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