Publice Notice: Proposed Amendments to Regulations, August 2007

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the proposals listed below. In accordance with §28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing, on all the proposals outlined below, will be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at the Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia. Written comments on the proposals should be mailed to Jack Travelstead, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, Virginia 23607, by 5:00 p.m., Monday, August 27, 2007. Copies of the proposed amendments may be reviewed at the Commission Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and may be obtained by calling the Commission at (757) 247-2248.

Regulation 4 VAC 20-755-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Artificial Reefs"

The Commission proposes amendments that establish boundaries for gear restrictions, for all new artificial reefs located in Virginia waters that are defined below. In addition, amendments are proposed that will modify the boundaries for gear restrictions of several existing artificial reefs that are described below.

The artificial reefs that are proposed to be incorporated into this regulation, section 4 VAC 20-755-20 et seq., are defined as follows:

"Asphalt Pile Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, off Lancaster County, Virginia, centered 4.0 nautical miles east-north-east of Hughlett Point, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 45' 10.5" N - 76^o 13' 25" W
NE corner 37^o 45' 10.5" N - 76^o 13' 13" W
SE corner 37^o 44' 23" N - 76^o 13' 13" W
SW corner 37^o 44' 23" N - 76^o 13' 25" W

"Mobjack Bay Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, 2.8 miles west of New Point Comfort near the mouth of Mobjack Bay between Gloucester and Mathews Counties, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 18.300' N - 76^o 20.300' W
NE corner 37^o 18.450' N - 76^o 20.075' W
SE corner 37^o 17.500' N - 76^o 19.050' W
SW corner 37^o 17.325' N - 76^o 19.300' W

"Nandua-Pungoteague Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, 3.3 nautical miles west-north-west of Milby's Point, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 40.500' N - 75^o 58.500' W
NE corner 37^o 40.500' N - 75^o 57.600' W
SE corner 37^o 39.800' N - 75^o 57.600' W
SW corner 37^o 39.800' N - 75^o 58.500' W

"Poquoson Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, east of Goodwin Island on the western side of the Poquoson River entrance channel, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 13.383' N - 76^o 20.383' W
NE corner 37^o 13.133' N - 76^o 20.000' W
SE corner 37^o 12.766' N - 76^o 20.383' W
SW corner 37^o 13.016' N - 76^o 20.733' W

"Windmill Point Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, 1.45 nautical miles north of Windmill Point Light, off Lancaster County, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 37' 37" N - 76^o 14' 35" W
NE corner 37^o 37' 37" N - 76^o 13' 42.5" W
SE corner 37^o 36' 55" N - 76^o 13' 42.5" W
SW corner 37^o 36' 55" N - 76^o 14' 35" W

"York Spit Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, approximately 7.35 nautical miles east-north-east of Tue Point, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 14.75' N - 76^o 14.20' W
NE corner 37^o 14.75' N - 76^o 13.30' W
SE corner 37^o 14 .05' N - 76^o 13.30' W
SW corner 37^o 14.05' N - 76^o 14.20' W

Current artificial reefs that are defined in 4 VAC 20-755-20 are proposed to have their boundaries modified, as follows:

"Cell Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, approximately 3.6 nautical miles west of the mouth of Hungars Creek, Northampton County, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 24.400' N - 76^o 03.800' W
NE corner 37^o 24.400' N - 76^o 03.000' W
SE corner 37^o 23.800' N - 76^o 03.000' W
SW corner 37^o 23.800' N - 76^o 03.800' W

"Cherrystone Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, approximately 2.2 nautical miles west of Savage Neck, Northampton County, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 19' 24" N - 76^o 02' 54" W
NE corner 37^o 19' 24" N - 76^o 02' 06" W
SE corner 37^o 18' 42"N - 76^o 02' 06" W
SW corner 37^o 18' 42" N - 76^o 02' 54" W

"Gwynn's Island Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, approximately 1.2 nautical miles east of the southern end of Gwynn's Island, Mathews County, delineated by the below listed coordinates: NW corner 37^o 29.200' N - 76^o 14.700' W
NE corner 37^o 29.200' N - 76^o 13.900' W
SE corner 37^o 28.500' N - 76^o 13.900' W
SW corner 37^o 28.500' N - 76^o 14.700' W

"Northern Neck Reef" means that permitted artificial reef site located in the Chesapeake Bay, approximately seven nautical miles east of the Great Wicomico River Light, Northumberland County, delineated by the below listed coordinates:

NW corner 37^o 48.500' N - 76^o 09.200' W
NE corner 37^o 48.400' N - 76^o 08.500' W
SE corner 37^o 47.700' N - 76^o 09.000' W
SW corner 37^o 47.700' N - 76^o 09.700' W

It shall be unlawful for any person to set, fish, or have in the water, any fishing gear, other than rod-and-reel, hand line, spear, or gig licensed for recreational use, on any artificial reef site that is defined in 4 VAC 20-755-20.

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VMRC DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES; THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO A DISABILITY, PLEASE ADVISE BRANDY BATTLE (757) 247-2248 NO LATER THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.