Marine Mammals; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, 34654-34656 [2011-14743]

Download as PDF 34654 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 114 / Tuesday, June 14, 2011 / Notices Items on the agenda of the NCWM Laws and Regulations Committee (L&R Committee) relate to proposals to amend NIST Handbook 130, ‘‘Uniform Laws and Regulations in the area of legal metrology and engine fuel quality’’ and NIST Handbook 133 ‘‘Checking the Net Contents of Packaged Goods.’’ NCWM Specifications and Tolerances Committee General Code Item 310–2 G–S.1. Identification (Software) This proposal is intended to amend the identification marking requirements for all electronic devices manufactured after a specified date by requiring that metrological software version or revision information be identified. Additionally, the proposal suggests listing methods, other than ‘‘permanently marked,’’ for providing the required information. Item 310–3 G–A.6. Nonretroactive Requirements (Remanufactured Equipment) This proposal is intended to clarify the intent of the 2001 NCWM position on the application of nonretroactive requirements to commercial weighing and measuring devices which have been determined to have been ‘‘remanufactured’’ after undergoing repair, overhaul or renovation. This proposal is intended to clarify current requirements without causing undo costs on device manufacturers, suppliers and owners. Special Meeting Announcement: A Task Group on Retail Motor Fuel Dispenser (RMFD) Price Posting and Computer Capability will meet from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, 2011 to develop criteria for possible inclusion in the Liquid Measuring Device Code (LMD) related to price posting and computing capability of RMFDs to reflect current market practices in posting fuel prices. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES NCWM Laws and Regulations Committee The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbook 130: Method of Sale of Commodities Regulation Item 232–1. Polyethylene Products, Method of Sale Regulation Section 2.13.4. ‘‘Declaration of Weight.’’—The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to revise the density value used to calculate the net weights on some packages of polyethylene products. The intent of the proposal is to recognize heavier density plastics are being used VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Jun 13, 2011 Jkt 223001 in the production of some sheeting and bag products. Accurate density values are needed for use by weights and measures inspectors in enforcing laws that require quantity declarations to be accurate. (See also related Item 260–2 under NIST Handbook 133, Chapter 4.7. Polyethylene Sheeting-Test Procedure— Footnote to Step 3 in the complete agenda of the L&R Committee in NCWM Publication 16) Item 232–2. Proposed Method of Sale Regulation for Packages of Printer Ink and Toner Cartridges—The L&R Committee will consider recommendations to develop a proposed method of sale regulation to clarify the labeling requirements for packaged inkjet and toner cartridges to ensure that consumers can make value comparisons. Special Meeting Announcement: The Task Group on Printer Ink and Toner Cartridges will meet on Sunday, July 17, 2011 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Item 232–4. HB 130, Method of Sale Regulation, Section 2.33. Vehicle Engine Oil—The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to adopt a method of sale in HB 130 related to the sale of vehicle engine oil in conjunction with oil change services. (In 237–6, which is not included in this notice) there is a corresponding proposal to amend the Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Regulation to require detailed invoicing requirements for sales of engine oil.) Some oil service facilities may not deliver the brand and viscosity of oil that they advertise. As a result consumers may pay for higher quality oil than they receive. This proposed regulation will require sellers of oil change services to provide full disclosure to consumers in a written or printed document that lists the brand name, SAE viscosity, and other information (including the oil’s service category) of any engine oil delivered into the customer’s vehicle. The following items are proposals to amend NIST Handbook 133: Item 260–2. The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to amend Chapter 4.7. Polyethylene Sheeting-Test Procedure—Footnote to Step 3 to provide density values for use by weights and measures inspectors in verifying the quantity statements on packages polyethylene sheeting and bags. Item 260–3. Moisture Allowance for Pasta Products—The L&R Committee will consider a proposal to adopt a 3% moisture allowance for macaroni, noodle, and like products (pasta products). This value will be used by weights and measures officials in determining whether or not any PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 shortages in the weight of packages of pasta are reasonable. Dated: June 8, 2011. Charles H. Romine, Acting Associate Director for Laboratory Programs. [FR Doc. 2011–14699 Filed 6–13–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RIN 0648–XA472] Marine Mammals; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); notice of public scoping meetings; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces its intention to amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP). An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to analyze impacts to the environment of the management alternatives under consideration. The purpose of this action is to notify the public of upcoming scoping meetings to solicit public comments on ways to reduce the risk of serious injury or mortality of right, humpback, and finback whales as a result of entanglement in vertical lines associated with commercial trap/pot and gillnet fisheries off the U.S. East Coast. NMFS requests comments on management options for this action. These options will