[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6106]



[[Page 20941]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR PART 223

[I.D. 041706C]
RIN 0648-AU10


Sea Turtle Conservation; Public Hearing Notification

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

ACTION:  Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY:  The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is announcing 
its intent to hold a public hearing to inform interested parties of the 
proposed modifications to Federal regulations affecting pound net 
leaders in the Virginia Chesapeake Bay and to accept public comments on 
this action.

DATES:  NMFS will hold a public hearing at the Double Tree Hotel 
Virginia Beach, on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, at 7 p.m., eastern 
daylight time.

ADDRESSES:  The Double Tree Hotel Virginia Beach is located at 1900 
Pavilion Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (ph..757-422-8900).
    Written comments on this action may be submitted on this proposed 
rule, identified by RIN 0648-AU10, by any one of the following methods:
    (1) E-mail: [email protected]. Please include the RIN 
0648-AU10 in the subject line of the message.
    (2) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instruction on the website for submitting comments.
    (3) NMFS/Northeast Region Website: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/com.html. Follow the instructions on the website for submitting 
comments.
    (4) Mail: Mary Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Protected Resources, NMFS, Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930, ATTN: Sea Turtle Conservation Measures, Proposed 
Rule
    (5) Facsimile (fax): 978-281-9394, ATTN: Sea Turtle Conservation 
Measures, Proposed Rule

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pasquale Scida (ph. 978-281-9208), 
NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was issued on April 17, 2006 
(73 FR 19675), which proposes revisions to current regulations. The 
proposed rule would require any offshore pound net set in Pound Net 
Regulated Area I in the Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay to use a 
modified pound net leader from May 6 to July 15 each year. This action, 
taken under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), responds to new 
information generated by gear research and aims to conserve sea turtles 
listed as threatened or endangered. Additional information on the 
justification for this action can be found in that proposed rule.
    NMFS recognizes the need and importance to obtain public comment on 
the proposed action. In addition to the April 26 meeting announced in 
this document, NMFS is accepting written comments on the proposed 
action. Written comments on the proposed rule or requests for copies of 
the literature cited, the draft Environmental Assessment, or Regulatory 
Impact Review and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis should be 
addressed to the Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected 
Resources, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Comments 
and requests for supporting documents may be sent via fax to 978-281-
9394. Comments will be accepted via email at 
[email protected] and via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instruction on the website for 
submitting comments. The public comment period closes at 5 p.m., 
eastern daylight time, on May 1, 2006.
    In preparing the final rule for this action, NMFS will fully 
consider the public comments received during the 15-day comment period 
(either in writing or verbally during the public hearing).

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Pasquale Scida, telephone 978-281-3928 x9208, fax 978-281-
9394, at least five days before the scheduled meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: April 19, 2006.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-6106 Filed 4-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S