[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 24522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11778]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 600
[I.D. 042798D]
Magnuson-Stevens 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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS requests public comments on proposed recommendations for
essential fish habitat (EFH) to the Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) for its fishery management plans (FMP) for
bottomfish, crustaceans, pelagics and precious corals. NMFS also
announces a public hearing on the proposed recommendations.
DATES: Comments must be received by June 22, 1998. The public hearing
will be held at 7:00pm, May 20, 1998, in Honolulu, HI.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Tokai University, Pacific
Center, 2241 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, HI. Send comments or requests
for a copy of the proposed EFH recommendations for any or all of the
FMPs to: NMFS, Southwest Region, 2570 Dole Street, Room 106, Honolulu,
HI 96822-2396.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Naughton, NMFS, Southwest Region,
Pacific Islands Area Office, (808) 973-2940.
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
identification of EFH for each of the Western Pacific Council's 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 November 1997, and April 1998. .
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 June 22, 1998.
Special Accommodations
This meeting will be physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to John Naughton (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 working days prior to the hearing date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 28, 1998.
James P. Burgess,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-11778 Filed 5-1-98; 8:45 am]
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