June 26, 2013 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Please find below the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2013 Summer Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia. Please note that the meeting begins on Tuesday. A block of rooms is being held at the Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, 901 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; (888) 233-9527. If you are interested in reserving a hotel room, reservations must be made before July 8, 2013 (be sure to mention ASMFC to get the group rate). Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date.
The agenda and public comment guidelines are also available here. The final agenda and meeting materials will be posted to the website by July 24, 2013.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Summer Meeting Preliminary Agenda
August 6 – 8, 2013
Please note: The agenda is subject to change. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of meetings. Interested parties should anticipate meetings starting earlier or later than indicated herein.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.- Atlantic Herring Section
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.- American Lobster Management Board
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.– Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
2:45 – 4:45 p.m.– Business Session (Strategic Planning)
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.– Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
8:00 a.m. – noon- American Eel Management Board
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.- South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.- Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board
4:00 – 5:15 p.m.- Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board
4:15 – 5:15 p.m.- Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.- ACCSP Coordinating Council
Thursday, August 8, 2013
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.- Executive Committee
8:30 – noon- Parliamentary Workshop
12:30 – 2:15 p.m.- Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Management Board
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.- ISFMP Policy Board (continued)
3:30 – 4:00 p.m.- Business Session (continued)
Public Comment Guidelines
With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:
For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.
For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.
For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.
In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).
1. Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included on the briefing CD.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be July 30, 2013) will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.
3. Following the Tuesday, July 30, 2013 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).
The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution. As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail, fax, and email.