmc.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council, (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The NE Multispecies FMP manages cod (Gadus morhua), haddock
(Melanogrammus aeglefinus), white hake (Urophycis tenuis), pollock
(Pollachius virens), Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus), yellowtail
flounder (Limanda ferrugineus), winter flounder (Psuedopleuronectes
americanus), witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), American
plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), windowpane flounder (Scopthalmus
aquosos), Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), and ocean pout
(Macrozoarces americanus). These species are managed as 19 individual
stocks. The Council has managed these species as a unit under the FMP
since 1985. Management measures include limited and open access permit
categories, limits on fishing time through days-at-sea (DAS)
allocations, gear requirements, closed areas, and retention limits.
These measures have been adopted through a series of amendments and
adjustments to the original FMP. The most recent amendment (Amendment
13, implemented on May 1, 2004) established rebuilding programs for 12
stocks. For most of these overfished stocks, the goal is to rebuild to
a biomass that will support maximum sustainable yield by 2014.
Purpose of Action
Amendment 13 established a requirement and a process for a mid-
point review of rebuilding progress and adjustments to management
measures as necessary to continue rebuilding. As part of this process,
each groundfish stock will be assessed in 2008. Stock size and fishing
mortality rates will be estimated, and status determination criteria
will be reviewed. This information will be used to determine
adjustments to Amendment 13 measures that are necessary to continue
rebuilding and achieve optimum yield from the fishery. Amendment 16 to
the FMP would implement any revisions to management measures necessary
to continue the rebuilding programs adopted by Amendment 13. Amendment
16 and its accompanying SEIS will be focused on the adjustments that
are necessary to comply with the mid-term adjustment procedures of the
FMP, to meet the fishing mortality rate objectives of the FMP, and to
ensure that all groundfish stocks rebuild.
In addition to considering adjustments to the current effort
control management system as modified by Amendment 13 and subsequent
frameworks, the Council may consider other management systems that may
replace or supplement the existing effort controls. Members of the
public are encouraged to submit proposals for alternative management
schemes during the scoping process. The Council will evaluate proposals
received and may develop them into alternatives that will be considered
in Amendment 16. To guide in the development of proposals, the Council
will specify in the scoping document the types of issues that must be
addressed for a proposal to warrant further consideration. A workshop
will be held at a Groundfish Oversight Committee meeting on November 3,
2006, to develop advice on these standards. The Council will use the
information from the workshop to establish the standards at the Council
meeting on November 14 - 16, 2006. This information should be available
shortly after the Council meeting. Proposals should be as fully
developed as possible when submitted in order to facilitate a prompt
review and decision on whether to include the proposal in the
amendment. Because of the limited time available for the development of
this amendment, the Council may not consider alternative management
schemes that are suggested outside of the scoping process.
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center is planning to assess stocks
of wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) and cusk (Brosme brosme) in 2007. The
Council will consider the results of those assessments when developing
this action and may adopt measures necessary to manage those stocks.
Measures Under Consideration
The Council may consider several types of management measures to
continue the multispecies rebuilding program including, but not limited
to:
Changes to the current DAS management system, such as
modifications to DAS allocation and use, changes to gear requirements,
modified possession limits, additions or changes to seasonal and year-
round closed areas, or changes to special management programs;
Recreational fishery measures such as seasons, bag limits,
or area closures;
Total allowable catch management systems;
Area management systems;
Individual quota systems, including individual
transferable quota systems; and
Sector management systems.
The types of measures under consideration include those described
in Amendment 13 as well as alternative management systems that may be
suggested during this scoping process. Information on specific topics
for which the Council is soliciting comment is in the scoping document,
which will be available on the Council web site (https://www.nefmc.org)
on or about November 15.
Scoping Process
It is the Council's and NMFS's intent to encourage all persons
affected by or otherwise interested in the management of NE
multispecies to participate in the process to determine the scope and
significance of issues to be analyzed in the SEIS and amendment. All
such persons are encouraged to submit written comments (see ADDRESSES)
or comment at one of the scoping meetings. Persons submitting written
comments may wish to address the specific measures introduced in the
previous section. The scope of the SEIS consists of the range of
actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered. Alternatives may
include the following: not amending the FMP (taking no action);
developing an amendment that contains management measures such as those
discussed in this notice; or other reasonable courses of action.
Impacts may be direct, indirect, or cumulative.
This scoping process also will identify and eliminate from further
detailed analysis issues that are not significant. After the scoping
process is
[[Page 64943]]
completed, the Council will proceed with the development of Amendment
16 and the Council will prepare an SEIS to analyze the impacts of the
range of alternatives considered in the amendment.
To ensure that the fishery continues to meet the Amendment 13
rebuilding objectives, any revisions to management measures included in
Amendment 16 need to be implemented by May 1, 2009. In order to
incorporate the latest catch and survey data into the proposed
adjustment, the assessment of groundfish stocks scheduled for 2008 (the
Groundfish Assessment and Review Meeting, or GARM) cannot be conducted
until August 2008. Therefore, because of the lengthy process involved
with evaluating the impacts of any changes to the FMP, the Council and
NMFS propose to start the environmental review process as early as
possible. As such, it will be necessary to develop and publish a draft
SEIS for Amendment 16 using the best available data prior to the August
2008 GARM. The intent is to fully evaluate an adequate range of
alternatives in the draft SEIS to project the full range of likely
impacts resulting from any proposed adjustments to management measures.
The Council will then hold public hearings to receive comments on the
draft amendment and on the analysis of its impacts presented in the
draft SEIS. Once the GARM has evaluated the status of groundfish stocks
in August 2008, that information will be incorporated into the final
SEIS to further refine the precision of the impact analysis presented
in the draft SEIS.
Scoping Hearing Schedule
The Council will discuss and take scoping comments at the
followingpublic meetings:
1. Monday, November 27, 2006, from 5 - 8 p.m.; Holiday Inn, US
Route 1&3, Ellsworth, ME 04605; telephone:(207) 667-9341.
2. Tuesday, November 28, 2006, from 5 - 8 p.m.; Eastland Park
Hotel, 157 High Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone: (207) 775-5411.
3. Wednesday, November 29, 2006, from 5 - 8 p.m.; Urban Forestry
Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH; telephone:(603) 431-6774.
4. Thursday, November 30, 2006, from 5 - 8 p.m.; Massachusetts
Department of Marine Fisheries Annisquam River Station, 30 Emerson
Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01950; (978) 282-0308.
5. Tuesday, December 5, 2006, from 5 - 8 p.m.; Best Western East
End, 1830 Route 25, Riverhead, NY 11901; telephone: (631) 369-2200.
6. Wednesday, December 6, 2006, from 5 - 8 p.m.; Holiday Inn South
Kingstown, 3009 Tower Hill Road, So. Kingstown, RI 02674; telephone:
(401) 789-1051.
7. Thursday, December 7, 2006, from 5 - 8 p.m.; Holiday Inn
Express, 110 Middle Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719; telephone: (508) 997-
1281.
8. Wednesday, December 12, 2006, from 7 - 9 p.m.; Skyline Hotel,725
10th Avenue, New York, NY 10019; telephone: (212) 586-3400.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days
prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 30, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18682 Filed 11-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
