82 FR 56816 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Cost Recovery Programs

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 229 (November 30, 2017)

Page Range		56816-56818
FR Document		2017-25800

NMFS publishes standard prices and fee percentages for cost recovery for the Amendment 80 Program, the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Program, the Aleutian Islands Pollock (AIP) Program, and the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groundfish and halibut Programs. The fee percentage for 2017 is 0.71 percent for the Amendment 80 Program, 0.19 percent for the AFA inshore cooperatives, 0.21 percent for the AFA catcher/processor sector, 0.22 percent for the AFA mothership cooperative, 0 percent for the AIP program, and 0.55 percent for the CDQ groundfish and halibut Programs. This action is intended to provide the 2017 standard prices and fee percentages to calculate the required payment for cost recovery fees due by December 31, 2017.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 229 (Thursday, November 30, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 229 (Thursday, November 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56816-56818]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25800]

[[Page 56816]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF833

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Cost Recovery Programs

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

ACTION: Notice of standard prices and fee percentages.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes standard prices and fee percentages for cost
recovery for the Amendment 80 Program, the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Program, the Aleutian Islands Pollock (AIP) Program, and the Western
Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groundfish and halibut
Programs. The fee percentage for 2017 is 0.71 percent for the Amendment
80 Program, 0.19 percent for the AFA inshore cooperatives, 0.21 percent
for the AFA catcher/processor sector, 0.22 percent for the AFA
mothership cooperative, 0 percent for the AIP program, and 0.55 percent
for the CDQ groundfish and halibut Programs. This action is intended to
provide the 2017 standard prices and fee percentages to calculate the
required payment for cost recovery fees due by December 31, 2017.

DATES: The standard prices and fee percentages are valid on November
30, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Greene, Fee Coordinator, 907-586-
7105.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Section 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorizes and requires the
collection of cost recovery fees for limited access privilege programs
and the CDQ Program. Cost recovery fees recover the actual costs
directly related to the management, data collection, and enforcement of
the programs. Section 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act mandates that
cost recovery fees not exceed three percent of the annual ex-vessel
value of fish harvested by a program subject to a cost recovery fee,
and that the fee be collected either at the time of landing, filing of
a landing report, or sale of such fish during a fishing season or in
the last quarter of the calendar year in which the fish is harvested.
NMFS manages the Amendment 80 Program, AFA Program, and AIP Program
as limited access privilege programs. On January 5, 2016, NMFS
published a final rule to implement cost recovery for these three
limited access privilege programs and the CDQ groundfish and halibut
programs (81 FR 150). The designated representative (for the purposes
of cost recovery) for each program is responsible for submitting the
fee payment to NMFS on or before the due date of December 31 of the
year in which the landings were made. The total dollar amount of the
fee due is determined by multiplying the NMFS published fee percentage
by the ex-vessel value of all landings under the program made during
the fishing year. NMFS publishes this notice of the fee percentages for
the Amendment 80, AFA, AIP, and CDQ groundfish and halibut fisheries in
the Federal Register by December 1 each year.

Standard Prices

The fee liability is based on the ex-vessel value of fish harvested
in each program. For purposes of calculating cost recovery fees, NMFS
calculates a standard ex-vessel price (standard price) for each
species. A standard price is determined using information on landings
purchased (volume) and ex-vessel value paid (value). For most
groundfish species, NMFS annually summarizes volume and value
information for landings of all fishery species subject to cost
recovery in order to estimate a standard price for each species. The
standard prices are described in U.S. dollars per pound for landings
made during the year. The standard prices for all species in the
Amendment 80, AFA, AIP, and CDQ groundfish and halibut programs are
listed in Table 1. Each landing made under each program is multiplied
by the appropriate standard price to arrive at an ex-vessel value for
each landing. These values are summed together to arrive at the ex-
vessel value of each program (fishery value).

Fee Percentage

NMFS calculates the fee percentage each year according to the
factors and methods described in Federal regulations at 50 CFR
679.33(c)(2), 679.66(c)(2), 679.67(c)(2), and 679.95(c)(2). NMFS
determines the fee percentage that applies to landings made during the
year by dividing the total costs directly related to the management,
data collection, and enforcement of each program (direct program costs)
during the year by the fishery value. NMFS captures direct program
costs through an established accounting system that allows staff to
track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and procurement. For 2017, the
direct program costs were tracked from October 1, 2016, to September
30, 2017 (the end of the fiscal year). The individual 2017 fee
percentages for the Amendment 80 Program, the American Fisheries Act
(AFA) Program, and the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ)
groundfish and halibut Programs are higher relative to percentages
calculated for the programs in 2016. This is primarily because direct
program costs in 2016 were tracked for only part of the fiscal year,
from February 4, 2016 (the effective date of the rule) to September 30,
2016.
NMFS will provide an annual report that summarizes direct program
costs for each of the programs in early 2018. NMFS calculates the
fishery value as described under the section ``Standard Prices.''

Amendment 80 Program Standard Prices and Fee Percentage

The Amendment 80 Program allocates total allowable catches (TACs)
of groundfish species, other than Bering Sea pollock, to identified
trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI).
The Amendment 80 Program allocates a portion of the BSAI TACs of six
species: Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, flathead sole, rock sole,
yellowfin sole, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch. Participants
in the Amendment 80 sector have established cooperatives to harvest
these allocations. Each Amendment 80 cooperative is responsible for
payment of the cost recovery fee for fish landed under the Amendment 80
Program. Cost recovery requirements for the Amendment 80 Program are at
50 CFR 679.95.
For most Amendment 80 species, NMFS annually summarizes volume and
value information for landings of all fishery species subject to cost
recovery in order to estimate a standard price for each fishery
species. Regulations specify that for rock sole, NMFS shall calculate a
separate standard price for two periods--January 1 through March 31,
and April 1 through October 31, which accounts for a substantial
difference in estimated rock sole prices during the first quarter of
the year relative to the remainder of the year. The volume and value
information is obtained from the First Wholesale Volume and Value
Report, and the Pacific Cod Ex-Vessel Volume and Value Report.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to

[[Page 56817]]

fishery value for the 2017 calendar year is 0.71 percent for the
Amendment 80 Program. For 2017, NMFS applied the fee percentage to each
Amendment 80 species landing that was debited from an Amendment 80
cooperative quota allocation between January 1 and December 31 to
calculate the Amendment 80 fee liability for each Amendment 80
cooperative. The 2017 fee payments must be submitted to NMFS on or
before December 31, 2017. Payment must be made in accordance with the
payment methods set forth in 50 CFR 679.95(a)(3)(iv).

AFA Standard Price and Fee Percentages

The AFA allocates the Bering Sea directed pollock fishery TAC to
three sectors--catcher/processor, mothership, and inshore. Each sector
has established cooperatives to harvest the sector's exclusive
allocation. These cooperatives are responsible for paying the fee for
Bering Sea pollock landed under the AFA. Cost recovery requirements for
the AFA sectors are at 50 CFR 679.66.
NMFS calculates the standard price for pollock using the most
recent annual value information reported to the Alaska Department of
Fish & Game for the Commercial Operator's Annual Report and compiled in
the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Gross Earnings data
for Bering Sea pollock. Due to the time required to compile the data,
there is a one-year delay between the gross earnings data year and the
fishing year to which it is applied. For example, NMFS used 2016 gross
earnings data to calculate the standard price for 2017 pollock
landings.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to fishery value for the 2017
calendar year is 0.19 percent for the AFA inshore sector, 0.21 percent
for the AFA catcher/processor sector, and 0.22 percent for the AFA
mothership sector. For 2017, NMFS applied the fee percentage to each
AFA inshore cooperative, AFA mothership cooperative, and AFA catcher/
processor sector landing of Bering Sea pollock debited from its AFA
pollock fishery allocation between January 1 and December 31 to
calculate the AFA fee liability for each AFA cooperative. The 2017 fee
payments must be submitted to NMFS on or before December 31, 2017.
Payment must be made in accordance with the payment methods set forth
in 50 CFR 679.66(a)(4)(iv).

AIP Program Standard Price and Fee Percentage

The AIP Program allocates the Aleutian Islands directed pollock
fishery TAC to the Aleut Corporation, consistent with the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-109), and its implementing
regulations. Annually, prior to the start of the pollock season, the
Aleut Corporation provides NMFS with the identity of its designated
representative for harvesting the Aleutian Islands directed pollock
fishery TAC. The same individual is responsible for the submission of
all cost recovery fees for pollock landed under the AIP Program. Cost
recovery requirements for the AIP Program are at 50 CFR 679.67.
NMFS calculates the standard price for pollock using the most
recent annual value information reported to the Alaska Department of
Fish & Game for the Commercial Operator's Annual Report and compiled in
the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Gross Earnings data
for Aleutian Islands pollock. Due to the time required to compile the
data, there is a one-year delay between the gross earnings data year
and the fishing year to which it is applied. For example, NMFS used
2016 gross earnings data to calculate the standard price for 2017
pollock landings.
For the 2017 fishing year, the Aleut Corporation did not select any
participants to harvest or process the Aleutian Islands directed
pollock fishery TAC, and most of that TAC was reallocated to the Bering
Sea directed pollock fishery TAC. Using the fee percentage formula
described above, the estimated percentage of direct program costs to
fishery value for the 2017 calendar year is 0 percent for the AIP
Program.

CDQ Standard Price and Fee Percentage

The CDQ Program was implemented in 1992 to provide access to BSAI
fishery resources to villages located in Western Alaska. Section 305(i)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act identifies 65 villages eligible to
participate in the CDQ Program and the six CDQ groups to represent
these villages. CDQ groups receive exclusive harvesting privileges of
the TACs for a broad range of crab species, groundfish species, and
halibut. NMFS implemented a CDQ cost recovery program for the BSAI crab
fisheries in 2005 (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005) and published the cost
recovery fee percentage for the 2017/2018 crab fishing year on July 13,
2017 (82 FR 32329). This notice provides the cost recovery fee
percentage for the CDQ groundfish and halibut programs. Each CDQ group
is subject to cost recovery fee requirements for landed groundfish and
halibut, and the designated representative of each CDQ group is
responsible for submitting payment for their CDQ group. Cost recovery
requirements for the CDQ Program are at 50 CFR 679.33.
For most CDQ groundfish species, NMFS annually summarizes volume
and value information for landings of all fishery species subject to
cost recovery in order to estimate a standard price for each fishery
species. The volume and value information is obtained from the First
Wholesale Volume and Value Report and the Pacific Cod Ex-Vessel Volume
and Value Report. For CDQ halibut and fixed-gear sablefish, NMFS
calculates the standard prices using information from the Individual
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Ex-Vessel Volume and Value Report, which collects
information on both IFQ and CDQ volume and value.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to fishery value for the 2017
calendar year is 0.55 percent for the CDQ groundfish and halibut
programs. For 2017, NMFS applied the calculated CDQ fee percentage to
all CDQ groundfish and halibut landings made between January 1 and
December 31 to calculate the CDQ fee liability for each CDQ group. The
2017 fee payments must be submitted to NMFS on or before December 31,
2017. Payment must be made in accordance with the payment methods set
forth in 50 CFR 679.33(a)(3)(iv).

Table 1--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Species for the 2017 Fishing Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard
ex-vessel
Species Gear type Reporting period price per
pound ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.32
2017.
Atka mackerel.......................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.36
2017.

