Please find below and attached the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's 2012 Spring Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia. The agenda and guidelines are also available at http://www.asmfc.org/spring2012Mtg.htm.
A block of rooms is being held at the Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, 901 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Please call the Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria at (888) 233-9527 or (703) 683-6000 as soon as possible and specifically mention the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to obtain the group room rate of $179.00 plus tax single/dbl. Hotel reservations must be made before March 30, 2012. Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. If you have any problems at all regarding accommodations please contact Cindy at (703) 842-0710 or crobertson@asmfc.org.
Monday, April 30, 2012
10:00 AM – Noon Atlantic Herring Section
1:15 – 3:15 PM American Lobster Management Board
3:30 – 5:00 PM Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
8:30 – 10:00 AM Tautog Management Board
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Law Enforcement Committee
10:15 – 11:45 AM American Eel Management Board
1:00 – 2:00 PM South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
2:15 – 4:45 PM Shad and River Herring Management Board
5:00 – 6:00 PM Executive Committee
6:30 – 8:00 PM Annual Awards of Excellence Reception
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
8:30 AM – Noon Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
1:15 – 3:15 PM Sturgeon Management Board
3:30 – 6:00 PM ISFMP Policy Board
Thursday, May 3, 2012
8:30 – 10:30 AM Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Sharks Management Board
10:45 – 11:45 AM Horseshoe Crab Management Board
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM ISFMP Policy Board (continued)
12:15 – 12:30 PM Business Session
1:00 – 3:00 PM Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program Coordinating Council
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 April 24, 2012 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, April 24, 2012 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.