80_FR_13550 80 FR 13500 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

80 FR 13500 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 50 (March 16, 2015)

Page Range13500-13501
FR Document2015-05912

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 50 (Monday, March 16, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13500-13501]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05912]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XD823


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 13501]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
A season allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable catch 
apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of 
the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 
2015, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing 
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H 
of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. Regulations governing sideboard 
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 
part 680.
    The A season allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 7,242 metric tons (mt), as established by 
the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for groundfish of the 
GOA (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has determined that the A season 
allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC apportioned to trawl catcher 
vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 6,942 mt and is setting aside the remaining 300 mt 
as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator 
finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the 
GOA. After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable 
amounts at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from 
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and 
would delay the directed fishing closure of Pacific cod by catcher 
vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. 
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment 
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of 
March 10, 2015.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 11, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-05912 Filed 3-11-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

13500 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 50 / Monday, March 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations year it is available. States and tribes Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determined that this rule has very little must keep records of activities carried Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street effect on federally recognized Indian out under the authority of the NW., (Mailstop BPHC), Washington, DC tribes because few participate in the conservation order. We believe that this 20240. order. recordkeeping requirement is necessary National Environmental Policy Act List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 21 to ensure that those individuals carrying out control activities are authorized to We have analyzed this rule in Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting do so. The States and tribes must submit accordance with the National and recordkeeping requirements, an annual report summarizing the Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 Transportation, Wildlife. activities conducted under the U.S.C. 432–437(f) and Part 516 of the Regulation Promulgation conservation order. Reported U.S. Department of the Interior Manual information helps us to assess the (516 DM). The regulations change For the reasons stated in the effectiveness of light geese population would simply remove unused preamble, we hereby amend part 21, of control methods and strategies, and regulations, and is administrative in subchapter B, chapter I, title 50 of the assess whether or not additional nature. The action is categorically Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth population control methods are needed. excluded from further NEPA below: However, we believe that the number of consideration by 43 CFR 46.210(i). Socioeconomic. The regulations PART 21—[AMENDED] elements in the information collection requirement can be reduced while change would have no discernible ■ 1. The authority citation for part 21 maintaining a core of elements that socioeconomic impacts. Migratory bird populations. The continues to read as follows: allow us to monitor the number of regulations change would not affect Authority: 16 U.S.C. 703–712. participants in the conservation order and resulting harvest of birds. We have native migratory bird populations. ■ 2. Amend § 21.60 by revising Endangered and Threatened Species. paragraph (f)(8) to read as follows: revised 50 CFR 21.60(f)(8) to require The regulation change would not affect that information be collected only on endangered or threatened species or § 21.60 Conservation order for light geese. the number of: • Persons participating in the habitats important to them. * * * * * conservation order; Endangered Species Act (f) * * * • Days people participated in the (8) States and tribes must keep annual conservation order; Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered records of activities carried out under • Light geese shot and retrieved Species Act (ESA), as amended (16 the authority of the conservation order. under the conservation order; and U.S.C. 1531–1543; 87 Stat. 884) Specifically, information must be • Light geese shot but not retrieved. provides that ‘‘Each Federal agency collected on: Each State and tribe determines how shall, in consultation with and with the (i) The number of persons they collect data from participants. assistance of the Secretary, insure that participating in the conservation order; Though there is no common form or any action authorized, funded, or (ii) The number of days people method, the States and tribes have carried out . . . is not likely to participated in the conservation order; shared their forms and there is jeopardize the continued existence of (iii) The number of light geese shot commonality. Some States require any endangered species or threatened and retrieved under the conservation participants to obtain a permit to species or result in the destruction or order; and participate in the conservation order; adverse modification of [critical] (iv) The number of light geese shot others do not. Post-harvest survey habitat. . . .’’ We previously completed but not retrieved. questions and questionnaire delivery section 7 consultation under the ESA for * * * * * methods differ among States and tribes. the rule that authorized the light goose Dated: February 2, 2015. States measure harvest and hunter regulations (73 FR 65926, November 5, Michael J. Bean, activity through the use of mail 2008). This rule will only affect questionnaires, phone surveys, hunter Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish information collection and reporting and Wildlife and Parks. diaries, online data entry, and so forth. requirements, so a section 7 Differences also exist within similar [FR Doc. 2015–05977 Filed 3–13–15; 8:45 am] consultation is not needed. survey types, such as the proportion of BILLING CODE 4310–55–P participants surveyed and the type and Energy Effects—Executive Order 13211 number of followup contacts. Executive Order 13211 requires During the proposed rule stage, we agencies to prepare Statements of solicited comments on the new Energy Effects when undertaking certain DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE information collection requirements. We actions. This rule is not a significant National Oceanic and Atmospheric received several comments that regulatory action under Executive Order Administration addressed information collection. Most 13211, and will not adversely affect conflated the information collection and energy supplies, distribution, or use. 50 CFR Part 679 control of overabundant light geese. We This action is not a significant energy did not change our requirements based action, so no Statement of Energy Effects [Docket No. 140918791–4999–02] on these comments. Several of the is required. comments only noted that we proposed Government-to-Government RIN 0648–XD823 to change the information collection. Relationship With Tribes Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES We have addressed all comments in the Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic preamble above. In accordance with the President’s Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Trawl The public may comment at any time memorandum of April 29, 1994, Catcher Vessels in the Western on the accuracy of the information ‘‘Government-to-Government Relations Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska collection burden in this rule and may With Native American Tribal submit any comments to the Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), Executive AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Information Collection Clearance Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we have Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Mar 13, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\16MRR1.SGM 16MRR1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 50 / Monday, March 16, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 13501 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The A season allowance of the 2015 (AA), finds good cause to waive the Commerce. Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) requirement to provide prior notice and ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in opportunity for public comment the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed is 7,242 metric tons (mt), as established U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels by the final 2015 and 2016 harvest impracticable and contrary to the public using trawl gear in the Western specifications for groundfish of the GOA interest. This requirement is Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (80 FR 10250, February 25, 2015). impracticable and contrary to the public (GOA). This action is necessary to In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), interest as it would prevent NMFS from prevent exceeding the A season the Administrator, Alaska Region, responding to the most recent fisheries allowance of the 2015 Pacific cod total NMFS (Regional Administrator) has data in a timely fashion and would allowable catch apportioned to trawl determined that the A season allowance delay the directed fishing closure of catcher vessels in the Western of the 2015 Pacific cod TAC Pacific cod by catcher vessels using Regulatory Area of the GOA. apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in trawl gear in the Western Regulatory DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2015, will soon be reached. Therefore, the publish a notice providing time for through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, Regional Administrator is establishing a public comment because the most 2015. directed fishing allowance of 6,942 mt recent, relevant data only became and is setting aside the remaining 300 available as of March 10, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: mt as bycatch to support other Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. anticipated groundfish fisheries. In The AA also finds good cause to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the waive the 30-day delay in the effective manages the groundfish fishery in the Regional Administrator finds that this date of this action under 5 U.S.C. GOA exclusive economic zone directed fishing allowance has been 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon according to the Fishery Management reached. Consequently, NMFS is the reasons provided above for waiver of Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific prior notice and opportunity for public Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear comment. Pacific Fishery Management Council in the Western Regulatory Area of the This action is required by § 679.20 under authority of the Magnuson- GOA. After the effective date of this and is exempt from review under Stevens Fishery Conservation and closure the maximum retainable Executive Order 12866. Management Act. Regulations governing amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance any time during a trip. with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 Dated: March 11, 2015. CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. Classification Emily H. Menashes, Regulations governing sideboard This action responds to the best Acting Director, Office of Sustainable protections for GOA groundfish available information recently obtained Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR from the fishery. The Assistant [FR Doc. 2015–05912 Filed 3–11–15; 4:15 pm] part 680. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:05 Mar 13, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\16MRR1.SGM 16MRR1


Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:37:50
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:37:50
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionTemporary rule; closure.
DatesEffective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2015, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2015.
ContactObren Davis, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation80 FR 13500 
RIN Number0648-XD82
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