Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Proposed Rules 35877

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

13. As required by the Regulatory

Flexibility Act (RFA), the Commission

has prepared this present Initial

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA)

of the possible significant economic

impact on small entities by the policies

and rules proposed in this Second

FNPRM. Written public comments are

requested on this IRFA. Comments must

be identified as responses to the IRFA

and must be filed by the deadlines for

comments on the Second FNPRM. The

Commission will send a copy of the

Second FNPRM, including this IRFA, to

the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the

Small Business Administration. See 5

U.S.C. 603(a).

A. Need for and Objectives of this

Action

14. This Second FNPRM is being

initiated to secure comment on the

Commission’s tentative conclusion that

the one megahertz of narrowband PCS

reserve spectrum should be licensed.

The Commission believes that this

spectrum, which is unencumbered,

should be made available to those

interested in bringing new and

innovative services to the public, and

that the Commission should work to

avoid any shortage of spectrum that

might limit service options. The Second

FNPRM also seeks comment on how the

reserve spectrum should be

channelized. The Commission believes

that creating channel blocks that are

larger than those currently in existence

may be useful to those seeking to

provide innovative services. Finally, the

Second FNPRM seeks comment on

whether rechannelizing the unlicensed

spectrum that has already been

channelized, to create licenses

authorizing the use of larger blocks of

spectrum, would facilitate the

development of innovative services or

otherwise assist narrowband PCS

licensees in competing against other

wireless sectors.

B. Legal Basis

15. This action is authorized under

sections 4(i), 303(r), and 309(j) of the

Communications Act of 1934, as

amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(r), and

309(j).

C. Description and Estimate of the

Number of Small Entities to Which the

Proposed Rules Will Apply

16. The Final Regulatory Flexibility

Analysis (FRFA) for the Second R&O

adopted simultaneously with the

Second FNPRM describes in detail the

small entities that the Commission

expects will be affected by the rules

adopted in the Second R&O (published

elsewhere in this issue of the Federal

Register). These same entities would be

affected by the rules proposed in the

Second FNPRM. The number and

description of such entities contained in

Section iii of the FRFA are hereby

incorporated in this IRFA.

D. Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other

Compliance Requirements

17. The Commission does not

anticipate any additional reporting,

recordkeeping, or other compliance

requirements as a result of this Second

FNPRM.

E. Steps Taken to Minimize Significant

Economic Impact on Small Entities and

Significant Alternatives Considered

18. The RFA requires an agency to

describe any significant alternatives that

it has considered in reaching its

proposed approach, which may include

the following four alternatives:

(a) The establishment of differing

compliance or reporting requirements or

timetables that take into account the

resources available to small entities;

(b) The clarification, consolidation, or

simplification of compliance or

reporting requirements under the rule

for small entities;

(c) The use of performance, rather

than design, standards; and

(d) An exemption from coverage of

the rule, or any part thereof, for small

entities.

19. In the Second FNPRM the

Commission seeks comment on whether

the narrowband PCS reserve spectrum

should be licensed. The Commission

believes that licensing this spectrum

would make it easier for innovators to

acquire spectrum and develop services,

and that this goal is consistent with

promoting opportunities for small

businesses. The Commission also seeks

comment on whether rechannelizing the

unlicensed spectrum that has already

been channelized would assist

narrowband PCS licensees in competing

against other services.

F. Federal Rules That Overlap,

Duplicate, or Conflict With These Rules

20. None.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 24

Communications common carriers,

Personal communications services,

Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–13962 Filed 6–2–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 000502120–0120–01; I.D.

041000E]

RIN 0648–AN39

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of

Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Fishery off the Southern

Atlantic States; Amendment 12

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this proposed

rule to implement Amendment 12 to the

Fishery Management Plan for the

Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South

Atlantic Region (FMP). This rule would

limit the harvest and possession of red

porgy in or from the exclusive economic

zone (EEZ) off the southern Atlantic

states to specified incidental catch

amounts, add to the parameters that

may be established or modified via the

FMP’s framework procedure for

regulatory adjustments, and modify the

snapper-grouper limited access system

to allow transfers of a trip-limited

permit among vessels owned by the

same person regardless of vessel size.

