Notices. Notification of a proposal for a permit to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments

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BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 110904I] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of a proposal for a permit to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments. SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject Exempted Fishing Permit

(EFP)application contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. The Assistant 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 Assistant 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 closed area restrictions and the NE multispecies minimum fish size requirements. The applicant proposes to conduct a study of an experimental haddock separator trawl, a bycatch reduction device, in order to examine the effectiveness of this type of gear at reducing the catch of Atlantic cod, and other similarly behaving groundfish, when targeting haddock. The EFP would allow these exemptions for three commercial vessels for a combined total of 50 days at sea. All experimental work would be monitored by Gulf of Maine Research Institute

(GMRI)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 must be received on or before December 2, 2004. ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is *DA676@noaa.gov* . Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: “Comments on GMRI EFP Proposal for Haddock Separator Trawl Study (DA-676).” 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 GMRI EFP Proposal for Haddock Separator Trawl Study (DA-676).” Comments may also be sent via fax to

(978)281-9135. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper, Fishery Management Specialist, phone: 978-281-9122, fax: 978-281-9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP was submitted by GMRI on August 26, 2004. The EFP would exempt three federally permitted commercial fishing vessels from the following requirements in the FMP: NE multispecies closed area restrictions specified at §§ 648.81(a) and 648.81(b) to provide an optimum mixture of cod and haddock for testing the experimental gear; and the NE multispecies minimum fish size requirements specified at § 648.83(a) in order to allow weighing and measuring of the entire catch. The goal of this study is to assess the selectivity of a bycatch reduction device in Closed Area

(CA)I and CA II of the NE groundfish fishery. Three factors are proposed to be examined in this study:

(1)Net Selectivity - examination of the catch composition in the experimental net;

(2)Environmental Factors - air and water temperature, wind, sea state, and weather data would be collected at every station; and

(3)Seasonal Variation - the study would be conducted over 10 months to determine if there are any seasonal differences in catch or fish behavior. The specific trawl design to be tested is referred to as a haddock separator trawl, which consists of a separation panel comprised of 6.5-inch (16.5-cm) diamond mesh integrated horizontally into a conventional trawl net designed with 6.5-inch (16.5-cm) mesh in the fishing circle and 6.5-inch (16.5-cm) mesh in the codend. The codend would be further modified to create an upper and lower codend. The study would be conducted from November 2004 through February 2005, and from May 2005 through October 2005. Separator trawl gear testing would take place aboard three different fishing vessels totaling 220, 20-minute trawls conducted over 50 days at sea. All of the trawls are expected to take place inside portions of CA I and CA II. The proposers are requesting access to CA II only if the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock Special Access Program

(SAP)Pilot Program that is proposed in Framework 40-A to the FMP is not approved. The areas to be trawled are within 19 defined 5-square-nautical mile areas, all at least partially within the central portion of CA I, the area that lies outside of the CA I Habitat Closure Area (HCA); and within three defined 5-square-nautical mile areas, all at least partially within the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP Pilot Program that is proposed in Framework 40-A to the FMP. One trawl per month would be randomly conducted in each cell. Tows in cells that partially overlap the HCA in CA I and CA II would be conducted only in areas of the cells that are not within the HCA. All fish retained by the upper and lower codends would be counted, weighed, and measured. All legal catch would be landed and sold, consistent with the current daily and trip possession and landing limits. Current regulations restrict vessels fishing on Georges Bank to landing no more than 1,000 lb (454 kg) of cod per day-at-sea (DAS), up to a maximum of 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) per trip, and no more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of haddock per DAS, up to a maximum of 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) per trip from May 1 to September 30; and no more than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg), up to a maximum of 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) per trip from October 1 to April 30. 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. The target fishery is the groundfish mixed-species fishery; the target species is haddock. Estimates of the total amount of the primary species that are expected to be caught under this EFP are: 210,000 lb (95,254 kg) of haddock; 21,000 lb (9,525 kg) of Atlantic cod; 250 lb (113 kg) of pollock; and 250 lb (113 kg) yellowtail flounder. Other commercially important fish commonly found in the groundfish mixed-species fishery are expected to be caught incidentally. The incidental catch is expected to be comprised of American plaice, monkfish, skates, spiny dogfish, white hake, winter flounder, and witch flounder. The applicant is preparing an Environmental Assessment

(EA)that will analyze the impacts of the proposed experimental fishery on the human environment. This EA will examine whether the proposed activities are consistent with the goals and objectives of the FMP, whether they would be detrimental to the well-being of any stocks of fish harvested, and whether they would have any significant environmental impacts. The EA will also examine whether the proposed experimental fishery would be detrimental to essential fish habitat, marine mammals, or protected species. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: November 10, 2004. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E4-3190 Filed 11-16-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-08-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 110904B] Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of a proposal for permits to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments. SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject Exempted Fishing Permit

