81 FR 79409 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures; Draft Amendment 5b

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 219 (November 14, 2016)

On October 18, 2016, NMFS published a proposed rule for Amendment 5b to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) based on the results of the 2016 stock assessment update for Atlantic dusky sharks. Based on the assessment update, NMFS determined that the stock remains overfished and is experiencing overfishing. As described in the proposed rule, NMFS proposed management measures that would reduce fishing mortality on dusky sharks and rebuild the dusky shark population, consistent with legal requirements. The proposed rule included times and locations of several public hearings. This notice announces that we are changing the location of the Florida public hearing.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79409-79410]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27287]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

RIN 0648-BD22


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management 
Measures; Draft Amendment 5b

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

ACTION: Notice of change of public hearing location.

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SUMMARY: On October 18, 2016, NMFS published a proposed rule for 
Amendment 5b to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) based on the results of the 2016 stock 
assessment update for Atlantic dusky sharks. Based on the assessment 
update, NMFS determined that the stock remains overfished and is 
experiencing overfishing. As described in the proposed rule, NMFS 
proposed management measures that would reduce fishing mortality on 
dusky sharks and rebuild the dusky shark population, consistent with 
legal requirements. The proposed rule included times and locations of 
several public hearings. This notice announces that we are changing the 
location of the Florida public hearing.

DATES: NMFS will hold six public hearings on Draft Amendment 5b as 
announced in the October 18, 2016 proposed rule, except the November 
21, 2016 meeting location has changed from Melbourne, Florida, to 
Satellite Beach, Florida. Written comments on the October 18, 2016 
proposed rule for Amendment 5b will be accepted until December 22, 
2016. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the revised Florida meeting 
location. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in the Amendment 5b proposed 
rule (October 18, 2016, 81 FR 71672) for the other public hearings, 
conference calls, and an HMS Advisory Panel meeting dates, times, and 
locations.

ADDRESSES: NMFS will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule for 
Amendment 5b to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (October 18, 2016, 81 FR 
71672) in Satellite Beach, FL. For specific location, date and time see 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Copies of the supporting documents--including the draft 
environmental impact statement (DEIS), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), 
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and the 2006 
Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP are available from the HMS Web site at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or by contacting Tobey Curtis at 978-
281-9273.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey Curtis at 978-281-9273 or Karyl 
Brewster-Geisz at 301-427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 18, 2016, NMFS published a proposed rule (81 FR 71672) 
for Draft Amendment 5b to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP based on the 
results of the 2016 stock assessment update for Atlantic dusky sharks. 
Based on this assessment, NMFS determined that the dusky shark stock 
remains overfished and is experiencing overfishing and in the Draft 
Amendment proposed management measures that would reduce fishing 
mortality on dusky sharks and rebuild the dusky shark population 
consistent with legal requirements. The comment period for the proposed 
rule closes December 22, 2016, and any comments received during the 
comment period will be considered in the development of Final Amendment 
5b to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.

Request for Comments

    As announced in the proposed rule, NMFS will hold six public 
hearings (in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and 
North Carolina) to provide the opportunity for public comment on the 
proposed measures. NMFS will also hold one public conference call/
webinar to provide individuals an opportunity to submit public comment 
if they are unable to attend a public hearing. Due to a scheduling 
conflict at the Melbourne Public Library, the location of the Florida 
public hearing announced in the proposed rule has changed. The public 
hearing will now be held in Satellite Beach, FL; the date and time have 
not

[[Page 79410]]

changed (Table 1). None of the other public hearing locations have 
changed.

                         Table 1--Date, Time and Location of Rescheduled Public Hearing
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                                                                                           Location contact
               Venue                        Date/Time           Meeting locations            information
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Public Hearing.....................  November 21, 2016, 5    Satellite Beach, FL...  Satellite Beach Public
                                      p.m.-8 p.m..                                    Library, 751 Jamaica
                                                                                      Blvd., Satellite Beach, FL
                                                                                      32937.
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    The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public 
hearing to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each 
public hearing, a representative of NMFS will explain the ground rules 
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be 
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to 
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and 
attendees should not interrupt one another). The NMFS representative 
will attempt to structure the meeting so that all attending members of 
the public will be able to comment, if they choose, regardless of the 
controversial nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to 
respect the ground rules, and, if they do not, they may be asked to 
leave the hearing or conference call.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: November 8, 2016.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27287 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P