82 FR 12423 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 41 (March 3, 2017)

Page Range		12423-12423
FR Document		2017-04145

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2017 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 41 (Friday, March 3, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 41 (Friday, March 3, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12423]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04145]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF253


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2017 total 
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 28, 
2017, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 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 A season allowance of the 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is 34,549 metric tons (mt) 
as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for 
groundfish in the GOA (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator has determined that the A season allowance of the 2017 
TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA will soon be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 34,049 mt and is setting aside the remaining 500 
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 pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 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 Acting 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 closure of directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 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 24, 2017.
    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: February 28, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04145 Filed 2-28-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 41 / Friday, March 3, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 12423

TABLE 1—GENERAL SUPERFUND SECTION
Notes
State Site name City/county ( a)

* * * * * * *
PA ........................................... North Penn Area 6 .......................................... Lansdale ................................. P

* * * * * * *
(a) = Based on issuance of health advisory by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (if scored, HRS score need not be greater
than or equal to 28.50).
P = Sites with partial deletion(s).

* * * * * Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
[FR Doc. 2017–04120 Filed 3–2–17; 8:45 am] Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Pacific Fishery Management Council (AA), finds good cause to waive the
under authority of the Magnuson- requirement to provide prior notice and
Stevens Fishery Conservation and opportunity for public comment
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Management Act. Regulations governing pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
National Oceanic and Atmospheric with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 impracticable and contrary to the public
Administration CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. interest. This requirement is
The A season allowance of the 2017
impracticable and contrary to the public
50 CFR Part 679 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
Statistical Area 620 of the GOA is interest as it would prevent NMFS from
[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] responding to the most recent fisheries
34,549 metric tons (mt) as established
RIN 0648–XF253 by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest data in a timely fashion and would
specifications for groundfish in the GOA delay the closure of directed fishing for
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska the Regional Administrator has notice providing time for public
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries determined that the A season allowance comment because the most recent,
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and of the 2017 TAC of pollock in Statistical relevant data only became available as
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Area 620 of the GOA will soon be of February 24, 2017.
reached. Therefore, the Regional The AA also finds good cause to
Commerce.
Administrator is establishing a directed
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. waive the 30-day delay in the effective
fishing allowance of 34,049 mt and is
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed setting aside the remaining 500 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area the reasons provided above for waiver of
620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional prior notice and opportunity for public
action is necessary to prevent exceeding comment.
the A season allowance of the 2017 total Administrator finds that this directed
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical fishing allowance has been reached. This action is required by § 679.20
Area 620 in the GOA. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting and is exempt from review under
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Executive Order 12866.
time (A.l.t.), February 28, 2017, through Area 620 of the GOA.
After the effective date of this closure Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2017.
the maximum retainable amounts at Dated: February 28, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time Karen H. Abrams,
Keaton, 907–586–7228. during a trip. Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
Classification Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
manages the groundfish fishery in the
[FR Doc. 2017–04145 Filed 2–28–17; 4:15 pm]
GOA exclusive economic zone This action responds to the best
according to the Fishery Management available information recently obtained BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:07 Mar 02, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\03MRR1.SGM 03MRR1

Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:46:06
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:46:06

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.), February 28, 2017, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2017.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 12423
RIN Number		0648-XF25

82 FR 12423 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 41 (March 3, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration