82 FR 32329 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Cost Recovery Program

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 133 (July 13, 2017)

Page Range		32329-32330
FR Document		2017-14720

NMFS publishes notification of a 1.57 percent fee for cost recovery under the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program. This action is intended to provide holders of crab allocations with the fee percentage for the 2017/2018 crab fishing year so they can calculate the required payment for cost recovery fees that must be submitted by July 31, 2018.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 133 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 133 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32329-32330]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14720]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF514


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Cost Recovery Program

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

ACTION: Notification of fee percentage.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes notification of a 1.57 percent fee for cost 
recovery under the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization 
Program. This action is intended to provide holders of crab allocations 
with the fee percentage for the 2017/2018 crab fishing year so they can 
calculate the required payment for cost recovery fees that must be 
submitted by July 31, 2018.

DATES: The Crab Rationalization Program Registered Crab Receiver permit 
holder is responsible for submitting the fee liability payment to NMFS 
on or before July 31, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suja Hall, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS Alaska Region administers the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Crab Rationalization Program (Program) in the North Pacific. Fishing 
under the Program began on August 15, 2005. Regulations implementing 
the Program can be found at 50 CFR part 680.
    The Program is a limited access system authorized by section 313(j) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act). The Program includes a cost recovery provision 
to collect fees to recover the actual costs directly related to the 
management, data collection, and enforcement of the Program. The 
Program implemented under the authority of section 313(j) is consistent 
with the cost recovery provisions included under section 304(d)(2)(A) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS developed the cost recovery provision 
to conform to statutory requirements and to reimburse the agency for 
the actual costs directly related to the management, data collection, 
and enforcement of the Program. The cost recovery provision allows 
collection of 133 percent of the actual management, data collection, 
and enforcement costs up to 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of crab 
harvested under the Program. The Program provides that a proportional 
share of fees charged for management and enforcement be forwarded to 
the State of Alaska for its share of management and data collection 
costs for the Program. The cost recovery provision also requires the 
harvesting and processing sectors to each pay half the cost recovery 
fees. Catcher/processor quota shareholders are required to pay the full 
fee percentage for crab processed at sea.
    A crab allocation holder generally incurs a cost recovery fee 
liability for every pound of crab landed. The crab allocations include 
Individual Fishing Quota, Crew Individual Fishing Quota, Individual 
Processing Quota, Community Development Quota, and the Adak community 
allocation. The Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) permit holder must 
collect the fee liability from the crab allocation holder who is 
landing crab. Additionally, the RCR permit holder must collect his or 
her own fee liability for all crab delivered to the RCR. The RCR permit 
holder is responsible for submitting this payment to NMFS on or before 
July 31, in the year following the crab fishing year in which landings 
of crab were made.
    The dollar amount of the fee due is determined by multiplying the 
fee percentage (not to exceed 3 percent) by the ex-vessel value of crab 
debited from the allocation. Specific details on the Program's cost 
recovery provision may be found in the implementing regulations at 50 
CFR 680.44.

Fee Percentage

    Each year, NMFS calculates and publishes in the Federal Register 
the fee percentage according to the factors and methodology described 
at Sec.  680.44(c)(2). The formula for determining the fee percentage 
is the ``direct program costs'' divided by ``value of the fishery,'' 
where ``direct program costs'' are the direct program costs for the 
Program for the previous fiscal year, and ``value of the fishery'' is 
the ex-vessel value of the

[[Page 32330]]

catch subject to the crab cost recovery fee liability for the current 
year. Fee collections for any given year may be less than, or greater 
than, the actual costs and fishery value for that year, because, by 
regulation, the fee percentage is established in the first quarter of a 
crab fishery year based on the fishery value and the costs of the prior 
year.
    Based upon the fee percentage formula described above, the 
estimated percentage of costs to value for the 2016/2017 fishery was 
1.57 percent. Therefore, the fee percentage will be 1.57 percent for 
the 2017/2018 crab fishing year. This is a decrease of 0.03 percent 
from the 2016/2017 fee percentage of 1.60 percent (81 FR 45458; July 
14, 2016). The change in the fee percentage from 2016/2017 to 2017/2018 
is due to decreases in direct program costs incurred by the Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game and the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement. 
These reduced costs were due to minor decreases in personnel, training, 
and supplies related to managing the Program in the 2016/2017 crab 
fishing year. Additionally, the value of crab harvested under the 
Program decreased by $39.7 million. The decrease in the value of the 
fishery offset the decreases in direct program costs and limited the 
change in the fee percentage from 2016/2017 to 2017/2018.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1862; Pub. L. 109-241; Pub. L. 109-479.

