98-17167. Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Precious Corals Fisheries; Amendment 3

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35184-35185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17167]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[I.D. 061898B]
RIN 0648-AK60


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Western Pacific Precious Corals Fisheries; Amendment 3

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan amendment; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Precious Corals Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region 
(FMP) for Secretarial review. Amendment 3 would establish framework 
procedures for regulatory changes under the FMP.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 3 must be received on or before August 28, 
1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendment 3 should be sent to, and copies of 
Amendment 3 are available from, Kitty Simonds, Executive Director, 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 
1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty Simonds at [phone] or 
Alvin Katekaru, Fishery Management Specialist, Pacific Islands Area 
Office, NMFS at [phone].

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 or plan 
amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or 
partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires

[[Page 35185]]

that NMFS, upon receiving a fishery management plan or amendment, 
immediately publish a notice that the fishery management plan 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 fishery management plan or 
amendment.
    Amendment 3 to the FMP would establish framework procedures for 
regulatory changes under the FMP. Under the proposed framework 
procedures, new management measures may be added through rulemaking if 
new information demonstrates that there are biological, social, or 
economic concerns in the precious coral permit areas. The framework 
procedures would authorize the implementation of measures that may 
affect the fishing season, classification of coral beds, harvest quotas 
for all management unit species, size restrictions, incidental catches 
and permit conditions. Each action taken under the framework process 
would entail documentation of the analysis of impacts of that action. 
To the extent appropriate, the Council would prepare regulations, 
regulatory analyses, environmental assessments, or other documents 
depending on the scope of the action, which framework process is being 
used, and the types and magnitude of impacts involved. Advance public 
notice, public discussion, and consideration of public comment would be 
required.
    NMFS invites comments on proposed Amendment 3 through the end of 
the comment period. NMFS will consider the public comments received 
during the comment period in determining whether to approve the 
proposed amendment. A proposed rule to implement Amendment 3 has been 
submitted for Secretarial review and approval. NMFS expects to publish 
the proposed rule and request public comment on the proposed 
regulations in the near future. Public comments on the proposed rule 
must be received by August 28, 1998 to be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on Amendment 3.

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

    Dated: June 23, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-17167 Filed 6-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F