[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11001-11002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4296]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021301D]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Skate Oversight Committee and 
Advisory Panel, Habitat Oversight Committee, Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) and Scallop Committee in March, 2001 to consider 
actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ). Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full 
Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meetings will held between Tuesday, March 6, 2001 and 
Monday, March 12, 2001. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Warwick, RI, Newburyport, 
Danvers and East Boston, MA. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
locations.

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New 
England Fishery Management Council; (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Agendas

    Tuesday, March 6, 2001, 10 a.m.--Scientific and Statistical 
Committee
    Location: Rossi's, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950; 
telephone: (978) 499-0240.
    The SSC committee will develop plans to provide the Council advice 
on the priorities identified by the Council. These include: (1) Review 
of fishing mortality and biomass reference points for selected 
groundfish species and skates; (2) Review of changes in the scallop 
reference points that might result from a rotational area management 
strategy and the scientific basis of proposed scallop rotational area 
management measures as developed by the Council and Scallop Plan 
Development Team (PDT); (3) Evaluation of the available information on 
the stock structure of monkfish and its implications for management. 
Review of the monkfish assessment update (to be done by the Monkfish 
Monitoring committee, and review of fishing mortality and biomass 
reference points; (4) Review of the update of whiting status that will 
be completed by the Whiting PDT; (5) Other issues that it might advise 
the Council on such as the potential value of marine protected areas 
(MPAs) and closed areas (quantify benefits from existing closed areas) 
and multispecies management issues.
    Tuesday, March 6, 2001, 9:30 a.m.--Joint Skate Committee and 
Advisory Panel Meeting.
    Location: Radisson Airport Hotel, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 
02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000.

[[Page 11002]]

    The agenda will include a review of comments received during 
scoping period for Skate Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The committee 
and advisory panel will review Skate PDT report and provide additional 
guidance to the PDT. They will also develop management alternatives for 
Draft Skate FMP and public hearing document.
    Wednesday, March 7, 2001, 9:30 a.m.--Habitat Oversight Committee.
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923; 
telephone: (978)777-2500.
    The agenda will include a discussion of habitat measures, 
alternatives and analyses to be included in the Groundfish FMP 
Amendment 13 Draft Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement 
(DSEIS). The committee will consider preliminary information on 
required essential fish habitat (EFH) components of proposed Skate and 
Red Crab FMPs. They will also review EFH Consultation activities, 
including a proposed General Concurrence for U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers Philadelphia District's Nationwide Permit Program.
    The Committee will review applications to the Advisory Panel in a 
CLOSED SESSION.
    Monday, March 12, 2001, 9:30 a.m.--Scallop Oversight Committee 
Meeting.
    Location: Airport Holiday Inn, 225 McClellan Highway, East Boston, 
MA 02128; telephone: (617)569-5250.
    The Scallop Oversight Committee will approve problem statements, 
goals and objectives, and proposed management alternatives outline for 
Amendment 10.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any 
issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency 
action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the 
public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action 
to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: February 14, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4296 Filed 2-20-01; 8:45 am]
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