Opportunity for Public Comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

for South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Amendment 16

Comment Period Ends June 9, 2008

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) is seeking public comment on the DEIS evaluating the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) proposal to establish management measures to end overfishing of gag and vermilion snapper. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of the DEIS on April 25, 2008 (73 FR 22365).

Proposed actions in the DEIS would either alter current management measures or implement new measures to end overfishing of gag and vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic. Included in the amendment is an action which would allow the Regional Administrator to make adjustments to vermilion snapper management measures pending outcome of an ongoing stock assessment. Amendment 16 also would consider: Interim allocations between the commercial and recreational sectors for the gag and vermilion snapper fisheries; new status determination criteria for gag and vermilion snapper, including Maximum Sustainable Yield, Optimum Yield, Minimum Stock Size Threshold (overfished threshold), Maximum Fishing Mortality Threshold (overfishing threshold); and devices to reduce bycatch of snapper grouper species. |

Request for Comments

Written comments on this DEIS must be received no later than June 9, 2008, in order to be considered by NOAA Fisheries Service. See the Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments.

Addresses

Electronic copies of the DEIS may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Service Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov , the e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov , the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Web site at

http://www.safmc.net , or:

NOAA Fisheries Service

Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13 th Avenue South

St. Petersburg , Florida 33701

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

• Mail: Jack McGovern

NOAA Fisheries Service

Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13 th Avenue South

St. Petersburg , Florida 33701

• Fax: 727-824-5308, Attention: Jack McGovern

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