[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11402-11403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5998]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 600
[030398C]
Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed recommendations for Essential Fish Habitat; notice of
public hearings and request for public comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS requests public comments on proposed
[[Page 11403]]
recommendations for Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) to the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) for its Fishery Management Plans (FMP) for
salmon, groundfish, and coastal pelagics. NMFS also announces public
hearings on the proposed recommendations in Washington, Oregon,
California and Idaho.
DATES: Comments must be received by May 8, 1998. The public hearings
will be held at 7:00 p.m. on:
April 6, 1998, at the Doubletree Hotel, Columbia River, 1401 N.
Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR (503-283-2111);
April 14, 1998, at the NOAA Auditorium, 7600 Sand Point Way NE,
Seattle, WA (206-526-6140);
April 15, 1998, at the Park Plaza International Hotel, 1177 Airport
Blvd., Burlingame, CA (415-342-9200); and
April 16, 1998; at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, 1109 Main St., Boise, ID
(208-343-4611).
ADDRESSES: Send comments or requests for a copy of the proposed EFH
recommendations for the salmon and groundfish FMPs to NMFS Northwest
Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98115. Send comments or requests for a copy of the proposed
EFH recommendations for the coastal pelagics FMP to NMFS Southwest
Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Scordino, NMFS-Northwest Region,
206-526-6143, on salmon EFH; Yvonne deReynier, NMFS-Northwest Region,
206-526-6120, on groundfish EFH; Mark Helvey, NMFS-Southwest Region,
707-575-7585, on coastal pelagics EFH.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996
amended the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) to establish new requirements for EFH
descriptions in FMPs and require consultation between NMFS and Federal
agencies on activities that may adversely impact EFH for species
managed under FMPs. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires all Councils to
amend their FMPs by October 1998 to describe and identify EFH for each
managed fishery. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS
published an interim final rule in the Federal Register on December 19,
1997 (62 FR 66531) providing guidelines to assist the Councils in
description and identification of EFH in FMPs (including adverse
impacts on EFH) and consideration of actions to ensure conservation and
enhancement of EFH. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires NMFS to
provide each Council with recommendations and information regarding EFH
for each fishery under that Council's authority.
NMFS has developed proposed EFH recommendations for the Pacific
Council's three FMPs through a process that has involved input from the
Council, its advisory bodies, and the fishing industry at the Council's
public meetings in September 1997, November 1997, and March 1998. NMFS
also formed a technical team consisting of fishing industry, state,
tribal, university and Federal individuals to provide technical input
and advice on the development of the NMFS recommendations.
The proposed EFH recommendations for each FMP include a description
of EFH for the managed species, a description of adverse effects to EFH
including fishing and non-fishing threats, and a description of
measures to ensure the conservation and enhancement of EFH. Copies of
the proposed EFH recommendations are available (see ADDRESSES). Public
comments are requested by May 8, 1998.
Special Accommodations
The public hearings will be physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be requested at least 5 working days prior to the
hearing date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 3, 1998.
Garry F. Mayer,
Acting Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5998 Filed 3-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F