April 1, 2014 — 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 2014 Spring Meeting, May 12-15, 2014, in Alexandria, Virginia. The agenda is also available online at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2014-spring-meeting. Meeting materials will be available on the Commission website by May 2nd. 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.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Spring Meeting
May 12-15, 2014
Crowne Plaza Hotel Old Town
901 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, Virginia
703.683.6000
Preliminary Agenda
Monday, May 12th
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Atlantic Herring Section
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
American Eel Management Board
1:45 – 3:45 p.m.
American Eel Management Board (continued)
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Spiny Dogfish Management Board
Tuesday, May 13th
8:00 a.m. – Noon
Commissioner Workshop on Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization
1:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Law Enforcement Committee
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Annual Awards of Excellence Reception
Wednesday, May 14th
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
8:30 a.m. – Noon
Law Enforcement Committee (continued)
9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board
12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
Legislators/Governors’ Appointees Luncheon
12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Commissioner Workshop on the Marine Recreational Information Program
Thursday, May 15th
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Executive Committee
9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch for Commissioners and Proxies
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
ACCSP Coordinating Council
2:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board (if needed)
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.
Business Session (if needed)
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 in the meeting materials.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be May 6, 2014) 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, May 6, 2014 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.