Rules and Regulations. Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public comment period

Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
Action: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 2012-16343 · RIN 0648-BB92 · Docket No. 120425420-2420-01 · 50 CFR 600

Summary

NMFS is extending the date by which public comments are due in response to the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) published on May 3, 2012, on potential adjustments to the National Standard 1 Guidelines, one of 10 national standards for fishery conservation and management contained in Section 301 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NMFS has received a request to extend the comment period for the ANPR beyond its current 90-day comment period, originally scheduled to end on August 1, 2012. With this notice, NMFS is extending the comment period to September 15, 2012, to ensure there is adequate time for stakeholders and members of the public to comment on the ANPR.

Dates

The deadline for receipt of comments on the ANPR published on May 3, 2012 (77 FR 26238), is extended to September 15, 2012.

Supplementary Information

Background On May 3, 2012, NMFS published an ANPR (77 FR 26238) to provide background information and to request public comment on potential adjustments to the National Standard 1 Guidelines. The ANPR provides the public with a formal opportunity to comment on the specific ideas mentioned in the ANPR, as well as any additional ideas and solutions that could improve provisions of the National Standard 1 Guidelines. NMFS received a request from the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on behalf of all eight regional councils, to extend the comment period on the ANPR to September 15, 2012, to give the Councils more time to discuss the issues in the ANPR with their advisors, fishing industries and among themselves, in order to provide NMFS with comprehensive and significant comments on the ANPR. NMFS has considered this request and concludes that a 45-day extension is appropriate. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: June 27, 2012. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, Performing the Functions and Duties of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012-16343 Filed 7-2-12; 8:45 am]