Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Public Hearings; Advisory Panel Meeting

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 121799E]

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Public Hearings;

Advisory Panel Meeting

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

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings and Advisory Panel meeting; request

for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold 10 public hearings to receive comments from

fishery participants and other members of the public regarding proposed

regulations to implement time/area closures for Atlantic pelagic

longline fishermen who hold highly migratory species (HMS) permits. To

accommodate people unable to attend a hearing or wishing to provide

written comments, NMFS also solicits written comments on the proposed

rule. In addition, NMFS will hold a joint meeting of the HMS and

Billfish Advisory Panels (APs), to discuss future fishery management

actions and advise NMFS.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting and hearing dates and

times. Written comments on the proposed rule must be received at the

appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00

p.m., eastern standard time, on February 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting and hearing

locations. For informational materials related to the AP meeting and

copies of the draft Technical Memorandum and Supplemental Environmental

Impact Statement/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory

Flexibility Analysis (DSEIS/RIR/IRFA) contact Margo Schulze-Haugen or

Jill Stevenson at 301-713-2347, or write to Rebecca Lent.

Written comments on the proposed rule should be sent to Rebecca

Lent, Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of

Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315

East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments also may be sent

via facsimile (fax) to 301-713-1917. Comments will not be accepted if

submitted via e-mail or Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Schulze-Haugen or Jill Stevenson

at 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulations that are the

subject of the hearings are necessary to address requirements of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for the

conservation and management of HMS.

A complete description of the measures, and the purpose and need

for the proposed actions, is contained in the proposed rule, published

December 15, 1999 (64 FR 69982), and is not repeated here. Copies of

the proposed rule may be obtained by writing (see ADDRESSES) or by

calling one of the listed contact persons (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT).

NMFS is currently considering AP member nominations for the 2000-

2002 period. NMFS will send out selection letters to new AP members

shortly and announce the new AP members to constituents via the fax

network.

Hearing and Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations

The public hearing schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, January 4, 2000--Kill Devil Hills, NC, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Ramada Inn, 1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

Wednesday, January 5, 2000--Charleston, SC, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Department of Natural Resources, Marine Research Institute

Auditorium, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412

Monday, January 10, 2000--Jacksonville, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Omni Jacksonville Hotel, 245 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Tuesday, January 11, 2000--Fort Pierce, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Radisson Resort North Hutchinson Island, 2600 North A1A, Fort

Pierce, FL 34949

Wednesday, January 12, 2000--Pompano Beach, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801 NE. 6th Street, Pompano

Beach, FL 33060

Thursday, January 13, 2000--Panama City, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

National Marine Fisheries Service, Panama City Laboratory, 3500

Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408

Tuesday, January 18, 2000--Gloucester, MA, 2:00-4:30 p.m.

National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region, One Blackburn

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930

Wednesday, January 19, 2000--Fairhaven, MA, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Seaport Inn, 110 Middle Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719

Tuesday, January 25, 2000--Port Aransas, TX, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750

Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX 78337

Wednesday, January 26, 2000--Miami, FL, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel, 495 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131

Wednesday, February 2, 2000--Atlantic City, NJ, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Atlantic Community College, 1535 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic

City, NJ 08401

Wednesday, February 9, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 7:00-9:30 p.m.

NOAA Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20190

The public hearing on February 9, 2000, will be held in conjunction

with the AP meeting scheduled for that day. AP meetings are open to the

public. The AP meeting schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, February 9, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 10, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Friday, February 11, 2000--Silver Spring, MD, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

NOAA Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20910.

The Advisory Panels will discuss the ``1999 Stock Assessment and

Fishery Evaluation for Atlantic Highly Migratory

[[Page 72637]]

Species'', limited entry in HMS fisheries, bycatch reduction measures

(time/area closure proposed rule, turtle bycatch concerns), economic

data collection, assessing social impacts on HMS fishing communities,

division of the BFT Angling category, authorized gears, charter/

headboat regulations, observers, vessel upgrading and permit transfer

requirements. Issues for upcoming rulemakings include trade

restrictions and swordfish quotas, and future options for HMS fishery

management.

Special Accommodations

The hearings and the AP meeting are physically accessible to people

with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to Margo Schulze-Haugen (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days prior to the hearing or

meeting.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: December 21, 1999.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 99-33522 Filed 12-21-99; 4:17 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F