# 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, request for comments
**SUMMARY:**
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold five public hearings to solicit Public comments on Draft Amendment 22 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), including a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). To meet the purpose and need, this amendment proposes alternatives that would initiate a limited access program for the small-mesh multispecies fishery, adjust whiting and red hake possession limits, and modify permit types and characteristics making them consistent with limited access.
**DATES:**
These meetings will be held between July 19-26, 2018. For specific dates and times, see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* . Written or Electronic Public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EST, August 6, 2018.
**ADDRESSES:**
The hearing documents are accessible electronically via the internet *https://www.nefmc.org/library/amendment-22* 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 address:* The meetings will be held in Gloucester, MA; Tinton Falls, NJ; Montauk, NY; Warwick, RI and New Bedford, MA. For specific locations, see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* .
*Public Comments:* Written public hearing comments on the DEIS for Amendment 22 may be sent by any of the following methods: Mail to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; email to the following address: *[email protected]* with “DEIS for Amendment 22 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP ” in the subject line. Or fax to (978) 465-3116.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Public Hearing, Dates and Locations:**
The agenda for the following five hearings is as follows: Council staff will brief the public on the amendment's alternatives 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. *Thursday, July 19, 2018, 4-6 p.m.,* MA DMF of Marine Fisheries, Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station, 30 Emerson Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930;
2. *Monday, July 23, 2018, 7-9 p.m.,* DoubleTree by Hilton, 700 Hope Drive, Tinton Falls, NJ 07244;
3. *Tuesday, July 24, 2018, 5-7 p.m.,* Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation Inc., 240 Edgemere Street, Montauk, NY 11954;
4. *Wednesday, July 25, 2018, 7-9 p.m.,* Hampton Inn & Suites, 2100 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886;
5. *Thursday, July 26, 2018, 7-9 p.m.,* Fairfield Inn & Suites, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740.
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**
This meeting is 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.*
June 27, 2018.
Dated:
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.