[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 152 (Monday, August 10, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 39914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19095]



[[Page 39914]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 229, 600, and 635

[Docket No. 080519678-8685-01]
RIN 0648-AW65


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management 
Measures; Amendment 3

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In order to provide additional opportunities for the public, 
all five Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic 
and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, and other interested 
parties to comment on the proposed rule for draft Amendment 3 to the 
2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP), NMFS is extending the comment period for this 
action. On July 24, 2009, NMFS published the proposed rule for draft 
Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. In that proposed rule, 
the end of the comment period was announced as September 22, 2009, 
which would allow for a 60-day comment period on the proposed rule. 
NMFS is now extending the comment period until September 25, 2009 to 
accommodate two public hearings scheduled on September 22, 2009, and 
the New England Fishery Management Council meeting September 22 24, 
2009. Comments received by NMFS on the proposed rule will help NMFS 
determine final management measures for small coastal sharks, shortfin 
mako sharks, and smooth dogfish as described in draft Amendment 3 to 
the Consolidated HMS FMP.

DATES:  The deadline for comments on the proposed rule for draft 
Amendment 3 to the Consolidated HMS FMP has been extended from 
September 22, 2009, as published on July 24, 2009 (74 FR 36892), to 5 
p.m. on September 25, 2009.

ADDRESSES: As published on July 24, 2009 (74 FR 36892), written 
comments on this action should be sent to Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Highly 
Migratory Species Management Division, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Mail: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Shark Amendment 3 Comments.''
    <bullet> Fax: (301) 713-1917.
    <bullet> Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to Portal 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). Attachments to electronic 
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or 
Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Copies of the draft Amendment 3 to the Consolidated HMS FMP, 
including the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the latest shark 
stock assessments, and other documents relevant to this rule are 
available from the Highly Migratory Species Management Division website 
at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms or by contacting LeAnn Southward Hogan at 
301-713-2347.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz or LeAnn 
Southward Hogan at (301) 713-2347, or Jackie Wilson at (240) 338-3936.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP is 
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    On July 24, 2009 (74 FR 36892), NMFS published the proposed rule 
for draft Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, which proposes 
management measures to rebuild blacknose sharks, end overfishing of 
blacknose sharks and shortfin mako sharks, and add smooth dogfish under 
federal management. In that proposed rule, the end of the comment 
period was announced as September 22, 2009, which would allow for a 60-
day comment period on the proposed rule. Due to the timing of two 
public hearings on September 22, 2009, and the need for NMFS to consult 
with the New England Fishery Management Council during their September 
2009 meeting, NMFS is extending the comment period to provide 
additional opportunity for the public, all five Atlantic Regional 
Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine 
Fisheries Commissions, and other interested parties to comment on the 
proposed rule for draft Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.
    These comments will assist NMFS in determining the final management 
measures to conserve and manage shark resources and fisheries, 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the 2006 Consolidated HMS 
FMP.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 3, 2009.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-19095 Filed 8-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S