Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 28, 1996 / Notices 26501

quota system, in compliance with the

U.S.-EU Compensation Agreement and

EU regulations,

(iv) exchange and discuss information

about U.S. and foreign legislation and

regulations affecting the foregoing tariff

rate quota system, in compliance with

the U.S.-EU Compensation Agreement

and EU regulations,

(v) discuss and establish the fees to be

assessed upon Members to pay for

administrative expenses and market

promotion activities,

(vi) discuss and provide for the

market promotion activities to be

undertaken with the fees remaining after

payment of administrative expenses,

(vii) otherwise exchange and discuss

information as necessary to implement

the foregoing activities and take the

necessary action to implement the

allocation system for the foregoing tariff

rate quota, in compliance with the U.S.-

EU Compensation Agreement and EU

regulations, and

(viii) meet to engage in the activities

described above.

5. In allocating quotas among

Members, those employees or agents of

RMA who are not also employees of a

Member, may receive, and each Member

may supply to such employees or agents

of RMA, information as to the Member’s

sales and exports of milled white rice

and brown rice to the EU as is necessary

to properly administer the quota,

provided that such information is not

disclosed by RMA employees or agents

to any other Member.

Definitions

‘‘Members’’ means a mill member of

the Rice Millers Association who has

been certified as a ‘‘Member’’ within the

meaning of Section 325.1(1) of the

Regulations.

Dated: May 21, 1996.

W. Dawn Busby,

Director, Office of Export Trading Company

Affairs.

[FR Doc. 96–13212 Filed 5–24–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 050196A]

Small Takes of Marine Mammals

Incidental to Specified Activities;

Offshore Seismic Activities in the

Beaufort Sea

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of application

and proposed authorization for a small

take exemption; request for comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request

from the BP Exploration (Alaska) 900

East Benson Boulevard, Anchorage, AK

99519 (BPX) for authorization to take

small numbers of marine mammals by

harassment incidental to conducting

seismic surveys in the Northstar Unit, in

the Beaufort Sea in state and federal

waters. Under the Marine Mammal

Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is

requesting comments on its proposal to

authorize BPX to incidentally take, by

harassment, small numbers of bowhead

whales and other marine mammals in

the above mentioned area during the

open water period of 1996.

DATES: Comments and information must

be received no later than June 27, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the

application should be addressed to

Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office

of Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–

3225. A copy of the application, an

environmental assessment (EA), and a

list of references used in this document

may be obtained by writing to this

address, by telephoning one of the

contacts listed below or by leaving a

voice mail request at (301) 713–4070.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kenneth R. Hollingshead, Office of

Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 713–

2055, Ron Morris, Western Alaska Field

Office, NMFS, (907) 271–5006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Section 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the

MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs

the Secretary of Commerce to allow,

upon request, the incidental, but not

intentional taking of marine mammals

by U.S. citizens who engage in a

specified activity (other than

commercial fishing) within a specified

geographical region if certain findings

are made and either regulations are

issued or, if the taking is limited to

harassment, notice of a proposed

authorization is provided to the public

for review.

Permission may be granted if NMFS

finds that the taking will have a

negligible impact on the species or

stock(s), will not have an unmitigable

adverse impact on the availability of the

species or stock(s) for subsistence uses,

and the permissible methods of taking

and requirements pertaining to the

monitoring and reporting of such taking

are set forth.

On April 10, 1996 (61 FR 15884),

NMFS published an interim rule

establishing, among other things,

procedures for issuing incidental

harassment authorizations under section

101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA in Arctic

waters. For additional information on

the procedures to be followed for this

authorization, please refer to that

document.

Summary of Request

On March 18, 1996, NMFS received

an application from BPX requesting an

authorization for the harassment of

small numbers of several species of

marine mammals incidental to

conducting seismic surveys during the

open water season within the Northstar

Unit, located in the Beaufort Sea in U.S.

waters. The survey is expected to take

place between approximately July 20

and October 20, 1996. A detailed

description of the work planned is

contained in the application (BPX 1996)

and is available upon request (see

ADDRESSES).

Description of Habitat and Marine

Mammal Affected by the Activity

A detailed description of the Beaufort

Sea ecosystem and its associated marine

mammals can be found in the EA

prepared for this authorization (SAIC

1996) or in other documents (Minerals

Management Service (MMS) 1992, 1996)

and need not be repeated here. A copy

of the EA is available upon request (see

ADDRESSES).

Marine Mammals

The Beaufort/Chukchi Seas support a

diverse assemblage of marine mammals

including bowhead whales (Balaena

glacialis), gray whales (Eschrichtius

robustus), belukha (Delphinapterus

leucas), ringed seals (Phoca hispida),

spotted seals (Phoca largha) and

bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus).

Descriptions on the biology and

distribution of these species, and others,

can be found in several other documents

(BPX 1996, Lentfer 1988, MMS 1992,

NMFS 1990 and 1996, Small and

DeMaster 1995). Please refer to those

documents for information on these

species.

Potential Effects of Seismic Surveys

on Marine Mammals.

Disturbance by seismic noise is the

principal means of taking by this

activity. Vessel and aircraft will provide

a secondary source of noise.

Deep seismic surveys are used to

obtain data about formations several

thousands of feet deep. The physical

presence of vessels could also lead to

non-acoustic effects involving visual or

other cues. These surveys are

accomplished by transmitting sound

waves into the earth, which are reflected
26502 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 28, 1996 / Notices

off subsurface formations and recorded

with detectors in the water column. A

typical marine seismic source is an

airgun array, which releases compressed

air into the water creating an acoustical

energy pulse that is directed downwards

toward the seabed. Hydrophones spaced

along a streamer cable just below the

surface of the water receive the reflected

energy from the subsurface formations

and transmit data to the seismic vessel.

Onboard the vessel, the signals are

amplified, digitized, and recorded on

magnetic tape.

Depending upon ambient conditions

and the sensitivity of the receptor,

underwater sounds produced by open

water seismic operations may be

detectable some substantial distance

away from the activity. Any sound that

is detectable is (at least in theory)

capable of eliciting a disturbance

reaction by a marine mammal or

masking a signal of comparable

frequency (BPX 1996). An incidental

harassment take is presumed to occur

when marine mammals in the vicinity

of the seismic source (or other vessels)

react to the generated sounds or visual

cues.

Seismic pulses are known to cause

bowhead whales to behaviorally

respond within a distance of several

kilometers (Richardson et al. 1995).

Although some limited masking of lowfrequency sounds (e.g., whale calls) is a

possibility, the intermittent nature of

seismic source pulses will limit the

extent of masking. Bowhead whales are

known to continue calling in the

presence of seismic survey sounds, and

their calls can be heard between seismic

pulses (Richardson et al. 1986).

Hearing damage is not expected to

occur during the project. It is not known

whether a marine mammal very close to

an air gun array would be at risk of

temporary or permanent hearing

impairment, but temporary threshold

shift is a theoretical possibility for

animals within a few hundred meters

(Richardson et al. 1995). Planned

monitoring and mitigation measures

(described below) are designed to detect

marine mammals occurring near the

array and to avoid exposing them to

sound pulses that have any possibility

of causing hearing damage.

When the received levels of noise

exceed some behavioral reaction

threshold, cetaceans will show

disturbance reactions (BPX 1996). The

levels, frequencies, and types of noise

that will elicit a response vary between

and within species, individuals,

locations and season. Behavioral

changes may be subtle alterations in

surface-dive-respiration cycles. More

conspicuous responses, include changes

in activity or aerial displays, movement

away from the sound source, or

complete avoidance of the area. The

reaction threshold and degree of

response are related to the activity of the

animal at the time of the disturbance.

Whales engaged in active behaviors

such as feeding, socializing or mating

are less likely than resting animals to

show overt behavioral reactions, unless

the disturbance is directly threatening

(BPX 1996).

Bowhead Whales

Various studies (Reeves et al. 1984,

Fraker et al. 1985, Richardson et al.

1986, Ljungblad et al. 1988) have

reported that, when an operating

seismic vessel approaches within a few

kilometers, most bowhead whales

exhibit strong avoidance behavior and

changes in surfacing, respiration, and

dive cycles. Bowheads exposed to

seismic pulses from vessels more than

4.5 miles (7.5 km) away rarely showed

observable avoidance of the vessel, but

their surface, respiration, and dive

cycles appeared altered in a manner

similar to that observed in whales

exposed at a closer distance (BPX 1996).

Within a 3.7–60 mile (6–99 km) range,

it has not been possible to determine a

specific distance at which subtle

behavioral changes no longer occur

(Richardson and Malme 1993), given the

high variability observed in bowhead

whale behavior (BPX 1996).

Gray Whales

The reactions of gray whales to

seismic pulses is similar to those of

bowheads. Migrating gray whales along

the California coast were noted to slow

their speed of swimming, turn away

from seismic noise sources, and increase

their respiration rates. Malme et al.

(1983, 1984, 1988) concluded that about

50 percent showed avoidance when the

average received pulse level was 170 dB

(re 1 μPa @ 1 m). Less consistent results

were indicated at levels of 140–160 dB.

Belukha

The belukha is the only species of

toothed whale (Odontoceti) expected to

be encountered in the Beaufort Sea.

Because its hearing threshold at

frequencies below 100 Hz (where most

of the energy from air gun arrays is

concentrated) is poor (125 dB re 1 μPa

@ 1 m) or more depending upon

frequency (Johnson et al. 1989 (as

referenced in BPX 1996), Richardson

1991, 1995), belukha are not predicted

to be strongly influenced by seismic

noise. However, because of the high

source levels of seismic pulses, airgun

sounds may be audible to belukha at

large distances (Richardson 1991, 1995).

Ringed, Largha and Bearded Seals

No detailed studies of reactions by

seals to noise from open water seismic

exploration have been published

(Richardson et al. 1995). However, there

are some data on the reactions of seals

to various types of impulsive sounds (J.

Parsons as quoted in Greene et al. 1985,

Anon. 1975, Mate and Harvey 1985).

These studies indicate that ice seals

typically either tolerate or habituate to

seismic noise produced from open water

sources.

Underwater audiograms have been

obtained using behavioral methods for 3

species of phocinid seals, ringed,

harbor, and harp seals (Pagophilus

groenlandicus). These audiograms were

reviewed in Richardson et al. (1995).

Below 30–50 kHz, the hearing threshold

of phocinids is essentially flat down to

at least 1 kHz, and ranges between 60

and 85 dB (re 1 μPa @ 1 m). There are

few data on hearing sensitivity of

phocinid seals below 1 kHz. NMFS

considers harbor seals to have a hearing

threshold of 70–85 dB at 1 kHz (60 FR

53753, October 17, 1995), and recent

measurements for a harbor seal indicate

that, below 1 kHz, its thresholds

deteriorate gradually to 97 dB (re 1 μPa

@ 1 m) at 100 Hz (Kastak and

Schusterman, 1995a,b).

Because no studies to date have

focused on pinniped reaction to

underwater noise from pulsed, seismic

arrays in open water (Richardson et al.,

1991, 1995), as opposed to in-air

exposure to continuous noise,

substantive conclusions are not possible

at this time. However, assuming an

sound pressure level needed to be 80–

100 dB over its threshold in order to

cause annoyance and 130 dB for injury

(pain), as is the current thought based

upon human studies (ARPA, 1995), then

it appears unlikely that pinnipeds

would be harassed or injured by low

frequency sounds from a seismic source

unless they were within close proximity

of the array. For permanent injury,

marine mammals would need to remain

in the high noise field for extended

periods of time. Existing evidence also

suggests that, while they may be capable

of hearing sounds from seismic arrays,

seals appear to tolerate intense pulsatile

sounds, without known effect, once they

learn that there is no danger associated

with the noise (see, for example, NMFS/

WDFW, 1995). In addition, they will

apparently not abandon feeding or

breeding areas due to exposure to these

noise sources (Richardson et al. 1991)

and may habituate to certain noises over

time. Since seismic work is fairly

common in Western Beaufort Sea

waters, pinnipeds have previously been
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 28, 1996 / Notices 26503

exposed to seismic noise, and may not

react to it, after initial exposure.

Effects of Seismic Noise and other

Activities on Subsistence Needs.

The disturbance and potential

displacement of marine mammals by

sounds from seismic activities is the

principle concern related to subsistence

use of the area. The harvest of marine

mammals (mainly bowhead whales,

ringed seals, and bearded seals) is

central to the culture and subsistence

economies of the coastal North Slope

communities (BPX 1996). Displacement

of migrating marine mammals farther

offshore due to behavioral changes

resulting from elevated noise levels

could potentially make harvest of these

species more difficult.

Nuiqsut is the community closest to

the area of the proposed activity, and

only harvests bowhead whales during

the fall whaling season. Nuiqsut whalers

typically take zero to three whales each

season, with a trend toward larger

harvests in the most recent years (BPX

1996). Nuiqsut whalers concentrate

their efforts on areas north and east of

the Northstar Unit, generally in water

depths greater than 65 ft (20 m). Cross

Island, located 13 miles (20 km) east of

the eastern edge of the primary area of

proposed activity, is the principle field

camp location for Nuiqsut whalers.

Thus, most bowhead whales will not

enter the ensonified area until they have

passed through the area used by Nuiqsut

whalers (BPX 1996).

The location of the proposed seismic

activity is to the south of the main

westward migration route of bowhead

whales. BPX believes that although

whales may be able to hear the sounds

emitted by the seismic array out to a

distance of 30 miles (50 km) or more, it

is unlikely that changes in migration

route will occur at distances of >15

miles (>25 km). As discussed above,

scientific studies have shown obvious

avoidance reactions at distances up to

3.7–5 miles (6–8 km), with one probable

case of avoidance at 15 miles (24

km)(Richardson et al. 1986, Koski and

Johnson 1987, Ljungblad et al. 1988).

However, other bowheads >3.7 miles

(>6 km) from shallow-water seismic

operations showed no obvious

avoidance (BPX 1996).

It is difficult to determine the

maximum distance at which reactions

occur (Moore and Clark 1992), although

whalers believe that some migrating

bowheads are deflected by seismic

operations at distances greater than

those documented by scientific studies

done to date. As a result, BPX is

developing a Communications and

Avoidance Agreement with the whalers

(see BPX 1996) to reduce any potential

interference with the hunt. Also, it is

believed that the monitoring plan

proposed by BPX (LGL 1996) will

provide information that will help

resolve uncertainties about the effects of

seismic exploration on the accessibility

of bowheads to hunters.

In addition, while seismic exploration

in the Northstar Unit has some potential

to influence subsistence seal hunting

activities, the peak season for seal

hunting is during the winter months

when the harvest consists almost

exclusively of ringed seals (BPX 1996).

In summer, boat crews hunt ringed,

spotted and bearded seals (BPX 1996).

The most important sealing area for

Nuiqsut hunters is off the Colville delta,

extending as far west as Fish Creek and

as far east as Pingok Island (BPX 1996).

In this area, during summer, sealing

occurs by boat when hunters apparently

concentrate on bearded seals (BPX

1996).

Mitigation

BPX proposes to use biological

observers to monitor marine mammal

presence in the vicinity of the seismic

array. To avoid the potential for serious

injury to marine mammals, BPX will

power down the seismic source if

pinnipeds are sighted within 500 ft (150

m) of the source or if cetaceans are

sighted within 2,130 ft (650 m) of the

source. At 500 ft (150 m), the average

pulse levels will be less than 190 dB (re

1 μPa @ 1 m). At 2,130 ft (650 m), the

average pulse level is expected to be

about 180 dB (re 1 μPa @ 1 m), based

on the expected characteristics of the air

gun array to be used in this program,

and on site-specific propagation loss

data (from Miles et al. 1987).

In addition, NMFS proposes to

require BPX to ramp-up the seismic

source from a level less than, or equal

to, 160 dB to its operating level

immediately preceding transmissions at

a rate not exceeding 6 dB/min and to

power-down the array to a level no

greater than 160 dB whenever marine

mammals enter their respective safety

zone. NMFS will recommend ramp-up

be accomplished through software

designed to fire a specified sequence of

guns operating at a designated pressure

until the full array of guns are firing at

peak operating pressure.

Monitoring

As part of their application, BPX

provided a preliminary monitoring plan

for assessing impacts to marine

mammals from seismic surveys in the

Beaufort Sea (LGL 1996). As required by

the MMPA, this monitoring plan will be

subject to a peer-review panel of

technical experts prior to formal

acceptance by NMFS.

Preliminarily, BPX plans to conduct

the following:

(1) Vessel-based Visual Monitoring

Two biologist-observers aboard the

seismic vessel will search for and

observe marine mammals whenever

seismic operations are in progress, and

immediately preceding the start of

shooting. These observers will scan the

area immediately around the vessels

with binoculars during the daytime and

with night vision equipment during the

night. When mammals are detected

within a safety zone designated to

prevent injury to the animals, the

geophysical crew leader will be notified

so that shutdown procedures can be

implemented.

(2) Aerial Surveys

From September 1, 1996 until the

seismic program ends, aerial surveys

will be conducted daily, weather

permitting. The primary objective will

be to document the occurrence,

distribution, and movements of

bowhead and belukha whales in and

near the area where they might be

affected by the seismic pulses. These

observations will be used to estimate the

level of harassment takes and for

assessing the possibility that seismic

operations affect the accessibility of

bowhead whales for subsistence

hunting. Pinnipeds will be recorded

when seen, and sonobuoys will be

dropped to document ambient noise and

characteristics of seismic noise near

whale sightings. Aerial surveys will be

at an altitude of 1,000 ft (300 m) above

sea level. It is tentatively proposed to

avoid direct overflights of the Cross

Island area where whalers from Nuiqsut

are based during their fall whale hunt.

The daily aerial surveys are proposed

to cover two grids:

(a) A grid of 12 north-south lines

spaced 8 km (5 miles) apart and

extending to about 30 mi (50 km)

offshore, 30 mi (50 km) east, and 12.5

mi (20 km) west of the Northstar area;

(b) A grid of 8 north-south lines

within the above region, also spaced 5

mi (8 km) apart and mid-way between

the longer lines, to provide more

intensive coverage of the area of the

seismic operations and immediate

surrounding waters.

(3) Acoustical Measurements

A boat-based acoustical measurement

program is proposed for a 10-day period

in mid- to late-August 1996. The

objectives of this survey will be as

follows:
26504 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 28, 1996 / Notices

(a) To measure the levels and other

characteristics of the horizontallypropagating seismic survey sounds as a

function of distance and aspect relative

to BPX’s seismic source vessel.

(b) To measure acoustic transmission

loss vs. frequency, distance, and

propagation direction in and near the

Northstar Unit, based on transmission

and reception of standardized acoustic

signals having a source level of about

165 dB re 1 μPa @ 1 m. Transmissions

will not be done if bowheads are seen

within 2,130 ft (650 m) of the seismic

array.

(c) To obtain additional site-specific

ambient noise data, which determine

signal-to-noise ratios for seismic and

other acoustic signals at various ranges

from their sources.

In addition, data on ambient noise

and on characteristics of seismic pulses

will be obtained from sonobuoys

dropped and monitored from the survey

aircraft after September 1, 1996.

For a more detailed description of

planned monitoring activities, please

refer to the application and supporting

document (LGL 1996).

Reporting

BPX will provide an initial report to

NMFS within 90 days of the completion

of the seismic program. This report will

provide dates and locations of seismic

operations, details of marine mammal

sightings, estimates of the amount and

nature of all takes by harassment, and

any apparent effects on accessibility of

marine mammals to subsistence users.

A final technical report will be

provided by BPX within 20 working

days of receipt of the document from the

contractor, but no later than April 30,

1996. The final technical report will

contain a description of the methods,

results, and interpretation of all

monitoring tasks.

Consultation

Under section 7 of the Endangered

Species Act, NMFS has begun

consultation on the proposed issuance

of this authorization. Consultation will

be concluded upon completion of the

comment period and consideration of

those comments in the final

determination on issuance of an

authorization.

National Environmental Policy Act

In conjunction with this notice,

NMFS has released an EA that addresses

the impacts on the human environment

from issuance of the authorization and

the alternatives to the proposed action.

A copy of the EA is available upon

request (see ADDRESSES).

Conclusions

NMFS has preliminarily determined

that the short-term impact of conducting

seismic surveys in the Northstar Unit of

the Beaufort Sea will result, at worst, in

a temporary modification in behavior by

certain species of cetaceans. While

behavioral modifications may be made

by these species of cetaceans to avoid

the resultant noise, this behavioral

change is expected to have a negligible

impact on the animals.

As the number of potential incidental

harassment takes will depend on the

distribution and abundance of marine

mammals (which vary annually due to

variable ice conditions and other

factors) in the area of seismic

operations, due to the distribution and

abundance of marine mammals during

the projected period of activity and the

location of the proposed seismic activity

in waters generally too shallow and

distant from the edge of the pack ice for

most marine mammals of concern, the

number of potential harassment takings

is estimated to be small. In addition, no

take by injury and/or death is

anticipated and the potential for

temporary or permanent hearing

impairment will be avoided through

incorporation of the mitigation

measures mentioned above.

Because bowhead whales are east of

the seismic area in the Canadian

Beaufort Sea until late August/early

September, seismic activities are not

expected to impact subsistence hunting

of bowhead whales prior to that date.

After September 1, 1996, BPX will

initiate aerial survey flights for bowhead

whale assessments. Appropriate

mitigation measures to avoid an

unmitigable adverse impact on the

availability of bowhead whales for

subsistence needs will be the subject of

consultation between BPX and

subsistence users.

Also, while summer seismic

exploration in the Northstar Unit has

some potential to influence seal hunting

activities by residents of Nuiqsut,

because (1) the peak sealing season is

during the winter months, (2) the main

summer sealing is off the Colville delta

(west and inshore of Northstar), and (3)

the zone of influence by seismic sources

on belukha and seals is fairly small,

NMFS believes the Northstar seismic

survey will not have an unmitigable

adverse impact on the availability of

these stocks for subsistence uses.

Proposed Authorization

NMFS proposes to issue an incidental

harassment authorization for the 1996

Beaufort Sea open water season for a

seismic survey within the Northstar

Unit provided the above mentioned

mitigation, monitoring and reporting

requirements are incorporated. NMFS

has preliminarily determined that the

proposed seismic activity would result

in the harassment of only small

numbers of bowhead whales, gray

whales, and possibly belukha whales,

bearded seals, and largha seals; will

have a negligible impact on these

marine mammal stocks; and will not

have an unmitigable adverse impact on

the availability of these stocks for

subsistence uses.

Information Solicited

NMFS requests interested persons to

submit comments, information, and

suggestions concerning this request (see

ADDRESSES).

Dated: May 17, 1996.

Patricia A. Montanio,

Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 96–13287 Filed 5–23–96; 10:02 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

[I.D. 051796D]

North Pacific Fishery Management

Council; Committee Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery

Management Council (Council) and its

advisory bodies will meet the week of

June 10, 1996 in Portland, OR. Other

committee and workgroup meetings

may be held on short notice during the

week; notices will be posted at the

meeting site. All meetings are open to

the public with the exception of Council

executive sessions to discuss personnel,

international issues, and litigation. An

executive session is tentatively

scheduled for noon on June 13.

ADDRESSES: Red Lion Hotel Portland

Downtown, 310 S.W. Lincoln, Portland,

OR. Council address: North Pacific

Fishery Management Council, 605 W.

4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK

99501-2252.

DATES: The Advisory Panel (AP) and the

Scientific and Statistical Committee

(SSC) will begin meeting at 9:00 a.m. on

June 10. The SSC will conclude their

meeting by June 12, and the AP will

conclude their meeting on June 13. The

Council will begin their meeting on June

11, at 8:00 a.m. and conclude mid-day

on June 16. The Council will meet in

joint session with the International

Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) from

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June 11.