Notices. Notice of public meetings
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/register/2003/12/30/03-32073·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 122303A] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling public meetings of its Habitat, Groundfish and Scallop Oversight Committees and Scallop Advisory Panel in, January, 2004 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: The meetings will be held between January 13-16, 2004. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Narragansett, RI and Mansfield, MA. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations. *Council address* : New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council;
(978)465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting Dates and Agendas *Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at 9:30 a.m.* -Habitat/MPA Committee Meeting. Location: Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA; telephone: 508-339-2200. The Committee will discuss upcoming Omnibus #2 Habitat Amendment including, but not limited to, the review of the Draft Timeline, Draft Notice of Intent, Draft Request for Proposals for Habitat Areas of Particular Concern and Dedicated Habitat Research Areas, and discussion of a draft Habitat Advisory Panel Process. The meeting will also include a recap of Council decisions in Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan
(FMP)and Amendment 13 to the Multispecies FMP and a discussion of the upcoming Herring Amendment 1 and Monkfish Amendment 2 Draft Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS). In addition, the Committee will be updated on the status of the American Oceans Campaign V. Daley lawsuit settlement agreement requirements and any NMFS essential fish habitat
(EFH)Consultations of particular interest to the Council. Lastly, the Committee will be updated on recent marine protected areas
(MPA)work by the formerly separate MPA Committee. The timeline for development of a Council policy on MPAs will be developed. There will be a possible closed session for the discussion and selection of habitat advisory panel. *Wednesday, January 14, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 8:30 a.m.* -Groundfish Oversight Meeting. Location: Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA; telephone: 508-339-2200. The Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to discuss Framework Action 39 and Framework Action 40 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. On Wednesday, January 14, the Committee will discuss Framework 40. The Committee will develop recommended objectives and alternatives for this framework, which will be considered by the full Council at its January 27-29, 2004 meeting. It is tentatively planned that this framework will identify opportunities and restrictions for the use of Category B days-at-sea (DAS). Category B DAS are identified in Amendment 13 and, if this amendment is approved, will be allocated on May 1, 2004. Some possible uses for Category B DAS include Special Access Programs, experimental fisheries, or to target healthy stocks subject to additional restrictions that will be specified in Framework 40. The Committee may also consider other issues for this framework that have been raised during the review of Amendment 13, such as, but not limited to, issues related to steaming time. On Thursday, January 15, the Committee will discuss Framework 39. This framework will specify the requirements and restrictions for scallop vessels that are fishing in groundfish closed areas. This framework is necessary to implement the area management system proposed in Scallop Amendment 10. If the proposed rule implementing Amendment 13 is published prior to the Committee meeting, the Committee may also review the proposed rule in order to develop recommendations for comments by the Council. *Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.* -Scallop Advisory Panel Meeting. The Scallop Advisory Panel will develop recommendations on draft alternatives in Framework Adjustment 16/39, including measures to manage scallop fishery access in the groundfish closed areas during 2004B07. Implementation of Amendment 10 and interim/emergency action may also be discussed. Advisors may want to arrive early to attend a Groundfish Oversight Committee meeting in the morning and afternoon that will discuss Framework Adjustment 39 alternatives. *Friday, January 16, 2004 at 9 a.m.* -Scallop Oversight Committee Meeting. The Committee will review advice from the Scallop Advisory Panel and Scallop Plan Development Team to guide development of measures to manage scallop fishery access in the groundfish closed areas during 2004-07 (Framework Adjustment 16/39). They may identify recommendations for a preferred alternative. Implementation of Amendment 10 and interim/emergency action may also be discussed. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before these groups for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meeting. 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. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES ) at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates. Dated: December 23, 2003. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E3-00660 Filed 12-29-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 121903E] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Public meeting. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3-day Council meeting on January 27-29, 2004, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2004, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and on Wednesday and Thursday, January 28 and 29, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Viking Hotel, One Bellevue Avenue,Newport, RI, 02840; telephone
(401)847-3300. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone
(978)465-0492. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council,
(978)465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 Following introductions, the Council will receive reports on recent activities from the Council Chairman and Executive Director, the NMFS Regional Administrator, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, NOAA General Counsel and representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. During her report, the Regional Administrator will brief the Council on a national commercial fisheries employment survey to be conducted by NOAA Fisheries early next year. There also will be a short presentation on the status of species reviewed at the 38th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop. Species will include ocean quahogs and butterfish. During the Tuesday afternoon session the Council will discuss and set Council work priorities for 2004. A Scallop Committee report will follow and focus on a request for emergency action. If approved, the emergency would likely remain in effect until NMFS publishes a final rule for Amendment 10 the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Measures could include, but are not limited to closure of the Hudson Canyon and Elephant Trunk Areas. The areas contain a high abundance of small scallops that would be subject to harvesting without the protection specified in Amendment 10 or the emergency action. Late in the day, the Groundfish Committee will begin its report to the Council with guidance provided by the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee on U.S./Canada issues. This will include Total Allowable Catch recommendations for eastern Georges Bank cod, haddock and yellowtail flounder. Wednesday, January 28, 2004 The Groundfish Committee will continue its report on Wednesday. It will propose initial action on Framework Adjustment 40 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. At this meeting the Council intends to identify the objectives of the action as well as the alternatives that will specify the restrictions on the use of “B” days-at-sea. B days are among the effort controls included in Amendment 13 to the FMP. The Council also will likely prepare comments on the proposed rule implementing Amendment 13. Additionally, it may consider recommendations from the Groundfish Committee concerning the issues of steaming time and future access to the fishery by former participants who may be precluded from fishing under Amendment 13. If necessary, the Council also could discuss issues related to Congressional action as it affects NMFS funding in 2004. Thursday, January 29, 2004 The Research Steering Committee will report to the Council on refinements to its policy on incorporating the results of cooperative research results into the management process and activities planned for 2004. The Council is then scheduled to review and approve its draft Statement of Organization, Practices and Procedures. The Habitat/Marine Protected Area Committee will ask for approval of its recommendations concerning the timing and scope of Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2. There will also be a discussion of the committee's rationale to prohibit clam dredges from habitat closed areas designated in Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. The afternoon session will include a report by the NOAA Fisheries Statistics Office on a proposed rule implementing mandatory dealer electronic reporting and scheduled for publication in 2004. The meeting will conclude with a briefing on NOAA Fisheries National Bycatch Strategy and regional implementation of a plan. Any other Council business that was postponed until the close of the meeting will also be addressed at this time. Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subjects of formal action during this meeting. 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 that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES ) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: December 22, 2003. Bruce Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 03-32073 Filed 12-29-03; 8:45 am]