97-15360. Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Public Meeting; Extension of Comment Period  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 32071-32072]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-15360]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    
    50 CFR Part 600
    
    [I.D. 120996A]
    
    
    Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Public Meeting; 
    Extension of Comment Period
    
    AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Extension of comment period.
    
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    SUMMARY: NMFS announces the extension of the public comment period on 
    the proposed 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 July 8, 1997, to 
    give members of the public additional time to review and comment on the 
    proposed regulation. NMFS also announces its intent to hold at least 
    one additional public meeting at a date, time, and location to be 
    announced in a future notice. This meeting is added to provide an 
    additional opportunity for public comment on the EFH proposed 
    regulations.
    
    DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before July 8, 1997. The 
    date of the additional meeting will be announced in a future notice.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Office of Habitat
    
    [[Page 32072]]
    
    Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
    Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-2325. The location of the 
    additional public meeting will be announced in a future notice.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Crockett, NMFS, 301/713-2325.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        NMFS issued proposed regulations containing guidelines for the 
    description and identification of EFH in fishery management plans, 
    adverse impacts on EFH, and actions to conserve and enhance EFH on 
    April 23, 1997 (62 FR 19723). An extension of the comment period was 
    published on May 19, 1997 (62 FR 27214). The regulations would also 
    provide a process for NMFS to coordinate and consult with Federal and 
    state agencies on activities that may adversely affect EFH. The 
    guidelines are required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
    and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The purpose of the rule is 
    to assist fishery management councils in fulfilling the requirements 
    set out by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to amend their fishery management 
    plans to describe and identify EFH, minimize adverse effects on EFH, 
    and identify other actions to conserve and enhance EFH. The purpose of 
    the coordination and consultation provisions is to specify procedures 
    for adequate consultation with NMFS on activities that may adversely 
    affect EFH.
    
        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    
        Dated: June 6, 1997.
    James P. Burgess,
    Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries 
    Service.
    [FR Doc. 97-15360 Filed 6-6-97; 4:58 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/12/1997
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Extension of comment period.
Document Number:
97-15360
Dates:
Written comments will be accepted on or before July 8, 1997. The date of the additional meeting will be announced in a future notice.
Pages:
32071-32072 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
I.D. 120996A
PDF File:
97-15360.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 600