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

Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
Action: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of public comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 2012-23151 · RIN 0648-BB92 · Docket No. 120425420-2420-01 · 50 CFR 600

Summary

NMFS is reopening the comment period on 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. The current comment period is scheduled to end on September 15, 2012. Because of the importance of NS1 to U.S. fishery management and the complexity of the issues, NMFS feels reopening the comment period will provide for a fuller range of public input on the NS1 Guideline issues. The comment period will close on October 12, 2012.

Dates

The comment period for the ANPR was published on May 3, 2012 (77 FR 26238), and closed on September 15, 2012. The comment period will reopen on September 16, 2012, and remain open through October 12, 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. The comment period on the ANPR was originally scheduled to close on August 1, 2012. 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. On July 3, 2012, NMFS published a Federal Register notice extending the comment period to September 15, 2012 (77 FR 39459). Because of the importance of NS1 to U.S. fishery management and the complexity of the issues, NMFS feels reopening the comment period will provide for a fuller range of public input on the NS1 Guideline issues. NMFS is reopening the comment period and establishing a comment period end date of October 12, 2012. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 14, 2012. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs. [FR Doc. 2012-23151 Filed 9-14-12; 4:15 pm]