[Federal Register: September 19, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 182)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54885]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se03-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 010903D]
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Atlantic Shark
Management Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Rescheduling of public hearings; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: Due to concern regarding the path of Hurricane Isabel, NMFS is
canceling two public hearings that were previously published in the
Federal Register on August 12, 2003, and scheduled for September 17,
2003, in Pawleys Island, SC and September 22, 2003, in Manteo, NC. The
public hearings are rescheduled for October 1, 2003, in Manteo, NC, and
October 2, 2003, in Pawleys Island, SC. These hearings are being held
to receive comments from fishery participants and other members of the
public regarding proposed shark regulations and draft Amendment 1 to
the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks
(Amendment 1). Due to rescheduling the hearings, NMFS is also extending
the comment period of the proposed rule for Amendment 1, published in
the Federal Register on August 1, 2003, from September 30, 2003, to
October 3, 2003.
DATES: The public hearings will be held on:
1. Wednesday, October 1, 2003, from 7 - 9 p.m. in Manteo, NC, and
2. Thursday, October 2, 2003, from 7 - 9 p.m. in Pawleys Island,
SC.
Comments on the proposed rule for Amendment 1, published at 68 FR
45196, August 1, 2003, must be received no later than 5 p.m., on
October 3, 2003.
ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held in:
1. North Carolina Aquarium, Roanoke Island, Airport Road, Manteo,
NC 27954, and
2. Waccamaw Neck Branch Library, 24 Commerce Dr., Pawleys Island,
SC 29585.
Written comments on this action should be mailed to Christopher
Rogers, Chief, NMFS Highly Migratory Species Management Division, 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; or faxed to (301) 713-1917.
Comments will not be accepted if submitted via email or Internet.
Copies of draft Amendment 1 can be obtained from the HMS website at:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hmspg.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Heather
Stirratt, or Chris Rilling at (301) 713-2347 or Greg Fairclough at
(727) 570-5741.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. The Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas,
Swordfish, and Sharks (HMS FMP), finalized in 1999, is implemented by
regulations at 50 CFR part 635. On August 1, 2003 (68 FR 45196), NMFS
published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would amend some
of the regulations in the HMS FMP. Complete descriptions of the
measures, as well as the purpose and need for the proposed actions, are
contained in the proposed rule and are not repeated here.
On August 12, 2003 (68 FR 47904), NMFS published in the Federal
Register notice of six public hearings. Due to concern regarding the
path of Hurricane Isabel, NMFS is canceling and rescheduling two of
those public hearings. The hearing previously scheduled for September
17, 2003, in Pawleys Island, SC, is now scheduled for October 2, 2003,
in Pawleys Island, SC (see DATES and ADDRESSES). The hearing previously
scheduled for September 22, 2003, in Manteo, NC, is now scheduled for
October 1, 2003, in Manteo, NC (see DATES and ADDRESSES). The schedule
for the other public hearings remains unchanged.
Additionally, in order to incorporate these rescheduled hearings
during the public comment period, NMFS is extending the public comment
period on the proposed rule until 5 p.m. on October 3, 2003.
The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public
hearings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each
public hearing, a NMFS representative will explain the ground rules
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and
attendees should not interrupt one another). The NMFS representative
will attempt to structure the hearing so that all attending members of
the public will be able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of
the controversial nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to
respect the ground rules, and, if they do not, they will be asked to
leave the hearing.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Heather Stirratt, (301) 713-2347,
at least 7 days prior to the hearing in question.
Dated: September 16, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24113 Filed 9-17-03; 1:54 pm]
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