Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

          - 50 CFR Part 635
          - [Docket No. 110210132-1133-01]
          - RIN 0648-BA65

# AGENCY:

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

# ACTION:

Proposed rule.

# SUMMARY:

On March 14, 2011, NMFS published a proposed rule to modify Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) base quotas for all domestic fishing categories; establish BFT quota specifications for the 2011 fishing year; reinstate pelagic longline target catch requirements for retaining BFT in the Northeast Distant Gear Restricted Area (NED); amend the Atlantic tunas possession at sea and landing regulations to allow removal of Atlantic tunas tail lobes; and clarify the transfer at sea regulations for Atlantic tunas. This action is necessary to implement recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). In the proposed rule, NMFS announced the end of the comment period as April 14, 2011, which would allow an approximately 30-day comment period. In order to provide additional opportunities for the public and other interested parties to comment on the proposed rule, NMFS is extending the comment period for this action until April 28, 2011, allowing a 45-day comment period. Comments received by NMFS on the proposed rule will help NMFS determine whether and how to implement final management measures for the BFT and Atlantic tuna fisheries as described in the proposed action. In addition, NMFS has rescheduled the public hearing that was originally scheduled for March 21, 2011, 3 to 5 p.m., in Gloucester, MA. NMFS has rescheduled the public hearing to be held on April 1, 2011, 1 to 3 p.m. at the same location.

# DATES:

                        The deadline for comments on the proposed rule regarding BFT quotas and Atlantic tuna fishery management measures has been extended from April 14, 2011, as published on March 14, 2011 (76 FR 13583), to April 28, 2011. The public hearing that was originally scheduled for March 21, 2011, in Gloucester, MA, has been rescheduled for April 1, 2011. See                         **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                         for further details.                    

# ADDRESSES:

As published on March 14, 2011 (76 FR 13583), you may submit comments, identified by “0648-BA65”, by any one of the following methods:
      -  Electronic Submissions:                          Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal                          http://www.regulations.gov 
      -  Fax:                          978-281-9340, Attn: Sarah McLaughlin                    
      -  Mail:                          Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930                    
      -  Instructions:                          All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to                          http://www.regulations.gov                          without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. To be considered, electronic comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal                          http://www.regulations.gov.                          Do not submit electronic comments to individual NMFS staff.                    

                        Supporting documents, including the draft Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, are available by sending your request to Sarah McLaughlin at the mailing address specified above. These documents and others, such as the Fishery Management Plans described below, also may be downloaded from the HMS Web site at                         *http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/​sfa/​hms/​.*

                        The location of the rescheduled public hearing in Gloucester, MA, remains as follows: NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA. See                         **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                         for further details.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sarah McLaughlin or Brad McHale, 978-281-9260.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Atlantic bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna (hereafter referred to as “Atlantic tunas”) are managed under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA. ATCA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to promulgate regulations, as may be necessary and appropriate, to implement ICCAT recommendations. The authority to issue regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA has been delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA).

In the proposed rule, NMFS announced the end of the comment period as April, 14, 2011. NMFS has received several comments requesting a 15-day extension of the comment period. NMFS has determined that it is reasonable to extend the comment period to allow additional opportunities for public comment, and is extending the comment period until April 28, 2011. These comments will assist NMFS in determining final management measures to conserve and manage the Atlantic tunas fisheries, consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, ATCA, and other applicable law.

## Need for Correction

This Gloucester, MA, public hearing, originally scheduled for March 21, 2011, has been rescheduled to April 1, 2011, to provide additional advance notice of the hearing and allow attendees additional time to prepare their comments prior to the hearing. In the proposed rule that published March 14, 2011 (76 FR 13583):

                    1. On page 13583, in the second column, the date and time of the first public hearing listed under the heading                     **DATES**                     should be corrected to read as follows:                

“1. April 1, 2011, 1 to 3 p.m., Gloucester, MA.”

2. On page 13588, in the first column, the first paragraph under the heading “Request for Comments” should be corrected to read as follows:
      ( print page 15277)    
                    “NMFS solicits comments on this proposed rule through April 28, 2011. See instructions in                     **ADDRESSES**                     section above. NMFS intends to add additional hearings to allow for additional opportunities for public comment. NMFS will announce the dates and locations of those hearings in a future notice.”                

Authority:16 U.S.C. 1801*et seq.*

Dated: March 16, 2011.

Samuel D. Rauch III,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 2011-6563 Filed 3-16-11; 4:15 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P