(GOM)Rolling Closure Areas, the NE multispecies days-at-sea

(DAS)effort control program, the NE multispecies DAS notification requirement, and the minimum mesh size for trawl gear. 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 must be received on or before December 2, 2004. ADDRESSES: 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 the GOM High Opening Raised Footrope Trawl for Haddock and Pollock.” Comments may also be sent via fax to

(978)281-9135, or be submitted via e-mail to the following address: *da702@noaa.gov* . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Tasker, Fishery Management Specialist, phone 978-281-9273. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP was submitted on October 12, 2004, by Dr. Pingguo He of the University of New Hampshire

(UNH)for a Northeast Consortium contract project. The primary goal of the research is to design and test a high opening haddock raised footrope trawl for potential use in B DAS programs in the GOM. The project, which is anticipated to be two years in duration, would include flume tank trials and 10 days of at-sea trials, per year. At-sea trials would consist of three to four 1-hour tows per sea day. Additionally, researchers would use remote underwater video observation and acoustic gear geometry monitoring to assess the success of the net during at-sea trials. The experimental net would consist of long drop-chains hanging between the fishing line and the sweep (raised footrope), creating a space for cod, flounders, and other benthic animals to escape or fall under the fishing line. The trawl would incorporate large meshes in the wings and belly, and kites in the square near the headline. Kites may also be used near the wingends to expand the trawl. Researchers have requested a small mesh exemption to allow for the use of a second codend or a small mesh cover to collect fish released from the trawl to assess the effectiveness of the separator trawl. All specimens caught would be sampled and measured. All undersized fish will be returned to the sea as quickly as practical after measurement and examination. The overall fishing mortality is estimated to be 30 percent of the average commercial fishing mortality on a DAS. The researcher anticipates that a total of 5,217 lb (2,366.4 kg) of fish, including 1,300 lb (589.7 kg) of cod, would be harvested throughout the course of the study. Other species that are anticipated to be caught are haddock, dab, yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, grey sole, white hake, and pollock. All legal-sized fish, within the possession limit, would be sold, with the proceeds returned to the project for the purpose of enhancing future research. Year one of the study would take place from May 1, 2005, to April 30, 2006. All at-sea research during year one would be conducted from one fishing vessel. During the second year of the project, two vessels would conduct at-sea research. The trials would occur in the area north of 43°00′ N. lat. and west of 69°00′ W. long., especially in the inshore GOM, excluding the Western GOM Closure Area. Researchers have asked for an exemption to the regulations establishing the Western GOM Rolling Closure Areas because they believe that an optimal mixture of haddock and cod for testing this gear is present in the Western GOM waters during May and June. Because the aim of the project is to develop gear that could separate haddock and cod before the fish are brought onboard, an exemption from the Western GOM Rolling Closure Areas is important to the success of the study. Exemption from 10 DAS is also requested to conduct the experiment because a commercial DAS level of effort would not likely be realized due to the additional time that would be necessary to weigh, measure, and sort the catch, and to adjust underwater video and acoustic monitoring systems. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: November 10, 2004. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E4-3191 Filed 11-16-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-08-S COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Adjustment of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in the Arab Republic of Egypt November 10, 2004. AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection adjusting limits. EFFECTIVE DATE: November 16, 2004 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naomi Freeman, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce,

(202)482-4212. For information on the quota status of these limits, refer to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection website (http://www.cbp.gov), or call

(202)344-2650. For information on embargoes and quota re-openings, refer to the Office of Textiles and Apparel website at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended. The current limits for certain categories are being adjusted for swing and carryover. A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see **Federal Register** notice 69 FR 4926, published on February 2, 2004). Also see 68 FR 59916, published on October 20, 2003. D. Michael Hutchinson, Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements November 10, 2004. Commissioner, *Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.* Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, the directive issued to you on October 14, 2003, by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That directive concerns imports of certain cotton, wool and man-made fiber textile products in the following categories, produced or manufactured in Egypt and exported during the twelve-month period which began on January 1, 2004 and extends through December 31, 2004. Effective on November 16, 2004, you are directed to adjust the limits for the following categories, as provided for under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing: Category Adjusted twelve-month limit 1 Fabric Group 218-220, 224-227, 313-O 2 , 314-O 3 , 315-O 4 , 317-O 5 and 326-O 6 , as a group 205,897,117 square meters. Level not in a group 448 24,939 dozen. 1 The limits have not been adjusted to account for any imports exported after December 31, 2003. 2 Category 313-O: all HTS numbers except 5208.52.3035, 5208.52.4035 and 5209.51.6032. 3 Category 314-O: all HTS numbers except 5209.51.6015. 4 Category 315-O: all HTS numbers except 5208.52.4055. 5 Category 317-O: all HTS numbers except 5208.59.2085. 6 Category 326-O: all HTS numbers except 5208.59.2015, 5209.59.0015 and 5211.59.0015. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs exception to the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1). Sincerely, D. Michael Hutchinson, *Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.* [FR Doc. E4-3177 Filed 11-17-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Adjustment of Import Limits for Certain Cotton and Man-Made Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Pakistan November 10, 2004. AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection adjusting limits. EFFECTIVE DATE: November 16, 2004. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Arnold, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce,

(202)482-4212. For information on the quota status of these limits, refer to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection website (http://www.cbp.gov), or call

(202)344-2650. For information on embargoes and quota re-openings, refer to the Office of Textiles and Apparel website at http://otexa.ita.doc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as amended. The current limits for certain categories are being adjusted for special shift. A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see **Federal Register** notice 69 FR 4926, published on February 2, 2004). Also see 68 FR 68599, published on December 9, 2003. D. Michael Hutchinson, Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements November 10, 2004. Commissioner, *Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Washington, DC 20229.* Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel, the directive issued to you on December 3, 2003, by the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That directive concerns imports of certain cotton and man-made fiber textile products produced or manufactured in Pakistan and exported during the twelve-month period which began on January 1, 2004 and extends through December 31, 2004. Effective on November 16, 2004, you are directed to adjust the limits for the following categories, as provided for under the Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing: Category Twelve-month restraint limit 1 Specific limits 360 10,504,819 numbers. 361 11,557,218 numbers. 666-P 2 1,414,684 kilograms. 666-S 3 7,072,067 kilograms. 1 The limits have not been adjusted to account for any imports exported after December 31, 2003. 2 Category 666-P: only HTS numbers 6302.22.1010, 6302.22.1020, 6302.22.2010, 6302.32.1010, 6302.32.1020, 6302.32.2010 and 6302.32.2020. 3 Category 666-S: only HTS numbers 6302.22.1030, 6302.22.1040, 6302.22.2020, 6302.32.1030, 6302.32.1040, 6302.32.2030 and 6302.32.2040. The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1). Sincerely, D. Michael Hutchinson, *Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.* [FR Doc. E4-3178 Filed 11-16-04 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Notice of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies AGENCY: Department of Defense. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 96-463, notice is hereby given that the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies will hold an open meeting at The Thayer Hotel, 674 Thayer Road, West Point, New York 10996, on December 3, 2004 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Purpose The Task Force will meet on December 3, 2004, from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m., and this session will be open to the public, subject to the availability of space. In keeping with the spirit of Federal Advisory Committee Act, it is the desire of the Task Force to provide the public with an opportunity to ask questions of the Task Force or to make comment regarding the current work of the Task Force. No internal Task Force meeting will be conducted at this time nor will the Task Force receive any briefings. Any interested citizens are encouraged to attend. DATES: December 3, 2004/11 a.m.-12 p.m. *Location:* The Thayer Hotel, 674 Thayer Road, West Point, New York 10996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing further information concerning this meeting or wishing to submit comments must contact: Mr. William Harkey, Public Affairs Officer, Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies, 2850 Eisenhower Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, Telephone:

(703)325-6640, DSN# 221-6640, Fax:

(703)325-6710/6711, *william.harkey.CTR@wso.whs.mil.* Interested persons may submit a written statement for consideration by the Task Force and make an oral presentation of such. Persons desiring to make an oral presentation or submit a written statement to the Committee must notify the point of contact listed above no later than 5 p.m., November 19, 2004. Oral presentations by members of the public will be permitted only on December 3, 2004, from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. before the full Task Force. Presentations will be limited to five minutes each. Number of oral presentations to be made will depend on the number of requests received from members of the public and the time allotted. Each person desiring to make an oral presentation must provide the point of contact listed above with one

(1)written copy of the presentation by 5 p.m., November 19, 2004 and bring 15 written copies of any material that is intended for distribution at the meeting. Persons submitting a written statement must submit 15 written copies of the statement to the Task Force staff by 5 p.m. on November 22, 2004. *General Information:* Additional information concerning the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at The Military Service Academies, its structure, function, and composition, may be found on the DTFSH and VTMA Web site ( *http://www.dtic.mil/dtfs* ). Dated: November 9, 2004. Jeannette Owings-Ballard, OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 04-25442 Filed 11-16-04; 8:45 am]

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Notices

Notification of a proposal for a permit to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments

Pub. L.Pub. L. 96-463

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