98-4363. Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Extension of Comment Period

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8607-8608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4363]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[I.D. 120996A]


Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Extension of 
Comment Period

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


[[Page 8608]]


ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces an extension of the public comment period on 
the interim final regulations containing guidelines for the description 
and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) in fishery 
management plans. The public comment period is hereby extended to March 
19, 1998, to give members of the public additional time to review and 
comment on the interim final regulation.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before March 19, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Director, Office of Habitat 
Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Crockett, NMFS, 301/713-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The rulemaking is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq). The interim 
final rule was promulgated on December 19, 1997 (62 FR 66531). Details 
concerning the justification for and development of this interim final 
rule were provided in the proposed rule (62 FR 19723, April 23, 1997).

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

    Dated: February 13, 1998.
David L. Evans,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-4363 Filed 2-17-98; 3:44 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F