DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[I.D. 120996A]

Magnuson Act Provisions; Essential Fish Habitat; Extension of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces an extension of the public comment period on the interim final 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 March 19, 1998, to give members of the public additional time to review and comment on the interim final regulation.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted on or before March 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to

Director, Office of Habitat

Conservation, Attention: EFH, NMFS,

1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,

MD 20910– 3282; telephone: 301/713–2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lee Crockett, NMFS, 301/713– 2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The rulemaking is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq). The interim final rule was promulgated on December 19, 1997 (62 FR 66531). Details concerning the justification for and development of this interim final rule were provided in the proposed rule (62 FR 19723, April 23, 1997).

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 13, 1998.

David L. Evans,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98– 4363 Filed 2– 17– 98; 3:44 pm]

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