Department of Commerce May 24, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued in response to an application submitted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (Cornell). The EFP would allow one commercial fishing vessel to conduct a study examining vent sizes in black sea bass pots from approximately June 1, 2005, through May 31, 2006. The Assistant Regional Administrator has made a preliminary determination that the application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration and that the activities to be authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue an EFP.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published a document in the Federal Register on May 9, 2005, with an incorrect date for submitting written comments. The document advised interested parties of their intent to conduct public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) necessary to gather information to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on an anticipated permit application from the Oregon Division of Forestry (ODF) submitted under of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the incidental take of listed species, associated with the Elliott State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in Oregon.

NMFS issues a final rule to implement Amendment 11 to the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Amendment 11), which establish a limited entry system for pelagic longline vessels fishing in waters of the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around American Samoa. The action is necessary to effectively manage the pelagics fisheries around American Samoa. This final rule is intended to establish management measures that would stabilize effort in the fishery to avoid a ``boom and bust'' cycle of fishery development that could disrupt community participation and limit opportunity for substantial participation in the fishery by indigenous islanders.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given that the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will meet Tuesday, June 14, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology is composed of fifteen members appointed by the Director of NIST; who are eminent in such fields as business, research, new product development, engineering, labor, education, management consulting, environment, and international relations. The purpose of this meeting is to review and make recommendations regarding general policy for the Institute, its organization, its budget, and its programs within the framework of applicable national policies as set forth by the President and the Congress. The agenda will include updates on NIST's activities and the U.S. Measurement System Initiative, presentations on Science and Technology Priorities in the Administration and R&D Spending Trends in the Federal Government, a VCAT Panel on Best Practices for Organizational Development, and two laboratory tours. Discussions scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and to end at 9:30 a.m. on June 14, on the NIST budget, planning information and feedback sessions will be closed. Agenda may change to accommodate Committee business. The final agenda will be posted on the NIST web site. All visitors to the National Institute of Standards and Technology site will have to pre- register to be admitted. Please submit your name, time of arrival, e- mail address and phone number to Carolyn Peters no later than Thursday, June 9, and she will provide you with instructions for admittance. Mrs. Peter's email address is carolyn.peters@nist.gov and her phone number is (301) 975-5607.