form the basis of the alternatives that will later be analyzed through the EIS process. DATES: Written comments must be postmarked or transmitted via facsimile (fax) at the appropriate address or number (see ADDRESSES section) no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 12, 2011. The public scoping meetings will be held in July and August 2011. For specific dates, times, and locations see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: Æ Fax: (978) 281–9394. Æ Mail: Paper, disk, or CD–ROM comments should be sent to Mary SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM 14JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 114 / Tuesday, June 14, 2011 / Notices risk associated with groundlines and then reducing the risk associated with vertical lines in commercial trap/pot and gillnet gear. Risk reduction of groundline was addressed in October 2007 with the implementation of the sinking groundline requirement for all fisheries throughout the entire East coast (72 FR 57104, October 5, 2007). At the 2009 ALWTRT meeting, the Team agreed on a schedule to develop a management approach to reduce the risk of serious injury and mortality due to vertical line. As a result of this schedule NMFS committed to publishing a final rule to address vertical line entanglement by 2014. The approach for the vertical line rule will focus on reducing the risk of vertical line entanglements in high impact areas versus a wide-broad scale management scheme. Using fishing gear survey data and whale sightings per unit effort (SPUE) a model was developed to determine the co-occurrence of fishing gear density and whale density. The ALWTRT Northeast Subgroup met in November 2010 and the MidAtlantic/Southeast Subgroup met in April 2011 to review the co-occurrence model and consider its implications for an overall management strategy to address vertical line entanglements. The Team agreed NMFS should use the model to consider and develop possible options to address fishery interactions with large whales by reducing the potential for entanglements, minimizing adverse effects if entanglements occur, and mitigating the effects of any unavoidable entanglements. Background srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ‘‘Comments on the ALWTRP Scoping.’’ Æ E-mail: ALWTRPScoping.Comments@noaa.gov. Copies of the background documents provided to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) in advance of the November 2010 and April 2011 ALWTRT meeting and general information on the ALWTRP can be obtained from the ALWTRP Web site at: https://www.nero.nmfs.gov/ whaletrp. Copies of the most recent marine mammal stock assessment reports may be obtained by writing to Gordan Waring, NMFS, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543 or can be downloaded from the Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. A document that summarizes major issues, legal requirements, and identifies potential management options will also be posted on the ALWTRP Web site on or about July 1, 2011, and made available to the public at scoping meetings. The above documents can also be obtained by contacting Kate Swails, Kate.Swails@noaa.gov or (978) 282–8481. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Swails, NMFS, Northeast Region, 978– 282–8481; Barb Zoodsma, NMFS, Southeast Region, 904–321–2806; or Kristy Long, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301–713–2322. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Management Options This notice provides an opportunity for public involvement. NMFS requests comments on management options for this action. Additionally, NMFS is seeking information on the range of impacts that should be considered for the various options. Background documents provided to the ALWTRT and general public in advance of the November 2010 and April 2011 meetings are available for review (see ADDRESSES section). A scoping document summarizing major issues, legal requirements, and identifying potential management options will be made available prior to the scoping meetings (see ADDRESSES section). Comments received on this action will assist NMFS in determining the alternatives for rulemaking to reduce interactions of right, humpback and fin whales with commercial fisheries as a result of vertical lines. The ALWTRP (50 CFR 229.32) is a multi-faceted plan that includes area Large whale entanglements and entanglements resulting in serious injuries and mortalities are still occurring; therefore, NMFS believes modifications to the ALWTRP are needed to meet the goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under the MMPA, NMFS is required to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury to three strategic large whale stocks—the Western Stock of the North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), the Gulf of Maine stock of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliea), and the Western North Atlantic stock of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus)—incidentally taken in commercial fisheries to below the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level for each stock. ALWTRT At the 2003 ALWTRT meeting, the ALWTRT agreed to manage entanglement risk by first reducing the VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Jun 13, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 34655 closures, gear modification requirements in areas open to fixed gear fishing, gear research to develop new modifications to current practices and/ or fishing techniques, a right whale Sighting Advisory System, and a disentanglement program to free whales incidentally caught in fishing gear. Within the comment period established by this notice (see DATES section), NMFS will hold 15 public scoping meetings to gather public comment on the development and implementation of new management measures for the ALWTRP. Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are scheduled as follows: 1. Monday, July 11, 2011—East Machias, ME 6–9 p.m. Washington Academy, 66 High Street, East Machias, ME 04630. 