80 FR 48467 - Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 156 (August 13, 2015)

NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the 2015 groundfish total allowable catch available for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48467-48468]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19926]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4999-02]
RIN 0648-XE099


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Fishery by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish, other than 
pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This action is necessary to fully use the 2015 groundfish total 
allowable catch available for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels 
directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 10, 
2015, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., 
August 25, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2014-0118, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0118, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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.
    NMFS prohibited directed fishing for groundfish, other than 
pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels using trawl gear in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, effective 1200 
hours, A.l.t., May 3, 2015 (May 6, 2015, 80 FR 25967) under Sec.  
679.21(i)(7)(i).

[[Page 48468]]

    On August 10, 2015, NMFS published an emergency rule (80 FR 47864, 
August 10, 2015) establishing a Chinook salmon prohibited species catch 
(PSC) limit of 1,600 for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed 
fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA that is available from 
August 10, 2015 until December 31, 2015 (Sec.  679.21(i)(8)). 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and 
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the 2015 groundfish total 
allowable catch available for non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels 
directed fishing for groundfish, other than pollock, using trawl gear 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, NMFS is 
terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for 
non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels directed fishing for groundfish, 
other than pollock, using trawl gear in the Western and Central 
Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

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) and Sec.  679.25(c)(1)(ii) as such a 
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 opening directed fishing for 
groundfish, other than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher vessels 
using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas 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 August 7, 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.
    Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery 
for groundfish, other than pollock, by non-Rockfish Program catcher 
vessels using trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of 
the GOA to be harvested in an expedient manner and in accordance with 
the regulatory schedule. Under Sec.  679.25(c)(2), interested persons 
are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above 
address until August 25, 2015.
    This action is required by Sec. Sec.  679.20, 679.21, and 679.25 
and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: August 10, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19926 Filed 8-10-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P