[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 48807] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-23318] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 082699C] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Agency
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
Action
Notice of public meeting.
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Summary
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a public meeting of the Texas Habitat Protection Advisory Panel (AP).
Dates
The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 1999 and conclude by 3:00 p.m.
Addresses
The meeting will be held at the Hilton Houston Hobby Airport 8181 Airport Boulevard, Houston, TX 77061; telephone: 713-645-3000. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.
For Further Information Contact
Jeff Rester, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; telephone: 228-875-5912.
Supplementary Information
The Texas group is part of a three unit Habitat Protection Advisory Panel of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. The principal role of the advisory panels is to assist the Council in attempting to maintain optimum conditions within the habitat and ecosystems supporting the marine resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Advisory panels serve as a first alert system to call to the Council's attention proposed projects being developed and other activities which may adversely impact the Gulf marine fisheries and their supporting ecosystems. The panels may also provide advice to the Council on its policies and procedures for addressing environmental affairs. At this meeting, the AP will discuss revision of the Council's Habitat Policy to include Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) provisions, an update on EFH assessments in Council fishery management plan amendments, an update on the status of the EFH lawsuit, expansion of the Houston Ship Channel in Galveston Bay, an informational presentation on artificial reefs, and a new wetland restoration technique. Although other issues not listed in this agenda may come before the AP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. The AP's actions will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed as available by this notice.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne Alford at the Council (see ADDRESSES) by September 14, 1999.
Dated: September 1, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-23318 Filed 9-7-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F