# New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of public hearings.
**SUMMARY:**
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold six public hearings and one webinar to solicit Public comments on Draft Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
**DATES:**
Written Public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EST, June 25, 2018. The meetings will be held between May 22 and June 20, 2018. For specific dates and times, see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* .
**ADDRESSES:**
The hearing documents are accessible electronically via the internet *https://www.nefmc.org/library/amendment-8-2* or by request to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director. New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
*Meeting addresses:* The meetings will be held in Narragansett, RI; Rockport, ME; Gloucester, MA; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, ME and Chatham, MA. For specific locations, see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* .
*Public comments:* Mail to NEFMC, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Mark the outside of the envelope “DEIS for Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring FMP”. Comments may also be sent via fax to 978-465-3116 or submitted via email to *[email protected]* with “DEIS for Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring FMP” in the subject line.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Agenda**
The agenda for the following six hearings is as follows: NEMFC staff will brief the public on the herring amendments and the contents of the DEIS prior to opening the hearing for public comments and the schedule is as follows:
**Public Hearings: Locations, Schedules, and Agendas**
1. *Tuesday, May 22, 2018 from 6-8 p.m.;* University of Rhode Island, 215 S. Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882; phone: (401) 423-1943.
2. *Thursday, May 24, 2018 from 6-8 p.m.;* Samoset Hotel, 220 Warrenton Street, Rockport, ME 04856; phone: (207) 594-2511.
3. *Wednesday, May 30, 2018 from 6-8 p.m.;* Beauport Hotel; 55 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA; phone: (978) 282-0008.
4. *Tuesday, June 5, 2018 from 4-5 p.m.;* DoubleTree by Hilton, 237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; phone: (215) 893-1600.
5. *Tuesday, June 12, 2018 from 4-6 p.m.;* Holiday Inn By the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101; phone: (207) 775-2311.
6. *Tuesday, June 19, 2018 from 6-8 p.m.;* Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633; phone: (508) 945-5159.
7. *Wednesday, June 20, 2018 from 2-4 p.m.* —Webinar Registration— * https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6985865165132506115* .
*Call in information:* (415) 930-5321; Access Code: 346-818-026.
Additional information on the review is available on the Council website, *www.nefmc.org.* The public also should be aware that the hearings will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.
**Special Accommodations**
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
**Authority:**
16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.*
Dated: May 3, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.