NOAA Fisheries News Releases
Notice of Public Meeting to Discuss Alaska Groundfish SEIS Comment Period Extended to July 25, 2001
Juneau April 23 --NOAA Fisheries will be holding a public meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 9, 2001, to provide information and solicit comments on the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands groundfish fishery management plans.
The SEIS performs several important functions: (1) It is a planning and reference document to describe the current management regime for groundfish fisheries in Alaska; (2) it describes and analyzes current knowledge about the physical, biological, and human environment in order to assess impacts caused by past and current fishery activities; (3) it provides the environmental baseline that will be used to shape future management policy and a future range of potential management actions; (4) it examines the effects of the current groundfish fishery management regime, as well as selected alternative management regimes, on the human environment to assess whether a different management regime should be implemented.
The public meeting will begin with an "open house" and staff briefing on the SEIS from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. followed by a formal public hearing from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, individuals will be heard one at a time and their comments will be recorded and incorporated into the body of comments that will be considered when preparing the Final SEIS.
"The open house portion of the meeting will give members of the public the opportunity to ask questions of team members and view project displays and information," said Steve Davis, SEIS team leader for NOAA Fisheries.
This public meeting will be at the National Marine Fisheries Service Headquarters,1315 East West Highway, SSMC III, Room 4527, Silver Spring, MD
Optionally, public comments on this document can be submitted in writing until July 25, 2001. Please note that, in response to public requests, this is a second extension of the comment period. Mail comments to National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 or fax comments to (907) 586-7249 Attn: Lori Gravel.
The Alaska Groundfish Fisheries Programmatic SEIS is on-line at the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region web site http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/seis/default.htm Copies of the SEIS in printed or CD format can be obtained by contacting Steven K. Davis, NMFS, 222 West 7th Avenue, Room 517, Anchorage, AK 99513 or steven.k.davis@noaa.gov.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat.