Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7, 52123-52125 [2013-20513]

Download as PDF tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2013 / Proposed Rules (D) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. (E) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. (F) The DoD CIO. (G) The Director, Defense Manpower Data Center. (H) The Director, Executive Services Directorate, Washington Headquarters Services (WHS). (I) The GC DoD. (J) The Chief of the National Guard Bureau. (ii) Non-Voting Members. Non-voting members are the Director, Enterprise Information Technology Services Directorate (EITSD), WHS; and the representatives designated by Defense Agency and DoD Field Activity directors. (2) Responsibilities. The Board: (i) Serves as the primary DoD policy forum for matters involving the DoD Privacy Program, meeting as necessary to address issues of common concern to ensure that consistent policy is adopted and followed by the DoD Components. The Board issues advisory opinions, as necessary, on the DoD Privacy Program to promote uniform and consistent application of 5 U.S.C. 552a, OMB Circular No. A–130, and this part. (ii) Establishes and convenes committees as necessary. (iii) Establishes working groups whose membership is composed of DoD Component privacy officers and others as necessary. (b) The Defense Data Integrity Board—(1) Membership. The Board consists of: (i) The DA&M, who serves as the chair. (ii) The Director, DPCLO. (iii) The Director for Privacy, DPCLO, who serves as the Executive Secretary. (iv) The representatives designated by the Secretaries of the Military Departments; the DoD CIO; the GC DoD; the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, who is a non-voting advisory member; the Director, EITSD; and the Director, Defense Manpower Data Center. (2) Responsibilities. The Board: (i) Oversees and coordinates, consistent with the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 552a, OMB Circular No. A–130, and this part, all computer matching agreements involving personal records contained in systems of records maintained by the DoD Components. (ii) Reviews and approves all computer matching agreements between the DoD and other federal, state, or local governmental agencies, as well as any memorandums of understanding, when the match is internal to the DoD. This review ensures that, in accordance with VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Aug 21, 2013 Jkt 229001 5 U.S.C. 552a, OMB Circular No. A–130, and this part, appropriate procedural and due process requirements are established before engaging in computer matching activities. * * * * * ■ 10. Amend § 310.10 by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows: § 310.10 General. (a) * * * (1) Consist of ‘‘records’’ (as defined in § 310.4) that are retrieved by the name of an individual or some other personal identifier; and * * * * * Dated: August 19, 2013. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2013–20515 Filed 8–21–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 RIN 0648–XC812 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public hearings. AGENCY: NMFS will publish a proposed rule for Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to control bluefin incidental catch (landings and dead discards) in the pelagic longline fishery, enhance reporting in all categories, and ensure U.S. compliance with the ICCATrecommend quota. As described in the proposed rule, the proposed measures include Allocation measures, AreaBased measures, Bluefin Quota Controls, Enhanced Reporting measures, and other measures that modify rules with respect to how the various quota categories utilize quota. In this notice, NMFS announces the dates and logistics for 10 public hearings to provide additional opportunities for members of the public to comment on the bluefin management measures proposed in Draft Amendment 7. NMFS will also consult with the HMS Advisory Panel during its meeting scheduled September SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 52123 9–12, 2013. There will be opportunities for public comment during open sessions held each day of the Advisory Panel meeting. DATES: Written comments will be accepted until October 23, 2013. Public hearings, an advisory panel meeting, and council consultations will be held between August 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013, to present information about Amendment 7 and to provide opportunities for the submission of public comment regarding the proposed rule. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, and locations. ADDRESSES: A total of ten public hearings will be held along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to provide the opportunity for public comment. NMFS will also hold an HMS Advisory Panel meeting in Silver Spring, MD, during which there will be opportunities for public comment (78 FR 44095). See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations. You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by ‘‘NOAA– NMFS–2013–0101,’’ by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20130101, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Do not submit electronic comments to individual NMFS staff • Mail: Submit written comments to: Thomas Warren, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on Amendment 7 to the HMS FMP.’’ • Fax: 978–281–9347, Attn: Thomas Warren. • Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and generally will be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected E:\FR\FM\22AUP1.SGM 22AUP1 52124 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2013 / Proposed Rules information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren or Brad McHale at 978– 281–9260; Craig Cockrell or Jennifer Cudney at 301–427–8503. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Atlantic tuna fisheries are managed under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS must manage fisheries to maintain optimum yield on a continuing basis while preventing overfishing. ATCA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to promulgate regulations, as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The authority to issue regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA has been delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS. 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 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and previous amendments are available from the Highly Migratory Species Management Division Web page at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ hmsdocument_files/FMPs.htmhttps:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ hmsdocument_files/FMPs.htm or from NMFS on request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). NMFS will publish Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to control bluefin landings and dead discards in the pelagic longline fishery, enhance reporting in all categories, and ensure U.S. compliance with the ICCATrecommend quota. As described in the proposed rule, the proposed management measures include: (1) Allocation measures that would make modifications to how the U.S. bluefin quota is allocated among the quota categories; (2) area-based measures that would implement restrictions on the use of pelagic longline gear in various time and area combinations, modify gear restrictions, or provide conditional access to current pelagic longline closed areas; (3) bluefin Quota Controls that would strictly limit the total catch (landings and dead discards) of bluefin in the Longline category using different strategies; (4) enhanced reporting measures that would implement a variety of new bluefin reporting requirements; and (5) other Measures that would make modifications to the rules that control how the various quota categories utilize quota, and implement a northern albacore tuna quota. Request for Comments: A total of ten public hearings will be held along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts to provide the opportunity for public comment on potential management measures. See Table 1 for dates, times and locations of public hearings. NMFS will also consult with the HMS Advisory Panel on September 9–12, 2013 (78 FR 44095). There will be opportunities for public comment during open sessions held each day of the Advisory Panel meeting. See the following Web site for additional details on the Advisory Panel meeting, including the agenda, presentations and outreach materials (typically available the week before the meeting): https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ Advisory%20Panels/Advisory_Panel. htm NMFS has also requested time on the meeting agendas of the relevant Regional Fishery Management Councils (i.e., the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and New England Fishery Management Councils) to present information on the proposed rule and draft Amendment 7. Information on the date and time of those presentations will be provided on the appropriate council agendas. TABLE 1—DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARINGS Venue Date/Time Meeting locations Location contact information August 28, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. San Antonio, TX ......... Hilton Palacio Del Rio, 200 S. Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205, (210) 222–1400. September 4, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. September 18, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. September 19, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. Gloucester, MA .......... Public Hearing ............. September 24, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. Belle Chasse, LA ....... Public Hearing ............. September 26, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. September 30, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. October 1, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. October 2, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. October 8, 2013, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. Portland, ME .............. National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Community Auditorium, College of the Albemarle, 132 Russell Twiford Road, Manteo, NC 27954, (252) 473–2264. Center for Coastal and Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research—National Ocean Service, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412. Plaquemines Parish Government Community Center (Belle Chasse Auditorium), 8398 Hwy. 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037, (504) 208– 1320. Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04901, (207) 772–2321. Bay County Public Library, 898 W. 11th St., Panama City, FL 32401, (850) 552–2100. Days Inn Fort Pierce, 3224 U.S. 1, Fort Pierce, FL 34982, (772) 465–7000. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 824–5301. Ocean County, Public Administration Building, Freeholders Meeting Room (119), 101 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08754, (732) 929– 2147. Public Hearing in association with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting). Public Hearing ............. Public Hearing ............. Public Hearing ............. Public Hearing ............. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Public Hearing ............. Public Hearing ............. Public Hearing ............. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Aug 21, 2013 Jkt 229001 Manteo, NC ................ Charleston, SC ........... Panama City, FL ........ Fort Pierce, FL ........... St. Petersburg, FL ...... Toms River, NJ .......... PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\22AUP1.SGM 22AUP1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 163 / Thursday, August 22, 2013 / Proposed Rules Public Hearing Code of Conduct The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at public hearings and the HMS Advisory Panel meeting 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 opportunity to speak; attendees may not interrupt one another; etc.). NMFS representative(s) 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. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 19, 2013. Emily H. Menashes, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–20513 Filed 8–20–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 [Docket No. 130625564–3711–01] RIN 0648–XC736 Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for 2013–14 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed specifications; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS proposes to specify an annual catch limit of 346,000 lb for Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands for the 2013–14 fishing year. If and when the annual catch limit is projected to be reached, NMFS would close the commercial and noncommercial fisheries for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish for the remainder of the fishing year. The proposed specifications and fishery closure support the long-term sustainability of Hawaii bottomfish. DATES: Comments must be received by September 6, 2013. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Aug 21, 2013 Jkt 229001 You may submit comments on this proposed specification, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2013–0103, by either of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail; D=NOAA–NMFS–2013–0103, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Send written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814–4700. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous), and will accept attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIR Sustainable Fisheries, 808–944–2108. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The bottomfish fishery in Federal waters around Hawaii is managed under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian Archipelago (Hawaii FEP), developed by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The regulations at 50 CFR 665.4 require NMFS to specify an annual catch limit for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish each fishing year, based on a recommendation from the Council. The Deep 7 bottomfish are onaga (Etelis coruscans), ehu (E. carbunculus), gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus), kalekale (P. sieboldii), opakapaka (P. filamentosus), lehi (Aphareus rutilans), and hapuupuu (Epinephelus quernus). The Council’s recommendation of an annual catch limit of 346,000 lb considers the most recent bottomfish stock assessment, risk of overfishing, past fishery performance, recommendations from its Scientific ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 52125 and Statistical Committee (SSC), and input from the public. The proposed annual catch limit is based on a 2011 stock assessment that indicated that the MHI Deep 7 bottomfish were not overfished and not subject to overfishing. No new information suggests that this situation has changed. The proposed annual catch limit is associated with less than a 41 percent probability of overfishing the Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI. This risk level is more conservative than the 50 percent risk threshold allowed under NMFS guidelines for National Standard 1 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NMFS monitors Deep 7 bottomfish catches based on data provided by commercial fishermen to the State of Hawaii. If and when the annual catch limit is projected to be reached, NMFS, as an accountability measure, would close the commercial and noncommercial fisheries for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish in Federal waters for the remainder of the fishing year. If and when NMFS closes Federal waters to fishing for Deep 7 bottomfish, State of Hawaii law allows the State to adopt a complementary closure of the Deep 7 fishery in State waters. During a closure for Deep 7 bottomfish, no person may fish for, possess, or sell any of these fish in the MHI, except as otherwise authorized by law. However, vessels legally registered to Pacific Remote Island Area bottomfish fishing permits may still fish for and possess or sell Deep 7 bottomfish, provided they otherwise comply with all other laws and regulations. There is no prohibition on fishing for or selling other non-Deep 7 bottomfish species throughout the year. NMFS will consider public comments on the proposed annual catch limit and accountability measure, and anticipates announcing the final specifications prior to the scheduled reopening of the fishery on September 1, 2013. The fishery will continue until August 31, 2014, unless the fishery is closed earlier because the annual catch limit is reached. Regardless of the final annual catch limit, all other management measures will continue to apply in the MHI bottomfish fishery. To be considered, comments on these proposed specifications must be received by September 6, 2013, not postmarked or otherwise transmitted by that date. Classification Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that this proposed E:\FR\FM\22AUP1.SGM 22AUP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52123-52125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20513]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

RIN 0648-XC812


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly 
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS will publish a proposed rule for Draft Amendment 7 to the 
2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) to control bluefin incidental catch (landings and dead 
discards) in the pelagic longline fishery, enhance reporting in all 
categories, and ensure U.S. compliance with the ICCAT-recommend quota. 
As described in the proposed rule, the proposed measures include 
Allocation measures, Area-Based measures, Bluefin Quota Controls, 
Enhanced Reporting measures, and other measures that modify rules with 
respect to how the various quota categories utilize quota. In this 
notice, NMFS announces the dates and logistics for 10 public hearings 
to provide additional opportunities for members of the public to 
comment on the bluefin management measures proposed in Draft Amendment 
7. NMFS will also consult with the HMS Advisory Panel during its 
meeting scheduled September 9-12, 2013. There will be opportunities for 
public comment during open sessions held each day of the Advisory Panel 
meeting.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until October 23, 2013. Public 
hearings, an advisory panel meeting, and council consultations will be 
held between August 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013, to present information 
about Amendment 7 and to provide opportunities for the submission of 
public comment regarding the proposed rule. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, and locations.

ADDRESSES: A total of ten public hearings will be held along the 
Atlantic and Gulf coasts to provide the opportunity for public comment. 
NMFS will also hold an HMS Advisory Panel meeting in Silver Spring, MD, 
during which there will be opportunities for public comment (78 FR 
44095). See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.
    You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by ``NOAA-
NMFS-2013-0101,'' by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0101, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Do not 
submit electronic comments to individual NMFS staff
     Mail: Submit written comments to: Thomas Warren, Highly 
Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope 
``Comments on Amendment 7 to the HMS FMP.''
     Fax: 978-281-9347, Attn: Thomas Warren.
     Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the 
above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and generally will be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying 
Information (for example, name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected

[[Page 52124]]

information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the 
required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit 
attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word or Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren or Brad McHale at 978-
281-9260; Craig Cockrell or Jennifer Cudney at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Atlantic tuna fisheries are 
managed under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic 
Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS must 
manage fisheries to maintain optimum yield on a continuing basis while 
preventing overfishing. ATCA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) to promulgate regulations, as may be necessary and 
appropriate to carry out recommendations of the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The 
authority to issue regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA 
has been delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator 
for Fisheries, NMFS. 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 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and previous 
amendments are available from the Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division Web page at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/hmsdocument_files/FMPs.htmhttps://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/hmsdocument_files/FMPs.htm or from NMFS on request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    NMFS will publish Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to control 
bluefin landings and dead discards in the pelagic longline fishery, 
enhance reporting in all categories, and ensure U.S. compliance with 
the ICCAT-recommend quota. As described in the proposed rule, the 
proposed management measures include: (1) Allocation measures that 
would make modifications to how the U.S. bluefin quota is allocated 
among the quota categories; (2) area-based measures that would 
implement restrictions on the use of pelagic longline gear in various 
time and area combinations, modify gear restrictions, or provide 
conditional access to current pelagic longline closed areas; (3) 
bluefin Quota Controls that would strictly limit the total catch 
(landings and dead discards) of bluefin in the Longline category using 
different strategies; (4) enhanced reporting measures that would 
implement a variety of new bluefin reporting requirements; and (5) 
other Measures that would make modifications to the rules that control 
how the various quota categories utilize quota, and implement a 
northern albacore tuna quota.
    Request for Comments: A total of ten public hearings will be held 
along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts to provide the opportunity 
for public comment on potential management measures. See Table 1 for 
dates, times and locations of public hearings. NMFS will also consult 
with the HMS Advisory Panel on September 9-12, 2013 (78 FR 44095). 
There will be opportunities for public comment during open sessions 
held each day of the Advisory Panel meeting. See the following Web site 
for additional details on the Advisory Panel meeting, including the 
agenda, presentations and outreach materials (typically available the 
week before the meeting): https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Advisory%20Panels/Advisory_Panel.htm
    NMFS has also requested time on the meeting agendas of the relevant 
Regional Fishery Management Councils (i.e., the Caribbean, Gulf of 
Mexico, South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and New England Fishery 
Management Councils) to present information on the proposed rule and 
draft Amendment 7. Information on the date and time of those 
presentations will be provided on the appropriate council agendas.

                         Table 1--Dates, Times and Locations of Upcoming Public Hearings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Venue                      Date/Time        Meeting locations      Location contact information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Hearing in association      August 28, 2013, 6    San Antonio, TX....  Hilton Palacio Del Rio, 200 S.
 with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery    p.m.-10 p.m.                               Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205,
 Management Council meeting).                                                  (210) 222-1400.
Public Hearing...................  September 4, 2013, 6  Gloucester, MA.....  National Marine Fisheries Service,
                                    p.m.-10 p.m.                               Northeast Regional Office, 55
                                                                               Great Republic Drive, Gloucester,
                                                                               MA 01930.
Public Hearing...................  September 18, 2013,   Manteo, NC.........  Community Auditorium, College of
                                    6 p.m.-10 p.m.                             the Albemarle, 132 Russell
                                                                               Twiford Road, Manteo, NC 27954,
                                                                               (252) 473-2264.
Public Hearing...................  September 19, 2013,   Charleston, SC.....  Center for Coastal and
                                    6 p.m.-10 p.m.                             Environmental Health and
                                                                               Biomolecular Research--National
                                                                               Ocean Service, 219 Fort Johnson
                                                                               Road, Charleston, SC 29412.
Public Hearing...................  September 24, 2013,   Belle Chasse, LA...  Plaquemines Parish Government
                                    6 p.m.-10 p.m.                             Community Center (Belle Chasse
                                                                               Auditorium), 8398 Hwy. 23, Belle
                                                                               Chasse, LA 70037, (504) 208-1320.
Public Hearing...................  September 26, 2013,   Portland, ME.......  Gulf of Maine Research Institute,
                                    6 p.m.-10 p.m.                             350 Commercial Street, Portland,
                                                                               ME 04901, (207) 772-2321.
Public Hearing...................  September 30, 2013,   Panama City, FL....  Bay County Public Library, 898 W.
                                    6 p.m.-10 p.m.                             11th St., Panama City, FL 32401,
                                                                               (850) 552-2100.
Public Hearing...................  October 1, 2013, 6    Fort Pierce, FL....  Days Inn Fort Pierce, 3224 U.S. 1,
                                    p.m.-10 p.m.                               Fort Pierce, FL 34982, (772) 465-
                                                                               7000.
Public Hearing...................  October 2, 2013, 6    St. Petersburg, FL.  National Marine Fisheries Service,
                                    p.m.-10 p.m.                               Southeast Regional Office, 263
                                                                               13th Avenue South, Saint
                                                                               Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 824-
                                                                               5301.
Public Hearing...................  October 8, 2013, 6    Toms River, NJ.....  Ocean County, Public
                                    p.m.-10 p.m.                               Administration Building,
                                                                               Freeholders Meeting Room (119),
                                                                               101 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ
                                                                               08754, (732) 929-2147.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 52125]]

Public Hearing Code of Conduct

    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at public 
hearings and the HMS Advisory Panel meeting 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 opportunity to speak; attendees may not interrupt one another; 
etc.). NMFS representative(s) 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.

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

    Dated: August 19, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20513 Filed 8-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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