Public Notice: Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest 2001

Notice is hereby given that the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) will consider amending Chapter 4VAC 20-720-10, ET. SEQ., "Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest", for the 2001 - 2002 Public Oyster Harvest Season.  The Commission will consider a request made by watermen from the Rappahannock River area to extend the public harvest season in the Hand Scrape Area.

The Commission will consider the proposed amended regulation and any other comments from individuals interested in this matter at a public hearing to be held at its scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 18, 2001.  The public hearing will be held in the main office of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission on the 4th Floor at 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News. Fishery Management items will immediately follow the Habitat Management items on the agenda.

THE COMPLETE AMENDED REGULATION, AS PROPOSED, CAN BE REQUESTED FROM THE VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES (757-247-2120) OR IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AT THE VMRC MAIN OFFICE (3RD FLOOR).

The proposed effective date of the amended Regulation 4VAC 20-720-10, ET. SEQ., "Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest", is January 1, 2002.

The Commission will consider extending the public oyster harvest season in the Rappahannock River "Hand Scrape Area" to January 31, 2002.

No other changes are proposed.

PLEASE CALL OR SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATION TO DR. JAMES A. WESSON, VMRC - CONSERVATION AND REPLENISHMENT DEPARTMENT, 2600 WASHINGTON AVE., 3RD FLOOR, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23607-0756; (757)-247-2121.

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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 LESS THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING TIME AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.