[Federal Register: September 13, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 176)]
[Notices]               
[Page 55143-55144]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13se04-23]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 083104F]

 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings from October 4 through 
October 12, 2004, in Sitka, AK.

DATES: The Council's Advisory Panel will begin at 8 a.m., Monday, 
October 4 and continue through Friday, October 8, 2004. The Scientific 
and Statistical Committee will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, October 4, 
and continue through Wednesday, October 6, 2004.
    The Council will begin its plenary session at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 
October 4 continuing through Tuesday October 12. All meetings are open 
to the public except executive sessions. The Enforcement Committee will 
meet Tuesday, October 5 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Centennial Building, 330 
Harbor Drive, Sitka, AK.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council staff, telephone: 907-271-
2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Council Plenary Session: The agenda for the 
Council's plenary session will include the following issues. The 
Council may take appropriate action on any of the issues identified.
    1. Reports
    Executive Director's Report
    National Marine Fisheries Service Management Report
    Enforcement Report
    Coast Guard Report
    Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) Report
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Report
    Protected Species Report
    2. Gulf of Alaska Groundfish (GOA) Rationalization: Review progress 
and refine alternatives.
    3. GOA Rockfish Demonstration Project: Review progress and clarify 
Elements and Options for analysis.
    4. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and Habitat Area Particular Concern 
(HAPC): Initial Review of Environmental Assessment, receive Center for 
Independent Experts review and comment report, review spatial analysis 
of revised alternative 5b, and take action as necessary.
    5. Improved Retention/Improved Utilization (IR/IU): Receive 
progress report on Amendment 80a and 80b.
    6. Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program: Status Report on 
analysis of management alternatives for CDQ reserves, report on CDQ

[[Page 55144]]

community eligibility, report on confidentiality of CDQ information 
submitted to NMFS.
    7. Halibut/Sablefish Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs) Program: 
Initial review of regulatory amendment package for IFQ/CDQ Area 4C/4D, 
initial review of regulatory amendment package for IFQ amendments 
(housekeeping and block).
    8. Halibut Subsistence: Receive report on ADF&G Subsistence Halibut 
Survey, initial review of regulatory amendment package.
    9. Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP): Final action to modify 
License Limitation Program and update FMP.
    10. Crab FMP: Review Crab Stock Assessment Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) report.
    11. Groundfish Management: Receive report from Non-Target Species 
Committee, review initial discussion paper on rockfish management (T), 
review discussion paper on Aleutian Island Pollock Incidental Catch 
Allowance (T), initial groundfish specifications, final action on FMP 
updates.
    12. Staff Tasking: Review tasking and Committee (including AP 
policy) and provide direction to staff/action as necessary.
    13. Other Business:
    Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC): The SSC agenda will 
include the following issues:
    1. EFH and HAPC
    2. IR/IU
    3. Halibut Subsistence and IFQ program adjustments
    4. Crab Management
    5. Groundfish Management
    Advisory Panel: The Advisory Panel will address the same agenda 
issues as the Council.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues 
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action 
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen at 907-271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: September 8, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E4-2162 Filed 9-10-04; 8:45 am]

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