[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7562-7563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02889]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

RIN 0648-BB92


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; National Standard Guidelines; 
Meeting Announcement

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a public meeting to solicit comments on the 
proposed revisions to the General section of the National Standard (NS) 
guidelines and the guidelines for NS1, NS3, and NS7 of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which published 
January 20, 2015.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 25, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. to 
4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Written comments accepted through June 30, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the following location: The NOAA 
Science Center, 1301 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910; 
telephone: 301-427-8563.
    You may submit written comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0059, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to: 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012-0059, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.

[[Page 7563]]

     Mail: Submit written comments to Wesley Patrick, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13357, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
     Fax: 301-713-1193; Attn: Wesley Patrick.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wesley Patrick at (301) 427-8563 or 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 20, 2015, NMFS published proposed 
revisions to the General section of the National Standard (NS) 
guidelines and the guidelines for NS1, NS3, and NS7 in the Federal 
Register (80 FR 2786). The proposed revisions include the following: 
(1) Add a recommendation that Councils reassess the objectives of their 
fisheries on a regular basis; (2) consolidate and clarify guidance on 
identifying whether stocks require conservation and management; (3) 
provide additional flexibility in managing data limited stocks; (4) 
revise the guidance on stock complexes to encourage the use of 
indicator stocks; (5) describe how aggregate maximum sustainable yield 
(MSY) estimates can be used; (6) propose a definition for a depleted 
stock; (7) provide increased stability in fisheries by providing 
guidance on the use of multi-year overfishing determinations; (8) 
revise the guidance on optimum yield (OY) to improve clarity and better 
describe the role of OY under the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) framework; 
(9) clarify the guidance on acceptable biological catch (ABC) control 
rules, describe how the ABC control rules can allow for phase-in 
adjustments to ABC, and allow for carry-over of all or some of an 
unused portion of the ACL; (10) revise the guidance on accountability 
measures (AMs) to improve clarity; (11) clarify the guidance on 
establishing ACL and AM mechanisms in FMPs; and (12) provide 
flexibility in rebuilding stocks. Additional information about this 
proposed rule can be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/laws_policies/national_standards/ns1_revisions.html.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other aids, and requests for 
special accommodations or needs should be directed to Wesley Patrick at 
(301) 427-8563 at least 5 business days in advance of the meeting date.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 6, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-02889 Filed 2-10-15; 8:45 am]
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