2. Tuesday, July 12, 2011—Ellsworth, ME 6–9 p.m. Ellsworth City Hall (Auditorium), 1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605. 3. Wednesday, July 13, 2011—Rockland, ME 6–9 p.m. Rockland District High School (Auditorium), 400 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841. 4. Thursday, July 14, 2011—Portland, ME 6–9 p.m. Portland City Hall (State of Maine Room), 389 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101. 5. Monday, July 18, 2011—Providence, RI 5:30–8:30 p.m. Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St., Providence, RI 02903. 6. Tuesday, July 19, 2011—Plymouth, MA 6–9 p.m. Plymouth Public Library (Fehlow Room), 132 South St., Plymouth, MA 02360. 7. Wednesday, July 20, 2011—Chatham, MA 6–9 p.m. Chatham Community Center (Large Meeting Room), 702 Main St., Chatham, MA 02633. 8. Thursday, July 21, 2011—Gloucester, MA 6–9 p.m. NOAA Northeast Regional Office (Hearing Room A&B), 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930. 9. Tuesday, July 26, 2011—Morehead City, NC 6–9 p.m. NC Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557. E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM 14JNN1 34656 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 114 / Tuesday, June 14, 2011 / Notices 10. Wednesday, July 27, 2011—Virginia Beach, VA 6–9 p.m. Meyera E. Obendorf Central Library (Folio Room), 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452. Ocean View Town Hall (John West Park), 32 West Ave., Ocean View, DE 19970. 12. Friday, July 29, 2011—Manahawkin, NJ 6–9 p.m. Stafford Township (Council Meeting Room), 260 E. Bay Ave.. Manahawkin, NJ 08050. 13. Monday August 22, 2011—Cape Canaveral, FL 5–8 p.m. Cape Canaveral Public Library, 201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. 14. Tuesday August 23, 2011— Jacksonville, FL 6–9 p.m. Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), Board Room, 2831 Talleyrand Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32206. 15. Wednesday August 24, 2011— Garden City, GA 6–9 p.m. Garden City City Hall, 100 Central Avenue (at intersection of Dean Forest Rd. and Constantine Rd.), Garden City, GA 31405. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kate Swails (978) 282–8481. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. Dated: June 8, 2011. Helen M. Golde, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–14743 Filed 6–13–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES RIN 0648–XA492 Fisheries of the Caribbean; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Jun 13, 2011 Jkt 223001 Notice of SEDAR 26 Assessment Workshop for Caribbean silk snapper, queen snapper and redtail parrotfish. NGOs; International experts; and staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and Federal agencies. The SEDAR assessments of the Caribbean stocks of silk snapper, queen snapper and redtail parrotfish will consist of a series of three workshops and webinars: a Data Workshop, an Assessment Workshop, and a Review Workshop. DATES: The Assessment Workshop will take place July 26–29, 2011. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times. ADDRESSES: The Assessment Workshop will be held at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, 6500 Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas, USVI 00802; telephone: (340) 777–7100. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571–4366. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. SEDAR includes three workshops: (1) Data Workshop, (2) Stock Assessment Workshop and (3) Review Workshop. The product of the Data Workshop is a data report which compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses. The product of the Stock Assessment Workshop and webinars is a stock assessment report which describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. The assessment is independently peer reviewed at the Review Workshop. The product of the Review Workshop is a Summary documenting Panel opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and input data. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including fishermen, environmentalists, and SEDAR 26 Assessment Workshop Schedule SUMMARY: 11. Thursday, July 28, 2011—Ocean View DE 6–9 p.m. AGENCY: ACTION: PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 July 26–29, 2011; SEDAR 26 Assessment Workshop July 26, 2011: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; July 27– 28, 2011: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; July 29, 2011: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Using datasets provided by the Data Workshop, participants will develop population models to evaluate stock status, estimate population benchmarks and stock status criteria, and project future conditions. Participants will recommend the most appropriate methods and configurations for determining stock status and estimating population parameters. Participants will prepare a workshop report, compare and contrast various assessment approaches, and determine whether the assessments are adequate for submission to the review panel. The established times may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of discussion relevant to the assessment process. Such adjustments may result in the meeting being extended from, or completed prior to the time established by this notice. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 business days prior to each workshop. Dated: June 9, 2011. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–14668 Filed 6–13–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA397 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Geological and Geophysical Exploration of Mineral and Energy Resources on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM 14JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34654-34656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14743]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RIN 0648-XA472]


