2020-14956. New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of public hearings.

SUMMARY:

The New England Fishery Management Council's is convening several Public Hearings of Draft Amendment 23 to Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan via webinar to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES:

These webinars will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2020; Thursday, July 30, 2020; Tuesday, August 4, 2020; Thursday, August 6, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

The meetings will be held via webinar.

All meeting participants and interested parties can register below for each webinar individually.

1. Wednesday, July 29, 2020, from 4-6 p.m. This webinar will be specific to CT and Mid-Atlantic Region, RI and CT/Mid-Atlantic (NY/NJ/DE/MD/VA/NC)

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/​register/​4552271017165912332.

Call in information: [phone]; Access Code: 632-535-527.

2. Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 4-6 p.m.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/​register/​3530306844985146892.

Call in information: [phone]; Access Code: 230-075-756.

3. Tuesday, August 4, 2020 from 4—6 p.m.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/​register/​1484010152577816332.

Call in information: [phone]; Access Code: 587-188-268.

4. Thursday, August 6, 2020 from 4—6 p.m. The Council encourages this webinar be reserved for those without other options to participate. No registration is needed.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/​join/​697496061.

Call in information: [phone]; Access Code: 697-496-061.

Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public comments: Public comment deadline is August 30, 2020. Mail to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Mark the outside of the envelope “DEIS for Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP”. Comments may also be sent via fax to [phone] or submitted via email to [e-mail] with “DEIS for Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP” in the subject line.

Agenda

Council staff will brief the public on Draft Amendment 23 before receiving comments on the amendment. The hearing will begin promptly at the time indicated above. If all attendees who wish to do so have provided their comments prior to the end time indicated, the hearing may conclude early. To the extent possible, the Council may extend hearings beyond the end time indicated above to accommodate all attendees who wish to speak. Scheduling of hearings is ongoing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If additional hearings are scheduled they will be announced in a separate notice.

Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.

Special Accommodations

These meetings physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign

language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at [phone], at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

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

Dated: July 7, 2020.

Tracey L. Thompson,

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.