The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a proposed rule that would establish new habitat conservation measures as part of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. This proposal, called Amendment 89, if approved, would prohibit nonpelagic trawling in certain waters of the Bering Sea to protect bottom habitat from the potential adverse effects of nonpelagic trawling. Amendment 89 also would establish the Northern Bering Sea Research Area for studying the impacts of nonpelagic trawling on bottom habitat. This proposed rule is necessary to protect Bering Sea bottom habitat and to provide the opportunity to further study the environmental impacts of nonpelagic trawling. Written comments, identified by 0648-AW06, must be received by 21 April 2008 and may be sent via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at www.regulations.gov, by mail to P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, or by FAX to (907) 586-7557. Comments may also be hand delivered to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK. For additional information, please contact Melanie Brown, telephone 907-586-7228.