Billing Code: 3510-22-F

 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 50 CFR Part 600

 [I.D. 120996A]

 Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Public Meetings; Extension of comment period.

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

 ACTION: Public meetings; extension of comment period.

 SUMMARY: NMFS announces the extension of the public comment period on the proposed regulations containing guidelines for the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) in fishery management plans. The public comment period is hereby extended to June 6, 1997, to give members of the public additional time to review and comment on the proposed regulation. NMFS also announces an additional public meeting to be held in Charleston, SC. This meeting is added to provide an opportunity in the South Atlantic for public comment on the EFH proposed regulations.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before June 6, 1997. The additional public meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, May 28, 1997, at 7 p.m.

 ADDRESSES: Requests for special accommodations and comments should be addressed to Office of Habitat Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-2325. The additional public meeting will be held at Town and Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC.

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Crockett, NMFS, 301/713-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 Background

 NMFS issued proposed regulations containing guidelines for the description and identification of EFH in fishery management plans, adverse impacts on EFH, and actions to conserve and enhance EFH on April 23, 1997 (62 FR 19723). The regulations would also provide a process for NMFS to coordinate and consult with Federal and state agencies on activities that may adversely affect EFH. The guidelines are required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The purpose of the rule is to assist fishery management councils in fulfilling the requirements set out by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to amend their fishery management plans to describe and identify EFH, minimize adverse effects on EFH, and identify other actions to conserve and enhance EFH. The purpose of the coordination and consultation provisions is to specify procedures for adequate consultation with NMFS on activities that may adversely affect EFH.

 Special Accommodations

Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Lee Crockett (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

 Dated: May 13, 1997

 

James P. Burgess

 Acting Director

 Office of Habitat Conservation

 National Marine Fisheries Service

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce