[Federal Register: October 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 198)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 55689-55690] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr14oc99-21] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [I.D. 093099A] Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings and hearing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will hold public meetings and a hearing for an amendment to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan that will address stock rebuilding and specific rebuilding programs for lingcod, bocaccio, and Pacific ocean perch. This document announces the dates and locations of the Council meetings and public hearing. DATES: The Council and its advisory entities will meet October 31- November 5, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times for these meetings. ADDRESSES: The meetings and hearing will be held at the Red Lion Hotel Sacramento, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, California; telephone: 916-922- 8041. Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2130 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 224, Portland, OR 97201. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence D. Six, Executive Director; telephone: 503-326-6352. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dates and Times The Council meeting will begin on Tuesday, November 2, 1999, at 8 a.m., reconvening each day through Friday, November 5, 1999. All meetings are open to the public, except a closed session will be held from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 4, 1999, to address litigation and personnel matters. The Council will meet as late as necessary each day to complete its scheduled business. The public hearing will be held during the regular session on Wednesday, November 3, 1999, beginning at approximately 10 a.m. (The exact time is not known because the time required for other agenda items is uncertain.) Advisory Meetings The Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will convene on Sunday, October 31, 1999, at 1 p.m. and on Monday, November 1, 1999, at 8 a.m. to address groundfish issues on the Council agenda. They will continue to meet as necessary through November 5, 1999, to address groundfish issues on the Council agenda. The Salmon Technical Team will meet on Monday, November 1, 1999, at 8 a.m. and on Tuesday, November 2, 1999, at 8 a.m. to address salmon issues on the Council agenda. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will convene on Monday, November 1, 1999, at 8:30 a.m., and on Tuesday, November 2, at 1999, 8 a.m. to address scientific issues on the Council agenda. The Habitat Steering Group will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, November 1, 1999, to address issues and actions affecting habitat of fish species managed by the Council. The Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP) will meet on Monday, November 1, 1999, at 10 a.m. and will convene at 8 a.m. Tuesday, November 2, 1999, through Thursday, November 4, 1999, to address groundfish management items on the Council agenda. [[Page 55690]] The Work Group on Gear Impacts will meet on Monday, November 1, 1999, from 12:00 noon to 1 p.m. to develop a work plan to address fishing gear impacts on essential fish habitat. The Budget Committee will meet on Monday, November 1, 1999, at 1 p.m. to review the status of the 1999 Council budget and the proposed budget for 2000. The Salmon Advisory Subpanel will meet on Monday, November 1, 1999, at 1 p.m. to address salmon management items on the Council agenda. The SSC, GMT, and GAP will meet jointly on Tuesday, November 2, 1999, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon to discuss the stock assessment process. The Enforcement Consultants will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2, 1999, and will continue to meet as necessary through November 5, 1999, to address enforcement issues relating to Council agenda items. The following items are on the Council agenda, but not necessarily in this order: A. Call to Order 1. Opening Remarks, Introductions, Roll Call 2. Approve Agenda 3. Approve June and September Meeting Minutes B. Pacific Halibut Management 1. Summary of 1999 Fisheries 2. Estimate of Bycatch in 1998 3. Changes to Catch Sharing Plan and Regulations for 2000 C. Salmon Management 1. Sequence of Events and Status of Fisheries in 1999 2. Potential Revisions to Methodologies, Including Hook-and-Release Mortality Estimates for Recreational Fisheries 3. Revisions to the Preseason Process 4. Changes to 2000 Management Measures to Protect Central Valley Spring Chinook 5. Test Fishery Protocol 6. Report on Selective Fishery Off Oregon in 1999 7. Process for Reviewing Oregon Coastal Natural Coho Salmon Management Program in 2000 D. Habitat Issues E. Coastal Pelagic Species Management 1. Update on Implementation of Limited Entry 2. Pacific Mackerel Harvest Guideline F. Highly Migratory Species Management - Guidance to Plan Development Team G. Groundfish Management 1. Status of Federal Regulations, NMFS Activities and Applications for Exempted Fishing Permits 2. Fishery Management Plan Amendment for Stock Rebuilding and Specific Rebuilding Programs for Lingcod, Bocaccio, and Pacific Ocean Perch (Public Hearing) 3. Final Harvest Levels for 2000 4. Regulatory Amendment to Establish an Observer Program 5. Review of Stock Assessment Process and Stocks to be Assessed in 2000 6. Terms of Reference for Harvest Policy Workshop 7. Management Measures for 2000 8. Status of Fisheries and Inseason Adjustments (If Necessary) 9. Control Date for Groundfish Limited Entry 10. Strategic Plan for Groundfish 11. Groundfish Priorities and Schedules H. Administrative and Other Matters 1. Report of the Budget Committee 2. Status of Legislation 3. Appointments 4. Draft Agenda for March 2000 Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any issues arising after publication of this document that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. John S. Rhoton at (503) 326- 6352 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 7, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-26837 Filed 10-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F