The intended effect is to protect the red

porgy resource, which is currently

overfished; to facilitate timely

implementation of measures for the

protection of snapper-grouper essential

fish habitat (EFH) and essential fish

habitat areas of particular concern (EFH

HAPCs); and to remove an unnecessary

restriction on the transfer of snappergrouper trip-limited permits.

DATES: Written comments on this

proposed rule must be received no later

than 5 p.m., eastern standard time, on

July 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of Amendment 12

may be obtained from the South

Atlantic Fishery Management Council,

One Southpark Circle, Suite 306,

Charleston, SC 29407–4699; phone:

843–571–4366; fax: 843–769–4520.

Amendment 12 includes a

Supplemental Environmental Impact

Statement (SEIS), an Initial Regulatory

Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), a Regulatory

Impact Review (RIR), and a Social

Impact Assessment/Fishery Impact

Statement.

Written comments on this proposed

rule should be sent to the Southeast

35878 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Proposed Rules

Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive

Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL

33702. Comments also may be sent via

facsimile (fax) to 727–570–5583.

Comments will not be accepted if

submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Peter J. Eldridge, 727–570–5305, fax

727–570–5583, e-mail

Peter.Eldridge@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

snapper-grouper fishery off the southern

Atlantic states is managed under the

FMP. The FMP was prepared by the

South Atlantic Fishery Management

Council (Council) and approved and

implemented by NMFS under the

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by

regulations at 50 CFR part 622.

Red Porgy

The red porgy resource is overfished.

In an emergency interim rule published

September 3, 1999 (64 FR 48324), NMFS

prohibited the harvest and possession of

red porgy in or from the EEZ off the

southern Atlantic states. NMFS

extended the prohibition on harvest and

possession of red porgy through August

28, 2000 (65 FR 10039; February 25,

2000). The detailed analysis that led to

the conclusion that the red porgy

resource is overfished was summarized

in the emergency interim rule (64 FR

48324) and is not repeated here. If the

measures in Amendment 12 are

approved, the Council and NMFS

intend that they would be implemented

by final rule and effective August 29,

2000.

Amendment 12 proposes to limit the

harvest and possession of red porgy to

incidental catches. Specifically, a

recreational fisherman would be

restricted to one red porgy per day or

per trip, whichever is more restrictive.

A commercial fisherman would be

limited to 50 lb (22.7 kg) per trip during

the months of May through December

and to one red porgy per day or per trip,

whichever is more restrictive, during

January through April. The current

prohibition on sale of red porgy during

March and April would be extended to

the months of January through April.

The Council has concluded that these

measures would reduce catches of red

porgy sufficiently to allow rebuilding of

the stock. The Council recognized the

severely overfished status of red porgy,

as indicated in the most recent stock

assessment, based on data through 1996

that was presented at the March 1999

Council meeting. More recent scientific

data presented at the November/

December 1999 Council meeting

indicate a slight increase in the stock

size. The majority of public input to

date advocates restrictive management

measures but not a total prohibition on

harvest. The Council considered the

public input and the status of the red

porgy resource and concluded that

fishing mortality must be reduced

significantly to allow red porgy to

rebuild. The goal of the rebuilding

program would be an increase in the

stock biomass to a level that would

support harvests at maximum

sustainable yield (MSY). Further, the

Council believes that total prohibition of

harvest would be wasteful. Red porgy

would continue to be caught as part of

the multi-species, mid-depth snappergrouper fishery and a significant portion

of them would not survive catch and

release. Thus, the Council proposes to

allow retention of limited amounts of

red porgy as incidental catch rather than

the total prohibition that is currently in

effect under the emergency interim rule.

In developing the proposed measures,

the Council attempted to limit fishing

mortality to the level that would result

from regulatory discards under a total

prohibition of harvest.

The Council also concluded that the

existing 14–inch (35.6–cm), total length,

minimum size limit will protect red

porgy up to ages 4 to 4.5. All female red

porgy are mature at age 3, and 19

percent are mature at age 1. The 14–inch

(35.6–cm) minimum size limit should

allow 100 percent of the females to

reproduce at ages 3 and 4, which should

result in significant increases in

recruitment. In addition, limiting

retention of commercially caught red

porgy to one fish per day or per trip

during January through April will

protect red porgy during their spawning

period. In combination, these two

measures are expected to contribute

significantly to the rebuilding of the red

porgy resource.

