Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Reauthorized

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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSRA) requires the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to integrate NEPA and the fisheries management process for environmental review. NMFS will work with the Regional Councils and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to revise procedures for compliance with NEPA.

News

NMFS announces a public workshop to hold a detailed discussion of the proposed new environmental review procedures for fishery management actions.  The workshop will be held on Tuesday July 29, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. in the Potomac Room at the Silver Spring Crowne Plaza Hotel, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.  The Hotel is a short walk from the Silver Spring Metro station and there is public parking nearby.  For further information please contact Steve Leathery at 301-713-2239 or via email at steve.leathery@noaa.gov.

NMFS will hold three public meetings to solicit comments on the proposed rule that would revise and update the NMFS procedures for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act. The meetings will be held on:

• June 25 in Washington, D.C. from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time Council on Environmental Quality
• July 15 in St. Petersburg, FL from 6 pm to 8 p.m. Eastern time National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office
• July 24 in Seattle, WA from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Pacific time

Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center

For more information, please contact Steve Leathery at 301-713-2239 or via email at steve.leathery@noaa.gov.

Rules and Notices

On May 14, 2008, NMFS published a proposed rule to revise and update NMFS procedures for complying with NEPA in the context of fishery management actions. Public comments will be accepted through August 12, 2008.

Proposed Rule and Request for Comments for revising and updating the NMFS procedures for complying with NEPA

Related Documents

NMFS solicited public comment through April 20, 2007, on the environmental review provisions required by the MSRA. For more information, see the request for comments. A summary of the public comments received can be viewed here.

Summary of proposed rule to streamline the NEPA process (Powerpoint)

Draft Council Proposal for NEPA/MSA Compliance (PDF)