Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Public Meetings; Extension of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[I.D. 120996A]

Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Public Meetings;

Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Public meetings; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the extension of the public comment period on

the proposed regulations containing guidelines for the description and

identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) in fishery management

plans. The public comment period is hereby extended to June 6, 1997, to

give members of the public additional time to review and comment on the

proposed regulation. NMFS also announces an additional public meeting

to be held in Charleston, SC. This meeting is added to provide an

opportunity in the South Atlantic for public comment on the EFH

proposed regulations.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before June 6, 1997. The

additional public meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, May 28,

1997, at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Requests for special accommodations and comments should be

addressed to Office of Habitat Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315

East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-

2325. The additional public meeting will be held at Town and Country

Inn,

[[Page 27215]]

2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Crockett, NMFS, 301/713-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

NMFS issued proposed regulations containing guidelines for the

description and identification of EFH in fishery management plans,

adverse impacts on EFH, and actions to conserve and enhance EFH on

April 23, 1997 (62 FR 19723). The regulations would also provide a

process for NMFS to coordinate and consult with Federal and state

agencies on activities that may adversely affect EFH. The guidelines

are required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The purpose of the rule is to

assist fishery management councils in fulfilling the requirements set

out by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to amend their fishery management plans

to describe and identify EFH, minimize adverse effects on EFH, and

identify other actions to conserve and enhance EFH. The purpose of the

coordination and consultation provisions is to specify procedures for

adequate consultation with NMFS on activities that may adversely affect

EFH.

Special Accommodations

Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids

should be directed to Lee Crockett (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days

prior to the meeting date.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: May 13, 1997.

James P. Burgess,

Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-13018 Filed 5-16-97; 8:45 am]

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