Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark Management Measures, 37932-37934 [E8-15053]
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37932
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 2, 2008 / Notices
information; 15 minutes for observer
candidates college transcripts and
disclosure statements, observer
candidate; 15 minutes for observer
candidates college transcripts and
disclosure statements, observer
provider; 5 minutes for notification of
observer physical examination, observer
provider; 2 hours for observer physical
examination; 7 minutes for projected
observer assignment; 7 minutes for
briefing registration; 12 minutes for
certificate of insurance; 15 minutes for
copies of contracts; 7 minutes for
weekly deployment/logistics reports; 7
minutes for debriefing registration; 2
hours for reports of problems; 40 hours
for observer provider permit expiration
or denial of permit appeals; and 20
hours for appeals for denial of observer
certification, certification suspension, or
decertification.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 1,959.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $83,126.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: June 26, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–14933 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am]
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Aleutian Islands
Pollock Fishery Requirements
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before September 2,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6625,
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Patsy A. Bearden, (907) 586–
7008 or patsy.bearden@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Consolidated Appropriations Act
of 2004 (Public Law (Pub. L.) 108–199)
was signed into law on January 23,
2004. Section 803 of this law allocates
the Aleutian Islands (AI) directed
pollock fishery to the Aleut Corporation
for economic development of Adak,
Alaska. The statute permits the Aleut
Corporation to authorize one or more
agents for activities necessary for
conducting the AI directed pollock
fishery. Management provisions for the
AI directed pollock fishery include:
Restrictions on the harvest
specifications for the AI directed
pollock fishery; provisions for fishery
monitoring; reporting requirements; and
an AI Chinook salmon prohibited
species catch limit that, when reached,
would close the existing Chinook
salmon savings areas in the AI.
II. Method of Collection
Participants are identified and
approved through a letter from the Aleut
Corporation which is approved by
National Marine Fisheries Service
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18:51 Jul 01, 2008
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(NMFS). This letter includes a list of
approved participants. A copy of the
letter must be on each participating
vessel.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0513.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
Estimated Time per Response: 16
hours for Annual AI Pollock Fishery
Participant Letter; 5 minutes for copy of
NMFS Approval to Participants; 4 hours
for appeal process.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 40.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $48.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: June 26, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–14935 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–AW65
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
(HMS); Atlantic Shark Management
Measures
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 2, 2008 / Notices
Notice of availability; notice of
public scoping meetings; extension of
comment period.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: NMFS previously published,
on May 7, 2008, a notice of intent (NOI)
to initiate an amendment to the 2006
Consolidated Highly Migratory Species
(HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP),
including an Environmental Impact
Statement. NMFS now announces the
availability of an issues and options
presentation describing potential
measures for inclusion in Amendment 3
to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and
provides details for four scoping
meetings to discuss and collect
comments on these issues. Comments
received by NMFS on the NOI and
issues and options presentation as well
as in the scoping meetings will be used
in the development of Amendment 3 to
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.
DATES: Scoping meetings for
Amendment 3 will be held from July
through October 2008. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting
dates, times, and locations. The
deadline for comments on the NOI has
been extended from August 5, 2008, as
published in the NOI on May 7, 2008
(73 FR 25665), to 5 p.m. on October 31,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be
held in Freeport, Texas; Fort Pierce,
Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida; and
Gloucester, Massachusetts. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates,
times, and locations.
As published on May 7, 2008 (73 FR
25665), written comments on this action
should be sent to Karyl Brewster-Geisz,
Highly Migratory Species Management
Division, by any of the following
methods:
• E-mail: SCSlScoping@noaa.gov.
Include the following identifier in the
subject line: ‘‘Scoping Comments on
Amendment 3 to Consolidated HMS
FMP’’.
• Written: 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please mark
the outside of the envelope ‘‘Scoping
Comments on Amendment 3 to
Consolidated HMS FMP.’’
• Fax: (301) 713–1917.
The issues and options presentation is
available on the HMS website: https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/. For a
copy of the related stock assessments,
please contact Michael Clark or Jessica
Beck at (301) 713–2347.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Clark or Jessica Beck at (301)
713–2347, or Jackie Wilson at (240)
338–3936.
The
Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act). The 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP
is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR
part 635.
