80 FR 7979 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Big Skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 30 (February 13, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 30 (February 13, 2015)
| Page Range | 7979-7979 | |
| FR Document | 2015-03051 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 7979] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-03051] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 130925836-4174-02] RIN 0648-XD761 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Big Skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2015 total allowable catch of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 11, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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. The 2015 total allowable catch (TAC) of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,532 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2015 TAC of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that big skate caught in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b). 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 prohibiting the retention of big skate in the Central 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 February 9, 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 Sec. 679.21 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 10, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-03051 Filed 2-10-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 7979
* * * * * through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
Dated: February 10, 2015. 2015. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Samuel D. Rauch, III, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: requirement to provide prior notice and
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. opportunity for public comment
Regulatory Programs, National Marine SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
Fisheries Service. manages the groundfish fishery in the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
[FR Doc. 2015–03087 Filed 2–11–15; 8:45 am] GOA exclusive economic zone impracticable and contrary to the public
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P according to the Fishery Management interest. This requirement is
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of impracticable and contrary to the public
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North interest as it would prevent NMFS from
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Pacific Fishery Management Council responding to the most recent fisheries
under authority of the Magnuson- data in a timely fashion and would
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Stevens Fishery Conservation and delay prohibiting the retention of big
Administration Management Act. Regulations governing skate in the Central Regulatory Area of
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish
50 CFR Part 679 with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 a notice providing time for public
[Docket No. 130925836–4174–02] CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. comment because the most recent,
The 2015 total allowable catch (TAC) relevant data only became available as
RIN 0648–XD761 of big skate in the Central Regulatory
of February 9, 2015.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Area of the GOA is 1,532 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2014 and The AA also finds good cause to
Zone Off Alaska; Big Skate in the waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 2015 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the GOA (79 FR 12890, date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Alaska
March 6, 2014). 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the the reasons provided above for waiver of
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS prior notice and opportunity for public
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (Regional Administrator), has comment.
Commerce. determined that the 2015 TAC of big This action is required by § 679.20
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. skate in the Central Regulatory Area of and § 679.21 and is exempt from review
the GOA will be reached. Therefore,
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS is requiring that big skate caught
of big skate in the Central Regulatory in the Central Regulatory Area of the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This GOA be treated as prohibited species in Dated: February 10, 2015.
action is necessary because the 2015 accordance with § 679.21(b).
total allowable catch of big skate in the Emily H. Menashes,
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will Classification Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
be reached. This action responds to the best Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska available information recently obtained [FR Doc. 2015–03051 Filed 2–10–15; 4:15 pm]
local time (A.l.t.), February 11, 2015, from the fishery. The Assistant BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:18:17
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:18:17
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Rules and Regulations | |
| Action | Temporary rule; closure. | |
| Dates | Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 11, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Obren Davis, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 7979 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD76 |
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