83_FR_34258 83 FR 34119 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Cost Recovery Program

83 FR 34119 - 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 83, Issue 139 (July 19, 2018)

Page Range34119-34120
FR Document2018-15468

NMFS publishes notification of a 1.85 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 2018/2019 crab fishing year so they can calculate the required payment for cost recovery fees that must be submitted by July 31, 2019.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34119-34120]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15468]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG279


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.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes notification of a 1.85 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 2018/2019 crab fishing year so they can 
calculate the required payment for cost recovery fees that must be 
submitted by July 31, 2019.

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, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt Iverson, (907) 586-7210.

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

[[Page 34120]]

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 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 2017/2018 fishery was 
1.85 percent. Therefore, the fee percentage will be 1.85 percent for 
the 2018/2019 crab fishing year. This is an increase of 0.28 percent 
from the 2017/2018 fee percentage of 1.57 percent (81 FR 32329, July 
13, 2017). Although direct program costs for managing the fishery 
increased by 2.9 percent from 2016/2017 to 2017/2018, the increase in 
the fee percentage was more affected by a $24.0 million decrease in the 
value of the crab harvested under the Program. Similar to previous 
years, the largest direct program costs are incurred by the Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game and the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.

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

    Dated: July 16, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-15468 Filed 7-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 139 / Thursday, July 19, 2018 / Notices 34119 reference for the groundfish and coastal be discussing at their September DATES: The Crab Rationalization pelagic species stock assessment review meeting in Seattle, WA. Program Registered Crab Receiver process for 2019 and 2020 and any other No management actions will be permit holder is responsible for matters the SSC may be discussing at decided by the SSC’s Groundfish submitting the fee liability payment to their upcoming September meeting in Subcommittee. The SSC Groundfish NMFS on or before July 31, 2019. Seattle, WA. The webinar meeting is Subcommittee members’ role will be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt open to the public. development of recommendations and Iverson, (907) 586–7210. DATES: The SSC Groundfish reports for consideration by the SSC and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Subcommittee webinar will be held Pacific Council at the September Thursday, August 2, 2018, from 9 a.m. meeting in Seattle, WA. Background to 12 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time or until Although nonemergency issues not NMFS Alaska Region administers the business for the day has been contained in the meeting agendas may Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab completed. be discussed, those issues may not be Rationalization Program (Program) in the subject of formal action during these the North Pacific. Fishing under the ADDRESSES: The SSC’s Groundfish meetings. Action will be restricted to Subcommittee meeting will be held by Program began on August 15, 2005. those issues specifically listed in this Regulations implementing the Program webinar. To attend the webinar, (1) join notice and any issues arising after the meeting by visiting this link https:// can be found at 50 CFR part 680. publication of this notice that require The Program is a limited access www.gotomeeting.com/webinar, (2) emergency action under Section 305(c) system authorized by section 313(j) of enter the webinar ID: 722–907–851, and of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery (3) enter your name and email address Conservation and Management Act, Conservation and Management Act (required). After logging into the provided the public has been notified of (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The Program webinar, please (1) dial this TOLL the intent of the SSC Groundfish includes a cost recovery provision to number: 1–415–655–0052 (not a toll-free Subcommittee to take final action to collect fees to recover the actual costs number); (2) enter the attendee phone address the emergency. directly related to the management, data audio access code: 667–817–359; and (3) Special Accommodations collection, and enforcement of the then enter your audio phone pin (shown Program. The Program implemented after joining the webinar). Note: We The meeting is physically accessible under the authority of section 313(j) is have disabled mic/speakers as an option to people with disabilities. Requests for consistent with the cost recovery and require all participants to use a sign language interpretation or other provisions included under section telephone or cell phone to participate. auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. 304(d)(2)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Technical Information and System Kris Kleinschmidt (503) 820–2411 at Act. NMFS developed the cost recovery Requirements: PC-based attendees are least 10 days prior to the meeting date. provision to conform to statutory required to use Windows® 7, Vista, or Dated: July 16, 2018. requirements and to reimburse the XP; Mac®-based attendees are required Tracey L. Thompson, agency for the actual costs directly to use Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer; Mobile Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable related to the management, data attendees are required to use iPhone®, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. collection, and enforcement of the iPad®, AndroidTM phone or Android [FR Doc. 2018–15455 Filed 7–18–18; 8:45 am] Program. The cost recovery provision tablet (see the https:// allows collection of 133 percent of the www.gotomeeting.com/webinar/ipad- BILLING CODE 3510–22–P actual management, data collection, and iphone-android-webinar-apps). You enforcement costs up to 3 percent of the may send an email to Mr. Kris DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ex-vessel value of crab harvested under Kleinschmidt at Kris.Kleinschmidt@ the Program. The Program provides that noaa.gov or contact him at (503) 820– National Oceanic and Atmospheric a proportional share of fees charged for 2280, extension 411 for technical Administration management and enforcement be assistance. A public listening station forwarded to the State of Alaska for its will also be available at the Pacific RIN 0648–XG279 share of management and data Council office. collection costs for the Program. The Council address: Pacific Fishery Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic cost recovery provision also requires the Management Council, 7700 NE Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and harvesting and processing sectors to Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization each pay half the cost recovery fees. OR 97220. Cost Recovery Program Catcher/processor quota shareholders FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries are required to pay the full fee John DeVore, Staff Officer, Pacific Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and percentage for crab processed at sea. Fishery Management Council; Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), A crab allocation holder generally telephone: (503) 820–2413. Commerce. incurs a cost recovery fee liability for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACTION: Notification of fee percentage. every pound of crab landed. The crab purpose of the SSC Groundfish allocations include Individual Fishing Subcommittee meeting is to review a SUMMARY: NMFS publishes notification Quota, Crew Individual Fishing Quota, draft terms of reference for the of a 1.85 percent fee for cost recovery Individual Processing Quota, groundfish and coastal pelagic species under the Bering Sea and Aleutian Community Development Quota, and sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES stock assessment review process for Islands Crab Rationalization Program. the Adak community allocation. The 2019 and 2020. The review will focus This action is intended to provide Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) permit on proposed changes from the National holders of crab allocations with the fee holder must collect the fee liability from Marine Fisheries Service Northwest percentage for the 2018/2019 crab the crab allocation holder who is Fisheries Science Center. The SSC fishing year so they can calculate the landing crab. Additionally, the RCR Groundfish Subcommittee may also required payment for cost recovery fees permit holder must collect his or her address any other matters the SSC may that must be submitted by July 31, 2019. own fee liability for all crab delivered to VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Jul 18, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19JYN1.SGM 19JYN1