On May 7, 2008 (73 FR 25665), NMFS
published a NOI that summarized the
2007 Small Coastal Shark (SCS) stock
assessment conducted for Atlantic
sharpnose, blacknose, bonnethead, and
finetooth sharks. The NOI also
described NMFS’ determination as to
the status of these stocks based on the
results of the 2007 stock assessment,
including the determination that
blacknose sharks are overfished with
overfishing occurring. As a result of this
determination, NMFS is taking steps to
amend current shark management
measures via a third FMP amendment to
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.
NMFS anticipates completing this
amendment and any related documents
by January 1, 2010. The comment period
for the NOI has been extended and now
ends at 5 p.m. on October 31, 2008.
Additionally, NMFS now announces the
availability of an issues and options
presentation describing potential
measures for inclusion in Amendment 3
to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (see
ADDRESSES).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
37933
Request for Comments
Four scoping meetings will be held
(see Table 1 for meeting dates, times,
and locations) to provide the
opportunity for public comment on
potential SCS shark management
measures. These comments will be used
to assist in the development of the
upcoming amendment to the 2006
Consolidated HMS FMP. Specifically,
NMFS requests comments on
commercial SCS management options
including, but not limited to, quota
levels, establishing regions and regional
and seasonal quotas, trip limits,
minimum sizes, quota monitoring,
authorized gears, permit structure, and
prohibited species. In addition, NMFS is
seeking comments on recreational SCS
management options including, but not
limited to, retention limits, minimum
sizes, authorized gears, and landing
requirements. Comments are also
requested on SCS management
measures to reduce fishing mortality of
blacknose sharks in shrimp trawl
fisheries as bycatch in these fisheries
contributes to a significant proportion of
fishing mortality for this species.
NMFS also requests comments on
management issues concerning other
shark species, including common
thresher, hammerheads, ragged-tooth,
and smooth dogfish sharks as well as
the addition of deepwater sharks to a
management unit, improving
compliance with HMS regulations,
enhanced Vessel Monitoring Systems
(VMS), dealer reporting requirements,
and quota monitoring. NMFS also seeks
comments on display quotas and
collection of sharks through exempted
fishing permits, display permits, and
scientific research permits.
Comments received on this action
will assist NMFS in determining the
options for rulemaking to conserve and
manage shark resources and fisheries,
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act and the 2006 Consolidated HMS
FMP.
TABLE 1. DATES, TIMES, AND LOCATIONS OF THE FOUR SCOPING MEETINGS.
Time
July 30, 2008
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Freeport Branch Library
410 Brazosport Boulevard, Freeport, TX 77541
Aug 27, 2008
6 – 8 p.m.
NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office
263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
Aug 28, 2008
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Fort Pierce Library
101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Oct 9, 2008
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Date
Meeting Locations
3 – 5 p.m.
NOAA Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office
1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930
In addition to the four scoping
meetings, NMFS will also present the
issues and options presentation to the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:51 Jul 01, 2008
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Address
five Atlantic Regional Fishery
Management Councils and the Atlantic
and Gulf States Marine Fisheries
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Commissions during the public
comment period. Please see the
Councils’ and Commissions’ summer
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37934
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 2, 2008 / Notices
and fall meeting notices for dates, times,
and locations. Finally, NMFS also
expects to present the issues and
options presentation at the fall 2008
HMS Advisory Panel (AP) meeting. The
actual date and location of the AP
meeting will be announced in a future
Federal Register notice.
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 meeting 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;
attendees may not interrupt one
another, etc.). The NMFS representative
will structure the meeting so that all
attending members of the public will be
able to comment, if they so choose.
Attendees are expected to respect the
ground rules, and those that do not 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 Jessica Beck (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at
least 7 days prior to the meeting.
Dated: June 25, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–15053 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XI30
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant
Regional Administrator), has made a
preliminary determination that an
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:51 Jul 01, 2008
Jkt 214001
application submitted by the
Massachusetts Division of Marine
Fisheries (MADMF) contains all of the
required information and warrants
further consideration. The Assistant
Regional Administrator has made a
preliminary determination that the
activities authorized under this EFP
would be consistent with the goals and
objectives of the Northeast (NE)
Multispecies and Spiny Dogfish Fishery
Management Plans (FMPs). However,
further review and consultation may be
necessary before a final determination is
made to issue an EFP. Therefore, NMFS
announces that the Assistant Regional
Administrator proposes to recommend
that an EFP be issued that would allow
one commercial fishing vessel to
conduct fishing operations that are
otherwise restricted by the regulations
governing the fisheries of the
Northeastern United States. This EFP,
which would enable researchers to
study the effects of a spiny dogfish
excluder grate within a raised footrope
whiting trawl, would grant exemptions
from the NE multispecies regulations as
follows: Gear restrictions while fishing
in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Regulated
Mesh Area (RMA), Northeast (NE)
multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) effort
control measures, and NE multispecies
minimum fish sizes for sampling
purposes only.
Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act require publication of
this notification to provide interested
parties the opportunity to comment on
applications for proposed EFPs.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before July 17, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by any of the following
methods:
• Email: DA8–141@noaa.gov. Include
in the subject line ‘‘Comments on
MADMF whiting fishery EFP.’’
• Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional
Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the
envelope ‘‘Comments on MA MADMF
whiting fishery EFP, DA8–141.’’
• Fax: (978) 281–9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Bryant, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9244.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An
application for an EFP was submitted on
May 29, 2008, by David Chosid, the
conservation engineering project leader
at MADMF, for a project funded by the
Northeast Consortium. The primary goal
of this study is to investigate the effects
of an experimental excluder grate in
order to reduce catch rates of spiny
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
dogfish and maximize the catch rates of
whiting, using a raised footrope whiting
trawl. The results of this research could
be submitted to the New England
Fishery Management Council to provide
information that could be used to
enhance the management of the whiting
and spiny dogfish fisheries.
The project is proposed to be
conducted from July 2008 through
September 2008. One fishing industry
collaborator would conduct a total of 70
1-hour tows using the excluder grate in
a raised footrope whiting trawl over the
course of 14 trips, conducting 5 tows
per trip. The vessel would use a 2.5–
inch (6.4–cm) diamond codend mesh
and, with the exception of the spiny
dogfish grate, the gear would be
configured as a standard raised footrope
trawl. All experimental tows would
occur between 42°12′ W. long. and
42°30′ W. long. in statistical area 514.
Fishing would occur along the western
edge of Stellwagen Bank National
Marine Sanctuary, but not within it. No
testing would occur in closed areas or
during rolling closures. An underwater
camera would be attached to the net to
observe the behavior of spiny dogfish
and whiting. Catches in the codend
would be quantified. MADMF would
have at least one staff member on board
the vessel at all times during the
experimental tows.
Due to the small mesh size used in the
whiting fishery, this activity would
require an exemption from gear
restrictions while fishing in the GOM
RMA found at § 648.80(a)(3)(i). The
researchers are requesting permission to
fish outside of the small mesh
exemption areas and time restrictions in
order to increase interactions with the
project’s target species, spiny dogfish.
Based on industry recommendations,
whiting and spiny dogfish are expected
to be inrelatively high abundance in the
proposed research location. The
requested exemption would help ensure
that adequate densities of fish are
present to conduct valid testing and
provide sound statistical evidence of
gear performance within that area. An
exemption from the use of NE
multispecies DAS at § 648.82(a) is
necessary because, due to the small
mesh size of the raised footrope trawl,
landing NE multispecies under the DAS
possession limits would otherwise be
prohibited and thus inconsistent with
the purpose of charging DAS. In lieu of
fishing under a NE multispecies DAS,
the project must adhere to a
multispecies bycatch cap of 5 percent of
the total weight of fish caught overall
during the course of the research. This
percentage is the standard percentage
used as a criterion to qualify an
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37932-37934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15053]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-AW65
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark
Management Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 37933]]
ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public scoping meetings;
extension of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS previously published, on May 7, 2008, a notice of intent
(NOI) to initiate an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), including an
Environmental Impact Statement. NMFS now announces the availability of
an issues and options presentation describing potential measures for
inclusion in Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and provides
details for four scoping meetings to discuss and collect comments on
these issues. Comments received by NMFS on the NOI and issues and
options presentation as well as in the scoping meetings will be used in
the development of Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.
DATES: Scoping meetings for Amendment 3 will be held from July through
October 2008. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates, times,
and locations. The deadline for comments on the NOI has been extended
from August 5, 2008, as published in the NOI on May 7, 2008 (73 FR
25665), to 5 p.m. on October 31, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be held in Freeport, Texas; Fort
Pierce, Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Gloucester,
Massachusetts. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and
locations.
