Pre-assessment Workshop and Public Meeting for West Coast Canary Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder, 16329-16330 [E7-6201]

Download as PDF jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 64 / Wednesday, April 4, 2007 / Notices established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument by issuing Presidential Proclamation 8031 (Proclamation) (71 FR 36443, June 26, 2006) under the authority of the Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431) (Act). On February 28, 2007, President Bush amended the Proclamation to give it a Native Hawaiian name, chosen by Native Hawaiians, that reflects Hawaiian language and culture. On March 2, 2007, the First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, presented the new name, ¯ ¯ Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, to the public. Proclamation 8031 reserves all lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), including emergent and submerged lands and waters out to a distance of approximately 50 nautical miles (nmi) from the islands. The Monument is approximately 100 nmi wide and extends approximately 1,200 miles around coral islands, seamounts, banks, and shoals. The area includes the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial, the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, the Hawai1i State Seabird Sanctuary at Kure Atoll, and NWHI State Marine Refuge. The Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior, and the Governor of Hawai1i signed a Memorandum of Agreement on December 8, 2006, to jointly manage Federal and State lands and waters within the Monument as Co-Trustees, to collectively protect, conserve, and enhance Monument fish, plant, and wildlife habitats, including coral reefs and other marine and terrestrial resources. During the last 5 years, as part of the National Marine Sanctuary designation process, NOAA actively sought input from Federal and State entities, Native Hawaiian leaders, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council, and the public to develop a Draft Sanctuary Management Plan (available on the Internet at: https:// www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov). More than 52,000 public comments were received during the sanctuary designation process. The Proclamation recognizes these efforts by directing the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the State of Hawai1i, to modify, as appropriate, the draft Sanctuary Management Plan for management of the Monument. Another document relevant to Monument management, the Draft Interim Visitor VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:47 Apr 03, 2007 Jkt 211001 Services Plan for the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of Midway National Memorial, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument’s Midway Atoll Special Management Area, was distributed for public review in December 2006. Comments submitted during the Sanctuary designation process and comments received on Midway’s Visitor Services Plan regarding issues that are subject to decision by the Co-Trustees (that is, not already decided by the President and memorialized in the Proclamation) will be considered when the agencies are determining the scope of the Monument Plan and during development of the Draft Monument Plan. Any additional comments at this stage should be focused on any new environmental issues identified as a result of new information or changed circumstances since the comment periods identified above. The Co-Trustees will develop comanagement strategies and activities to meet the needs of FWS, NOAA, and DLNR in the Monument Plan. The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee), requires the FWS to develop a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and FWS policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities available to the public. The State maintains its existing responsibility for managing State waters in the Monument, including the NWHI State Marine Refuge and Hawai1i State Seabird Sanctuary at Kure Atoll. NOAA maintains responsibility for the NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, included within the Monument, and has primary responsibility regarding the management of the marine areas of the Monument, in consultation with FWS. It is the intent of the Co-Trustees to integrate agency planning and operational needs into a single Monument Plan. A draft Monument Plan will be distributed for public review and comment early in 2008. The Co-Trustees will also develop an environmental assessment in PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16329 accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); other appropriate Federal laws and regulations; and agency policies and procedures for compliance with those regulations. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Agency Points of Contact FWS: Barry Stieglitz, Monument Project Leader (USFWS); Hawaiian and Pacific Islands NWR Complex, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Box 50167, Honolulu, HI 96850–5000; phone (808) 792–9540. NOAA: T. Aulani Wilhelm, Monument Superintendent (NOAA); 6600 Kalaniana1ole Highway, #300, Honolulu, HI 96825; phone (808) 397– 2657. State of Hawai1i: Athline Clark, Special Projects Manager, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources; 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813; phone (808) 587–0099. Dated: March 28, 2007. David J. Wesley, Acting Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. Elizabeth Scheffler, Chief Financial Officer, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland. [FR Doc. 07–1652 Filed 4–3–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 022807B] Pre-assessment Workshop and Public Meeting for West Coast Canary Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM 04APN1 16330 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES ACTION: Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 64 / Wednesday, April 4, 2007 / Notices Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: NOAA Fisheries will hold a workshop to discuss the data and models that will be used in the upcoming stock assessments for canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish and arrowtooth flounder. DATES: The Pre-assessment Workshop for West Coast Canary Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder will be held Tuesday, April 24 through Wednesday, April 25, 2007. The workshop will meet each day from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., or until business for the day is completed. ADDRESSES: The Pre-Assessment Workshop for West Coast Canary Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder will be held at Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, 205 S.E. Spokane Street, Portland, Oregon 97202. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey Miller, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC); telephone: (206) 437–5670; or Dr. Jim Hastie, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC); telephone: (206)860–3412. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This workshop is intended to initiate dialog between members of the fishing community, stock assessment authors, data managers, and interested members of the public prior to the finalization of the stock assessment model. The specific objectives of the workshop are to: (1) Discuss the data used in the canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish and arrowtooth flounder stock assessments including details on collections methods, current observed trends, and how the data will be incorporated into the assessment models; (2) discuss the rationale for making assumptions in the models, especially when data are missing or insufficient; (3) identify anomalies in the data and provide possible explanations; and (4) identify data gaps and future research possibilities. All participants are encouraged to pre-register for the workshop by contacting Ms. Stacey Miller, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) by phone at (206)437–5670 or by email at Stacey.Miller@noaa.gov. Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda may come before the workshop participants for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal workshop action during this meeting. Workshop action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305c) of the Magnuson- VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:57 Apr 03, 2007 Jkt 211001 Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the workshop participants’ intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Stacey Miller at (206) 437–5670 at least five days prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 30, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–6201 Filed 4–3–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Estuarine Research Reserve System Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Public Comment Period for the Revised Management Plan for the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing a thirty day public comment period on the revised Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan which will begin on the day this announcement is published. Comments should be sent within the comment period in hard copy or e-mail to Matthew Chasse at Matt.Chasse@noaa.gov or NOAA’s Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 EastWest Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve was designated in February 1986 pursuant to Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1461. The reserve has been operating under a management plan approved in 1998. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise its management plan every five years. The submission of this plan PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 fulfills this requirement and sets a course for successful implementation of the goals and objectives of the reserve. A boundary expansion, new facility and land acquisition plans, and updated programmatic objectives are notable revisions to the 1998 approved management plan. Since the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve was designated, it has been managed by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Since that time, state responsibility for the management of the reserve has been transferred to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), State Lands Division. A revised MOU between NOAA and the State of Alabama was approved to reflect these changes. Under ADCNR, the revised management plan outlines the administrative structure; the education, stewardship, and research goals of the reserve; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility development to support reserve operations. Three hundred and thirty three (333) acres of state-owned coastal and submerged lands adjacent to the reserve are incorporated through the boundary amendment in the management plan revision. The expansion provides a broader and more representative diversity of wetland and water habitats into the reserve boundary. The new boundary and will provide areas for reserve related research and education programs. The tidal freshwater riverine, emergent and forested wetland communities protected through this expansion further enhance the Weeks Bay reserve as an appropriate and ecologically representative site for longterm research and education. Matt Chasse at (301) 563–1198 or Laurie McGilvray at (301) 563–1158 of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910. For copies of the Weeks Bay Management Plan revision, visit https://www.sarpc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dated: March 28, 2007. David M. Kennedy, Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E7–6195 Filed 4–3–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–08–P E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM 04APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16329-16330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6201]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022807B]


