American Lobster Fishery Management, 23245-23247 [2010-10262]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 84 / Monday, May 3, 2010 / Notices auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 27, 2010. William D. Chappell, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–10185 Filed 4–30–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XW15 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Standing, Special Reef Fish and Special Red Drum Scientific and Statistical Committees. DATES: The meeting will convene at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 and conclude by 3 p.m. on Friday, May 21, 2010. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics Statistician; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee will meet to discuss a number of issues related to the development of Reef Fish Amendment 32 (gag rebuilding and gag and red grouper adjustments to annual catch limits) and the Generic Annual Catch Limits/Accountability Measures (ACL/ AM) Amendment. During part of the meeting, the Standing SSC will meet jointly with the Special Red Drum SSC to review available information to determine if a red drum acceptable biological catch (ABC) can be established in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The remainder of the VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:35 Apr 30, 2010 Jkt 220001 meeting will be a joint meeting of the Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC. The SSC will (1) review updated yield projections for gag and red grouper that incorporate 2009 landings data and will re-evaluate their ABC recommendations for these stocks based on the new information; (2) review a decisionmaking spreadsheet being prepared by the Southeast Regional Office for analyses of combinations of bag limits, closed seasons, minimum size limits and slot limits for the recreational gag fishery to determine if use of the spreadsheet represents the best available scientific information when evaluating potential management measures; (3) review a critique by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center of a species groupings analyses prepared by the Southeast Regional Office, and will consider possible revisions to the proposed species groupings for purposes of setting annual catch limits; (4) develop a strategy for assigning ABCs to species and species groupings that require an ABC under the Generic ACL/AM Amendment; (5) continue the process of developing an ABC control rule for assigning future ABCs; (6) review tentative ABC values used by the Council on an interim basis in order to develop alternatives for allowable octocorals, stone crab claws, royal red shrimp, and the Peneid shrimp species in the Generic ACL/AM Amendment options paper; and (7) discuss possible strategies to resolve differences between the Gulf Council SSC and the South Atlantic Council SSC in ABC recommendations for the black grouper stock, which straddles jurisdictional boundaries. Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by calling (813) 348–1630 or can be downloaded from the Council’s ftp site, ftp.gulfcouncil.org. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Scientific and Statistical Committees for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the Scientific and Statistical Committees will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take action to address the emergency. PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23245 Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina O’Hern at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting. Dated: April 27, 2010. William D. Chappell, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–10184 Filed 4–30–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–AT31 American Lobster Fishery Management AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) that identifies several proposed management actions and alternatives for the American lobster fishery in Federal waters. The management actions are based on recommendations to NMFS by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) as part of the Commission’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (ISFMP). Two of the three proposed management measures evaluated in the DEIS would implement limited access programs (LAPs), limiting future access in two Lobster Conservation Management Areas (Areas) Area 2 and the Outer Cape Area based upon historical participation within the fishery. The third proposed measure would implement an individual transferable trap program (ITT) in three Areas--Area 2, Area 3, and the Outer Cape Area. The DEIS evaluates four ITT alternatives. NMFS has not selected a preferred alternative to implement the ITT program. NMFS will hold public meetings to receive comments on the potential biological, economic, and social impacts of proposed measures evaluated in this DEIS. DATES: Written comments on the DEIS must be received no later than 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on June 29, 2010. Also, verbal comments may be presented at public meetings which are E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM 03MYN1 23246 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 84 / Monday, May 3, 2010 / Notices scheduled to be held in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, locations, and special accommodations. Written comments on the DEIS may be submitted by any one of the following methods: • Electronic submissions: Submit all electronic public comments to the following email address: LobsterComment@noaa.gov • Mail: Lobster Comments Sustainable Fisheries Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930–2298. • Fax: (978) 281–9117. • Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the above Mail address. Instructions: All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be available without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publically accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Copies of the DEIS, which includes a draft environmental impact statement, an initial regulatory impact review, and an initial regulatory flexibility analysis, are available from the Sustainable Fisheries Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930–2298 mark the outside of the envelope Lobster DEIS; fax: (978) 281–9117; email: RequestDEIS@noaa.gov; telephone 978– 675–2162. The DEIS is also available at the Northeast Regional Office website: https://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/ and select menu item ‘‘Hot News’’. