[Federal Register: March 31, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 61)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 15376-15377]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr98-41]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 032398B]
RIN 0648-AJ51

 
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Scallop 
Fishery off Alaska; Amendment 3

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management 
plan; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop 
Fishery off Alaska for Secretarial review. Amendment 3 would delegate 
to the State of Alaska (State) the authority to manage all aspects of 
the scallop fishery, except limited access, and would repeal all 
Federal regulations governing the scallop fishery off Alaska, except 
for the scallop vessel moratorium program. This action is necessary to 
eliminate duplicate regulations and management programs for the scallop 
fishery at the State and Federal levels. Comments from the public are 
requested.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 3 must be submitted on or before June 1, 
1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendment 3 should be submitted to Sue Salveson, 
Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, 
or delivered to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th. Street, Juneau, AK. 
Copies of Amendment 3 and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory 
Impact Review prepared for the amendment are available from NMFS at the 
above address, or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS, at 907-586-7228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Lind, 907-586-7228 or 
kent.lind@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional 
Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan (FMP) or 
plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, 
disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also 
requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately 
publish a document announcing that the FMP or amendment is available 
for public review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments 
received during the comment period in determining whether to approve 
the FMP or amendment. Public comments on the proposed rule must be 
received by the end of the comment period on the FMP/amendment to be 
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the FMP/amendment.
    NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment

[[Page 15377]]

period in determining whether to approve Amendment 3. A proposed rule 
to implement Amendment 3 is scheduled to be published within 15 days of 
this document.

    Dated: March 25, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8431 Filed 3-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F