The expected rebuilding time frame

for red porgy would be 18 years. Red

porgy cannot be rebuilt within 10 years

due to the extremely low stock size, as

data through 1996 indicate, and to the

fact that species, such as red porgy,

which switch sex with age appear to be

more susceptible to overfishing. NMFS

recommended that the Council specify

the rebuilding timeframe as 10 years

plus 1 generation time which equates to

18 years.

Framework Procedure

In accordance with the FMP, certain

factors related to the management of

snapper-grouper may be established or

modified via a framework procedure

that enables more timely

implementation than is possible via an

FMP amendment. In conjunction with

NMFS’ approval of the Council’s

Comprehensive Amendment Addressing

Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) in the

Fishery Management Plans of the South

Atlantic Region (Comprehensive EFH

Amendment), NMFS published a

proposed rule to implement the

Comprehensive EFH Amendment’s

approved measures that would add

parameters regarding EFH and EFH

HAPCs to those for which the

framework procedure was applicable

(64 FR 37082, July 9, 1999). Amendment

12 proposes to clarify that actions that

may be taken under the framework

procedure regarding EFH and EFH

HAPCs include restrictions on gear and

fishing activities.

Transfer of Snapper-Grouper Permits

Under the regulations to implement

FMP Amendment 8, some vessels have

trip-limited commercial permits for

snapper-grouper, i.e., permits that allow

no more than 225 lb (102.1 kg) of

snapper-grouper per trip. An owner of a

vessel with such a permit may transfer

the permit to another vessel owned by

the same entity only if the replacement

vessel is equal to or less than the length

and gross tonnage of the replaced vessel.

While it may be argued that replacement

of a smaller vessel with a larger one may

increase the harvesting capacity of a

vessel with a trip-limited permit,

contrary to the original intent of

Amendment 8’s limited access program,

such increase is constrained by the 225–

lb (102.1–kg) limit. The Council

concluded that retaining the size/gross

tonnage transfer restriction creates

administrative difficulties for vessel

owners and for NMFS and has limited

benefits. Accordingly, Amendment 12

proposes to remove the size/gross

tonnage transfer restriction.

Additional Measures in Amendment 12

In addition to the measures described

here for the management of red porgy,

Amendment 12 proposes to establish

the following for red porgy: MSY;

optimum yield (OY); maximum fishing

mortality threshold (MFMT), the fishing

mortality rate which, if exceeded,

constitutes overfishing; minimum stock

size threshold (MSST), the stock size

below which red porgy are overfished;

and a rebuilding schedule, the period

during which the overfished red porgy

resource should be rebuilt to a level that

will support MSY. The specific

proposals are as follows:

MSY—1,987 metric tons (mt).

OY—The amount of harvest that can

be taken by fishermen of the U.S. while

maintaining the spawning potential

ratio (SPR) at or above 45 percent of the

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Proposed Rules 35879

static SPR. (Note: This does not

represent an SPR proxy for OY but an

equilibrium yield associated with a

fishing mortality rate [FOY].)

MFMT—0.43, which is the mortality

rate corresponding to 35 percent of the

static SPR.

MSST—3,328 mt.

Rebuilding time frame—18 years,

with 1999 as year 1.

The Council is concerned that it may

be setting MSY, OY, and MSST too

high, given that the proposed MSY of

1,987 mt has never been harvested. The

Council will review these estimates

when the stock assessment is updated in

2 years. If changes are necessary,

appropriate levels will be proposed

through the framework procedure or via

an FMP amendment, as appropriate.

Availability of Amendment 12

Additional background and rationale

for the measures discussed above are

contained in Amendment 12. The

availability of Amendment 12 was

announced in the Federal Register on

April 19, 2000, (65 FR 20939). Written

comments on Amendment 12 must be

received by June 19, 2000. All

comments received on Amendment 12

or on this proposed rule during their

respective comment periods will be

addressed in the preamble to the final

rule.

Classification

At this time, NMFS has not

determined that Amendment 12 is

consistent with the national standards

of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other

applicable laws. NMFS, in making that

determination, will take into account

the data, views, and comments received

during the comment period on

Amendment 12.

This proposed rule has been

determined to be significant for

purposes of E.O. 12866.

The Council prepared a final

supplemental environmental impact

statement for the FMP; a notice of

availability was published on May 12,

2000, (65 FR 30587).

The Council prepared an IRFA, based

on the RIR, and concluded that this

proposed rule, if adopted, would have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small business

entities. NMFS concurs with the

finding. A summary of the IRFA with

other information supplied by NMFS

follows.

This proposed rule is being

considered because the red porgy stock

is severely overfished, and the

Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the

Council to take action to resolve the

overfished status of the stock. The

Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the

legal basis for all the actions proposed

by the Council. The actions having an

economic impact on small entities

would restrict commercial landings of

red porgy to a maximum of 50 lb (22.7

kg) per trip, close the commercial red

porgy fishery from January through

April, reduce the recreational bag limit

from 5 to 1 red porgy per angler per day

or per trip (whichever is more

restrictive), and allow the owner of a

vessel having a 225–lb (102–kg) triplimited permit for snapper-grouper to

transfer the permit to a larger vessel

under the same ownership.

Other measures would define MSY

and OY for red porgy and would change

some framework provisions in the FMP,

including providing the Council with

more latitude under the framework to

suggest additional regulatory actions

designed to protect EFH and HAPCs.

These other measures would not have

any immediate economic impacts, but

future actions to implement

management measures associated with

the new framework measures or to

achieve MSY or OY may have economic

impacts and would be analyzed at the

time that they are implemented.

There are about 1,200 fishing craft

(boats and vessels combined) that are

operated by entities that hold permits

for commercial snapper grouper fishing,

and all such entities are considered to

represent small business entities. The

Council and NMFS are aware that some

small entities may control more than

one harvesting unit, so the number of

small entities impacted is likely to be

slightly lower than the number of craft

involved in the legal harvest of snapper

grouper species. About 330 of the

fishing craft have a history of red porgy

landings, and, of these, about 270 are

determined to be directly impacted by

the proposed actions. The average

(vessels and boats combined) length is

37.2 ft (11.4 m), and investment in these

craft is estimated at $53,000 for those

using bottom hook-and-line gear and at

$237,000 for those using bottom

longline gear. The fishing craft generate

annual average gross revenues of about

$42,000 and have net operating

revenues (gross revenues minus trip

costs) of about $29,000 per year. Most of

the revenue is generated from species

other than red porgy.

In addition to the effects on

enterprises that are engaged in the

commercial harvest of snapper grouper

species, the proposal for a 1–fish

recreational bag limit will affect the

operations of some headboat operations

that are also defined as small business

entities. NMFS estimates that about one

third of the headboat fleet or about 33

vessels in South Atlantic waters have

enough red porgy landings to be

potentially affected by the bag limit

action, but there is no definitive

information available from which to

quantify this impact. The headboats

have an average length of 63 ft (19 m),

a total capital investment of $220,000

and generate annual average gross

revenue of about $123,000.

No additional reporting, record

keeping, or other compliance costs

related to the proposals were identified,

and no duplicative, overlapping, or

conflicting Federal rules were

identified.

The Council defined the red porgy

actions, including the commercial trip

limit, the commercial closed season,

and the recreational bag limit, as a

single action and considered three

alternatives to the action. One

alternative was the status quo. Although

the status quo would have no short-term

negative economic impacts on small

entities, it was rejected because the

Magnuson-Stevens Act specifically

requires the Council to take actions to

rebuild this severely overfished fishery.

Another rejected alternative would

prohibit all commercial and recreational

fishing for red porgy. The Council

rejected this alternative because of the

increased short-term negative impacts of

a total and indefinite prohibition on all

fishing for red porgy. The Council also

noted that, while the rejected alternative

would rebuild the red porgy stocks at a

higher rate than under the proposed

alternative, the proposed alternative

would still result in stock rebuilding.

The Council expressed an intent to

review the status of the red porgy stock

every 2 years and to take additional

actions in the future, if necessary. The

other rejected alternative was to adopt

the commercial trip limit of 50 lb (22.7

kg), but not to have a commercial

closure or a reduction in the

recreational bag limit. The Council

rejected this alternative because the

biological analyses indicated that a

more restrictive approach, such as the

proposed alternative, was necessary to

meet the specific goal of rebuilding the

red porgy stock within an 18-year

period. The status quo was considered

as an alternative to the action to allow

the owner of a vessel with a trip-limited

permit for snapper-grouper to transfer

the permit to a larger vessel under the

same ownership. The status quo was

rejected because it was not the Council’s

original intent to have the transfer

restriction apply to a vessel owner who

desires to transfer the permit to another

vessel owned by the same small entity.

Copies of the IRFA are available (see

ADDRESSES).

35880 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Proposed Rules

The President has directed Federal

agencies to use plain language in their

communications with the public,

including regulations. To comply with

this directive, we seek public comment

on any ambiguity or unnecessary

complexity arising from the language

used in this interim rule. Such

comments should be directed to NMFS

Southeast Regional Office (see

ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Virgin Islands.

Dated: May 31, 2000.

Penelope D. Dalton,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is proposed

to be amended as follows:

PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE

CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH

ATLANTIC

1. The authority citation for part 622

continues to read as follows:

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

2. In § 622.18, paragraph (e)(2) is

revised to read as follows:

§ 622.18 South Atlantic snapper-grouper

limited access.

* * * * *

(e) * * *

(2) Trip-limited permits. An owner of

a vessel with a trip-limited permit may

request that the RA transfer the permit

to another vessel owned by the same

entity.

* * * * *

3. In § 622.36, paragraph (b)(5) is

revised to read as follows:

§ 622.36 Seasonal harvest limitations.

* * * * *

(b) * * *

(5) Red porgy. During January,

February, March, and April, each year,

the possession of red porgy in or from

the South Atlantic EEZ and in the South

Atlantic on board a vessel for which a

valid Federal commercial or charter

vessel/headboat permit for South

Atlantic snapper-grouper has been

issued, without regard to where such

red porgy were harvested, is limited to

one per person per day or one per

person per trip, whichever is more

restrictive. Such red porgy are subject to

the prohibition on sale or purchase, as

specified in § 622.45(d)(5).

4. In § 622.39, paragraphs (d)(1)(vi)

and (d)(2) are revised to read as follows:

§ 622.39 Bag and possession limits.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(1) * * *

(vi) Red porgy—1.

* * * * *

(2) Possession limits. (i) Provided

each passenger is issued and has in

possession a receipt issued on behalf of

the vessel that verifies the duration of

the trip—

(A) A person aboard a charter vessel

or headboat on a trip that spans more

than 24 hours may possess no more than

two daily bag limits of species other

than red porgy.

(B) A person aboard a headboat on a

trip that spans more than 48 hours and

who can document that fishing was

conducted on at least 3 days may

possess no more than three daily bag

limits of species other than red porgy.

(ii) A person aboard a vessel may not

possess red porgy in or from the EEZ in

excess of one per day or one per trip,

whichever is more restrictive.

* * * * *

5. In § 622.44, paragraph (c)(4) is

added to read as follows:

§ 622.44 Commercial trip limits.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(4) Red porgy. (i) From May 1 through

December 31, 50 lb (22.7 kg).

(ii) From January 1 through April 30,

the seasonal harvest limit specified in

§ 622.36(b)(5) applies.

* * * * *

6. In § 622.45, paragraph (d)(5) is

revised and paragraph (d)(7) is added to

read as follows:

§ 622.45 Restrictions on sale/purchase.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(5) During January, February, March,

and April, no person may sell or

purchase a red porgy harvested from the

South Atlantic EEZ or, if harvested by

a vessel for which a valid Federal

commercial or charter vessel/headboat

permit for South Atlantic snappergrouper has been issued, harvested from

the South Atlantic. The prohibition on

sale/purchase during January through

April does not apply to red porgy that

were harvested, landed ashore, and sold

prior to January 1 and were held in cold

storage by a dealer or processor. This

prohibition also does not apply to a

dealer’s purchase or sale of red porgy

harvested from an area other than the

South Atlantic, provided such fish is

accompanied by documentation of

harvest outside the South Atlantic. Such

documentation must contain:

(i) The information specified in 50

CFR part 300 subpart K for marking

containers or packages of fish or wildlife

that are imported, exported, or

transported in interstate commerce;

(ii) The official number, name, and

home port of the vessel harvesting the

red porgy;

(iii) The port and date of offloading

from the vessel harvesting the red porgy;

and

(iv) A statement signed by the dealer

attesting that the red porgy was

harvested from an area other than the

South Atlantic.

* * * * *

(7) During March and April, no

person may sell or purchase a gag or

black grouper harvested from the South

Atlantic EEZ or, if harvested by a vessel

for which a valid Federal commercial or

charter vessel/headboat permit for

South Atlantic snapper-grouper has

been issued, harvested from the South

Atlantic. The prohibition on sale/

purchase during March and April does

not apply to gag or black grouper that

were harvested, landed ashore, and sold

prior to March 1 and were held in cold

storage by a dealer or processor. This

prohibition also does not apply to a

dealer’s purchase or sale of gag or black

grouper harvested from an area other

than the South Atlantic, provided such

fish is accompanied by documentation

of harvest outside the South Atlantic.

Such documentation must contain:

(i) The information specified in 50

CFR part 300 subpart K for marking

containers or packages of fish or wildlife

that are imported, exported, or

transported in interstate commerce;

(ii) The official number, name, and

home port of the vessel harvesting the

gag or black grouper;

(iii) The port and date of offloading

from the vessel harvesting the gag or

black grouper; and

(iv) A statement signed by the dealer

attesting that the gag or black grouper

was harvested from an area other than

the South Atlantic.

* * * * *

7. In § 622.48, paragraph (f) is revised

to read as follows:

§ 622.48 Adjustment of management

measures.

* * * * *

(f) South Atlantic snapper-grouper

and wreckfish. For species or species

groups: Biomass levels, age-structured

analyses, target dates for rebuilding

overfished species, MSY, ABC, TAC,

quotas, trip limits, bag limits, minimum

sizes, gear restrictions (ranging from

regulation to complete prohibition),

seasonal or area closures, definitions of

essential fish habitat, essential fish

habitat, essential fish habitat HAPCs or

Coral HAPCs, and restrictions on gear

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 6, 2000 / Proposed Rules 35881

and fishing activities applicable in

essential fish habitat and essential fish

habitat HAPCs.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 00–14197 Filed 6–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 635

[I.D. 120999B]

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

Fisheries; Public Hearing

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Change in public hearing date.

SUMMARY: NMFS published a public

hearing announcement and request for

comments on May 24, 2000, to receive

comments from fishery participants and

other members of the public regarding

proposed regulations to establish North

Atlantic swordfish quotas for the 2000–

2002 fishing years and to change trade

restrictions for Atlantic bluefin tuna and

swordfish. NMFS herewith announces a

change in the date of the public hearing

to be held in Pompano Beach, FL from

June 8, 2000, to July 11, 2000.

To accommodate people unable to

attend a hearing or wishing to provide

written comments, NMFS also solicits

written comments on the proposed rule.

DATES: The new hearing is scheduled as

follows:

1. Tuesday, July 11, 2000, 7 to 9:30

p.m., Pompano Beach, FL.

Written comments on the proposed

rule or the draft Environmental

Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

(EA/RIR/IRFA) must be received at the

appropriate address or fax number (see

ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m., eastern

standard time, on July 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The location for this hearing

is as follows:

1. Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801

NE 6th Street, Pompano Beach, FL

33060.

Written comments on the proposed

rule or EA/RIR/IRFA should be sent to

Rebecca Lent, Chief, Highly Migratory

Species Management Division, Office of

Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), National

Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20910. Comments also may be sent via

facsimile (fax) to 301–713–1917.

Comments will not be accepted if

submitted via e-mail or Internet. For

copies of the proposed rules or EA/RIR/

IRFA contact Rachel Husted at 301–

713–2347, or write to Rebecca Lent.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rachel Husted at 301–713–2347, fax

301–713–1917, e-mail

rachel.husted@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

proposed regulations that are the subject

of the hearings are necessary to address

requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management

Act for the conservation and

management of highly migratory

species.

A complete description of the

measures, the purpose and need for the

proposed actions, and information on

other hearing locations is contained in

the proposed rules, published

Wednesday May 24, 2000 (65 FR 33517

and 65 FR 33519), and is not repeated

here.

Persons submitting written comments

on the proposed rule or the EA/RIR/

IRFA should include their name,

address and, if possible, phone number;

the title of the document on which

comments are being submitted; and

specific factors or comments along with

supporting reasons that NMFS should

consider in reaching a decision.

Special Accommodations

The hearings are physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to

Rachel Husted (see FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 7 days

prior to the hearing or meeting.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 16

U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: May 31, 2000.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–14037 Filed 5–31–00; 4:33 pm]

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