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Ross, NMFS, Northeast Region, telephone: (978) 675–2162; fax (978) 281–9117; email: Bob.Ross@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is considering several new management measures for the American lobster fishery in Federal waters in response to the Commission’s recommendations in the lobster ISFMP. erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: Limited Access Program NMFS is considering implementing a limited access program to control fishing effort in the lobster trap fishery in the Federal waters of Area 2 (the management area that includes the state VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:35 Apr 30, 2010 Jkt 220001 and Federal waters adjacent to southern MA and RI), and in the Outer Cape Area (the management area that includes the state and Federal waters adjacent to Cape Cod, MA). Future trap fishing access in Area 2 and the Outer Cape Area would be limited to only those Federal permit holders who can substantiate a history of trap fishing in these areas. Under the Commission’s plan (NMFS’s preferred Alternative), the eligibility criteria for access to these management areas would be based upon industry advice developed by the ISFMP’s lobster conservation management teams, and approved by the Commission in Addenda VII and XIII to the ISFMP. In the Outer Cape Area, eligible permit holders would have to meet all of the following criteria: 1. Federal lobster permit holders would be qualified to fish with traps under a limited access program in the Outer Cape Area based on a demonstration of prior trap fishing history (1999–2001) within the Outer Cape Area. 2. Once qualified, individual historybased trap allocations for Outer Cape Area Federal lobster permit holders would be based on effective traps fished during 2000–2002. In Area 2, eligible permit holders would have to meet all of the following criteria: 1. Federal lobster permit holders would be qualified to fish with traps under a limited access program in Area 2 based on a demonstration of prior trap fishing history (2001–2003) in Area 2. 2. Once qualified, individual historybased trap allocations for Area 2 Federal lobster permit holders would be based on effective traps fished during 2001– 2003. Individual Transferable Trap Program This DEIS also analyzes the potential biological, social, and economic impacts of an individual transferable trap program for three lobster Areas: Area 2; the Outer Cape Area; and Area 3 (the offshore Area from the U.S./Canada border to Cape Hatteras, NC). The proposed ITT program would allow Federal lobster permit holders fishing with traps in Area 2, the Outer Cape Area, and Area 3, once qualified and in receipt of an individual history based trap allocation, to transfer (buy and/or sell) blocks of lobster traps to other lobstermen. By allowing fishers to buy and sell lobster traps, the ITT program is meant to provide permit holders with opportunities to enhance economic efficiency or respond to inadequate trap allocation by obtaining additional allocation from other fishers who may PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 want to scale down their own business or leave the fishery. With each transfer of traps, a percentage of the total traps transferred, ranging from 10 to 20 percent, would be permanently eliminated as a resource conservation tax. In the long run, however, the primary purpose of a transferable trap program is to improve the overall economic efficiency of the lobster industry. NMFS has not selected a preferred alternative to implement an ITT program in this DEIS. This DEIS evaluates the following four proposed ITT alternatives for public comment: 1. No Action ITT Alternative - No Federal trap transfer program would be implemented. State-level trap transfer programs, currently in Area 2, and the Outer Cape Area, would continue. 2. Commission ITT Alternative Qualifiers in Area 2, Area 3, and the Outer Cape Area would be allowed to buy and sell traps subject to Areaspecific conservation taxes and trap limits. 3. ITT for Area 3 Only - Trap transfers would be limited to Area 3 Federal permit holders only and would be administered by NMFS. All transfers would be in increments of 50 or more traps, and subject to a conservation tax. 4. Optional ITT Program - Qualifiers would not be obligated to take part in the transferability program, but could choose to do so, subject to a number of additional parameters designed to make the application of an ITT program more uniform across Area jurisdictions. Public Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations NMFS will hold six public meetings to receive comments on the potential biological, economic, and social impacts of proposed measures evaluated in this DEIS. The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are scheduled as follows: 1. Monday, May 24, 2010, 3 p.m.-Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial Street, Portland, ME. 2. Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 3 p.m.-Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH. 3. Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 3 p.m.-Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street, Chatham, MA. 4. Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 3 p.m-Narragansett Town Hall Assembly Room, 25 Fifth Street, Narragansett, RI. 5. Monday, June 7, 2010, 3 p.m.-Riverhead Town Board Room at Town Hall, 200 Howell Ave, Riverhead, NY. 6. Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 3 p.m.-Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Cape May Court House, 355 Court House/ South Dennis Road (Route 657), Cape May Court House, NJ. E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM 03MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 84 / Monday, May 3, 2010 / Notices Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Bob Ross (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 28, 2010. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–10262 Filed 4–30–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration States under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 1946. The U.S. IWC Commissioner has responsibility for the preparation and negotiation of U.S. positions on international issues concerning whaling and for all matters involving the IWC. He is staffed by the Department of Commerce and assisted by the Department of State, the Department of the Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission, and by other agencies. The non-federal representative(s) selected as a result of this nomination process is(are) responsible for providing input and recommendations to the U.S. IWC Commissioner representing the positions of non-governmental organizations. Generally, only one nongovernmental position is selected for the U.S. Delegation. Dated: April 27, 2010. Rebecca Lent, Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service. RIN 0648–XV73 International Whaling Commission; 62nd Annual Meeting; Nominations erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for nominations. [FR Doc. 2010–10240 Filed 4–30–10; 8:45 am] SUMMARY: This notice is a call for nominees for the U.S. Delegation to the June 2010 International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual meeting. The non-federal representative(s) selected as a result of this nomination process is(are) responsible for providing input and recommendations to the U.S. IWC Commissioner representing the positions of non-governmental organizations. Generally, only one nongovernmental position is selected for the U.S. Delegation. DATES: The IWC is holding its 62nd annual meeting June 21–25, 2010, in Agadir, Morocco. All written nominations for the U.S. Delegation to the IWC annual meeting must be received by May 21st, 2010. ADDRESSES: All nominations for the U.S. Delegation to the IWC annual meeting should be addressed to Ms. Monica Medina, U.S. Commissioner to the IWC, and sent via post to: Ryan Wulff, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of International Affairs, 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Room 12620, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Wulff, 202–482–3689. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Commerce is charged with the responsibility of discharging the domestic obligations of the United Sunshine Act Meetings VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:35 Apr 30, 2010 Jkt 220001 BILLING CODE 3510–22–S CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 9 a.m.–12 Noon. PLACE: Hearing Room 420, Bethesda Towers, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. STATUS: Commission Meeting—Open to the Public. TIME AND DATE: 23247 Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 504–7923. Dated: April 27, 2010. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010–10375 Filed 4–29–10; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 6355–01–P CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meetings TIME AND DATE: Wednesday, May 5, 2010; 2 p.m.–4 p.m. PLACE: Hearing Room 420, Bethesda Towers, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. STATUS: Closed to the Public. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Compliance Status Report The Commission staff will brief the Commission on the status of compliance matters. For a recorded message containing the latest agenda information, call (301) 504–7948. CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Todd A. Stevenson, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 504–7923. Dated: April 27, 2010. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010–10377 Filed 4–29–10; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 6355–01–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Matters To Be Considered Office of the Secretary 1. Pending Decisional Matters (a) Testing and Labeling to Product Certification—Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) and Testing Component Parts—Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR); (b) CPSA 15(j) Rule for Drawstrings—Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR); and (c) CPSA 15(j) Rule for Hairdryers—Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR). 2. Infant Bath Seats—Final Rule—and Laboratory Accreditation A live Web cast of the Meeting can be viewed at https://www.cpsc.gov/webcast/ index.html. For a recorded message containing the latest agenda information, call (301) 504–7948. CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Todd A. Stevenson, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [Transmittal No. 10–08] 36(b)(1) Arms Sales Notification AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency, DoD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104–164 dated 21 July 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. B. English, DSCA/DBO/CFM, (703) 601– 3740. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a copy of a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Transmittal 10–08 with attached transmittal, policy justification, and Sensitivity of Technology. E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM 03MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23245-23247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10262]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-AT31