    Dated: July 10, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-14720 Filed 7-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

32330 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 133 / Thursday, July 13, 2017 / Notices

catch subject to the crab cost recovery amended, notification is hereby given cannot be reasonably expected to, and is
fee liability for the current year. Fee that NMFS has issued an incidental not reasonably likely to, we adversely
collections for any given year may be harassment authorization (IHA) to affect the species or stock through
less than, or greater than, the actual Deepwater Wind, LLC, (DWW) to effects on annual rates of recruitment or
costs and fishery value for that year, incidentally harass, by Level B survival.
because, by regulation, the fee harassment only, marine mammals The MMPA states that the term ‘‘take’’
percentage is established in the first during high-resolution geophysical means to harass, hunt, capture, kill or
quarter of a crab fishery year based on (HRG) and geotechnical survey attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill
the fishery value and the costs of the investigations associated with marine any marine mammal.
prior year. site characterization activities off the Except with respect to certain
Based upon the fee percentage coast of New York in the area of the activities not pertinent here, the MMPA
formula described above, the estimated Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: Any act of
percentage of costs to value for the for Renewable Energy Development on pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i)
2016/2017 fishery was 1.57 percent. the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS–A has the potential to injure a marine
Therefore, the fee percentage will be 0486) (Lease Area) and along potential mammal or marine mammal stock in the
1.57 percent for the 2017/2018 crab submarine cable routes to a landfall wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has
fishing year. This is a decrease of 0.03 location in Easthampton, New York the potential to disturb a marine
percent from the 2016/2017 fee (‘‘Submarine Cable Corridor’’) mammal or marine mammal stock in the
percentage of 1.60 percent (81 FR 45458; (collectively the Lease Area and wild by causing disruption of behavioral
July 14, 2016). The change in the fee Submarine Cable Corridor are the patterns, including, but not limited to,
percentage from 2016/2017 to 2017/ Project Area). migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
2018 is due to decreases in direct DATES: This Authorization is effective feeding, or sheltering (Level B
program costs incurred by the Alaska from June 16, 2017 through June 15, harassment).
Department of Fish and Game and the 2018.
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement. National Environmental Policy Act
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
These reduced costs were due to minor Laura McCue, Office of Protected To comply with the National
decreases in personnel, training, and Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. Environmental Policy Act of 1969
supplies related to managing the Electronic copies of the applications (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and
Program in the 2016/2017 crab fishing and supporting documents, as well as a NOAA Administrative Order (NAO)
year. Additionally, the value of crab list of the references cited in this 216–6A, NMFS must review our
harvested under the Program decreased document, may be obtained by visiting proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an
by $39.7 million. The decrease in the the Internet at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ incidental harassment authorization)
value of the fishery offset the decreases permits/incidental/energy_other.htm. In with respect to potential impacts on the
in direct program costs and limited the case of problems accessing these human environment. Accordingly,
change in the fee percentage from 2016/ documents, please call the contact listed NMFS prepared an Environmental
2017 to 2017/2018. above. Assessment (EA) to consider the
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1862; Pub. L. 109– SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
environmental impacts associated with
241; Pub. L. 109–479. the issuance of the IHA.
Background NMFS’ EA will be made available at
Dated: July 10, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes, Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct incidental/other_energy.htm at the time
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. the Secretary of Commerce to allow, of the publication of this Federal
upon request, the incidental, but not Register notice.
[FR Doc. 2017–14720 Filed 7–12–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
intentional, taking of small numbers of Summary of Request
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
engage in a specified activity (other than On December 1, 2016, NMFS received
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE commercial fishing) within a specified application request from DWW for an
geographical region if certain findings IHA to take marine mammals incidental
National Oceanic and Atmospheric are made and either regulations are to 2017 geophysical survey
Administration issued or, if the taking is limited to investigations in the area of the
harassment, a notice of a proposed Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands
RIN 0648–XF119 for Renewable Energy Development on
authorization is provided to the public
for review. the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lease
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
An authorization for incidental area #OCS–A–0486 Lease Area and
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
takings shall be granted if NMFS finds along potential submarine cable routes
Mammals Incidental to Site
that the taking will have a negligible to a landfall location in Easthampton,
Characterization Surveys off the Coast
impact on the species or stock(s), will New York (Project Area) designated and
of New York
not have an unmitigable adverse impact offered by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries on the availability of the species or Energy Management (BOEM), to support
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and stock(s) for subsistence uses (where the development of an offshore wind
project. DWW’s request was for take of
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), relevant), and if the permissible
Commerce. methods of taking and requirements 18 species of marine mammals by Level
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring B harassment of a small number of 18
harassment authorization. and reporting of such takings are set species and take by Level A harassment
forth. of 3 species. Neither DWW nor NMFS
SUMMARY: In accordance with the NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible expects mortality to result from this
regulations implementing the Marine impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact activity; and therefore, an IHA is
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as resulting from the specified activity that appropriate. NMFS determined that the

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Document Created: 2017-07-13 01:00:34
Document Modified: 2017-07-13 01:00:34

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		Notices
Action		Notification of fee percentage.
Dates		The Crab Rationalization Program Registered Crab Receiver permit holder is responsible for submitting the fee liability payment to NMFS on or before July 31, 2018.
Contact		Suja Hall, 907-586-7228.
FR Citation		82 FR 32329
RIN Number		0648-XF51

82 FR 32329 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Cost Recovery Program

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 133 (July 13, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration