Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 177 / Friday, September 12, 1997 / Notices 48061

Activities Pursuant to the Act

On June 27, 1997, the Secretary

received letters from the Commission

prepared pursuant to section 806(b) of

the Act. The Commission’s letters stated

that the State of Maryland’s and the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ scup

and black sea bass regulations did not

meet the provisions of the Commission’s

FMPs, and, therefore, the Commission

found the State of Maryland and the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts out of

compliance with the FMPs as described

below:

Scup

The State of Maryland has not

implemented and is not enforcing the

Commission’s FMP for scup because it

has not adopted the following measures

contained in the FMP:

a. Minimum sizes for commercial and

recreational fisheries (9 inches),

b. Minimum mesh sized for

commercial fisheries (7 inches),

c. Commercial quota limitation (4–1/

2 inches),

d. Permitting and reporting

requirements,

e. Summer closure for the commercial

fishery,

f. Pot and trap limitations, and

g. Prohibition concerning roller gear

greater than 18 inches.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

has not implemented permit and

reporting requirements and restrictions

on the use of pot and trap gear.

Black Sea Bass

The State of Maryland has not

implemented and is not enforcing the

Commission’s FMP for black sea bass

because it has not adopted the following

measures contained in the FMP:

a. Minimum size for commercial

fisheries (9 inches),

b. Minimum mesh size for

commercial fisheries (4 inches),

c. Pot and trap restrictions, and

d. Restriction on roller gear in excess

of 18 inches.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

has not implemented and is not

enforcing the Commission’s FMP for

black sea bass because it has not

adopted the pot and trap restrictions

contained in the FMP.

The Commission’s letters also

suggested that the Secretary use his

discretionary authority under the Act to

delay the date of the moratorium for up

to 6 months, because both states are

making an effort to come into

compliance.

Both states have agreed with the

Commission’s determination that they

are not in compliance, but are taking

action to be in compliance with both

Commission FMPs by September 19,

1997, for Massachusetts, and October

20, 1997, for Maryland. Further

comments were received from the

Commission; the New England and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Councils;

NMFS’ Northeast Science Center; and

the Department of Interior’s U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service.

Determination Regarding Compliance

by the State of Maryland and the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Based on a careful analysis of all

relevant information, and taking into

account comments presented by the

State of Maryland and the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the

Secretary has determined that the State

of Maryland and the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts are not in compliance

with the Commission’s FMPs for scup

and black sea bass. This determination

is based on Maryland’s and

Massachusetts’ failure to implement and

enforce regulatory measures established

in the Commission’s scup and black sea

bass FMPs. Further, the Secretary has

determined that enforcement of these

measures is necessary for the

conservation of scup and black sea bass.

Although the State of Maryland and

the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

are not in compliance with the

Commission’s FMPs for scup and black

sea bass, because they are making

expeditious efforts to promulgate

regulations which would bring

themselves into compliance by

November 1997, the Secretary is

delaying the effective date of the

moratorium until November 15, 1997. If

the State of Maryland and/or the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts adopt

and implement measures bringing

themselves into compliance, the

Secretary will publish an appropriate

announcement in the Federal Register

rescinding the moratorium with respect

to the State and/or the Commonwealth.

If the State of Maryland and/or the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts have

not promulgated appropriate regulations

by November 1, 1997, the moratorium

will go into effect as of November 15,

1997. In such case, NMFS will

promulgate a final regulation

prohibiting fishing for scup, black sea

bass, or both within Maryland and/or

Massachusetts state waters, effective

November 15, 1997. Delaying the

effective date of the moratorium until

November 15, 1997, will not

significantly diminish conservation

efforts because each state does have

conservation measures in effect,

although they do not meet the

Commission’s FMPs for scup and black

sea bass.

NMFS will notify the Governors of

Maryland and Massachusetts of this

action and will promulgate the

regulations in the Federal Register

necessary to implement this moratorium

effective November 15, 1997. If the

moratorium goes into effect, the

Secretary will terminate it immediately

with respect to the State and/or the

Commonwealth upon receipt of

notification from the Commission, and

if the Secretary concurs with the

Commission, that the State and/or the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts have

taken appropriate remedial actions to

bring themselves into compliance.

Dated: September 9, 1997.

David L. Evans,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–24203 Filed 9–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 090897A]

Pacific 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 Pacific Fishery

Management Council’s (Council)

Groundfish Management Team (GMT)

will hold a public meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held on

Monday, September 29, 1997 at 1:00

p.m. and will continue through Friday,

October 3, 1997. The Tuesday through

Friday sessions will begin at 8:00 a.m.

and may go into the evening until

business for the day is completed.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in

the conference room at the Council

office, 2130 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite

224, Portland, OR 97201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim

Glock, Groundfish Fishery Management

Coordinator; telephone: (503) 326–6352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

primary purpose of the meeting is to

prepare analyses and reports for the

Council’s November 1997 meeting. The

GMT will address topics as drafting

assignments are prepared and

completed during this meeting. As a

result, daily agendas or schedules will

not be available in advance of the
48062 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 177 / Friday, September 12, 1997 / Notices

meeting. However, proposed items that

may be discussed by the GMT in

preparation for the Council’s November

meeting include development of final

acceptable biological catch and harvest

guideline recommendations for 1998,

review and analysis of proposed

management options for 1998, inseason

catch projections for the remainder of

1997, and preparation of fishery

management plan amendments, the

Stock Assessment and Fishery

Evaluation document, and the Draft

Environmental Assessment for Proposed

Harvest Levels.

Although other issues may come

before the GMT for discussion, in

accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management

Act, those issues may not be the subject

of formal GMT action during this

meeting. GMT action will be restricted

to those issues specifically identified in

this notice.

Special Accommodations

The meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to Eric

Greene at (503) 326–6352 at least 5 days

prior to the meeting date.

Dated: September 8, 1997.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–24230 Filed 9–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 090597C]

Western Pacific 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 Western Pacific Fishery

Management Council (Council) will

hold a meeting of its Bottomfish Task

Force.

DATES: The meeting will be held on

October 2, 1997, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00

p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Council office, Conference Room,

1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400,

Honolulu, HI; telephone: (808) 522–

8220.

Council address: Western Pacific

Fishery Management Council, 1164

Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI

96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director;

telephone: (808) 522–8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Bottomfish Task Force will review a

draft amendment for the Mau Zone

bottomfish fishery limited entry

program in the Northwestern Hawaiian

Islands. The Task Force will also

discuss new entry criteria for the

limited entry program and consider

other business as needed.

Although other issues not contained

in this agenda may come before this

Task Force for discussion, in accordance

with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act,

those issues may not be the subject of

formal Task Force action during this

meeting. Task Force action will be

restricted to those issues specifically

identified in the agenda listed in this

notice.

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to

Kitty M. Simonds, 808–522–8220

(voice) or 808–522–8226 (fax), at least 5

days prior to meeting date.

Dated: September 5, 1997.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–24204 Filed 9–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 090497B]

Marine Mammals; Permit No. 837 (File

No. P771#67)

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

the National Marine Mammal

Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science

Center, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point

Way NE., BIN C15700, Seattle,

Washington 98115, has requested an

amendment to permit no. 837.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments

must be received on or before October

14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request

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); and

Regional Administrator, Alaska

Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,

AK 99802–1668 (907) 586–7221.

Written comments or requests for a

public hearing on this request should be

submitted to the Chief, Permits and

Documentation Division, F/PR1, Office

of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315

East-West Highway, Room 13130, 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. Concurrent

with the publication of this notice in the

Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding

copies of this application to the Marine

Mammal Commission and its

Committee of Scientific Advisors.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject amendment to permit no. 837,

issued on June 4, 1993 (58 FR 33085) is

requested under the authority of the

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,

as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the

Regulations Governing the Taking and

Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR

part 216), the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.), the regulations governing the

taking, importing, and exporting of

endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR

222.23), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966,

as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).

Permit no. 837 authorizes the permit

holder to: harass up to 222,720 northern

fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and 3500

California sea lions (Zalophus

californianus) while conducting ground

surveys; capture, restrain, shear-mark,

sample and handle up to 30,000+

northern fur seals over a 5-year period;

and collect parts from dead animals.

The permit holder now requests

authorization to collect biopsies from 60

additional female northern fur seals, (30

seals on St. Paul, 30 seals on St. George).

The permittee is currently authorized to