[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10591]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 229
[I.D. 041797A]
Authorization for Commercial Fisheries under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act; Take Reduction Plan Regulations and Emergency
Regulations; Public Hearings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing the dates, times and locations for 11
public hearings that will address the proposed Atlantic Large Whale
Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP or Plan) and implementing regulations
intended to reduce the level of serious injury and mortality of 4 large
whale stocks (right, humpback, fin, and minke) that occur incidental to
4 east coast fisheries (northeast sink gillnet, mid-Atlantic coastal
gillnet, American lobster pot, and southeastern U.S. shark net).
DATES: Written comments on this document, the proposed take reduction
plan and its implementing regulations must be submitted no later than
May 15, 1997. Testimony may also be presented at the public hearings,
which are scheduled to be held from April 28, 1997, through May 6,
1997. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific hearing dates and
times.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, and copies of the
proposed rule are available from, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (FAX: 301-713-0376). The hearings
will be held in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New
Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
specific locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Chu, NMFS, Northeast Region,
(508) 495-2291.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Pursuant to section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS
proposed the ALWTRP and implementing regulations on April 7, 1997 (62
FR 16519). The objective of the Plan and its regulations is to reduce
the level of serious injury and mortality of 4 large whale stocks
(right, humpback, fin, and minke) that occur incidental to 4 east coast
fisheries (northeast sink gillnet, mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet,
American lobster pot, and southeastern U.S. shark net). By this
document, NMFS is announcing 11 public hearings which will provide the
public with the opportunity to submit oral or written testimony on the
proposed Plan and implementing regulations.
NMFS requests that persons planning to speak at the hearings
provide a written copy of their testimony to NMFS at the hearing. The
dates, times, and locations of the hearings are scheduled as follows:
1. Monday, April 28, 1997, 6 p.m. EST--Massachusetts Maritime
Academy, 101 Academy Dr., Buzzards Bay, MA 02532; (508) 830-5000.
2. Monday, April 28, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Holiday Inn at the Tower,
Junction US Rte. 1 & 138 West, S. Kingston, RI 02881; (401) 789-1051.
3. Tuesday, April 29, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Double Tree Club Hotel, 880
Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502; (757) 461-9192.
4. Wednesday, April 30, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Radisson Eastland Hotel,
157 High Street, Portland, ME 04101; (207) 775-5411.
5. Wednesday, April 30, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Sheraton Fontainebleau
Hotel, 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842; (410) 524-3535.
6. Thursday, May 1, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Trade Winds Motor Inn, 2 Park
View Drive, Rockland, ME 04856; (207) 596-6661.
7. Thursday, May 1, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--Holiday Inn, 290 Highway -
Route 37 East/Clifton Avenue, Tom's River, NJ 08754; (908) 244-4000.
8. Friday, May 2, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--White Birches, Rte 1 - East of
Ellsworth, Ellsworth, ME 04605; (207) 667-3621.
9. Saturday, May 3, 1997, 1 p.m. EST--University of Maine, Science
Building, Room 102, 9 O'Brien Avenue, Machias, ME 04654; (207) 255-
1200.
10. Monday, May 5, 1997, 6 p.m. EST--Fuller School, 4 School House
Road, Gloucester, MA 01930; (508) 281-9841.
11. Tuesday, May 6, 1997, 7 p.m. EST--Urban Forestry Center, 45
Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801; (603) 431-6774.
Special Accommodations
These hearings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to the appropriate regionalcontact
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the
hearing date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
Dated: April 18, 1997.
Thomas C. Eagle,
Acting Chief Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-10591 Filed 4-21-97; 11:51 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
