Billing Code: 3510-22-F

 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 50 CFR Part 600

 [I.D. 120996A]

 Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat (EFH); Public Meetings

 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

 ACTION: Public meetings.

 SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will hold public meetings to allow for input on the proposed rule to implement essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions of the Magnuson Act.

 DATES: The meetings are scheduled to be held from May 12 to May 21, 1997. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

 ADDRESSES: Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to Office of Habitat Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-2325.
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 forth by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to amend their FMPs 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.

 Public Meetings
All public meetings will begin at 7 p.m., except the Seattle, Washington, public meeting, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. The dates and locations of the hearings are scheduled as follows:
1. Monday, May 12, 1997--Meadowlands Hilton, Solarium Room; Two Harmon Plaza, Secaucus, NJ.
2. Tuesday, May 13, 1997--Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza; 333 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA.
3. Tuesday, May 20--NMFS Northwest Regional Headquarters, Auditorium Building 9; 7600 Sand Point Way, N.W., Seattle, WA.
4. Wednesday, May 21--Centennial Hall, Hickel Room; 101 Egan Drive, Juneau, AK. 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:

James P. Burgess
Acting Director
Office of Habitat Conservation
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce