Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Caribbean Management Measures, 40301-40302 [E8-15986]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 135 / Monday, July 14, 2008 / Notices Overview comments should be provided first and should be numbered. Comments that are specific to particular pages, paragraphs or lines of the section should identify the page and line numbers to which they apply. Please number each page of your comments. Dated: July 8, 2008. Louisa Koch, Director of Education, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E8–16039 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–12–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–AW83 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Caribbean 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 previously published, on May 27, 2008, a notice of intent (NOI) to initiate an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), including preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. NMFS now announces the availability of an issues and options document describing potential measures for inclusion in the proposed Amendment 4 to the Consolidated HMS FMP and provides details for five scoping meetings to discuss and collect comments on the issues described in the issues and options document. Comments received by NMFS on the NOI and issues and options document as well as in the scoping meetings will be used in the development of Amendment 4 to the Consolidated HMS FMP. DATES: Scoping meetings for Amendment 4 will be held in August and September 2008. See for meeting dates, times, and locations. Written comments regarding the issues and options document and the May 27, 2008 (73 FR 30381), NOI must be received by October 31, 2008. ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be held in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations. The issues and options document is available on the HMS website (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/ hms/). Written comments should be sent to Greg Fairclough, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, by any of the following methods: • E–mail: noi.hms.caribbean@noaa.gov. Include the following identifier in the subject line: ‘‘NOI HMS Caribbean.’’ • Written: 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701. Please mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Scoping Comments on Amendment 4 to the Consolidated HMS FMP.’’ • Fax: (727) 824–5398. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Fairclough at (727) 824 –5399. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed under the authority of the Magnuson– Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson–Stevens Act), and the Atlantic tuna, swordfish, and billfish fisheries are managed under the Magnuson–Stevens Act and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Management of these species is described in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, which is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Copies of the Consolidated HMS FMP are available from NMFS on request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). On May 27, 2008 (73 FR 30381), NMFS published an NOI that summarized its rationale for considering modifications to the current HMS permitting and reporting regime in the U.S. Caribbean. As such, NMFS is taking steps to amend current HMS management measures via an FMP SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 40301 amendment. The comment period for the NOI ends on October 31, 2008. Request for Comments Five scoping meetings will be held in Puerto Rico and the USVI (see Table 1 for meeting dates, times, and locations) to provide the opportunity for public comment on potential management measures. These comments will be used to assist in the development of the upcoming amendment to the Consolidated HMS FMP. Specifically, NMFS requests comments on the following issues and options: creating a small commercial vessel Caribbean HMS permit (valid for sharks, tunas, and swordfish); combining commercial Caribbean vessel and dealer permits (allowing vessels to sell/retail catch); modifying authorized gears [authorizing buoy gear in the Caribbean bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack (BAYS) tuna fishery and allowing the presence of fish traps onboard a fishing vessel when retaining HMS]; and developing methods to improve reporting and data collection. NMFS also requests comments on any other fishery management issue pertaining to Caribbean HMS fisheries that the public believes should be further examined by NMFS. Comments received on this action will assist NMFS in determining the scope of the EIS and the options for rulemaking to conserve and manage HMS resources and fisheries, consistent with the Magnuson–Stevens Act, ATCA, and the Consolidated HMS FMP. NMFS also will present an issues and options presentation to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, Mid– Atlantic, and New England Fishery Management Councils. Please see the Councils’ meeting notices for the times and locations of their summer meetings (see https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov for Council links). Finally, NMFS also expects to present an issues and options presentation at the fall 2008 HMS Advisory Panel (AP) meeting. The date and location of the HMS AP meeting will be announced in a future Federal Register notice. TABLE 1. DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF THE SCOPING MEETINGS Date Time Meeting Locations Address pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES August 14, 2008 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm St. Thomas, VI USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Cyril E. King Airport, Terminal Building, 2nd Floor, St. Thomas, VI 00802 September 8, 2008 3 pm – 5 pm San Juan, PR ´ Biblioteca Carnegie, Ave. Ponce de Leon #7, San Juan, PR 00901– 2010 VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:08 Jul 11, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1 40302 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 135 / Monday, July 14, 2008 / Notices TABLE 1. DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF THE SCOPING MEETINGS—Continued Date Time Meeting Locations Address September 9, 2008 4 pm – 6 pm Fajardo, PR ´ ´ Salon Centro de Usos Multiples de Fajardo, Estacionamiento Munic¨ ´ ipal, Ultimo Piso, Esquina de Calle Dr. Lopez y Calle Celis Aguilera, Fajardo, PR 00738 September 10, 2008 2 pm – 4 pm Ponce, PR ´ ´ Servicio de Extension Agrıcola, 2440 Ave. Las Americas, Ste. 208, Centro Gubernamental, Ponce, PR 00717–2111 September 11, 2008 7 pm – 9 pm ¨ Mayaguez, PR ¨ University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Physics Building, ¨ Room 310, Mayaguez, PR 00680 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, regardless of the controversial nature of the subject(s). 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 Greg Fairclough (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Dated: July 8, 2008. Emily H. Menashes Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–15986 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XJ01 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a crab workshop AGENCY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:08 Jul 11, 2008 Jkt 214001 SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (NPFMC) will host a Crab Workshop. DATES: The meeting will be held on August 11, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 West 3rd Avenue, Lupine Room, Anchorage, AK. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501–2252. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Fina, NPFMC; telephone: (907) 271–2809. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A workshop to assist crew in the refinement of proposals for presentation to the crab committee at its September 15th meeting. The workshop is not intended to generate any specific crew consensus or recommendation. Instead, the workshop is intended to assist crew members and their representatives in the drafting of purpose and need statements and reformulation of their proposals as alternatives, elements, and options in a form typically considered by the Council. Crew members and their representatives could then present their revised proposals to the committee for its consideration. The committee report to the Council will include any proposals received and a summary of the committee’s discussions of those proposals. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305 ( c ) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the NPFMC’s intent to ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 Gail Bendixen, (907) 271–2809, at least 5 working days prior to the meeting date. Dated: July 9, 2008. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–15892 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION Notice; Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Agricultural Advisory Committee will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. The meeting will take place in the first floor hearing room of the Commission’s Washington, DC headquarters, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The agenda is as follows: I. Convergence and Basis II. Settlement Prices, Margin Requirement, and Credit III. Agricultural Swaps IV. Ongoing Research The meeting is open to the public. Any member of the public who wishes to file a written statement with the Advisory Committee should mail a copy of the statement to the attention of: Agricultural Advisory Committee, c/o Chairman, Michael V. Dunn, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC 20581, before the meeting. Members of the public who wish to make oral statements should inform Chairman Dunn in writing at the foregoing address at least three business days before the E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 135 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40301-40302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15986]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-AW83


