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7156 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 7, 1995 / Proposed Rules observation in cases of minor discharges or releases in certain environments. ‘‘Type B’’ procedures are site-specific procedures for detailed assessments in other cases. On December 8, 1994, the Department published a proposed rule to revise an existing type A procedure for coastal and marine environments. 59 FR 63300. The proposed revised type A procedure for coastal and marine environments incorporates a computer model called the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Model for Coastal and Marine Environments Version 2.2 (NRDAM/CME). The comment period on the December 8, 1994, proposed rule was originally set to close on February 6, 1995. The Department has received numerous requests for additional time to comment on the proposed type A procedure for coastal and marine environments. The requesters have emphasized the large volume of technical documentation accompanying the NRDAM/CME, all of which is subject to public review and comment. Some requesters are assembling multidisciplinary teams to assist in the review of the model and associated databases. The Department appreciates the level of technical review that is underway and agrees with the requesters that extending the time for public review and comment on the proposed rule is appropriate. Furthermore, on August 8, 1994, the Department published a proposed rule to amend the natural resource damage assessment regulations to include an additional type A procedure for assessing damages in Great Lakes environments. 59 FR 40319. The proposed type A procedure incorporates a computer model, called the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Model for Great Lakes Environments Version 1.31 (NRDAM/GLE), that uses the same computer modelling approach as the proposed revised NRDAM/CME. The comment period on the August 8, 1994, proposed rule was originally set to close on November 7, 1994, but was extended through February 6, 1995. 59 FR 54877 (November 2, 1994). A number of commenters have noted the structural similarities between the proposed NRDAM/CME and the proposed NRDAM/GLE and have requested that they be allowed to review the two type A procedures concurrently. Although the proposed NRDAM/CME and the proposed NRDAM/GLE incorporate distinct geographic databases and information, there are substantial similarities between the two proposed rules and computer models. Therefore, the Department has decided to allow for concurrent public review of the two proposed models and consolidated consideration of the comments received on the proposed rules. In a separate notice appearing elsewhere in today’s Federal Register, the Department is extending the comment period for the proposed type A procedure for Great Lakes through July 6, 1995, to make it coextensive with the extended comment period for the proposed type A procedure for coastal and marine environments. Any comment that is submitted on only one of the proposed rules but that is relevant to both rules will be considered in both rulemakings. Dated: February 2, 1995. Bonnie R. Cohen, Assistant Secretary—Policy, Management, and Budget. [FR Doc. 95–3024 Filed 2–6–95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–RG–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Chapter VI [I.D. 013195A] Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Public Hearings on the Draft Fishery Management Plan AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments. SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold public hearings on the Draft Fishery Management Plan for Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (FMP). Testimony may be presented at any of the hearings. DATES: Written comments on the Draft FMP will be accepted on or before March 10, 1995. The hearings will be held in February and March 1995 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates of the hearings. ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to, and copies of the Draft FMP are available from, Mr. Miguel A. Rolo´n, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 268 Mun˜oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918. The hearings will be held in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of the hearings. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miguel A. Rolo´n, 809–753–6910. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed management measures would: (1) Prohibit the possession of undersized queen conch less than 9 inches (228.6 mm) total length (as measured from the tip of the spire to the distal end of the shell) or less than 3/ 8–inch (9.5 mm) lip thickness measured at any location along the lip; all species in the fishery management unit must be landed attached to the shell; (2) prohibit the sale of undersized queen conch and queen conch shells; (3) establish a bag limit for personal-use fishers of 3 queen conch per day, not to exceed 12 per boat; licensed commercial fishers may land 75 queen conch per day; (4) require conch harvested under these provisions to conform to the minimum size specifications and be landed attached to the shell; (5) establish an annual closed harvest season from July 1 through September 30 for queen conch; and (6) prohibit the harvest of queen conch in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) using scuba or hookah gear; any person with queen conch and either scuba or hookah gear aboard a vessel in the EEZ will be presumed in violation of this prohibition. The hearings are scheduled from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. as follows: 1. Wednesday, February 15, 1995— Centro de Usos Mu´ltiples, Culebra, PR. 2. Thursday, February 16, 1995— Salo´n Asamblea Municipal de la Casa Alcaldia, Vieques, PR. 3. Tuesday, February 21, 1995— Antibes Hotel, Cabo Rojo, PR. 4. Wednesday, February 22, 1995— Meso´n Criollo Restaurant, Fajardo, PR. 5. Monday, February 27, 1995— Carabelle Hotel, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S.V.I. 6. Tuesday, February 28, 1995—Point Pleasant Hotel, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 7. Wednesday, March 1, 1995— Boulon Center, St. John, U.S.V.I. Dated: February 1, 1995. David S. Crestin, Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management. [FR Doc. 95–2894 Filed 2–1–95; 4:58 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–F