Marine Mammals; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS); notice of public scoping meetings; request for 
comments.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intention to amend the Atlantic Large Whale 
Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP). An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), to analyze impacts to the environment of the management 
alternatives under consideration. The purpose of this action is to 
notify the public of upcoming scoping meetings to solicit public 
comments on ways to reduce the risk of serious injury or mortality of 
right, humpback, and finback whales as a result of entanglement in 
vertical lines associated with commercial trap/pot and gillnet 
fisheries off the U.S. East Coast. NMFS requests comments on management 
options for this action. These options will form the basis of the 
alternatives that will later be analyzed through the EIS process.

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked or transmitted via facsimile 
(fax) at the appropriate address or number (see ADDRESSES section) no 
later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 12, 2011.
    The public scoping meetings will be held in July and August 2011. 
For specific dates, times, and locations see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    [cir] Fax: (978) 281-9394.
    [cir] Mail: Paper, disk, or CD-ROM comments should be sent to Mary

[[Page 34655]]

Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on the ALWTRP 
Scoping.''
    [cir] E-mail: ALWTRPScoping.Comments@noaa.gov.

Copies of the background documents provided to the Atlantic Large Whale 
Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) in advance of the November 2010 and April 
2011 ALWTRT meeting and general information on the ALWTRP can be 
obtained from the ALWTRP Web site at: https://www.nero.nmfs.gov/whaletrp. Copies of the most recent marine mammal stock assessment 
reports may be obtained by writing to Gordan Waring, NMFS, 166 Water 
St., Woods Hole, MA 02543 or can be downloaded from the Internet at 
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. A document that summarizes major 
issues, legal requirements, and identifies potential management options 
will also be posted on the ALWTRP Web site on or about July 1, 2011, 
and made available to the public at scoping meetings. The above 
documents can also be obtained by contacting Kate Swails, 
Kate.Swails@noaa.gov or (978) 282-8481.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Swails, NMFS, Northeast Region, 
978-282-8481; Barb Zoodsma, NMFS, Southeast Region, 904-321-2806; or 
Kristy Long, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301-713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Large whale entanglements and entanglements resulting in serious 
injuries and mortalities are still occurring; therefore, NMFS believes 
modifications to the ALWTRP are needed to meet the goals of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under the MMPA, NMFS is required to 
reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury to three strategic 
large whale stocks--the Western Stock of the North Atlantic right 
whales (Eubalaena glacialis), the Gulf of Maine stock of humpback 
whales (Megaptera novaeangliea), and the Western North Atlantic stock 
of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus)--incidentally taken in commercial 
fisheries to below the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level for 
each stock.

ALWTRT

    At the 2003 ALWTRT meeting, the ALWTRT agreed to manage 
entanglement risk by first reducing the risk associated with 
groundlines and then reducing the risk associated with vertical lines 
in commercial trap/pot and gillnet gear. Risk reduction of groundline 
was addressed in October 2007 with the implementation of the sinking 
groundline requirement for all fisheries throughout the entire East 
coast (72 FR 57104, October 5, 2007).
    At the 2009 ALWTRT meeting, the Team agreed on a schedule to 
develop a management approach to reduce the risk of serious injury and 
mortality due to vertical line. As a result of this schedule NMFS 
committed to publishing a final rule to address vertical line 
entanglement by 2014. The approach for the vertical line rule will 
focus on reducing the risk of vertical line entanglements in high 
impact areas versus a wide-broad scale management scheme. Using fishing 
gear survey data and whale sightings per unit effort (SPUE) a model was 
developed to determine the co-occurrence of fishing gear density and 
whale density.
    The ALWTRT Northeast Subgroup met in November 2010 and the Mid-
Atlantic/Southeast Subgroup met in April 2011 to review the co-
occurrence model and consider its implications for an overall 
management strategy to address vertical line entanglements.
    The Team agreed NMFS should use the model to consider and develop 
possible options to address fishery interactions with large whales by 
reducing the potential for entanglements, minimizing adverse effects if 
entanglements occur, and mitigating the effects of any unavoidable 
entanglements.