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Caribbean 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 previously published, on May 27, 2008, a notice of intent 
(NOI) to initiate an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), including 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. NMFS now announces 
the availability of an issues and options document describing potential 
measures for inclusion in the proposed Amendment 4 to the Consolidated 
HMS FMP and provides details for five scoping meetings to discuss and 
collect comments on the issues described in the issues and options 
document. Comments received by NMFS on the NOI and issues and options 
document as well as in the scoping meetings will be used in the 
development of Amendment 4 to the Consolidated HMS FMP.

DATES: Scoping meetings for Amendment 4 will be held in August and 
September 2008. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, 
and locations. Written comments regarding the issues and options 
document and the May 27, 2008 (73 FR 30381), NOI must be received by 
October 31, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be held in Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands (USVI). See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, 
and locations. The issues and options document is available on the HMS 
website (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/).
    Written comments should be sent to Greg Fairclough, Highly 
Migratory Species Management Division, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: noi.hms.caribbean@noaa.gov. Include the following 
identifier in the subject line: ``NOI HMS Caribbean.''
     Written: 263 13\th\ Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701. Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Scoping Comments on 
Amendment 4 to the Consolidated HMS FMP.''
     Fax: (727) 824-5398.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Fairclough at (727) 824 -5399.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and the Atlantic tuna, 
swordfish, and billfish fisheries are managed under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Management of 
these species is described in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, which is 
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Copies of the 
Consolidated HMS FMP are available from NMFS on request (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    On May 27, 2008 (73 FR 30381), NMFS published an NOI that 
summarized its rationale for considering modifications to the current 
HMS permitting and reporting regime in the U.S. Caribbean. As such, 
NMFS is taking steps to amend current HMS management measures via an 
FMP amendment. The comment period for the NOI ends on October 31, 2008.

Request for Comments

    Five scoping meetings will be held in Puerto Rico and the USVI (see 
Table 1 for meeting dates, times, and locations) to provide the 
opportunity for public comment on potential management measures. These 
comments will be used to assist in the development of the upcoming 
amendment to the Consolidated HMS FMP. Specifically, NMFS requests 
comments on the following issues and options: creating a small 
commercial vessel Caribbean HMS permit (valid for sharks, tunas, and 
swordfish); combining commercial Caribbean vessel and dealer permits 
(allowing vessels to sell/retail catch); modifying authorized gears 
[authorizing buoy gear in the Caribbean bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, 
and skipjack (BAYS) tuna fishery and allowing the presence of fish 
traps onboard a fishing vessel when retaining HMS]; and developing 
methods to improve reporting and data collection. NMFS also requests 
comments on any other fishery management issue pertaining to Caribbean 
HMS fisheries that the public believes should be further examined by 
NMFS.
    Comments received on this action will assist NMFS in determining 
the scope of the EIS and the options for rulemaking to conserve and 
manage HMS resources and fisheries, consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, ATCA, and the Consolidated HMS FMP.
    NMFS also will present an issues and options presentation to the 
Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and New 
England Fishery Management Councils. Please see the Councils' meeting 
notices for the times and locations of their summer meetings (see 
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov for Council links). Finally, NMFS also expects 
to present an issues and options presentation at the fall 2008 HMS 
Advisory Panel (AP) meeting. The date and location of the HMS AP 
meeting will be announced in a future Federal Register notice.

       Table 1. Dates, Times and Locations of the Scoping Meetings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Meeting
    Date          Time        Locations               Address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 14,    5:30 pm -     St. Thomas,    USVI Department of Planning
 2008          7:30 pm       VI             and Natural Resources, Cyril
                                            E. King Airport, Terminal
                                            Building, 2\nd\ Floor, St.
                                            Thomas, VI 00802
------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 8,  3 pm - 5 pm   San Juan, PR   Biblioteca Carnegie, Ave.
 2008                                       Ponce de Le[oacute]n 7, San Juan, PR 00901-2010
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 40302]]

 
September 9,  4 pm - 6 pm   Fajardo, PR    Sal[oacute]n Centro de Usos
 2008                                       M[uacute]ltiples de Fajardo,
                                            Estacionamiento Municipal,
                                            [Uuml]ltimo Piso, Esquina de
                                            Calle Dr. L[oacute]pez y
                                            Calle Celis Aguilera,
                                            Fajardo, PR 00738
------------------------------------------------------------------------
September     2 pm - 4 pm   Ponce, PR      Servicio de Extensi[oacute]n
 10, 2008                                   Agr[iacute]cola, 2440 Ave.
                                            Las Americas, Ste. 208,
                                            Centro Gubernamental, Ponce,
                                            PR 00717-2111
------------------------------------------------------------------------
September     7 pm - 9 pm   Mayag[uuml]ez  University of Puerto Rico,
 11, 2008                    , PR           Mayag[uuml]ez Campus,
                                            Physics Building, Room 310,
                                            Mayag[uuml]ez, PR 00680
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, regardless of the 
controversial nature of the subject(s). 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 Greg Fairclough (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: July 8, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-15986 Filed 7-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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