Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark Management Measures, 123-124 [E6-22513]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 1 / Wednesday, January 3, 2007 / Notices February 6, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, Atrium, 251 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The Guam Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will be held February 12–16, 2007. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at 5 p.m. at the Richardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex, 513 Marine Drive, Adelup, Guam. The Chesapeake Bay-Virginia National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation site visit will be held March 20–22, 2007. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Wilson House, Route 1208, Greate Road, Gloucester Point, Virginia. The Weeks Bay (Alabama) National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluation site visit will be held March 20–23, 2007. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at 6 p.m. at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Auditorium, 11300 U.S. Highway 98, Fairhope, Alabama. ADDRESSES: Copies of states’ most recent performance reports, as well as OCRM’s evaluation notification and supplemental information request letters to the states, are available upon request from OCRM. Written comments from interested parties regarding these Programs are encouraged and will be accepted until 15 days after the public meeting held for a Program. Please direct written comments to Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, N/ORM7, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. When the evaluation is completed, OCRM will place a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final Evaluation Findings. Notice is hereby given of the availability of the final evaluation findings for the Rhode Island, Michigan, Delaware, and Indiana Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) and the Delaware and Jobos Bay (Puerto Rico) National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs). Sections 312 and 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), as amended, require a continuing review of the performance of coastal states with respect to approval of rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:02 Dec 29, 2006 Jkt 211001 CMPs and the operation and management of NERRs. The States of Rhode Island, Michigan Delaware, and Indiana were found to be implementing and enforcing their federally approved coastal management programs, addressing the national coastal management objectives identified in CZMA Section 303(2)(A)– (K), and adhering to the programmatic terms of their financial assistance awards. The Delaware and Jobos Bay (Puerto Rico) NERRs were found to be adhering to programmatic requirements of the NERR System. Copies of these final evaluation findings may be obtained upon written request from: Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, N/ ORM7, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, or Ralph.Cantral@noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph Cantral, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 EastWest Highway, 10th Floor, N/ORM7, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, (301) 563–7118. Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419, Coastal Zone Management Program Administration. Dated: December 20, 2006. David M. Kennedy, Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E6–22485 Filed 12–29–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–08–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 082906A] Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark Management Measures National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public scoping meetings. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS published a notice of intent (NOI) to initiate an amendment to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) on November 7, 2006. Today’s notice announces the PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 123 availability of an issues and options presentation describing potential measures for inclusion in the forthcoming Amendment 2 to the Consolidated HMS FMP and provides details for seven scoping meetings to discuss and collect comments on the issues described in the presentation. Comments received on the issues and options presentation, in the scoping meetings, and on the NOI will assist NMFS in developing Amendment 2 to the Consolidated HMS FMP. These scoping meetings will be combined with public hearings to gather comment on a proposed rule to utilize the North Atlantic swordfish quota. Those hearings are announced today in an separate Federal Register document. DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in January of 2007. These meetings will be combined with public hearings being held for a proposed rule to enable a more thorough utilization of the U.S. North Atlantic swordfish quota. For specific dates and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. As published on November 7, 2006 (71 FR 65086), written comments on the issues and options presentation and the NOI must be received no later than February 5, 2007. ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be held in Madeira Beach, FL; Ft. Pierce, FL; Manteo, NC; Houma, LA; Gloucester, MA; Destin, FL; and, Manahawkin, NJ. For details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. As published on November 7, 2006 (71 FR 65086), written comments on the issues and options presentation and the NOI should be sent to Michael Clark, Highly Migratory Species Management Division by any of the following methods: • E-mail: SF1.082906A@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the following identifier: ‘‘I.D. 082906A’’. • Written: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Scoping Comments on Amendment 2 to HMS FMP.’’ • Fax: (301) 713–1917. For a copy of the stock assessments, please contact Michael Clark or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at (301) 713–2347. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Clark at (301) 713–2347 or Jackie Wilson at (404) 806–7622. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The HMS FMP is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. E:\FR\FM\03JAN1.SGM 03JAN1 124 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 1 / Wednesday, January 3, 2007 / Notices On November 7, 2006 (71 FR 65086), NMFS published a NOI that summarized the recent stock assessments conducted for large coastal, blacktip, sandbar, porbeagle, and dusky sharks. The NOI also described NMFS’ determination as to the status of these stocks based on the assessments. As a result of these assessments, NMFS needs to amend current shark management measures via an FMP amendment and anticipates completing this amendment and any related documents by January 1, 2008. The comment period on the NOI and the issues and options presentation ends on February 5, 2007. Request for Comments Seven scoping meetings will be held in January 2007 to provide the public an opportunity to comment on potential shark management measures to be included in the upcoming amendment to the Consolidated HMS FMP. These public scoping meetings will be held simultaneously with public hearings for a proposed rule to gather comments on management measures to fully utilize the North Atlantic swordfish quota. The time allotted to swordfish and shark management measures will be distributed accordingly to provide ample opportunity for the public to comment on both topics. Time may be split equally or additional time may be allotted to either shark or swordfish measures, as necessary, depending on the attendees’ primary interests. Scoping Meetings Code of Conduct The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the scoping meetings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each meeting, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules (e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and attendees should not interrupt one another). The NMFS representative will attempt to structure the meeting so that all attending members of the public will be able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of the controversial nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to respect the ground rules, and, if they do not, they will be asked to leave the meeting. Special Accommodations The meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Michael Clark (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Dated: December 26, 2006. Karyl K. Brewster-Geisz, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–22513 Filed 12–29–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE The public scoping meetings for this action will be conducted as follows: 1. Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 6–9 p.m. Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. 2. Thursday, January 18, 2007, 6–9 p.m. City of Madeira Beach, 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, Florida 33708. 3. Thursday, January 18, 2007, 6–9 p.m. Manahawkin Public Library, 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. 4. Tuesday, January 23, 2007, 6–9 p.m. Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Avenue, Destin, FL 32541. 5. Thursday, January 25, 2007, 6–9 p.m. Bayou Black Recreational Center, 3688 Southdown Mandalay Road, Houma, LA 70360. 6. Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 6–9 p.m. Fort Pierce Library, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. 7. Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 6–9 p.m. Manteo Town Hall, 407 Budleigh Street, Manteo, NC 27954. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:02 Dec 29, 2006 Jkt 211001 [I.D. 121306A] Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Repair of the South Jetty at the Mouth of the Columbia River, Clatsop County, Oregon National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; Proposed authorization for a small take authorization; request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Portland District for an authorization to take small numbers of Steller sea lions, California sea lions, and Pacific harbor seals, incidental to repair work on the South Jetty at the Mouth of the Columbia River (MCR) in Clatsop County, Oregon. As a result of PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 this request, NMFS is proposing to issue a 1–year incidental take authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals by Level B harassment incidental to this activity. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on ACOE’s application and NMFS’ proposal to issue an authorization to ACOE to incidentally take, by harassment, small numbers of these species of marine mammals for a period of 1 year. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than February 2, 2007. ADDRESSES: Comments on the application should be addressed to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3225, or by telephoning the contact listed here. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is PR1.121306A@noaa.gov. Comments sent via e-mail, including all attachments, must not exceed a 10– megabyte file size. A copy of the application and an Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by ACOE may be viewed at https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm, or by writing to this address or by telephoning one of the contacts listed here. Other supporting documents related to this proposed project can be viewed at ACOE’s Web page at https:// www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/jetty/ cms/documents.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Guan, NMFS, (301)713–2289, ext 137, or Bridgette Lohrman, NMFS Oregon State Habitat Office, (503)230– 5422. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. An authorization shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the E:\FR\FM\03JAN1.SGM 03JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 123-124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22513]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082906A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark 
Management Measures

