[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 117 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30588-30589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15324]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 217 and 227

[Docket No.950830222-6103-02; I.D. 011696D]
RIN 0648-AH89


Sea Turtle Conservation; Revisions to Sea Turtle Conservation 
Requirements; Restrictions to Shrimp Trawling Activities; Reopening of 
Comment Period

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period; notice of 
availability.

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SUMMARY: On April 24, 1996, NMFS published a proposed rule to amend the 
regulations protecting sea turtles to enhance their effectiveness in 
reducing sea turtle mortality resulting from shrimp trawling in the 
Atlantic and Gulf Areas in the southeastern United States. In response 
to several requests for an extension of the comment period, NMFS is 
reopening the comment period through July 15 to provide further 
opportunity to submit comments on the proposed rule and to review 
additional analyses, including the preliminary report scheduled to be 
submitted to NMFS by June 28, 1996, by the sea turtle expert working 
group.

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be submitted on or before 
July 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposed rule and requests for a copy of 
the sea turtle expert working group report should be addressed to the 
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles A. Oravetz, 813-570-5312, or 
Therese A. Conant, 301-713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 24, 1996, NMFS published a proposed 
rule (61 FR 18102) to amend the regulations at 50 CFR 227.72(e) 
protecting sea turtles to enhance their effectiveness in reducing sea 
turtle mortality resulting from shrimp trawling in the Atlantic and 
Gulf Areas in the southeastern United States. The background and 
rationale for the proposed amendments were contained in the preamble of 
the proposed rule and are not repeated here. The comment period for the 
proposed rule closed on June 10, 1996. However, NMFS is reopening the 
comment period through July 15 to provide further opportunity to submit 
comments on the proposed rule and to review additional analyses, 
including the preliminary report scheduled to be submitted to NMFS by 
June 28, 1996, by the sea turtle expert working group. The formation of 
this group of scientists to analyze existing databases to determine sea 
turtle population abundance, population trends, and sustainable take 
levels was a requirement of the November 14, 1994, biological opinion. 
The report will be made available for public review and distributed 
upon request when it is submitted to NMFS (see ADDRESSES).


[[Page 30589]]


    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; and 16 U.S.C. 742a et seq., 
unless otherwise noted.

    Dated: June 11, 1996.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-15324 Filed 6-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F