National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration November 20, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is announcing that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2007 remain status quo. Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Federal Register if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged.

This notice announces receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher Vessel Intercooperative, and the Pollock Conservation Cooperative. If granted, the EFP would allow the applicants to use a salmon bycatch reduction intra-cooperative agreement (ICA) in the 2007 Bering Sea pollock fishery, and be exempt from closures of the salmon savings areas. This project is intended to promote the objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) and National Standard 9 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act).

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a workshop on potential gear modification regulations as a part of the analysis for the Bering Sea Habitat Conservation analysis.

The Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Product Development Committee for Synthesis and Assessment Product 5.3 (CPDCS&A 5.3) was established by Charter on October 12, 2006. CPDCS&A 5.3 is the Federal Advisory Committee charged with responsibility to develop a draft Synthesis and Assessment Product that addresses CCSP Topic 5.3: ``Decision-Support Experiments and Evaluations Using Seasonal to Interannual Forecasts and Observational Data''. Time and Date: The meeting will be held Monday, December 11, 2006 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This time and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Refer to the Web page https:// www.climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=./ccsp/53.jsp for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. Place: The meeting will be held via teleconference. Please contact Dr. Nancy Beller-Simms for further information (contact information follows). Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 30- minute public comment period on December 11 from 12:30-1 p.m. (times are dependent on number of participants; check Web site to confirm this time). In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five (5) minutes. Written comments (at least 35 copies) should be received by the CPDC S&A 5.3 Designated Federal Official by December 5, 2006 to provide sufficient time for review. Written comments received after that date will be distributed to the CPDCS&A 5.3, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Matters to Be Considered: The meeting will include, but not be limited to, the following topics: (1) Discussion of procedures for completion of the first draft of the Synthesis and Assessment Product 5.3; (2) Discussion of plans for completion and submission of future drafts and procedures; (3) Discussion of a stakeholder workshop to be held in early January.