Notices. Notification of a proposal for an EFP to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments
1,858 words·~8 min read·
/register/2004/05/17/04-11123A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 051104A] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
(EFPs)AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of a proposal for an EFP to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments. SUMMARY: The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject EFP application contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. The Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast
(NE)Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Regional Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that would allow three vessels to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP would allow for exemptions from the NE multispecies mesh requirements specified at 50 CFR 648.80(a)(3)(i), the multispecies rolling closure areas restrictions specified at 648.81(f), and the multispecies Days-At-Sea
(DAS)requirements specified at 648.82(a). The experiment proposes to conduct a study of an experimental bycatch reduction device in order to develop otter trawl gear for the NE multispecies fishery that would result in reduced catch of Atlantic cod. The EFP would allow these exemptions for three commercial vessels for not more than 12 total days of sea trials. All experimental work would be monitored by Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences personnel. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs. DATES: Comments on this document must be received on or before June 1, 2004. ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is *DA499@noaa.gov* . Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: “Comments on Manomet EFP Proposal for Inclined Separation Panel Study.” Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope “Comments on Manomet EFP Proposal for Inclined Separation Panel Study.” Comments may also be sent via facsimile
(fax)to
(978)281-9135. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Blackburn, Fishery Management Specialist, phone: 978-281-9326, fax: 978-281-9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP was submitted by Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences on April 2, 2004. The EFP would exempt three federally permitted commercial fishing vessels from the following requirements in the NE Multispecies FMP: The requirement to use a minimum mesh size of 6.0-inch (15.2-cm) diamond mesh or 6.5-inch (16.5-cm) square mesh in the body and extension of a trawl net while fishing in the GOM Regulated Mesh Area; the requirement to not fish in rolling closure areas; and the requirement to use a day-at-sea
(DAS)while targeting groundfish for no more than 12 DAS. The goal of this study is to assess the selectivity of a bycatch reduction device in the GOM groundfish fishery. The specific trawl design to be tested is referred to as an inclined separation panel. The separation panel consists of 4-inch (10.2-cm) diamond mesh sewn in the extension and codend of a conventional trawl net (6.5-inch (16.5-cm) diamond mesh codend). The vessel will target mixed groundfish (yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, American plaice, Atlantic cod, and summer flounder). The incidental catch is expected to be comprised of skates, dogfish, crab, lobster, and sculpin. According to the applicant, a trawl net of similar design has been proven successful at separating cod and other roundfish from flatfish in the Irish Sea fisheries. The study will occur between June 1 and December 31, 2004. During the study, the number of tows will be limited to four valid tows per day. Tow duration will be approximately 1 hour per tow, and the total number of valid tows will not exceed 40 for the entire study. One vessel would fish in the 30-minute squares 123 and 124, inside the area defined as follows: The Maine shoreline at 69°30′ W long., south to 69°30' W long. at 43°10′ N lat. (avoiding the GOM year round closures), and west to the Maine shoreline at 43°10′ N lat. Two vessels would fish in a second area, occupying 30-minute squares 138, 139, 140, 146, and 147, inside the area defined as follows: The Massachusetts shoreline at 70°10′ W long., north to 70°10′ W long. at 42°15′ N lat., east to 42°15′ lat. at 69°50′ W long., south to 69°50' W long. at 42° N lat., and west along the 42° N lat. line to the Massachusetts shoreline. At no time will fishing operations be conducted inside permanent closures. All fish retained by the upper and lower codends would be counted, weighed, and measured. All legal catch would be sold, consistent with the current landing limits. Undersized fish would be returned to the sea as quickly as possible after measurement. The participating vessels would be required to report all landings in their Vessel Trip Reports. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: May 12, 2004. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E4-1161 Filed 5-14-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Request for Public Comment on Commercial Availability Request under the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) May 11, 2004. AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). ACTION: Request for Public Comments concerning a request for modifications of the USSFTA rules of origin for apparel items made from certain yarns and fabrics. SUMMARY: The Government of the United States has received a request from the Government of Singapore for consultations under Article 3.18.4(a)(i) of the USSFTA. Singapore is seeking agreement to revise the rules of origin for certain apparel goods to address availability of supply of certain yarns and fabrics in the territories of the Parties. The request covers products that have been the subject of prior determinations made by CITA between November 16, 2002 and March 16, 2004 pursuant to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA). Section 202(o)(2) of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act authorizes the President to proclaim a modification to the USSFTA rules of origin for textile and apparel products that are necessary to implement an agreement with Singapore pursuant to Article 3.18.4 of the USSFTA after complying with the consultation and layover requirements of that Act. Prior to entering negotiations with Singapore regarding its request, it is appropriate to seek public comment regarding the request. CITA hereby solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to whether the yarns and fabrics described below can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted by June 16, 2004, to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, Room 3001, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Walsh, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce,
(202)482-3400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Under the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), USSFTA countries are required to eliminate customs duties on textile and apparel goods that qualify as originating goods under the USSFTA rules of origin, which are set out in Annex 3A to the USSFTA. The USSFTA provides that the rules of origin for textile and apparel products may be amended through a subsequent agreement by the USSFTA countries. In consultations regarding such a change, the USSFTA countries are to consider issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics in the free trade area and whether domestic producers are capable of supplying commercial quantities of the good in a timely manner. The government of the United States received a request from the government of Singapore requesting consultations on the rules of origin for certain products that have been the subject of prior determinations made by CITA under AGOA, CBTPA and ATPDEA, and requesting that the government of the United States consider whether the USSFTA rules of origin for these products should be modified to allow the use of certain yarns and fabrics that do not originate in the territory of the United States or Singapore. The products covered by this request are:
(1)Ring spun single yarn of nm 51 and 85, containing 50 percent or more, but less than 85 percent, by weight of 0.9 denier or finer micro modal fiber, mixed solely with U.S. origin extra long pima cotton, classified in subheading 5510.30.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), for use in women's and girls' knit blouses, shirts, lingerie, and underwear.
(2)100 percent cotton woven flannel fabrics, of yarns of different colors, containing ring-spun yarns of nm 21 through nm 36, of 2 X 2 twill weave construction, classified in subheading 5208.43.0000 of the HTSUS, for use in apparel other than gloves.
(3)Fabrics classified in subheadings 5210.21 and 5210.31 of the HTSUS, not of square construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 70 nm, for use in women's and girl's blouses.
(4)Micro-denier 30 singles and 36 singles solution dyed, open-end spun, staple spun viscose yarn, classified in subheading 5510.110000, for use in apparel. CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request, particularly with respect to whether the yarns and fabrics listed above can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be received no later than June 16, 2004. Interested persons are invited to submit six copies of such comments or information to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3100, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. If a comment alleges that any of the yarns or fabrics listed above can be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA will closely review any supporting documentation, such as a signed statement by a manufacturer stating that it produces a yarn or fabric that is in the subject of the request, including the quantities that can be supplied and the time necessary to fill an order, as well as any relevant information regarding past production. CITA will protect any business confidential information that is marked “business confidential” from disclosure to the full extent permitted by law. CITA will make available to the public non-confidential versions of the request and non-confidential versions of any public comments received with respect to a request in room 3100 in the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential summary. James C. Leonard III, Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [FR Doc. 04-11123 Filed 5-14-04; 8:45 am]
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
U.S. Code
1 reference not yet in our index
- 50 CFR 648.80(a)(3)(i)
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Notification of a proposal for an EFP to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments
Cite50 CFR 648.80(a)(3)(i)
Cites 2Cited by 0 across 0 sources