American Lobster Fishery Management

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

ACTION:  Notice of public meetings; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY:  NMFS has prepared a draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS) that identifies several proposed management actions and 
alternatives for the American lobster fishery in Federal waters. The 
management actions are based on recommendations to NMFS by the Atlantic 
States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) as part of the 
Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster 
(ISFMP). Two of the three proposed management measures evaluated in the 
DEIS would implement limited access programs (LAPs), limiting future 
access in two Lobster Conservation Management Areas (Areas) Area 2 and 
the Outer Cape Area based upon historical participation within the 
fishery. The third proposed measure would implement an individual 
transferable trap program (ITT) in three Areas--Area 2, Area 3, and the 
Outer Cape Area. The DEIS evaluates four ITT alternatives. NMFS has not 
selected a preferred alternative to implement the ITT program. NMFS 
will hold public meetings to receive comments on the potential 
biological, economic, and social impacts of proposed measures evaluated 
in this DEIS.

DATES:  Written comments on the DEIS must be received no later than 5 
p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on June 29, 2010. Also, verbal comments 
may be presented at public meetings which are

[[Page 23246]]

scheduled to be held in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, New York, and New Jersey. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
meeting dates, times, locations, and special accommodations.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments on the DEIS may be submitted by any one of 
the following methods:
     Electronic submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments to the following email address: LobsterComment@noaa.gov
     Mail: Lobster Comments - Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.
     Fax: (978) 281-9117.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the above 
Mail address.
    Instructions: All comments received are part of the public record 
and will generally be available without change. All Personal 
Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily 
submitted by the commenter may be publically accessible. Do not submit 
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to 
electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Copies of the DEIS, which includes a draft environmental impact 
statement, an initial regulatory impact review, and an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis, are available from the Sustainable 
Fisheries Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great 
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298 mark the outside of the 
envelope Lobster DEIS; fax: (978) 281-9117; email: 
RequestDEIS@noaa.gov; telephone 978-675-2162. The DEIS is also 
available at the Northeast Regional Office website: https://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/ and select menu item ``Hot News''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Bob Ross, NMFS, Northeast Region, 
telephone: (978) 675-2162; fax (978) 281-9117; email: 
Bob.Ross@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is considering several new management 
measures for the American lobster fishery in Federal waters in response 
to the Commission's recommendations in the lobster ISFMP.

Limited Access Program

    NMFS is considering implementing a limited access program to 
control fishing effort in the lobster trap fishery in the Federal 
waters of Area 2 (the management area that includes the state and 
Federal waters adjacent to southern MA and RI), and in the Outer Cape 
Area (the management area that includes the state and Federal waters 
adjacent to Cape Cod, MA). Future trap fishing access in Area 2 and the 
Outer Cape Area would be limited to only those Federal permit holders 
who can substantiate a history of trap fishing in these areas. Under 
the Commission's plan (NMFS's preferred Alternative), the eligibility 
criteria for access to these management areas would be based upon 
industry advice developed by the ISFMP's lobster conservation 
management teams, and approved by the Commission in Addenda VII and 
XIII to the ISFMP.
    In the Outer Cape Area, eligible permit holders would have to meet 
all of the following criteria:
    1. Federal lobster permit holders would be qualified to fish with 
traps under a limited access program in the Outer Cape Area based on a 
demonstration of prior trap fishing history (1999-2001) within the 
Outer Cape Area.
    2. Once qualified, individual history-based trap allocations for 
Outer Cape Area Federal lobster permit holders would be based on 
effective traps fished during 2000-2002.
    In Area 2, eligible permit holders would have to meet all of the 
following criteria:
    1. Federal lobster permit holders would be qualified to fish with 
traps under a limited access program in Area 2 based on a demonstration 
of prior trap fishing history (2001-2003) in Area 2.
    2. Once qualified, individual history-based trap allocations for 
Area 2 Federal lobster permit holders would be based on effective traps 
fished during 2001-2003.