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public scoping meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS published a notice of intent (NOI) to initiate an 
amendment to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) on November 7, 2006. Today's notice announces the 
availability of an issues and options presentation describing potential 
measures for inclusion in the forthcoming Amendment 2 to the 
Consolidated HMS FMP and provides details for seven scoping meetings to 
discuss and collect comments on the issues described in the 
presentation. Comments received on the issues and options presentation, 
in the scoping meetings, and on the NOI will assist NMFS in developing 
Amendment 2 to the Consolidated HMS FMP. These scoping meetings will be 
combined with public hearings to gather comment on a proposed rule to 
utilize the North Atlantic swordfish quota. Those hearings are 
announced today in an separate Federal Register document.

DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in January of 2007. These 
meetings will be combined with public hearings being held for a 
proposed rule to enable a more thorough utilization of the U.S. North 
Atlantic swordfish quota. For specific dates and times, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    As published on November 7, 2006 (71 FR 65086), written comments on 
the issues and options presentation and the NOI must be received no 
later than February 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be held in Madeira Beach, FL; Ft. 
Pierce, FL; Manteo, NC; Houma, LA; Gloucester, MA; Destin, FL; and, 
Manahawkin, NJ. For details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    As published on November 7, 2006 (71 FR 65086), written comments on 
the issues and options presentation and the NOI should be sent to 
Michael Clark, Highly Migratory Species Management Division by any of 
the following methods:
     E-mail: SF1.082906A@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line 
the following identifier: ``I.D. 082906A''.
     Written: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Scoping Comments on Amendment 
2 to HMS FMP.''
     Fax: (301) 713-1917.
    For a copy of the stock assessments, please contact Michael Clark 
or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at (301) 713-2347.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Clark at (301) 713-2347 or 
Jackie Wilson at (404) 806-7622.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. The HMS FMP is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR 
part 635.

[[Page 124]]

    On November 7, 2006 (71 FR 65086), NMFS published a NOI that 
summarized the recent stock assessments conducted for large coastal, 
blacktip, sandbar, porbeagle, and dusky sharks. The NOI also described 
NMFS' determination as to the status of these stocks based on the 
assessments. As a result of these assessments, NMFS needs to amend 
current shark management measures via an FMP amendment and anticipates 
completing this amendment and any related documents by January 1, 2008. 
The comment period on the NOI and the issues and options presentation 
ends on February 5, 2007.

Request for Comments

    Seven scoping meetings will be held in January 2007 to provide the 
public an opportunity to comment on potential shark management measures 
to be included in the upcoming amendment to the Consolidated HMS FMP. 
These public scoping meetings will be held simultaneously with public 
hearings for a proposed rule to gather comments on management measures 
to fully utilize the North Atlantic swordfish quota. The time allotted 
to swordfish and shark management measures will be distributed 
accordingly to provide ample opportunity for the public to comment on 
both topics. Time may be split equally or additional time may be 
allotted to either shark or swordfish measures, as necessary, depending 
on the attendees' primary interests.

Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations

    The public scoping meetings for this action will be conducted as 
follows:
    1. Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 6-9 p.m. Northeast Regional Office, 
One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
    2. Thursday, January 18, 2007, 6-9 p.m. City of Madeira Beach, 300 
Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, Florida 33708.
    3. Thursday, January 18, 2007, 6-9 p.m. Manahawkin Public Library, 
129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
    4. Tuesday, January 23, 2007, 6-9 p.m. Destin Community Center, 101 
Stahlman Avenue, Destin, FL 32541.
    5. Thursday, January 25, 2007, 6-9 p.m. Bayou Black Recreational 
Center, 3688 Southdown Mandalay Road, Houma, LA 70360.
    6. Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 6-9 p.m. Fort Pierce Library, 101 
Melody Lane, Fort Pierce, FL 34950.
    7. Wednesday, January 31, 2007, 6-9 p.m. Manteo Town Hall, 407 
Budleigh Street, Manteo, NC 27954.

Scoping Meetings Code of Conduct

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the 
scoping meetings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning 
of each meeting, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules 
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be 
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to 
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and 
attendees should not interrupt one another). The NMFS representative 
will attempt to structure the meeting so that all attending members of 
the public will be able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of 
the controversial nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to 
respect the ground rules, and, if they do not, they will be asked to 
leave the meeting.

Special Accommodations

    The meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Michael Clark (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: December 26, 2006.
Karyl K. Brewster-Geisz,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-22513 Filed 12-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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