[[Page 56818]]

Flathead sole.......................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.22
2017.
Greenland turbot....................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.55
2017.
CDQ halibut............................ Fixed gear................ October 1, 2016-September 30, 5.97
2017.
Pacific cod............................ Fixed gear................ January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.33
Trawl gear................ 2017. 0.28
January 1, 2017-October 31, 201
Pacific ocean perch.................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.25
2017.
Pollock................................ All....................... January 1, 2016-December 31, 0.14
2016.
Rock sole.............................. All....................... January 1, 2017-March 31, 2017. 0.23
All....................... April 1, 2017-October 31, 2017. 0.17
Sablefish.............................. Fixed gear................ October 1, 2016-September 30, 4.12
Trawl gear................ 2017. 1.05
January 1, 2017-October 31,
2017.
Yellowfin sole......................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.17
2017.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: November 27, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25800 Filed 11-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

56818 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2017 / Notices

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY SPECIES FOR THE 2017 FISHING YEAR—Continued
Standard
ex-vessel
Species Gear type Reporting period price per
pound
($)

Flathead sole ................................. All ............................................ January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ......................................... 0.22
Greenland turbot ........................... All ............................................ January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ......................................... 0.55
CDQ halibut ................................... Fixed gear ............................... October 1, 2016–September 30, 2017 .................................... 5.97
Pacific cod ..................................... Fixed gear ............................... January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ......................................... 0.33
Trawl gear ............................... January 1, 2017–October 31, 201 ........................................... 0.28
Pacific ocean perch ....................... All ............................................ January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ......................................... 0.25
Pollock ........................................... All ............................................ January 1, 2016–December 31, 2016 ..................................... 0.14
Rock sole ....................................... All ............................................ January 1, 2017–March 31, 2017 ............................................ 0.23
All ............................................ April 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ............................................... 0.17
Sablefish ........................................ Fixed gear ............................... October 1, 2016–September 30, 2017 .................................... 4.12
Trawl gear ............................... January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ......................................... 1.05
Yellowfin sole ................................ All ............................................ January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ......................................... 0.17

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Responses per Respondent: 1. DOD Clearance Officer: Mr. Frederick
Dated: November 27, 2017. Annual Responses: 65,000. Licari.
Emily H. Menashes, Average Burden per Response: 15 Written requests for copies of the
minutes. information collection proposal should
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Annual Burden Hours: 16,250. be sent to Mr. Licari at WHS/ESD
Needs and Uses: This information Directives Division, 4800 Mark Center
[FR Doc. 2017–25800 Filed 11–29–17; 8:45 am]
collection is being submitted as an Drive, East Tower, Suite 03F09,
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
emergency. The information collection Alexandria, VA 22350–3100.
requirement is necessary to obtain Dated: November 27, 2017.
applicable retirement information from Aaron Siegel,
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Uniformed Service members and allow Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Office of the Secretary those members to make certain retired Officer, Department of Defense.
pay and survivor annuity elections prior [FR Doc. 2017–25820 Filed 11–29–17; 8:45 am]
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reaching eligibility to receive retired
Submission for OMB Review; pay. The form will also allow eligible
Comment Request members covered by the Blended DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
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ACTION: 30-day information collection
election of a partial lump sum of retired Office of the Secretary
notice.
pay, as required by Section 1415 of title [Docket ID: DOD–2016–OS–0033]
SUMMARY: The Department of Defense 10, United States Code.
has submitted to OMB for clearance, the Affected Public: All Uniformed Submission for OMB Review;
following proposal for collection of Service members who are eligible to Comment Request
information under the provisions of the retire or to begin receiving retired pay,
Paperwork Reduction Act. their spouses, and dependents. ACTION: 30-Day information collection
Frequency: As Required. notice.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by January 2, 2018. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
SUMMARY: The Department of Defense
OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet
ADDRESSES: Comments and has submitted to OMB for clearance, the
Seehra.
recommendations on the proposed following proposal for collection of
You may also submit comments and
information collection should be information under the provisions of the
recommendations, identified by Docket
emailed to Ms. Jasmeet Seehra, DoD Paperwork Reduction Act.
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VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Nov 29, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30NON1.SGM 30NON1

Document Created: 2017-11-30 00:34:53
Document Modified: 2017-11-30 00:34:53

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		Notice of standard prices and fee percentages.
Dates		The standard prices and fee percentages are valid on November 30, 2017.
Contact		Carl Greene, Fee Coordinator, 907-586- 7105.
FR Citation		82 FR 56816
RIN Number		0648-XF83

82 FR 56816 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Cost Recovery Programs

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 229 (November 30, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration