EFH DEIS FINAL Comment Letter-1

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS P.O. BOX 249 ٠ AVILA BEACH CALIFORNIA 93424 BRIAN KREOWSKI President l (805) 595-5400 ٠ Fax 595-5404 CAROLYN MOFFATT Vice President www.portsanluis.com JACK SCARBROUGH Secretary JIM BLECHA Commissioner JAY K. ELDER Harbor Manager JOHN KOEPF Commissioner THOMAS D. GREEN Legal Counsel PHILLIP J. SEXTON, CPA Treasurer May 10, 2005 Mr. D. Robert Lohn, Regional Administrator c/o Maryann Nickerson National Marine Fisheries Service 7600 Sand Point Way NE - BIN C15700 - Bldg. 1 Seattle, WA 98115-0070 Subject: Comments on the “Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan - Essential Fish Habitat Designation and Minimization of Adverse Impacts” Draft EIS Support of Modified Alternatives of Collaborative Efforts between Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations and Fishermen and Protection and Consideration of Impacts to Coastal Communities Dear Mr. Robert Lohn: We appreciate this opportunity to comment on the "Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Designation and Minimization of Adverse Impacts Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)." We support the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service’s efforts to assess the environmental and socioeconomic effects of the alternatives presented in the Draft EIS. Our review of the Draft EIS document and discussions we have had with NMFS staff, including Dr. Rebecca Lent and Mr. Steve Copps, ...