54518 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 178 / Thursday, September 15, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

GLOBAL EXPRESS MAIL (EMS) (220)—Continued 

Weight not over 

(lbs.) Rate 

Weight not 

over 

(lbs.) 

Rate 

13 ................................................................................................................................................. 51.55 49 129.40 

14 ................................................................................................................................................. 53.30 50 131.55 

15 ................................................................................................................................................. 55.30 51 133.75 

16 ................................................................................................................................................. 57.50 52 135.85 

17 ................................................................................................................................................. 59.65 53 138.05 

18 ................................................................................................................................................. 61.75 54 140.15 

19 ................................................................................................................................................. 63.80 55 142.30 

20 ................................................................................................................................................. 65.95 56 144.50 

21 ................................................................................................................................................. 68.05 57 146.60 

22 ................................................................................................................................................. 70.15 58 148.80 

23 ................................................................................................................................................. 72.30 59 151.00 

24 ................................................................................................................................................. 74.35 60 153.35 

25 ................................................................................................................................................. 76.45 61 155.85 

26 ................................................................................................................................................. 78.60 62 158.20 

27 ................................................................................................................................................. 80.65 63 160.55 

28 ................................................................................................................................................. 82.80 64 163.05 

29 ................................................................................................................................................. 84.90 65 165.40 

30 ................................................................................................................................................. 87.00 66 167.90 

31 ................................................................................................................................................. 89.15 67 170.30 

32 ................................................................................................................................................. 91.30 68 172.90 

33 ................................................................................................................................................. 93.30 69 175.40 

34 ................................................................................................................................................. 95.50 70 177.90 

Weight Limit: 70 lbs. 

Insurance (221.3) NOT Available 

Size Limits (223.2) 

Maximum length: 36 inches 

Maximum length and girth combined: 

79 inches 

Return Receipt Service (221.4): NOT 

Available 

Reciprocal Service Name: There is no 

reciprocal service. 

Country Code: FM 

Areas Served: All 

* * * * * 

We will publish an amendment to 39 

CFR part 20 to reflect these changes if 

our proposal is adopted. 

Neva R. Watson, 

Attorney, Legislative. 

[FR Doc. 05–18259 Filed 9–14–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–12–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 622 

[I.D. 090905A] 

RIN 0648–AS66 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Gulf of 

Mexico Essential Fish Habitat 

Amendment 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Availability of fishery 

management plan amendment; request 

for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the 

availability of Generic Amendment 3 to 

the Fishery Management Plans (FMP) of 

the Gulf of Mexico (EFH Amendment 3) 

prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council). EFH 

Amendment 3 would amend each of the 

seven Council FMPs -coral and coral 

reef resources, coastal migratory 

pelagics, red drum, reef fish, shrimp, 

spiny lobster, and stone crab- to 

describe and identify essential fish 

habitat (EFH); minimize to the extent 

practicable the adverse effects of fishing 

on EFH; and encourage conservation 

and management of EFH. This 

amendment would establish additional 

habitat areas of particular concern 

(HAPC), restrict fishing activities within 

HAPCs to protect EFH, and require a 

weak link in bottom trawl gear to 

protect EFH. The intended effect of EFH 

Amendment 3 is to facilitate long-term 

protection of EFH, and, thus, better 

conserve and manage fishery resources 

in the Gulf of Mexico. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received no later than 5 p.m., eastern 

time, on November 14, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any of the following methods: 

• E-mail: 0648–AS66.NOA@noaa.gov. 

Include in the subject line the following 

document identifier: 0648–AS66–NOA. 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Peter Hood, Southeast 

Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th

Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 

• Fax: 727–824–5308, Attention: Peter 

Hood. 

Copies of the Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) and EFH Amendment 3, 

which includes a Regulatory Impact 

Review (RIR) and Initial Regulatory 

Flexibility Analyses (IRFA), may be 

obtained from the Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 

Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 

33607; telephone: 813–348–1630; fax: 

813–348–1711; e-mail: 

gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Peter Hood, 727–824–5305; fax 727–

824–5308; e-mail: peter.hood@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EFH 

Amendment 3 addresses fisheries under 

the FMPs for coral and coral reef 

resources, coastal migratory pelagics, 

red drum, reef fish, shrimp, spiny 

lobster, and stone crab. The FMPs were 

prepared by the Council, except for the 

FMPs for coastal migratory pelagics and 

spiny lobster, which were prepared 

jointly by the South Atlantic and Gulf 

of Mexico Fishery Management 

Councils. All of these FMPs, except the 

spiny lobster and stone crab FMPs, are 

implemented under the authority of the 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 178 / Thursday, September 15, 2005 / Proposed Rules 54519 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations 

at 50 CFR part 622. The FMP for the 

Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of 

Mexico and South Atlantic is 

implemented by regulations at 50 CFR 

part 640. The FMP for the Stone Crab 

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico is 

implemented by regulations at 50 CFR 

part 654. 

EFH Amendment 3 would define EFH 

for each FMP and identify the following 

HAPCs: the Florida Middle Grounds, 

Madison-Swanson Marine Reserve, 

Tortugas North and South Ecological 

Reserves, Pulley Ridge, and the 

individual reefs and banks of the 

Northwestern Gulf of Mexico (East and 

West Flower Garden Banks, Stetson 

Bank, Sonnier Bank, MacNeil Bank, 29 

Fathom, Rankin Bright Bank, Geyer 

Bank, McGrail Bank, Bouma Bank, 

Rezak Sidner Bank, Alderice Bank, and 

Jakkula Bank). The amendment also 

contains proposed alternatives to 

establish the following fishing 

restrictions in the Gulf of Mexico: (1) 

Prohibit bottom anchoring over coral 

reefs in the East and West Flower 

Garden Banks, McGrail Bank, Pulley 

Ridge, and North and South Tortugas 

Ecological Reserves HAPCs, and on the 

significant coral resources on Stetson 

Bank; (2) prohibit the use of trawling 

gear, bottom longlines, buoy gear, and 

all traps/pots on coral reefs in the East 

and West Flower Garden Banks, 

McGrail Bank, Pulley Ridge, and North 

and South Tortugas Ecological Reserves 

HAPCs, and on the significant coral 

communities on Stetson Bank; and (3) 

require a weak link in the tickler chain 

of bottom trawls on all habitats 

throughout the Gulf of Mexico exclusive 

economic zone. A weak link is defined 

as a length or section of the tickler chain 

that has a breaking strength less than the 

chain itself and is easily seen as such 

when visually inspected. 

A proposed rule that would 

implement the measure outlined in EFH 

Amendment 3 has been received from 

the Council. In accordance with the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is 

evaluating the proposed rule to 

determine whether it is consistent with 

the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 

and other applicable law. If that 

determination is affirmative, NMFS will 

publish the proposed rule in the Federal 

Register for public review and 

comment. 

Comments received by November 14, 

2005, whether specifically directed to 

the FMP or the proposed rule, will be 

considered by NMFS in its decision to 

approve, disapprove, or partially 

approve the amendment. Comments 

received after that date will not be 

considered by NMFS in this decision. 

All comments received by NMFS on the 

amendment or the proposed rule during 

their respective comment periods will 

be addressed in the final rule. 

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

Dated: September 9, 2005. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18357 Filed 9–14–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S