35902 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Notices

than 400 short tons (362.8 mt) carrying

capacity. The affirmative finding was

based on documentary evidence

submitted by the Republic of Ecuador

and obtained from the Inter-American

Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

This finding remains in effect through

March 31, 2001.

DATES: Effective May 31, 2000 through

March 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Regional Administrator, Southwest

Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean

Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach,

California, 90802–4213, Phone 562–

980–4000, Fax 562–980–4018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq, as

amended by the International Dolphin

Conservation Program Act (IDCPA)

(Pub. L. 105–42), allows the entry into

the United States of yellowfin tuna

harvested by purse seine vessels in the

ETP under certain conditions. If

requested by the harvesting nation, the

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

NOAA, will determine whether to make

an affirmative finding based upon

documentary evidence provided by the

Republic of the harvesting nation, by the

International Dolphin Conservation

Program (IDCP), the IATTC, and/or the

Department of State. A finding will

remain valid for 1 year (April 1 through

March 31) or for such other period as

the Assistant Administrator for

Fisheries may determine. The

harvesting nation must submit an

application directly to the Assistant

Administrator for Fisheries for the first

affirmative finding. Every 5 years, the

Republic of the harvesting nation, must

request an affirmative finding and

submit the required documentary

evidence directly to the Assistant

Administrator for Fisheries. The

Assistant Administrator may require the

submission of additional supporting

documentation or verification of

statements made in connection with

requests to allow importations. An

affirmative finding applies to tuna and

tuna products that were harvested in the

ETP by purse seine vessels of the nation,

and applies to any tuna harvested in the

ETP purse seine fishery after March 3,

1999, the effective date of the IDCPA.

The affirmative finding process

requires that the harvesting nation meet

several conditions related to compliance

with the IDCP. To issue an annual

affirmative finding NMFS must receive

the following information:

1. A statement requesting an

affirmative finding;

2. Evidence of membership in the

IATTC;

3. Evidence that a nation is meeting

its obligations to the IATTC, including

financial obligations;

4. Evidence that a nation is complying

with the IDCP. For example, national

laws and regulations implementing the

Agreement on the IDCP and information

that the nation is enforcing those laws

and regulations;

5. Evidence of a tuna tracking and

verification program comparable to the

U.S. tracking and verification

regulations at 50 CFR 216.94;

6. Evidence that the national fleet

dolphin mortality limits (DMLs) were

not exceeded in the previous calendar;

7. Evidence that the national fleet perstock per-year mortality limits, if they

are allocated to countries, were not

exceeded in the previous calendar year;

8. Authorization for the IATTC to

release to the Assistant Administrator

for Fisheries, complete, accurate and

timely information necessary to verify

and inspect Tuna Tracking Forms; and

9. Authorization for the IATTC to

release to the Assistant Administrator

for Fisheries information whether a

nation is meeting its obligations of

membership to the IATTC and whether

a nation is meeting its obligations under

the IDCP including managing (not

exceeding) its national fleet DMLs or its

national fleet per-stock per-year

mortality limits. A nation may opt to

provide this information 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, in consultation with the

Secretary of State, if the Assistant

Administrator for Fisheries determines

that the requirements of 50 CFR

216.24(f)(9) 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 Republic of the

harvesting nation, must request an

affirmative finding and submit the

required documentary evidence directly

to the Assistant Administrator for

Fisheries.

The Assistant Administrator for

Fisheries reviewed the application and

documentary evidence submitted by the

Republic of Ecuador and determined

that the requirements under the MMPA

to receive an affirmative finding have

been met for the purposes of issuing an

affirmative finding for the period April

1—March 31, 2001. On May 31, 2000,

after consultation with the Department

of State, NMFS issued an affirmative

finding allowing yellowfin tuna and

products derived from yellowfin tuna

harvested in the ETP by Ecuadorian-flag

purse seine vessels or vessels under

Ecuadorian jurisdiction greater than 400

short tons (362.8 metric tons) carrying

capacity after March 3, 1999, to be

imported into the United States. In

subsequent years 2001 through 2004,

the Assistant Administrator will

determine on an annual basis whether

the Republic of Ecuador is meeting the

requirements under section 101 (a)(2)(B)

and (C) of the MMPA. NMFS will use

documentary evidence provided by the

IATTC and the Department of State or

the harvesting nation, on an annual

basis to determine whether the finding

should be renewed. If necessary,

documentary evidence may also be

requested from the Republic of Ecuador

to determine whether the affirmative

finding criteria are being met. A new

application is due by the Republic of

Ecuador if the affirmative finding lapses

or is revoked. If the affirmative finding

for the Republic of Ecuador is renewed

after NMFS’s annual review in the years

2001 to 2004, the Republic of Ecuador

must submit a new application in early

2005 for an affirmative finding to be

effective for the period April 1, 2005,

through March 31, 2006, and

subsequent years.

Dated: May 31, 2000.

Penelope D. Dalton,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–14199 Filed 6–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 053000F]

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management

Council (MAFMC); Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery

Management Council and its Squid,

Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee,

Dolphin/Wahoo Committee,

Comprehensive Management

Committee, Habitat Committee,

Executive Committee, and Law

Enforcement Committee will hold a

public meeting.