Pre-assessment Workshop and Public Meeting for West Coast Canary 
Rockfish, Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder

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

[[Page 16330]]


ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: NOAA Fisheries will hold a workshop to discuss the data and 
models that will be used in the upcoming stock assessments for canary 
rockfish, darkblotched rockfish and arrowtooth flounder.

DATES: The Pre-assessment Workshop for West Coast Canary Rockfish, 
Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder will be held Tuesday, 
April 24 through Wednesday, April 25, 2007. The workshop will meet each 
day from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., or until business for the day is 
completed.

ADDRESSES: The Pre-Assessment Workshop for West Coast Canary Rockfish, 
Darkblotched Rockfish and Arrowtooth Flounder will be held at Pacific 
States Marine Fisheries Commission, 205 S.E. Spokane Street, Portland, 
Oregon 97202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey Miller, Northwest Fisheries 
Science Center (NWFSC); telephone: (206) 437-5670; or Dr. Jim Hastie, 
Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC); telephone: (206)860-3412.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This workshop is intended to initiate dialog 
between members of the fishing community, stock assessment authors, 
data managers, and interested members of the public prior to the 
finalization of the stock assessment model. The specific objectives of 
the workshop are to: (1) Discuss the data used in the canary rockfish, 
darkblotched rockfish and arrowtooth flounder stock assessments 
including details on collections methods, current observed trends, and 
how the data will be incorporated into the assessment models; (2) 
discuss the rationale for making assumptions in the models, especially 
when data are missing or insufficient; (3) identify anomalies in the 
data and provide possible explanations; and (4) identify data gaps and 
future research possibilities.
    All participants are encouraged to pre-register for the workshop by 
contacting Ms. Stacey Miller, Northwest Fisheries Science Center 
(NWFSC) by phone at (206)437-5670 or by email at 
Stacey.Miller@noaa.gov.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda 
may come before the workshop participants for discussion, those issues 
may not be the subject of formal workshop action during this meeting. 
Workshop action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed 
in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice 
that require emergency action under section 305c) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public 
has been notified of the workshop participants' intent to take final 
action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Ms. Stacey Miller at (206) 437-5670 at least five 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 30, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-6201 Filed 4-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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