Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the United States; Essential Fish Habitat; Re-opening Comment Period

Riepilogo

The NMFS announced in the Federal Register on June 14, 2004, the receipt of a petition for rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act. Oceana, a non-governmental organization, petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to promulgate a rule to protect deep-sea coral and sponge habitats in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The public comment period for that notice closed August 13, 2004. By this notice, NMFS announces the re-opening of the public comment period on the rulemaking petition to protect deep-sea coral and sponge habitat and to ensure thorough public comment.