Fishery conservation and management: Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic fisheries— Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic resources,

[Federal Register: July 27, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 143)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 40544]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr27jy99-20]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 071699E]

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene four public hearings on Draft Amendment 12 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagics in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (draft Amendment 12) and its draft environmental assessment (draft EA) and draft regulatory impact review (draft RIR). Draft Amendment 12 contains provisions for extending the commercial king mackerel permit moratorium for 3 or 5 years from its current expiration date of October 15, 2000, to provide time for the Council and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to develop and implement a controlled access system for the king mackerel fishery.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on September 16, 1999. The hearings will be held from August 16 through August 18, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699. Copies of draft Amendment 12 and EA are available from Kerry O'Malley at 843-571-4366. Draft Amendment 12 and its draft EA and draft RIR will also be available to the public at the hearings.

The hearings will be held in Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of the hearings and special accommodations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kerry O'Malley, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 843-571-4366; Fax: 843-769-4520; E-mail address: kerry.omalley@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will hold public hearings on draft Amendment 12 and its draft EA and draft RIR. Draft Amendment 12 includes management measures that would extend the commercial king mackerel permit moratorium beyond its current expiration date of October 15, 2000. The following options are being considered by the Council, with B as the preferred option: Option A--Extend the commercial king mackerel permit moratorium from its current expiration date of October 15, 2000, to October 15, 2003, or until replaced with a license limitation, limited access, and/or individual fishing quota or individual transferable quota system, whichever occurs first; and Option B--Extend the commercial king mackerel permit moratorium from its current expiration date of October 15, 2000, to October 15, 2005, or until replaced with a license limitation, limited access, and/or individual fishing quota or individual transferable quota system, whichever occurs first.

The hearings will begin at 6 p.m. and will end when all business is completed at all of the following locations:

1. Monday, August 16, 1999--Carteret Community College, 3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC; telephone:919-247-3094;

2. Tuesday, August 17, 1999--Town & Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC; telephone: 843-571-1000;

3. Tuesday, August 17, 1999--Best Western-Miami Airport, 1550 NW LeJuene Road, Miami, FL; telephone: 305-871-2345; and

4. Wednesday, August 18, 1999--Sea Turtle Inn, 1 Ocean Blvd, Atlantic Beach, FL; telephone: 800-874-6000.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) by August 9, 1999.

Dated: July 21, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-19173Filed7-26-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F