82 FR 13072 - 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 82, Issue 45 (March 9, 2017)

Page Range		13072-13072
FR Document		2017-04769

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 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13072]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04769]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 160920866-7167-02]
RIN 0648-XF273


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 
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 2017 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 8, 2017 
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 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. Regulations governing sideboard 
protections for GOA groundfish fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 
part 680.
    The A season allowance of the 2017 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 6,861 metric tons (mt), as established by 
the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish of the 
GOA (82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017).
    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 2017 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 6,761 mt and is setting aside the remaining 100 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 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 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 6, 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: March 7, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04769 Filed 3-7-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

13072 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 45 / Thursday, March 9, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

Accountability Office pursuant to the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE determined that the A season allowance
Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. of the 2017 Pacific cod TAC
801(a)(1)(A). National Oceanic and Atmospheric apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in
Administration the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA
21. It is further ordered that the rule
change adopted herein, which contains will soon be reached. Therefore, the
50 CFR Part 679 Regional Administrator is establishing a
new or modified information collection
[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] directed fishing allowance of 6,761 mt
requirements that require approval by
and is setting aside the remaining 100
the Office of Management and Budget RIN 0648–XF273 mt as bycatch to support other
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
Act (PRA), will become effective after Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the
the Commission publishes a notice in Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Trawl Regional Administrator finds that this
the Federal Register announcing such Catcher Vessels in the Western directed fishing allowance has been
approval and the relevant effective date. Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska reached. Consequently, NMFS is
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 74 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear
Communications equipment, Radio. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in the Western Regulatory Area of the
Federal Communications Commission. Commerce. GOA. After the effective date of this
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. closure the maximum retainable
Marlene H. Dortch, amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at
Secretary. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed any time during a trip.
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels
Final Rule Classification
using trawl gear in the Western
For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska This action responds to the best
preamble, the Federal Communications (GOA). This action is necessary to available information recently obtained
Commission amends 47 CFR part 74 as prevent exceeding the A season from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
follows: allowance of the 2017 Pacific cod total Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
allowable catch apportioned to trawl (AA), finds good cause to waive the
PART 74—EXPERIMENTAL RADIO, catcher vessels in the Western requirement to provide prior notice and
AUXILIARY, SPECIAL BROADCAST Regulatory Area of the GOA. opportunity for public comment
AND OTHER PROGRAM DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
DISTRIBUTIONAL SERVICES local time (A.l.t.), March 8, 2017 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, impracticable and contrary to the public
■ 1. The authority citation for part 74 2017. interest. This requirement is
continues to read as follows: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh impracticable and contrary to the public
Keaton, 907–586–7228. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, 307, responding to the most recent fisheries
309, 336 and 554. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the data in a timely fashion and would
■ 2. Section 74.1201 is amended by GOA exclusive economic zone delay the directed fishing closure of
revising the last two sentences of according to the Fishery Management Pacific cod by catcher vessels using
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of trawl gear in the Western Regulatory
paragraph (g) to read as follows:
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Area of the GOA. NMFS was unable to
§ 74.1201 Definitions. Pacific Fishery Management Council publish a notice providing time for
* * * * * under authority of the Magnuson- public comment because the most
Stevens Fishery Conservation and recent, relevant data only became
(g) * * * The coverage contour of an available as of March 6, 2017.
FM translator rebroadcasting an AM Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance The AA also finds good cause to
radio broadcast station as its primary waive the 30-day delay in the effective
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
station must be contained within the date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
greater of either the 2 mV/m daytime Regulations governing sideboard 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
contour of the AM station or a 25-mile protections for GOA groundfish the reasons provided above for waiver of
(40 km) radius centered at the AM fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR prior notice and opportunity for public
transmitter site. The protected contour part 680. comment.
for an FM translator station is its The A season allowance of the 2017 This action is required by § 679.20
predicted 1 mV/m contour. Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) and is exempt from review under
* * * * * apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in Executive Order 12866.
[FR Doc. 2017–04252 Filed 3–8–17; 8:45 am] the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P is 6,861 metric tons (mt), as established
by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest Dated: March 7, 2017.
specifications for groundfish of the GOA Karen H. Abrams,
(82 FR 12032, February 27, 2017). Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
the Administrator, Alaska Region, [FR Doc. 2017–04769 Filed 3–7–17; 4:15 pm]
NMFS (Regional Administrator) has BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:49 Mar 08, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\09MRR1.SGM 09MRR1

Document Created: 2017-03-09 04:59:17
Document Modified: 2017-03-09 04:59:17

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.), March 8, 2017 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10, 2017.
Contact		Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 13072
RIN Number		0648-XF27

82 FR 13072 - 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 COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 45 (March 9, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration