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have been accused of these violations, remain on the council 

 33 voting and active members, but one has even continued to 

 fall to disclose additional financial commitments that may 

 directly effect his motives and participation on the council 

 itself. All this is documented with the NMFS/NOAA and yet their 

 hands seem to be tied by the system itself. 



These council members continue to have a major effect on the 

 council process and one continues to chair a very important 

 committee. Many people, who have monitored our situation, from 

 fisheries around the country, have suggested that this is very 

 irregular and not in the best interest of the fishery, nor in 

 compliance with the council member's own oath. 



We believe that these individuals should be placed on immediate 

 administrative leave until this matter can be heard and 

 adjudicated by an Administrative Law Judge as provided in 16 

 U.S.C. SS1858, the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management 

 Act. How can the general public be expected to abide by the 

 guidelines and regulations recommended by the council and 

 promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce, if those on the council 

 itself may have repeatedly broken their own regulations? 



There appears to be significant evidence that the lobsters were 

 in fact illegally taken, as outlined in the enclosed NOVA and 

 we further believe that the criteria designed by the NMF5 under 

 Magnuson, supports the removal of council members should they 

 be found guilty of these and other violations of the Magnuson 

 Act. 



Your office is our last hope of seeing the integrity of the 

 council process maintained before the September council meeting- 

 As of this writing, these council members will still be permitted 

 to vote on yet another issue that directly effects their own 

 fishing operations, while the charges against them are still 

 pending. We've seen the Clinton administration repeatedly 

 demonstrate that it will not tolerate these types of 

 improprieties that may jeopardize the public's trust and give 

 the perception that ANY federal agency's integrity is in 

 question. 



we would respectfully like to request an investigation into 

 this serious situation and would also like any information 

 regarding action taken or obtained by your office, that may 

 be part of the public domain or available under the "Freedom 

 of Information Act". 



We pray that your office will see the merit of our concerns. 



President 



