[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2195-2196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-500]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[I.D. 122397J]
RIN 0648-AK23
Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Precious Corals Fisheries; Draft Amendment 3
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management
plan; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is
seeking comments on Draft Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Precious Corals Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (FMP).
DATES: Comments on Draft Amendment 3 must be received by the Council
office no later than March 2, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, and copies of Draft
Amendment 3 are available from, the Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813; 808-522-8220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director;
808-522-8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council is seeking comments on Draft
Amendment 3 to the Precious Corals FMP. Draft Amendment 3 would
establish framework procedures for regulatory changes under the FMP.
Under the framework procedures, new management measures may be added
through rulemaking if new information demonstrates that there are
biological, social, or economic concerns in the precious coral permit
areas. The framework procedures would authorize the implementation of
measures that may affect the fishing season, classification of coral
beds, harvest quotas for all management unit species, size
restrictions, gear restrictions, area restrictions, incidental catches
and permit conditions. Each action taken under the framework processes
would entail documentation of the analysis of impacts of that action.
To the extent appropriate, the Council would prepare regulations,
regulatory analyses, environmental assessments, or other documents
depending on the scope of the action, which framework process is being
used, and the types and
[[Page 2196]]
magnitude of impacts involved. Advance public notice, public discussion
and consideration of public comment would be required.
Draft Amendment 3 also would include the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the
FMP as a new Exploratory Permit Area. At present, there are no Federal
regulations in place that govern the harvest of precious corals in the
EEZ surrounding the Northern Mariana Islands. The management measures
proposed for the EEZ around the Northern Mariana Islands are consistent
with the regulations in place for other Exploratory Permit Areas
defined in the FMP. Exploratory Areas are the unexplored portions of
the EEZ in which coral beds are likely to exist but where no beds have
yet been located. The Northern Mariana Islands would be incorporated
into a new Exploratory Permit Area, with a 1,000 kg (2,204.62 lb)
annual harvest quota for all species of precious corals combined.
To provide greater opportunity for public involvement, the Council
directed its staff to formally submit the amendment for Secretarial
review only if no substantive or critical comments are received during
the 45-day public review period.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 7, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-500 Filed 1-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
