Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Public Meeting; 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 Meeting;

Extension of Comment Period

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

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: 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 July 8, 1997, to

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

proposed regulation. NMFS also announces its intent to hold at least

one additional public meeting at a date, time, and location to be

announced in a future notice. This meeting is added to provide an

additional opportunity for public comment on the EFH proposed

regulations.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before July 8, 1997. The

date of the additional meeting will be announced in a future notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Office of Habitat

[[Page 32072]]

Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver

Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-2325. The location of the

additional public meeting will be announced in a future notice.

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). An extension of the comment period was

published on May 19, 1997 (62 FR 27214). 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.

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

Dated: June 6, 1997.

James P. Burgess,

Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 97-15360 Filed 6-6-97; 4:58 pm]

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