[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 27, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 33186] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-15682] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 229 [I.D. 061995B] Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Authorization for Commercial Fisheries; Proposed List of Fisheries; Hearings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is announcing dates and locations for nine public hearings that will address the proposed rule to implement the new regime under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations and the proposed list of fisheries (LOF) included in the proposed rule. DATES: Written comments on the proposed rule and the interactions between commercial fisheries and ESA-listed stocks must be submitted by July 31, 1995. Written comments on the proposed list of fisheries will be accepted until September 14, 1995. Public hearings on all aspects of the proposed rule will be held in June and July. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times of the hearings. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, and copies of the proposed rule are available from, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East- West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (FAX: 301-713-0376). Copies of the environmental assessment are available from the above address or by accessing NMFS ``Home Page'' on the World Wide Web at http:// kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov:80/home-page.html. Public hearings will be held in Alaska, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Washington. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and locations of the hearings. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margot Bohan, Office of Protected Resources, 301-713-2322; Dan Morris, Northeast Region, 508-281-9388; Jeff Brown, Southeast Region, 813-570-5301; Jim Lecky, Southwest Region, 310-980-4015; Brent Norberg, Northwest Region, 206-526-6140; Bridget Mansfield, Alaska Region, 907-586-7235. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 16, 1995, NMFS issued a proposed rule (60 FR 31666) to establish a new regime for the taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations, pursuant to section 118 of the MMPA. Among other things, issues addressed in the proposed rule include: The authorization process for the incidental take of species and stocks of marine mammals by vessels engaged in commercial fishing, the issuance of a proposed LOF categorized according to frequency of incidental serious injury and mortality of marine mammals, new classification criteria for the categorization of commercial fisheries based on level of take relative to potential biological removal, the new requirements for commercial fishers to report any marine mammal incidental injury and/or mortality within 48 hours of the end of a fishing trip, and the definition of zero mortality rate goal. The public will have an opportunity to provide oral or written testimony at the public hearings. NMFS requests that persons planning to speak at the hearings provide a written copy of their testimony to NMFS at the hearing. These hearings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the appropriate regional contact (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). The hearings on the proposed rule and the proposed LOF will be held as follows: 1. Wednesday, June 28, 1995, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.---King's Grant Inn, Route 128 at Trask Lane, Danvers, MA 01923; 2. Thursday, July 6, 1995, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.--Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Auditorium, Gray Creek Road (off Route 9), Oceanville, NJ 08230; 3. Monday, July 10, 1995, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.--1325 East-West Highway, Bldg. SSMC2, Rm. 2358, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 4. Wednesday, July 12, 1995, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.--Carousel Hotel and Resort, 118th Street and Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842; 5. Wednesday, July 12, 1995, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.--Renaissance Hotel, 111 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802; 6. Wednesday, July 12, 1995, 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn, 3845 Veteran's Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779; 7. Tuesday, July 18, 1995, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon--Federal Building, Tlingit Room (1st floor), 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99513; 8. Wednesday, July 19, 1995, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Duke University Marine Lab Auditorium, Pivers Island Rd., Beaufort, NC 28516; and 9. Wednesday, July 19, 1995, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 7600 Sand Point Way, NE., Building 9 Auditorium, Seattle, WA 98115. Dated: June 20, 1995. Patricia Montanio, Acting Office Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 95-15682 Filed 6-22-95; 12:40 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F