81 FR 52779 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 154 (August 10, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 154 (August 10, 2016)
| Page Range | 52779-52779 | |
| FR Document | 2016-19000 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 52779] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-19000] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 150916863-6211-02] RIN 0648-XE795 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian district (WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 5, 2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (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 2016 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, in the WAI, allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery was established as a directed fishing allowance of 161 metric tons by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016). 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 ocean perch in the WAI by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. After the effective dates 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 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 the closure of the Pacific ocean perch directed fishery in the WAI for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of August 4, 2016. 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: August 5, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-19000 Filed 8-5-16; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 10, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 52779
reconsideration. We discuss each of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at
petitions we are denying and the basis management area (BSAI) by vessels any time during a trip.
for those denials in a separate document participating in the BSAI trawl limited
titled ‘‘Denial of Petitions for access fishery. This action is necessary Classification
Reconsideration of Certain Issues: Oil to prevent exceeding the 2016 total This action responds to the best
and Natural Gas New Source allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean available information recently obtained
Performance Standards (40 CFR part 60, perch in this area allocated to vessels from the fishery. The Assistant
subpart OOOO).’’ For reasons set out in participating in the BSAI trawl limited Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
the document, the remaining issues access fishery. (AA) finds good cause to waive the
raised in petitions for review from DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
ANGA & AXPC, API, Earthjustice, GPA, requirement to provide prior notice and
time (A.l.t.), August 5, 2016, through opportunity for public comment
M-Squared, TCEQ, TXOGA, and WEA 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016.
are denied.1 pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement
Dated: July 29, 2016. Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. is impracticable and contrary to the
Gina McCarthy, public interest. This requirement is
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
Administrator. manages the groundfish fishery in the impracticable and contrary to the public
[FR Doc. 2016–19029 Filed 8–9–16; 8:45 am] BSAI exclusive economic zone interest as it would prevent NMFS from
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P according to the Fishery Management responding to the most recent fisheries
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea data in a timely fashion and would
and Aleutian Islands Management Area delay the closure of the Pacific ocean
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific perch directed fishery in the WAI for
Fishery Management Council under vessels participating in the BSAI trawl
National Oceanic and Atmospheric authority of the Magnuson-Stevens limited access fishery. NMFS was
Administration Fishery Conservation and Management unable to publish a notice providing
Act. Regulations governing fishing by time for public comment because the
50 CFR Part 679 U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP most recent, relevant data only became
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02] appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 available as of August 4, 2016. The AA
and 50 CFR part 679. also finds good cause to waive the 30-
RIN 0648–XE795
The 2016 TAC of Pacific ocean perch, day delay in the effective date of this
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic in the WAI, allocated to vessels action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This
Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch participating in the BSAI trawl limited finding is based upon the reasons
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands access fishery was established as a provided above for waiver of prior
Management Area directed fishing allowance of 161 metric notice and opportunity for public
tons by the final 2016 and 2017 harvest comment.
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries specifications for groundfish in the
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and BSAI (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016). This action is required by § 679.20
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), and is exempt from review under
Commerce. the Regional Administrator finds that Executive Order 12866.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. this directed fishing allowance has been Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed Dated: August 5, 2016.
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Emily H. Menashes,
ocean perch in the WAI by vessels
Western Aleutian district (WAI) of the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
participating in the BSAI trawl limited
access fishery. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
1 The Administrator is also sending an individual
After the effective dates of this [FR Doc. 2016–19000 Filed 8–5–16; 4:15 pm]
letter to each of the petitioners announcing her
decision on their petitions. closure, the maximum retainable BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with RULES
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Document Created: 2016-08-10 01:59:35
Document Modified: 2016-08-10 01:59:35
| 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 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 5, 2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2016. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 52779 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE79 |
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