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management measures, including allocations, to the Secretary of 

 Commerce. The process involves at least two, and usually three. 

 Council meetings where a variety of measures are discussed. The 

 Council process involves public comment as well as the 

 preparation of analytical documents to show a recommendation's 

 compliance with the Magnuson Act's national standards, the 

 National Environmental Policy Act, and other applicable Federal 

 law. 



After adoption, the Council sends its recommendation and 

 supporting analysis to the National Marine Fisheries Service's 

 (NMFS) Northwest Regional Director. The Regional Director 

 initially reviews the recommendation and supporting analysis to 

 determine whether it is consistent with the FMP, the Magnuson 

 Act, other applicable statutes, and executive orders. If after 

 an initial review the Regional Director concludes that the 

 Council recommendation is consistent with the Magnuson Act and 

 other requirements, then a Decision Memorandum for NMFS's 

 Assistant Administrator for Fisheries is prepared. The Decision 

 Memorandum requests concurrence in proceeding with publication in 

 the Federal Register of the recommendation as a proposed rule 

 with a request for public comments. 



Following a public comment period, the Regional Director 

 makes a final decision on approval of the rule, and prepares and 

 submits to the Assistant Administrator a final rule for 



