[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16298]
[[Page 40687]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 600
[Docket No. 111014628-3329-01]
RIN 0648-BB54
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Implementation of the Shark
Conservation Act of 2010; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: NMFS published a proposed rule on May 2, 2013, to implement
provisions of the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (SCA) that prohibit
any person from removing any of the fins of a shark at sea, possessing
shark fins on board a fishing vessel unless they are naturally attached
to the corresponding carcass, transferring or receiving fins from one
vessel to another at sea unless the fins are naturally attached to the
corresponding carcass, landing shark fins unless they are naturally
attached to the corresponding carcass, or landing shark carcasses
without their fins naturally attached. NMFS proposes this action to
amend existing regulations and make them consistent with the SCA. The
public comment period for the proposed rule was previously extended,
and ends on July 8, 2013. NMFS has decided to further extend the public
comment period for 23 days, until July 31, 2013 to provide additional
time for stakeholders and other members of the public to submit
comments.
DATES: The public comment period for the proposed rule published at 78
FR 25685, May 2, 2013, is extended from July 8, 2013, until July 31,
2013. Comments must be received no later than July 31, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0092, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0092 in the keyword search.
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
Mail: Submit written comments to Erin Wilkinson, National
Marine Fisheries Service (SF3), NOAA; 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910.
Fax 301-713-1193; Attn: Erin Wilkinson
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
Electronic copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA), the
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action are available on the Federal
e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Wilkinson, 301-427-8561;
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 2, 2013, NMFS published a proposed
rule in the Federal Register (78 FR 25685) to implement provisions of
the SCA that prohibit any person from removing any of the fins of a
shark at sea, possessing shark fins on board a fishing vessel unless
they are naturally attached to the corresponding carcass, transferring
or receiving fins from one vessel to another at sea unless the fins are
naturally attached to the corresponding carcass, landing shark fins
unless they are naturally attached to the corresponding carcass, or
landing shark carcasses without their fins naturally attached. NMFS
proposes this action to amend existing regulations and make them
consistent with the SCA.
Public Comment Extension
The public comment period for the proposed rule ends on July 8,
2013. NMFS is extending the public comment period for an additional 23
days until July 31, 2013. The extension of the comment period ensures
that NMFS provides adequate time for stakeholders and members of the
public to comment on the proposed rule to implement the provisions of
the Shark Conservation Act of 2010.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 2, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16298 Filed 7-5-13; 8:45 am]
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