        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
        50 CFR Part 660
        [Docket No. 000504124-0124-01; I.D. 011900B]
        RIN 0648-AK11
        Fisheries off the West Coast and in the Western Pacific; Prohibition on the Use of Set Net Fishing Gear; Withdrawal of Proposed Rule

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

          ACTION:
          Proposed rule; withdrawal.

          SUMMARY:
          NMFS withdraws the May 19, 2000, proposed rule to prohibit the use of set net (gillnet and trammel nets) fishing gear to take groundfish species in portions of the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (also known as the fishery management area) adjacent to State waters at four areas off California.  Groundfish fisheries in the fishery management area are managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish Fisheries off the West Coast (Groundfish FMP).  The proposed rule is being withdrawn because it is not necessary and appropriate for the conservation and management of groundfish fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Groundfish FMP.

          DATES:
          This proposed rule is withdrawn June 25, 2002.

          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
          Svein Fougner, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Southwest Region, NMFS, 562-980-4040.

        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        A proposed rule was published on May 19, 2000 (65 FR 31871), that would have prohibited the use of set net (gillnet and trammel nets) fishing gear to take groundfish species in portions of the EEZ (also known as the fishery management area) adjacent to state waters at 4 locations off California.  The history of the action and the rationale for the proposed rule were provided in the preamble to the proposed rule and will not be repeated here.

        Upon reviewing the history of this action, the comments received on the proposed rule, and the legal and management issues involved, NMFS has concluded that the proposed rule should be withdrawn.  Only one of the 4 EEZ areas that would have been closed to set net use is currently used by set net fishers.  The vessels that use set net gear at this area (Huntington Flats) do not target groundfish, and their catches of groundfish are so small as to have minimal effect on the stocks.  Fishing by these vessels thus does not adversely affect the administration and implementation of the Groundfish FMP.  Accordingly, it is not necessary to control their fishing activities under the regulations implementing the Groundfish FMP in order to further the objectives of the Groundfish FMP or to achieve optimum yield and prevent overfishing.  Therefore, NMFS is hereby withdrawing the proposed rule because it is not necessary and appropriate under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law.

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

          Dated: June 18, 2002.
          Rebecca Lent,
          Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.

      [FR Doc. 02-15989 Filed 6-24-02; 8:45 am]
      BILLING CODE 3510-22-S


        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
        50 CFR Part 660
        [I.D. 101503D]
        Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

          ACTION:
          Notice of public hearings.

          SUMMARY:
          The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene public hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Bottomfish and Groundfish Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Bottomfish FMP).  The DEIS presents an overall picture of the environmental effects of the existing fishery activities as conducted under the Bottomfish FMP.  In addition, the DEIS analyzes the biological, economic, and social impacts that would result from alternative regulatory regimes conducted under the FMP.

          DATES:

          The public hearings will be conducted between October 21, 2003 and November 23, 2003 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific times, dates, and locations).

          ADDRESSES:
          Written comments on the DEIS should be sent to Dr. Sam Pooley, Acting Regional Administrator, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Ste. 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700 or via fax to (808)973-2941.

          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
          Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, WPFMC, at (808) 522-8220.

        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        Dates, Times, and Locations of Public Hearings
        1. Kauai, HI—Monday, October 27, 2003, from 7-9 p.m. at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, 4431 Nuhou St., Lihue, Kauai 96766;
        2. Maui, HI—Tuesday, October 28, 2003, from 7-9 p.m. at the Maui Beach Hotel, 170 Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului, Maui 96732;
        3. Hilo, HI—Wednesday, October 29, 2003, from 7-9 p.m. at the University of Hawaii-Hilo Campus Center, 200 W. Kawaili St., Hilo, HI 96720.
        4. Hawaii, HI—Thursday, October 30, 2003, from 7-9 p.m. at King Kamehameha Hotel, 75-5660 Plalani Rd., Kona, HI 96740;
        5. American Samoa—Thursday, November 6, 2003, from 7-9 p.m. at the Department of Marine Resources and Wildlife Conference Room, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799;
        6. Oahu, HI—Thursday, November 13, 2003, from 7-9 p.m. at the Fisherman's Wharf, 1009 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814;
        7. Saipan, CNMI—Wednesday, November 19, 2003 from 7-9 p.m. at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multipurpose Building, Susupe, CNMI 96950;
        8. Agana (Hagatna), Guam—November 20, 2003 from 7-9 p.m. at the Guam Fishermen's Cooperative, Perez Marina, Hagatna, Guam 96932.
        Special Accommodations
        These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, WPFMC,(808) 522-8220 or (808)522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

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

          Dated: October 16, 2003.
          Bruce C. Morehead,
          Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

      [FR Doc. 03-26550 Filed 10-20-03; 8:45 am]
      BILLING CODE 3510-22-S


        DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
        Food and Drug Administration
         21 CFR Part 500
        [Docket No. 01N-0284]
        Import Tolerances; Extension of Comment Period

          AGENCY:
          Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

          ACTION:
          Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

          SUMMARY:

           The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending to March 11, 2002, the comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) that appeared in the Federal Register of August 10, 2001 (66 FR 42167).  The ANPRM gave notice that FDA was proposing a regulation for establishing import tolerances.  The ANPRM was soliciting comments on issues related to the implementation of the import tolerances provision in section 4 of the Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996 (ADAA).  The ADAA  authorizes FDA to establish drug residue tolerances (import tolerances) for imported food products of animal origin for drugs that are used in other countries, but that are unapproved new animal drugs in the United States.  Food products of animal origin that are in compliance with the import tolerance will not be considered adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) and may be imported into the United States.  FDA is taking action because it has rescheduled the public meeting on the issue and wishes to allow time for the consideration of comments made after the meeting.

          DATES:
           Submit written or electronic comments by March 11, 2002.

          ADDRESSES:

           Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-235), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.  Submit electronic comments to http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments.

          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

           Frances Pell, Center for Veterinary Medicine (HFV-235), Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Pl., Rockville, MD 20855, 301-827-0188, e-mail: fpell@cvm.fda.gov.

        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        I.  Extension of Comment Period
        In the Federal Register of August 10,  2001 (66 FR 42167), FDA published an ANPRM that gave notice that FDA intends to propose a regulation for establishing import tolerances.  Interested persons were given until December 10, 2001, to comment on the ANPRM.  The ANPRM is available on the Internet at: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/081001a.htm.  Because the agency has rescheduled the meeting of the Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee (VMAC) from September 2001 to January 2002 (66 FR 58052, November 21, 2001), the agency is extending the comment period 90 days.  The VMAC will be asked to discuss answers to questions similar to those posed in the ANPRM.
        II.  Comments
        Interested persons may submit written or electronic comments regarding the ANPRM by March 10, 2002.  Written or electronic comments should be submitted to the Dockets Management Branch (address above). Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, except that individuals may submit one copy.  Comments are to be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.  Received comments may be seen in the office above between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

        Comments may also be submitted electronically on the Internet at: http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments.  Once on the Internet site, select 01N-0284 Import Tolerances and follow the directions.

          Dated: November 30, 2001.
          Margaret M. Dotzel,
          Associate Commissioner for Policy.

      [FR Doc. 01-30331 Filed 12-6-01; 8:45 am]
      BILLING CODE 4160-01-S