DATES: The meetings will be held on

Tuesday, June 20, 2000 to Thursday,

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Notices 35903

June 22, 2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for specific dates and

times.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at

the Danford’s Inn, 25 E. Broadway, Port

Jefferson, NY; telephone: 1–800–332–

6367.

Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery

Management Council, 300 S. New

Street, Dover, DE 19904; telephone:

302–674–2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director,

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management

Council; telephone: 302–674–2331, ext.

19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

Tuesday, June 20th, the Squid, Mackerel

and Butterfish Committee will meet

from 1:00–5:00 p.m. On Wednesday,

June 21st, the Dolphin/Wahoo

Committee will meet from 8:00–9:00

a.m. The Comprehensive Management

Committee will meet from 9:00–12:00

p.m. The Habitat Committee will meet

from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The

Executive Committee will meet from

3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. On Thursday,

June 22nd, the Law Enforcement

Committee will meet from 8:00 a.m.

until 9:00 a.m. Council will convene at

9:00 a.m. and will be in session until

1:00 p.m.

Agenda items for this meeting are:

Discuss actions necessary to remedy

disapproved portion of Amendment 8

(gear impacts on Essential Fish Habitat)

to the Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish

Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

Consider additional areas to be

identified as Essential Fish Habitat for

Illex. Consider revising quota setting

procedure for Illex (allow in-season

quota adjustment). Consider extending

moratorium on entry to Illex fishery.

Consider measures to protect Loligo egg

masses (possible season/area closures).

Consider controlled access plan for

Atlantic mackerel fishery. Review and

comment on South Atlantic Fishery

Management Council Dolphin/Wahoo

FMP. Develop recommendation(s)

regarding Dolphin/Wahoo for

presentation to and action by MAFMC.

Discuss and prioritize cooperative

research items associated with

MAFMC’s research set aside initiative.

Discuss and provide comments on

‘‘NMFS Budget Review Project. Discuss

and identify Council’s habitat research

priorities. Discuss and clarify role of

committee regarding meeting Council’s

habitat responsibilities. Review

MAFMC’s first half budget status/

performance. Discuss audit report

findings for FY95, FY96, FY97, and

FY98. Discuss recent Executive Order

regarding establishment of marine

reserves. Comment on enforceability of

Dolphin/Wahoo proposed management

measures. Finalize and approve Fishery

Award Program and related forms.

Approve operational guidelines for the

Law Enforcement Committee. The

Council will also approve minutes from

its May, 2000 meeting, review and

comment on May meeting actions, and

receive organizational reports from the

NMFS Regional Administrator, NMFS

Science Center Director, NOAA Office

of General Counsel, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife, Federal Enforcement units and

the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries

Commission. It will also receive

Committee reports from the following

committees: New England Council,

South Atlantic Council, Demersal,

Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish,

Dolphin/Wahoo, Comprehensive

Management, Habitat, Executive and

Law Enforcement.

Although non-emergency issues not

contained in this agenda may come

before the MAFMC for discussion, these

issues may not be the subject of formal

Council action during this meeting.

MAFMC 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

MAFMC’s intent to take final actions to

address such emergencies.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically

accessible to people with disabilities.

Requests for sign language

interpretation or other auxiliary aids

should be directed to Joanna Davis at

the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5

days prior to the meeting date.

Dated: May 31, 2000.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–14200 Filed 6–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D.052400A]

Marine Mammals; File No. 555–1565

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

James T. Harvey (Principal Investigator),

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, P.O.

Box 450, Moss Landing, CA 95039, has

applied in due form for a permit to take

Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina

richardsi) for purposes of scientific

research.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments

must be received on or before July 6,

2000.

ADDRESSES: The application and related

documents are available for review

upon written request or by appointment

in the following office(s):

Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,

1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130,

Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713–

2289);

Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West

Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach,

CA 90802 (562/980–4001); and

Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand

Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Seattle, WA

98115 (206/526–6150).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Simona Roberts or Ruth Johnson, 301/

713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject permit is requested under the

authority of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended

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

Regulations Governing the Taking and

Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR

part 216).

The applicant seeks authorization to

capture, handle and tag 1,600 Pacific

harbor seals per year of all age and sex

classes near haul-out sites throughout

California, Oregon and Washington.

Captured seals would be subject to all

or some of the following activities:

blood and tissue sampling, flipper

tagging, PIT tagging, branding, lavaging,

and video camera attachment. Acoustic

playback experiments and scat

collection would also take place around

the haul-out sites. In addition, the

applicant seeks authorization to

surgically implant radio tags in 15

captive, rehabilitated Pacific harbor

seals and to conduct feeding studies on

12 captive, rehabilitated Pacific harbor

seals.

In compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial

determination has been made that the

activity proposed is categorically

excluded from the requirement to

prepare an environmental assessment or

environmental impact statement.

Written comments or requests for a

public hearing on this application

should be mailed to the Chief, Permits