Individual Transferable Trap Program

    This DEIS also analyzes the potential biological, social, and 
economic impacts of an individual transferable trap program for three 
lobster Areas: Area 2; the Outer Cape Area; and Area 3 (the offshore 
Area from the U.S./Canada border to Cape Hatteras, NC). The proposed 
ITT program would allow Federal lobster permit holders fishing with 
traps in Area 2, the Outer Cape Area, and Area 3, once qualified and in 
receipt of an individual history based trap allocation, to transfer 
(buy and/or sell) blocks of lobster traps to other lobstermen. By 
allowing fishers to buy and sell lobster traps, the ITT program is 
meant to provide permit holders with opportunities to enhance economic 
efficiency or respond to inadequate trap allocation by obtaining 
additional allocation from other fishers who may want to scale down 
their own business or leave the fishery. With each transfer of traps, a 
percentage of the total traps transferred, ranging from 10 to 20 
percent, would be permanently eliminated as a resource conservation 
tax. In the long run, however, the primary purpose of a transferable 
trap program is to improve the overall economic efficiency of the 
lobster industry.
    NMFS has not selected a preferred alternative to implement an ITT 
program in this DEIS. This DEIS evaluates the following four proposed 
ITT alternatives for public comment:
    1. No Action ITT Alternative - No Federal trap transfer program 
would be implemented. State-level trap transfer programs, currently in 
Area 2, and the Outer Cape Area, would continue.
    2. Commission ITT Alternative - Qualifiers in Area 2, Area 3, and 
the Outer Cape Area would be allowed to buy and sell traps subject to 
Area-specific conservation taxes and trap limits.
    3. ITT for Area 3 Only - Trap transfers would be limited to Area 3 
Federal permit holders only and would be administered by NMFS. All 
transfers would be in increments of 50 or more traps, and subject to a 
conservation tax.
    4. Optional ITT Program - Qualifiers would not be obligated to take 
part in the transferability program, but could choose to do so, subject 
to a number of additional parameters designed to make the application 
of an ITT program more uniform across Area jurisdictions.

Public Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations

    NMFS will hold six public meetings to receive comments on the 
potential biological, economic, and social impacts of proposed measures 
evaluated in this DEIS. The dates, times, and locations of the meetings 
are scheduled as follows:
    1. Monday, May 24, 2010, 3 p.m.--Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 
350 Commercial Street, Portland, ME.
    2. Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 3 p.m.--Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn 
Road, Portsmouth, NH.
    3. Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 3 p.m.--Chatham Community Center, 702 
Main Street, Chatham, MA.
    4. Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 3 p.m--Narragansett Town Hall Assembly 
Room, 25 Fifth Street, Narragansett, RI.
    5. Monday, June 7, 2010, 3 p.m.--Riverhead Town Board Room at Town 
Hall, 200 Howell Ave, Riverhead, NY.
    6. Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 3 p.m.--Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 
Cape May Court House, 355 Court House/South Dennis Road (Route 657), 
Cape May Court House, NJ.

[[Page 23247]]

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Bob Ross (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 28, 2010.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-10262 Filed 4-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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