82 FR 23517 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 98 (May 23, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 98 (May 23, 2017)
| Page Range | 23517-23517 | |
| FR Document | 2017-10528 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 23517] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-10528] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985-7181-02] RIN 0648-XF449 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the Bering Sea Subarea of 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 sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2017 sablefish initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 18, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. 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. The 2017 sablefish trawl ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI is 541 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826; February 27, 2017). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2017 sablefish trawl ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 350 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 191 mt as incidental catch. 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 trawl fishing for sablefish in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. 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 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 directed fishing closure for sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of May 17, 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. May 18, 2017. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-10528 Filed 5-18-17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 98 / Tuesday, May 23, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 23517
memorandum. Given the imminence of (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
the effective date of the ‘‘Minimum BSAI. during a trip.
Training Requirements for Entry-Level DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
Classification
Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators’’ time (A.l.t.), May 18, 2017, through 2400
final rule, seeking prior public comment hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. This action responds to the best
on this temporary delay would be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: available information recently obtained
impractical, as well as contrary to the Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. from the fishery. The Acting Assistant
public interest in the orderly SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
promulgation and implementation of manages the groundfish fishery in the (AA), finds good cause to waive the
regulations. BSAI according to the Fishery requirement to provide prior notice and
Issued under the authority of delegation in Management Plan for Groundfish of the opportunity for public comment
49 CFR 1.87 on: May 18, 2017. Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
John Van Steenburg, Management Area (FMP) prepared by U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such a requirement
Assistant Administrator. the North Pacific Fishery Management is impracticable and contrary to the
[FR Doc. 2017–10556 Filed 5–19–17; 4:15 pm] Council under authority of the public interest. This requirement is
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery impracticable and contrary to the public
Conservation and Management Act. interest as it would prevent NMFS from
Regulations governing fishing by U.S. responding to the most recent fisheries
vessels in accordance with the FMP data in a timely fashion and would
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 delay the directed fishing closure for
National Oceanic and Atmospheric and 50 CFR part 679. sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in
Administration The 2017 sablefish trawl ITAC in the the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI is 541 NMFS was unable to publish a notice
metric tons (mt) as established by the providing time for public comment
50 CFR Part 679
final 2017 and 2018 harvest because the most recent, relevant data
[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] specifications for groundfish in the only became available as of May 17,
BSAI (82 FR 11826; February 27, 2017). 2017.
RIN 0648–XF449
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the
The AA also finds good cause to
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish in the (Regional Administrator), has
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea determined that the 2017 sablefish trawl
ITAC in the Bering Sea subarea of the 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
and Aleutian Islands Management Area the reasons provided above for waiver of
BSAI will soon be reached. Therefore,
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries the Regional Administrator is prior notice and opportunity for public
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and establishing a directed fishing comment.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), allowance of 350 mt, and is setting aside This action is required by § 679.20
Commerce. the remaining 191 mt as incidental and is exempt from review under
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. catch. In accordance with Executive Order 12866.
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed Administrator finds that this directed
fishing for sablefish by vessels using May 18, 2017.
fishing allowance has been reached.
trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea of Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands directed trawl fishing for sablefish in Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
management area (BSAI). This action is the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2017 After the effective date of this closure [FR Doc. 2017–10528 Filed 5–18–17; 4:15 pm]
sablefish initial total allowable catch the maximum retainable amounts at BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:41 May 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\23MYR1.SGM 23MYR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_23615/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-05-23 02:14:39
Document Modified: 2017-05-23 02:14:39
| 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.), May 18, 2017, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 23517 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF44 |
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