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CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 648

Docket ID: [Docket No. 041229366-4366-01; I.D. 122304D]

RIN ID: RIN 0648-AQ25

NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES

ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of public comment period and correction.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Monkfish Fishery; Amendment 2

DATES: The comment period on the proposed rule will be reopened from February 24, 2005, through March 7, 2005.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS extends for 10 days the public comment period on the proposed rule to implement the management measures contained in Amendment 2 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as published on January 14, 2005. NMFS also corrects the description of the qualification years for the proposed modification to the monkfish limited access program that was incorrectly described in the preamble to the January 14, 2005, proposed rule. NMFS also clarifies the description of the proposed possession limit for the Offshore Fishery Program in the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA) provided in the preamble of the Amendment 2 proposed rule to be per monkfish dayatsea (DAS).

SUMMARY: Northeastern United States fisheries—; Monkfish,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

On January 14, 2005 (70 FR 2586), NMFS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would implement the management measures contained in Amendment 2, if approved. The New England and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Councils developed Amendment 2 to address a number of issues that arose out of the implementation of the original FMP, as well as issues that were identified during public scoping. One of the issues that arose out of the implementation of the original FMP was unattainable permit qualification criteria for vessels in the southern end of the range of the fishery. To address this issue, Amendment 2 proposes a modification to the limited access permit qualification criteria. The qualification criteria referenced in the regulatory text of the January 14, 2005, proposed rule correctly stated that the qualification years under this modified limited access program would be 1995 through 1998. However, the preamble to the proposed rule incorrectly listed the qualification years as 1994 through 1998. Therefore, NMFS corrects the qualification years referenced in the preamble of the proposed rule published on January 14, 2005 (70 FR 2586), to read as follows: ''... during the qualification period March 15 through June 15, for the years 1995 through 1998. ...''

NMFS is also clarifying the proposed possession limit for vessels participating in the Offshore Fishery Program in the SFMA described on page 2587 of the preamble for the January 14, 2005,
[[Page 9030]]
proposed rule. The proposed possession limit of 1,600 lb (725.7 kg) of monkfish tails is intended to be per monkfish DAS, not per trip.

The public comment period on the proposed rule ended on February 14, 2005. In order to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the corrected proposed rule for Amendment 2, NMFS is reopening the public comment for a period for 10 days, beginning on February 24, 2005, and ending on March 7, 2005.

In addition, the preamble to the proposed rule published on January 14, 2004, 70 FR 2586, which was the subject of FR Doc. 05755, on page 2586, third column, beginning on the third line from the bottom the words ``the years 1994 through 1998. Two'' are removed and in their place the following words ``the years 1995 through 1998. Two ...'' are added.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: February 17, 2005.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 053583 Filed 22305; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351022S

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Allison R. Ferreira, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 2819103; fax (978) 2819135; email
allison.ferreira@noaa.gov.