Public Notice: Proposed Amendments to various Regulations

Publice Notice: Proposed Amendments to various Regulations

In accordance with §28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed amendments will be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at the Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor, 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, September 26, 2005. Copies of the proposed amendments may be reviewed at the Commission Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A copy of this Notice may also be obtained by calling the Commission at (757) 247-2248.

1. Proposed amendments to Regulation 4VAC 20-720-10, Et. Seq., Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest, to establish the Public Oyster Harvest Seasons for 2005-2006, as follows:

1.   James River Seed Area including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area and James River Jail Island and Point of Shoals Clean Cull Areas: October 1, 2005 through April 30, 2006.

2.   Seaside of Eastern Shore: for clean cull oysters only, November 1, 2005 through January 31, 2006.

3.   That area of the Rappahannock River, west of the line drawn from Tarpley Pt. to Green Buoy #13 to Jones Pt. and the area of the Corrotoman River, north of the line drawn from Balls Pt. to Corrotoman Pt.; the Rappahannock River Hand Scrape Area; the Rappahannock River Drumming Ground Hand Scrape Area; the Rappahannock River Temples Bay Hand Scrape Area; that area of the Nomini and Lower Machodoc Rivers to the Virginia-Maryland State Line (PRV6A to PRV6B and PRV5A to PRV5C, respectively); that area of the Coan River to the Virginia-Maryland State line (PRV1A to PRV1B), except for that area above a line from Walnut Point (Survey Station Walnut) to Stephens Point (Survey Station Arthur; that area of the Yeocomico River inside Public Grounds 102, 104, 107, 112 and 113; that area of the Piankatank River, west of the Route 3 bridge; and Little Wicomico River: October 15, 2005 through January 15, 2006

4.   The following areas of the PTSMA: in Tangier Sound, from Tangier Light north to the Maryland-Virginia line (Red Buoy #6) and in Pocomoke Sound, northeast from a line from Beach Island Light to the house on the Great Fox Island, excluding the Tangier Sound Hand Tong Areas: December 1, 2005 through February 28, 2006.

5.   Great Wicomico River Hand Scrape Area and James River Hand Scrape Area: February 1, 2006 through March 31, 2006.

6.   Blackberry Hangs Hand Scrape Area (Upper Chesapeake Bay) and Thomas Rock Hand Scrape Area: December 1, 2005 through January 31, 2006.

7.   Deep Rock Patent Tong Area (Lower Chesapeake Bay): February 1, 2006 through March 31, 2006.

2. Proposed amendment to Regulation 4VAC 20-310-10, Et. Seq., Pertaining to the Relaying of Shellfish, to exempt shellfish seed stock from certain condemned shellfish relay provisions, as follows:

"Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit the harvesting, transporting, or handling of wild and cultured seed-stock shellfish from condemned areas."

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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 DEBORAH CAWTHON (757) 247-2248 NO LATER THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.