Management Options

    This notice provides an opportunity for public involvement. NMFS 
requests comments on management options for this action. Additionally, 
NMFS is seeking information on the range of impacts that should be 
considered for the various options. Background documents provided to 
the ALWTRT and general public in advance of the November 2010 and April 
2011 meetings are available for review (see ADDRESSES section). A 
scoping document summarizing major issues, legal requirements, and 
identifying potential management options will be made available prior 
to the scoping meetings (see ADDRESSES section). Comments received on 
this action will assist NMFS in determining the alternatives for 
rulemaking to reduce interactions of right, humpback and fin whales 
with commercial fisheries as a result of vertical lines.
    The ALWTRP (50 CFR 229.32) is a multi-faceted plan that includes 
area closures, gear modification requirements in areas open to fixed 
gear fishing, gear research to develop new modifications to current 
practices and/or fishing techniques, a right whale Sighting Advisory 
System, and a disentanglement program to free whales incidentally 
caught in fishing gear. Within the comment period established by this 
notice (see DATES section), NMFS will hold 15 public scoping meetings 
to gather public comment on the development and implementation of new 
management measures for the ALWTRP.

Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings

    The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are scheduled as 
follows:

1. Monday, July 11, 2011--East Machias, ME 6-9 p.m.

    Washington Academy, 66 High Street, East Machias, ME 04630.

2. Tuesday, July 12, 2011--Ellsworth, ME 6-9 p.m.

    Ellsworth City Hall (Auditorium), 1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 
04605.

3. Wednesday, July 13, 2011--Rockland, ME 6-9 p.m.

    Rockland District High School (Auditorium), 400 Broadway, Rockland, 
ME 04841.

4. Thursday, July 14, 2011--Portland, ME 6-9 p.m.

    Portland City Hall (State of Maine Room), 389 Congress St., 
Portland, ME 04101.

5. Monday, July 18, 2011--Providence, RI 5:30-8:30 p.m.

    Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St., Providence, RI 02903.

6. Tuesday, July 19, 2011--Plymouth, MA 6-9 p.m.

    Plymouth Public Library (Fehlow Room), 132 South St., Plymouth, MA 
02360.

7. Wednesday, July 20, 2011--Chatham, MA 6-9 p.m.

    Chatham Community Center (Large Meeting Room), 702 Main St., 
Chatham, MA 02633.

8. Thursday, July 21, 2011--Gloucester, MA 6-9 p.m.

    NOAA Northeast Regional Office (Hearing Room A&B), 55 Great 
Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930.

9. Tuesday, July 26, 2011--Morehead City, NC 6-9 p.m.

    NC Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, 5285 
Highway 70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557.

[[Page 34656]]

10. Wednesday, July 27, 2011--Virginia Beach, VA 6-9 p.m.

    Meyera E. Obendorf Central Library (Folio Room), 4100 Virginia 
Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452.

11. Thursday, July 28, 2011--Ocean View DE 6-9 p.m.

    Ocean View Town Hall (John West Park), 32 West Ave., Ocean View, DE 
19970.

12. Friday, July 29, 2011--Manahawkin, NJ 6-9 p.m.

    Stafford Township (Council Meeting Room), 260 E. Bay Ave.. 
Manahawkin, NJ 08050.

13. Monday August 22, 2011--Cape Canaveral, FL 5-8 p.m.

    Cape Canaveral Public Library, 201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 
32920.

14. Tuesday August 23, 2011--Jacksonville, FL 6-9 p.m.

    Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), Board Room, 2831 Talleyrand 
Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32206.

15. Wednesday August 24, 2011--Garden City, GA 6-9 p.m.

    Garden City City Hall, 100 Central Avenue (at intersection of Dean 
Forest Rd. and Constantine Rd.), Garden City, GA 31405.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kate Swails (978) 282-8481.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

    Dated: June 8, 2011.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-14743 Filed 6-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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