[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77173-77174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28129]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 121504I]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a public hearing to solicit comments on ``Draft Amendment 3 for 
Addressing EFH Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern 
(HAPCs), and Adverse Effects of Fishing in the Following Fishery 
Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, 
Stone Crab, Coral and Coral Reef in the Gulf of Mexico and Spiny 
Lobster and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of 
Mexico and South Atlantic.'' The Amendment contains proposed 
alternatives to further identify essential fish habitat (EFH), 
establish HAPCs, and, to the extent practicable, prevent adverse 
impacts of fishing activities on coral in HAPCs.

DATES: The public hearing will be held January 4, 2005, beginning at 7 
p.m. and concluding no later than 10 p.m. Public comments received by 
mail that are received in the Council office by 5 p.m., January 5, 
2005, will be presented to the Council.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the DoubleTree Grand Key 
Resort, 3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040; phone: 
(888) 310-1540.
    Send written comments to: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301, North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Leard, Deputy Executive Director, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; phone: (813) 228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following the judicial decision in American 
Oceans Campaign v. Daley (Civil Action No. 99-982), NOAA Fisheries and 
the Council prepared an ``Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Generic Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment to the Following Fishery 
Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, 
Stone Crab, Coral and Coral Reef in the

[[Page 77174]]

Gulf of Mexico and Spiny Lobster and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.'' The EIS analyzes 
within each fishery a range of potential alternatives to: (1) describe 
and identify essential fish habitat for each fishery; (2) identify 
other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of such 
EFH; and (3) identify measures to minimize to the extent practicable 
any adverse effects of fishing on such EFH. Based on this EIS, the 
Council has subsequently developed ``Draft Amendment 3 for Addressing 
EFH Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs), and 
Adverse Effects of Fishing in the Following Fishery Management Plans of 
the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, Stone Crab, Coral and 
Coral Reef in the Gulf of Mexico and Spiny Lobster and the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.''
    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Dawn Aring at the Council (see ADDRESSES) by 
December 28, 2004.

    Dated: December 17, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-28129 Filed 12-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S