Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 3 / Tuesday, January 6, 2004 / Notices 629

The affirmative finding process 

requires that the harvesting nation meet 

several conditions related to compliance 

with the IDCP. A nation may opt to 

provide information regarding 

compliance with the IDCP directly to 

NMFS on an annual basis or to 

authorize the IATTC to release the 

information to NMFS in years when 

NMFS will review and consider 

whether to issue an affirmative finding 

determination without an application 

from the harvesting nation.

An affirmative finding will be 

terminated if the Assistant 

Administrator, in consultation with the 

Secretary of State, determines that the 

requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no 

longer being met or that a nation is 

consistently failing to take enforcement 

actions on violations which diminish 

the effectiveness of the IDCP. Every 5 

years, the government of the harvesting 

nation, must request an affirmative 

finding and submit the required 

documentary evidence directly to the 

Assistant Administrator.

As a part of the affirmative finding 

process set forth in 50 CFR 216.24(f), the 

Assistant Administrator considered 

documentary evidence submitted by the 

Republic of El Salvador and obtained 

from the IATTC and the Department of 

State and determined that the 

requirements under the MMPA to 

receive an affirmative finding have been 

met.

After consultation with the 

Department of State, NMFS granted the 

Republic of El Salvador’s affirmative 

finding allowing the importation into 

the United States of yellowfin tuna and 

products derived from yellowfin tuna 

harvested in the ETP after March 3, 

1999, by El Salvadorian-flag purse seine 

vessels or vessels under El Salvadorian 

jurisdiction. This finding will remain in 

effect until March 31, 2004.

In subsequent years 2004 through 

2007, the Assistant Administrator will 

determine on an annual basis whether 

the Republic of El Salvador is meeting 

the requirements under section 

101(a)(2)(B) and (C) of the MMPA. If 

necessary, documentary evidence may 

also be requested from the Republic of 

El Salvador to determine whether the 

affirmative finding criteria are being 

met. If the affirmative finding for the 

Republic of El Salvador is renewed after 

NMFS’s annual review in the years 2004 

through 2007, the Republic of El 

Salvador must submit a new application 

in early 2008 for an affirmative finding 

to be effective for the period April 1, 

2008, through March 31, 2009, and the 

subsequent 4 years.

Dated: December 31, 2003.

Rebecca Lent,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 04–233 Filed 1–5–04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration

[I.D. 122303D]

New England Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery 

Management Council (Council) is 

scheduling a public meeting of its 

Research Steering Committee in 

January, 2004. Recommendations from 

the committee will be brought to the full 

Council for formal consideration and 

action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meeting will held on 

Monday, January 26, 2004, at 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire Street, 

Mansfield, MA; telephone: 508–339–

2200.

Council address: New England 

Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 

Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul 

J. Howard, Executive Director, New 

England Fishery Management Council; 

telephone: (978) 465–0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

committee will discuss and continue 

work on a process to review and 

integrate the results of cooperative 

research into the management process. 

It will also work on developing research 

priorities for 2004 for consideration by 

the Council and the NMFS Regional 

Administrator.

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before this group for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Action will 

be restricted to those issues specifically 

listed in this notice and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Council’s intent to take 

final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul 

J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 

days prior to the meeting dates.

Dated: December 31, 2003.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. E3–00690 Filed 1–5–04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration

[I.D. 122903H]

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meetings and Hearings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of reports; 

public meetings and hearings.

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) has 

begun its annual preseason management 

process for the 2004 ocean salmon 

fisheries. This document announces the 

availability of Council documents as 

well as the dates and locations of 

Council meetings and public hearings 

comprising the Council’s complete 

schedule of events for determining the 

annual proposed and final 

modifications to ocean salmon fishery 

management measures. The agendas for 

the March and April Council meetings 

will be published in subsequent Federal 

Register documents prior to the actual 

meetings.

DATES: Written comments on the salmon 

management options must be received 

by March 30, 2004, at 4:30 p.m. Pacific 

Time.

ADDRESSES: Documents will be available 

from and written comments should be 

sent to Mr. Donald Hansen, Chairman, 

Pacific Fishery Management Council, 

7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, 

Portland, OR 97220–1384, telephone: 

503–820–2280 (voice) or 503–820–2299 

(fax). For specific meeting and hearing 

locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Chuck Tracy, telephone: 503–820–2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

630 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 3 / Tuesday, January 6, 2004 / Notices 

Schedule for Document Completion and 

Availability

March 2, 2004: ‘‘Review of 2003 

Ocean Salmon Fisheries’’ and 

‘‘Preseason Report I-Stock Abundance 

Analysis for 2004 Ocean Salmon 

Fisheries’’ will be available to the public 

from the Council office and posted on 

the Council website at http://

www.pcouncil.org.

March 23, 2004: ‘‘Preseason Report IIAnalysis of Proposed Regulatory 

Options for 2004 Ocean Salmon 

Fisheries’’ and public hearing schedule 

will be mailed to the public and posted 

on the Council website at http://

www.pcouncil.org. The report will 

include a description of the adopted 

salmon management options and a 

summary of their biological and 

economic impacts.

