February 15, 2024 — Read the full article at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will be meeting via webinar on March 26 from 1 – 3 PM to review and consider approval of Addendum II state implementation plans. The webinar information, draft agenda, and meeting materials will be posted to https://asmfc.org/calendar/
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. The Board Chair will ask members of the public to raise their hands to let the chair know they would like to speak. Depending upon the number of commenters, the Board Chair will decide 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, the Board Chair will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. The Board Chair has the flexibility to decide 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, the Board Chair has 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 three weeks prior to the meeting (March 5) will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 18 will be included in supplemental materials.
3. Comments received by 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.
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 and email.
For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, FMP Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org.