[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15376-15377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8431]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[I.D. 032398B]
RIN 0648-AJ51
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Scallop
Fishery off Alaska; 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has
submitted Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop
Fishery off Alaska for Secretarial review. Amendment 3 would delegate
to the State of Alaska (State) the authority to manage all aspects of
the scallop fishery, except limited access, and would repeal all
Federal regulations governing the scallop fishery off Alaska, except
for the scallop vessel moratorium program. This action is necessary to
eliminate duplicate regulations and management programs for the scallop
fishery at the State and Federal levels. Comments from the public are
requested.
DATES: Comments on Amendment 3 must be submitted on or before June 1,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendment 3 should be submitted to Sue Salveson,
Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska
Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel,
or delivered to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th. Street, Juneau, AK.
Copies of Amendment 3 and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory
Impact Review prepared for the amendment are available from NMFS at the
above address, or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS, at 907-586-7228.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Lind, 907-586-7228 or
kent.lind@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional
Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan (FMP) or
plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval,
disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also
requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately
publish a document announcing that the FMP or amendment is available
for public review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments
received during the comment period in determining whether to approve
the FMP or amendment. Public comments on the proposed rule must be
received by the end of the comment period on the FMP/amendment to be
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the FMP/amendment.
NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment
[[Page 15377]]
period in determining whether to approve Amendment 3. A proposed rule
to implement Amendment 3 is scheduled to be published within 15 days of
this document.
Dated: March 25, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8431 Filed 3-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