April 5, 2004: ‘‘Draft Environmental 

Assessment for the Proposed 2004 

Management Measures for the Ocean 

Salmon Fishery Managed under the 

Pacific Coast Salmon Plan’’ will be 

available at the Council meeting at the 

Red Lion Hotel Sacramento, 

Sacramento, CA and posted on the 

Council website at http://

www.pcouncil.org.

April 21, 2004: Council adopts ocean 

salmon fishing management measures 

will be posted on the Council website at 

http://www.pcouncil.org.

May 1, 2004: Federal regulations will 

be implemented and ‘‘Preseason Report 

III-Analysis of Council Adopted Ocean 

Salmon Management Measures for 2004 

Ocean Salmon Fisheries’’ will be 

available from the Council office and 

posted on the Council web site at http:/

/www.pcouncil.org.

Meetings and Hearings

January 20–23, 2004: The Salmon 

Technical Team (STT) will meet at the 

Council office in a public work session 

to draft ‘‘Review of 2003 Ocean Salmon 

Fisheries’’ and to consider any other 

estimation or methodology issues 

pertinent to the 2004 ocean salmon 

fisheries.

February 17–20, 2004: The STT will 

meet at the Council office in a public 

work session to draft ‘‘Preseason Report 

I-Stock Abundance Analysis for 2004 

Ocean Salmon Fisheries’’ and to 

consider any other estimation or 

methodology issues pertinent to the 

2004 ocean salmon fisheries.

March 8–12, 2004: The Council and 

advisory entities will meet at the 

Sheraton Tacoma Hotel, Tacoma, WA to 

adopt the 2003 salmon management 

options for public review.

March 29–30, 2004: Public hearings 

will be held to receive comments on the 

proposed ocean salmon fishery 

management options adopted by the 

Council. All public hearings begin at 7 

p.m. on the dates and at the locations 

specified here.

March 29, 2004: Chateau Westport, 

Beach Room, 710 W Hancock, Westport, 

WA 98595, telephone 360–268–9101.

March 29, 2004: Red Lion Hotel, 

South Umpqua Room, 1313 N Bayshore 

Drive, Coos Bay, OR 97420, telephone 

541–269–4099.

March 30, 2004: Tradewinds Lodge 

and Restaurant, Convention Room, 400 

South Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 

95437–4806, telephone 707–964–4761.

April 5–9, 2004: Council and advisory 

entities meet at the Red Lion Hotel 

Sacramento, 1401 Arden Way 

Sacramento, CA 95815, telephone: (916) 

922–8041, to adopt 2004 management 

measures for implementation by NMFS.

April 6, 2004: Testimony on the 

management options is taken during the 

Council meeting at the Red Lion Hotel 

Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.

Although non emergency issues not 

contained in the STT meeting agendas 

may come before the STT for 

discussion, those issues may not be the 

subject of formal STT action during 

these meetings. STT action will be 

restricted to those issues specifically 

listed in this document and to any 

issues arising after publication of this 

document requiring emergency action 

under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act, provided the public 

has been notified of the STT’s intent to 

take final action to address the 

emergency.

Special Accommodations

The meetings are physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for sign language 

interpretation or other auxiliary aids 

should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter 

at 503–820–2280 (voice), or 503–820–

2299 (fax) at least five days prior to the 

meeting date.

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

Dated: December 30, 2003.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 04–231 Filed 1–5–04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration

[I.D. 122303L]

Marine Mammals; File No. 642–1536

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application for 

amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Joseph R. Mobley, Jr., Ph.D., Professor 

Psychology, University of Hawaii-West 

Oahu, 96–129 Ala Ike, Pearl City, 

Hawaii 96782 (Principal Investigator: 

Dr. Joe Mobley), has requested an 

amendment to scientific research Permit 

No. 642–1536–00.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments 

must be received on or before February 

5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request 

and related documents are available for 

review upon written request or by 

appointment in the following office(s):

Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 

(301)713–2289; fax (301)713–0376; and

Protected Species Coordinator, Pacific 

Islands Region Office, NMFS, 1601 

Kapiolani Blvd., Rm, 1110, Honolulu, 

HI 96814–4700; phone (808)973–2935; 

fax (808)973–2941.

Written comments or requests for a 

public hearing on this request should be 

submitted to the Chief, Permits, 

Conservation and Education Division, 

F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 

individuals requesting a hearing should 

set forth the specific reasons why a 

hearing on this particular amendment 

request would be appropriate.

Comments may also be submitted by 

facsimile at (301)713–0376, provided 

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy 

submitted by mail and postmarked no 

later than the closing date of the 

comment period. Please note that 

comments will not be accepted by email or other electronic media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill 

Lewandowski, (301)713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject amendment to Permit No. 642–

1536–00, issued on March 15, 2000 (65 

FR 13949) is requested under the 

authority of the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act of 1972, as amended 

(MMPA- 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the