As published on May 7, 2008 (73 FR 25665), written comments on this
action should be sent to Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Highly Migratory Species
Management Division, by any of the following methods:
E-mail: SCS_Scoping@noaa.gov. Include the following
identifier in the subject line: ``Scoping Comments on Amendment 3 to
Consolidated HMS FMP''.
Written: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Scoping Comments on Amendment
3 to Consolidated HMS FMP.''
Fax: (301) 713-1917.
The issues and options presentation is available on the HMS
website: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/. For a copy of the related
stock assessments, please contact Michael Clark or Jessica Beck at
(301) 713-2347.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Clark or Jessica Beck at (301)
713-2347, or Jackie Wilson at (240) 338-3936.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP is
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
On May 7, 2008 (73 FR 25665), NMFS published a NOI that summarized
the 2007 Small Coastal Shark (SCS) stock assessment conducted for
Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, bonnethead, and finetooth sharks. The
NOI also described NMFS' determination as to the status of these stocks
based on the results of the 2007 stock assessment, including the
determination that blacknose sharks are overfished with overfishing
occurring. As a result of this determination, NMFS is taking steps to
amend current shark management measures via a third FMP amendment to
the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. NMFS anticipates completing this
amendment and any related documents by January 1, 2010. The comment
period for the NOI has been extended and now ends at 5 p.m. on October
31, 2008. Additionally, NMFS now announces the availability of an
issues and options presentation describing potential measures for
inclusion in Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (see
ADDRESSES).
Request for Comments
Four scoping meetings will be held (see Table 1 for meeting dates,
times, and locations) to provide the opportunity for public comment on
potential SCS shark management measures. These comments will be used to
assist in the development of the upcoming amendment to the 2006
Consolidated HMS FMP. Specifically, NMFS requests comments on
commercial SCS management options including, but not limited to, quota
levels, establishing regions and regional and seasonal quotas, trip
limits, minimum sizes, quota monitoring, authorized gears, permit
structure, and prohibited species. In addition, NMFS is seeking
comments on recreational SCS management options including, but not
limited to, retention limits, minimum sizes, authorized gears, and
landing requirements. Comments are also requested on SCS management
measures to reduce fishing mortality of blacknose sharks in shrimp
trawl fisheries as bycatch in these fisheries contributes to a
significant proportion of fishing mortality for this species.
NMFS also requests comments on management issues concerning other
shark species, including common thresher, hammerheads, ragged-tooth,
and smooth dogfish sharks as well as the addition of deepwater sharks
to a management unit, improving compliance with HMS regulations,
enhanced Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), dealer reporting
requirements, and quota monitoring. NMFS also seeks comments on display
quotas and collection of sharks through exempted fishing permits,
display permits, and scientific research permits.
Comments received on this action will assist NMFS in determining
the options for rulemaking to conserve and manage shark resources and
fisheries, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the 2006
Consolidated HMS FMP.
Table 1. Dates, times, and locations of the four scoping meetings.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Time Meeting Locations Address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 30, 5:30 - 7:30 Freeport Branch Library 410 Brazosport
2008 p.m. Boulevard, Freeport,
TX 77541
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aug 27, 6 - 8 p.m. NOAA Fisheries Service, 263 13th Avenue South,
2008 Southeast Regional Saint Petersburg, FL
Office 33701
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aug 28, 5:30 - 7:30 Fort Pierce Library 101 Melody Lane, Fort
2008 p.m. Pierce, FL 34950
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oct 9, 3 - 5 p.m. NOAA Fisheries Service, 1 Blackburn Drive,
2008 Northeast Regional Gloucester, MA 01930
Office
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the four scoping meetings, NMFS will also present
the issues and options presentation to the five Atlantic Regional
Fishery Management Councils and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine
Fisheries Commissions during the public comment period. Please see the
Councils' and Commissions' summer
[[Page 37934]]
and fall meeting notices for dates, times, and locations. Finally, NMFS
also expects to present the issues and options presentation at the fall
2008 HMS Advisory Panel (AP) meeting. The actual date and location of
the AP meeting will be announced in a future Federal Register notice.
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 meeting 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;
attendees may not interrupt one another, etc.). The NMFS representative
will structure the meeting so that all attending members of the public
will be able to comment, if they so choose. Attendees are expected to
respect the ground rules, and those that do not 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 Jessica Beck (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the meeting.
Dated: June 25, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-15053 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
