[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 14 (Friday, January 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3486-3487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1418]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 011499C]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Public Hearings; Advisory Panel Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings and Advisory Panel meetings; request
for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold 26 public hearings to receive comments from
fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed
regulations to implement the draft Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic
Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks (HMS FMP), and draft Amendment 1 to the
Atlantic Billfish Fishery Management Plan (Billfish Amendment).
NMFS previously published Notices of Availability for the HMS FMP
(63 FR 57093) and for the Billfish Amendment (63 FR 54433). NMFS
extends the comment period for the HMS FMP and reopens the comment
period for the Billfish Amendment to coincide with the comment period
on the forthcoming proposed rule.
To accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to
provide additional comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the
proposed rule.
NMFS will hold consecutive meetings of the Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) and Billfish Advisory Panels (APs), with a
half-day joint meeting, to discuss comments and advise NMFS on the HMS
FMP and Billfish Amendment, respectively.
DATES: The HMS AP meeting will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on
Monday, February 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February
23, and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24. The
Billfish AP meeting will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on
Thursday, February 25, and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday,
February 26. A joint session of the HMS and Billfish APs will be held
from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations of
the public hearings. Written comments on the proposed rule must be
received on or before March 4, 1999.
ADDRESSES: The APs will meet at the NOAA Science Center, 1301 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Informational materials related
to the AP meetings are available from Alicon Morgan, Highly Migratory
Species Management Division, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
Maryland 20910.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the public hearing locations.
Written comments on the proposed rule should be sent to Rebecca Lent,
Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of
Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Clearly mark the outside of
the envelope ``FMP comments.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicon Morgan at 301-713-2347, or
Sarah McLaughlin at 978-281-9146.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulatory amendments, draft
HMS FMP and draft Billfish Amendment that are the subject of the
hearings are necessary to address requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, implement recommendations of
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas as
required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and consolidate existing
regulations, organized by species, for the conservation and management
of highly migratory species into one part of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), organized by theme, as part of the President's
Regulatory Reinvention Initiative.
A complete description of the measures, and the purpose and need
for the proposed actions, is contained in the proposed rule, to be
published February 20, 1999 and is not repeated here. Copies of the
proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or calling one
of the contact persons (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Dates, Times, and Locations of Public Hearings
The public hearing schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, February 3, 1999, Charleston, SC, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Department of Natural Resources
Marine Research Institute Auditorium
217 Fort Johnson Road
Charleston, SC 29412
Wednesday, February 3, 1999, St. Augustine, FL, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Northeast Florida Marlin Association Clubhouse
30 Harbor Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32095
Wednesday, February 3, 1999, Old San Juan, PR, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Club Nautico
482 Fernandez Juncos Avenue
Old San Juan, PR 00905
[Note: This public hearing will be conducted in English]
Thursday, February 4, 1999, Red Hook, St. Thomas, USVI, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
U.S.V.I. Game Fishing Club
6501 Red Hook Plaza, Suite 201
Red Hook, St. Thomas, USVI 00802
Friday, February 5, 1999, Brunswick, GA, 7-10 p.m.
Comfort Inn I-95
5308 New Jesup Highway
Brunswick, GA 31523
Monday, February 8, 1999, Miami, FL, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel
495 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
[Note: This public hearing will cover the Billfish Amendment only.]
Tuesday, February 9, 1999, Key West, FL, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn Beachside Resort and Convention Center
[[Page 3487]]
3841 N. Roosevelt Boulevard
Key West, FL 33040
Tuesday, February 9, 1999, Houma, LA, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn Holidome
210 S. Hollywood Road
Houma, LA 70360
Wednesday, February 10, 1999, New Orleans, LA, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Crowne Plaza
333 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Thursday, February 11, 1999, Port Aransas, TX, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
University of Texas at Austin
Marine Science Institute
750 Channel View Drive
Port Aransas, TX 78337
Monday, February 15, 1999, Fairhaven, MA, 7-10 p.m.
Seaport Inn
110 Middle Street
Fairhaven, MA 02719
Monday, February 15, 1999, Madeira Beach, FL, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
City Hall
300 Municipal Drive
Madeira Beach, FL 33708
Tuesday, February 16, 1999, Nags Head, NC, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Ramada Inn
1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27948
Tuesday, February 16, 1999, Panama City, FL, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Panama City Laboratory
National Marine Fisheries Service
3500 Delwood Beach Road
Panama City, FL 32408
Wednesday, February 17, 1999, Fort Pierce, FL, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Radisson Resort North Hutchinson Island
2600 North A1A
Fort Pierce, FL 34949
Wednesday, February 17, 1999, Norfolk, VA, 7-10 p.m.
Quality Inn Lake Wright Resort
6280 Northampton Boulevard
Norfolk, VA 23502
Wednesday, February 17, 1999, Orange Beach, AL, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
23092 Perdido Beach Boulevard
Orange Beach, AL 36561
Thursday, February 18, 1999, Montauk, NY, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Montauk Fire Department
12 Flamingo Avenue
Montauk, NY 11954
Thursday, February 18, 1999, Barnegat Light, NJ, 7-10 p.m.
Barnegat Light Firehouse
corner of West 10th Street and Central Avenue
Barnegat Light, NJ 08006
Friday, February 19, 1999, Freeport, NY, 7-10 p.m.
Freeport Recreational Center
130 East Merrick Road
Freeport, NY 11520
Friday, February 19, 1999, Toms River, NJ, 7-10 p.m.
Quality Inn
290 State Highway 37 East
Toms River, NJ 08753
Wednesday, February 24, 1999, Silver Spring, MD, 7-10 p.m. NOAA Science
Center
1301 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tuesday, March 2, 1999, Gloucester, MA, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Sawyer Free Library
2 Dale Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
Wednesday, March 3, 1999, West Bath, ME, 7-10 p.m.
New Meadows Inn
360 Bath Road
West Bath, ME 04530
Wednesday, March 3, 1999, Ocean City, MD, 7-10 p.m.
City Hall
Third Street and Baltimore Avenue
Ocean City, MD 21842
Thursday, March 4, 1999, Rockport, ME, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Maine
Fishermen's Forum
Samoset Resort
220 Warrenton Street
Rockport, ME 04856
Special Accomodations
These hearings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Rebecca Lent (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the hearing.
Dated: January 15, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1418 Filed 1-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
