[Federal Register: March 15, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 50)]
[Notices]               
[Page 12175-12176]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr04-98]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Gulf of Mexico Regional Panel 
Meeting

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance 
Species (ANS) Task Force Gulf of Mexico Regional Panel. The meeting 
topics are identified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

DATES: The Gulf of Mexico Regional Panel will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2004, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on 
Thursday, April 1, 2004. Minutes of the meeting will be available for 
public inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

ADDRESSES: The Gulf of Mexico Regional Panel meeting will be held at 
the Marriott Mobile, 3101 Airport Boulevard, Mobile, Alabama 36606. 
Phone (251) 476-6400. Minutes of the meeting will be maintained in the 
office of Chief, Division of Environmental Quality, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Suite 322, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, 
Virginia 22203-1622.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Lukens, Gulf of Mexico Regional 
Panel Chair and Assistant Director, Gulf States Marine Fisheries 
Commission at (228) 875-5912 or Everett Wilson, Aquatic Nuisance 
Species Task Force, at 703-358-2148.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. I), this notice announces 
meetings of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Gulf of Mexico 
Regional Panel. The Task Force was established by the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990. The Gulf of Mexico 
Regional Panel was established by the ANS Task Force in 1999. The Gulf 
of Mexico Regional Panel, comprised of representatives from Federal, 
State, local agencies and from private environmental and commercial 
interests, performs the following activities:
    a. Identifies priorities for activities in the Gulf of Mexico,
    b. develops and submits recommendations to the national Aquatic 
Nuisance Species Task Force,
    c. coordinates aquatic nuisance species program activities in the 
Gulf of Mexico,
    d. advises public and private interests on control efforts, and
    e. submits an annual report to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task 
Force.
    The purpose of the Panel is to advise and make recommendations to 
the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force on issues relating to the Gulf 
of Mexico region of the United States that includes five Gulf of Mexico 
States: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The Gulf of 
Mexico Regional Panel will discuss several topics at this meeting 
including: a facilitated session on the panel strategic plan; a review 
of Panel efforts to date including adding Mexican Government 
membership; status reports of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana 
and Texas State ANS management plans; status reports from panel working 
groups; presentations on prevention activities such as the use of 
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) planning; the pet 
industry and invasive species (invited presentation); status of the 
Mobile Bay Rapid Assessment Project; recommendations for the ANS

[[Page 12176]]

Task Force; and updates from Panel member organizations and states.

    Dated: March 8, 2004.
Mamie A. Parker,
Co-Chair, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Assistant Director--
Fisheries & Habitat Conservation.
[FR Doc. 04-5768 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]

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