Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/591

 PUBLIC LAW 103-238—APR. 30, 1994 108 STAT. 565 and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives. "(3) The study conducted under this subsection may not be used by the Secretary as a reason for delaying or deferring a determination or consideration under subsection (c) or (d). "(h) GULF OF MAINE TASK FORCE.—The Secretary shall establish a Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force to advise the Secretary on issues or problems regarding pinnipeds interacting in a dangerous or damaging manner with aquaculture resources in the Gulf of Maine. No later than 2 years from the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall after notice and opportunity for public comment submit to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing recommended available alternatives to mitigate such interactions. "(i) REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO TASK FORCES.—(1) Any task force established under this section— "(A) shall to the maximum extent practicable, consist of an equitable balance among representatives of resource user interests and nonuser interests; and "(B) shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act(5App.U.S.C.). "(2) Meetings of any task force established under this section Public shall be open to the public, and prior notice of those meetings ^formation. shall be given to the public by the task force in a timely fashion, "(j) GULF OF MAINE HARBOR PORPOISE.— (1) Nothing in section 117 shall prevent the Secretary from publishing a stock assessment for Gulf of Maine harbor porpoise in an expedited fashion. "(2) In developing and implementing a take reduction plan under section 118 for Gulf of Maine harbor porpoise, the Secretary shall consider all actions already taken to reduce incidental mortality and serious injury of such stock, and may, based on the recommendations of the take reduction team for such stock, modify the time period required for compliance with section 118(f)(5)(A), but in no case may such modification extend the date of compliance beyond April 1, 1997.". SEC 24. FURTHER TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. (a) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO DEFINITION OF SECRETARY. — (1) EXECUTION OF PRIOR AMENDMENTS. —The amendments 16 USC 1362 set forth in section 3004(b) of the Marine Mammal Health "o^- and Stranding Response Act (106 Stat. 5067)— (A) are deemed to have been made by that section to section 3(12) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1362(12)); and (B) shall not be considered to have been made by that section to section 3(11) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1362(11)). (2) FURTHER TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. — Section 3(12)(B) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as deemed by paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection to have been amended by section 3004(b) of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Act (106 Stat. 5067), is further amend- 16 USC 1362. ed in subparagraph (B) by striking "in title III" and inserting "in section 118 and title IV". (b) MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND STRANDING RESPONSE.— The Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) is amended—

