82 FR 14479 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 53 (March 21, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 53 (March 21, 2017)
| Page Range | 14479-14480 | |
| FR Document | 2017-05536 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 21, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 14479-14480] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-05536] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF296 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish 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; modification of closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of northern rockfish in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 16, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., April 5, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0140, by either of the following methods:Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0140, 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). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI 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. Pursuant to the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017), NMFS closed the directed fishery for northern rockfish under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii). As of March 14, 2017, NMFS has determined that approximately 4,000 metric tons of northern rockfish initial TAC remains unharvested in the BSAI. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the 2017 TAC of northern rockfish in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the BSAI. This will enhance the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters in this area. The Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) considered the following factors in reaching this decision: (1) The current catch of northern rockfish in the BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in participating in this fishery. 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 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 opening of northern rockfish in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, [[Page 14480]] relevant data only became available as of March 14, 2017. The acting 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 northern rockfish in the BSAI 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 April 5, 2017. This action is required by Sec. Sec. 679.20 and 679.25 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 16, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-05536 Filed 3-16-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 53 / Tuesday, March 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 14479
Weekly quota monitoring reports for DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish
the common pool fishery can be found to remain anonymous).
on our Web site at: http:// National Oceanic and Atmospheric
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/ Administration
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
ro/fso/MultiMonReports.htm. We will
continue to monitor common pool catch 50 CFR Part 679 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
through vessel trip reports, dealer- [Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] BSAI according to the Fishery
reported landings, VMS catch reports,
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
and other available information and, if RIN 0648–XF296 Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
necessary, we will make additional Management Area (FMP) prepared by
adjustments to common pool Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
the North Pacific Fishery Management
management measures. Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in
Council under authority of the
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Classification Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Management Area
Conservation and Management Act.
This action is required by 50 CFR part AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
648 and is exempt from review under Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and vessels in accordance with the FMP
Executive Order 12866. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
The Assistant Administrator for Commerce. and 50 CFR part 679.
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of Pursuant to the final 2017 and 2018
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 closure. harvest specifications for groundfish in
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive prior notice the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27,
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 2017), NMFS closed the directed fishery
and the opportunity for public comment
fishing for northern rockfish in the for northern rockfish under
and the 30-day delayed effectiveness
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands § 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
period because it would be Management Area (BSAI). This action is
impracticable and contrary to the public As of March 14, 2017, NMFS has
necessary to fully use the 2016 total determined that approximately 4,000
interest. allowable catch (TAC) of northern metric tons of northern rockfish initial
The regulations at § 648.86(o) rockfish in the BSAI. TAC remains unharvested in the BSAI.
authorize the Regional Administrator to DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local Therefore, in accordance with
adjust the Northeast multispecies time (A.l.t.), March 16, 2017, through § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and
possession and trip limits for common 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the
pool vessels in order to help prevent the Comments must be received at the 2017 TAC of northern rockfish in the
overharvest or underharvest of the following address no later than 4:30 BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous
pertinent common pool quotas. The p.m., A.l.t., April 5, 2017. closure and is opening directed fishing
catch data used as the basis for this ADDRESSES: You may submit comments for northern rockfish in the BSAI. This
action only recently became available. on this document, identified by NOAA– will enhance the socioeconomic well-
The available analysis indicates that the NMFS–2016–0140, by either of the being of harvesters in this area. The
possession and trip limit increase for following methods: Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional
both GOM cod and GOM haddock will • Electronic Submission: Submit all Administrator) considered the following
help to ensure that the fishery may electronic public comments via the factors in reaching this decision: (1) The
achieve the optimum yield (OY) for Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to current catch of northern rockfish in the
these stocks. As a result, the time www.regulations.gov/ BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity and
necessary to provide for prior notice and #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016- stated intent on future harvesting
comment, and a 30-day delay in 0140, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, patterns of vessels in participating in
effectiveness, would prevent NMFS complete the required fields, and enter this fishery.
from implementing the necessary or attach your comments. Classification
possession and trip limit adjustment in • Mail: Submit written comments to
a timely manner, which could prevent Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional This action responds to the best
the fishery from achieving the OY, and Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries available information recently obtained
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: from the fishery. The Assistant
cause negative economic impacts to the
Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
common pool fishery.
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. (AA), finds good cause to waive the
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Instructions: Comments sent by any requirement to provide prior notice and
Dated: March 16, 2017. other method, to any other address or opportunity for public comment
Emily H. Menashes,
individual, or received after the end of pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
the comment period, may not be U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and § 679.25(c)(1)(ii) as
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable considered by NMFS. All comments such requirement is impracticable and
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
received are a part of the public record contrary to the public interest. This
[FR Doc. 2017–05550 Filed 3–16–17; 4:15 pm] and will generally be posted for public requirement is impracticable and
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P viewing on www.regulations.gov contrary to the public interest as it
pmangrum on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
without change. All personal identifying would prevent NMFS from responding
information (e.g., name, address), to the most recent fisheries data in a
confidential business information, or timely fashion and would delay the
otherwise sensitive information opening of northern rockfish in the
submitted voluntarily by the sender will BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a
be publicly accessible. NMFS will notice providing time for public
accept anonymous comments (enter comment because the most recent,
VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:46 Mar 20, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\21MRR1.SGM 21MRR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_14532/page/1.svg)
![14480 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 53 / Tuesday, March 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
relevant data only became available as northern rockfish in the BSAI to be Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
of March 14, 2017. harvested in an expedient manner and Dated: March 16, 2017.
The acting AA also finds good cause in accordance with the regulatory Emily H. Menashes,
to waive the 30-day delay in the schedule. Under § 679.25(c)(2),
effective date of this action under 5 Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
interested persons are invited to submit Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based written comments on this action to the
upon the reasons provided above for [FR Doc. 2017–05536 Filed 3–16–17; 4:15 pm]
above address until April 5, 2017.
waiver of prior notice and opportunity BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
for public comment. This action is required by §§ 679.20
Without this inseason adjustment, and 679.25 and is exempt from review
NMFS could not allow the fishery for under Executive Order 12866.
pmangrum on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:46 Mar 20, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\21MRR1.SGM 21MRR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_14532/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2017-03-21 01:09:55
Document Modified: 2017-03-21 01:09:55
| 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; modification of closure. | |
| Dates | Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 16, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. Comments must be received | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 14479 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF29 |
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