Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- 50 CFR Part 635
- RIN 0648-BB02
AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of public hearings.
SUMMARY:
On August 7, 2014, NMFS published a proposed rule on Draft Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to consider management measures in the smoothhound shark and other Atlantic shark fisheries. As described in the proposed rule, NMFS is proposing measures that would: (1) Establish an effective date for previously-adopted smoothhound shark management measures finalized in Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (Amendment 3) and the 2011 HMS Trawl Rule; (2) increase the smoothhound shark annual quota previously finalized in Amendment 3 using updated landings data; (3) implement the smooth dogfish-specific provisions in the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-348) (SCA); (4) implement the Atlantic shark gillnet requirements of a 2012 Shark Biological Opinion; and (5) modify current regulations related to the use of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) by Atlantic shark fishermen using gillnet gear. In this notice, NMFS announces the dates and logistics for two public hearings and two webinars to provide the opportunity for public comment on measures described in the proposed rule and Draft Amendment 9.
DATES:
Written comments will be accepted until November 14, 2014. The public hearings and webinars will occur between September 24, 2014, and November 4, 2014. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.
ADDRESSES:
A total of two public hearings (Toms River, NJ, and Manteo, NC) and two webinars will be held to provide the opportunity for public comment. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.
You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by “NOAA-NMFS-2014-0100,” by any of the following methods:
- Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0100, click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
- Mail: Submit written comments to: Margo Schulze-Haugen, NMFS/SF1, 1315 East West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Instructions: Please include the identifier NOAA-NMFS-2014-0100 when submitting comments. Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the close of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and generally will be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information ( e.g., name, address), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter “N/A” in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this proposed rule may be submitted to the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division by email to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov, or fax to 202-395-7285.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LeAnn Hogan, Steve Durkee or Alexis Jackson at 301-427-8503.