34120 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 139 / Thursday, July 19, 2018 / Notices the RCR. The RCR permit holder is DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE can be found at http:// responsible for submitting this payment sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/ac/ to NMFS on or before July 31, in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric welcome.html. year following the crab fishing year in Administration Matters to be Considered: The which landings of crab were made. meeting will provide an opportunity for Sanctuary System Business Advisory council members to hear news from The dollar amount of the fee due is Council: Public Meeting determined by multiplying the fee across the National Marine Sanctuary percentage (not to exceed 3 percent) by AGENCY: Office of National Marine System and review and comment on Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean program initiatives. For a complete the ex-vessel value of crab debited from Service (NOS), National Oceanic and agenda, including times and topics, the allocation. Specific details on the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), please visit http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ Program’s cost recovery provision may Department of Commerce (DOC). management/bac/meetings.html. This be found in the implementing ACTION: Notice of open meeting. meeting notice is being issued under regulations at 50 CFR 680.44. Section 315 of the National Marine Fee Percentage SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1445A. meeting of the Sanctuary System Authority: 16 U.S.C. Sections 1431, et seq. Each year, NMFS calculates and Business Advisory Council (council). publishes in the Federal Register the fee The meeting is open to the public, and (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog percentage according to the factors and participants may provide comments at Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program) methodology described at § 680.44(c)(2). the appropriate time during the meeting. Dated: June 27, 2018. The formula for determining the fee DATES: The meeting will be held John Armor, percentage is the ‘‘direct program costs’’ Wednesday, August 22, 2018, from 9:00 Director, Office of National Marine divided by ‘‘value of the fishery,’’ where a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, and an opportunity Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, ‘‘direct program costs’’ are the direct for public comment will be provided National Oceanic and Atmospheric program costs for the Program for the around 4:00 p.m. ET. Both these times Administration. previous fiscal year, and ‘‘value of the and agenda topics are subject to change. [FR Doc. 2018–15452 Filed 7–18–18; 8:45 am] fishery’’ is the ex-vessel value of the ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P catch subject to the crab cost recovery JetBlue Airways Corporation, 27–01 fee liability for the current year. Fee Queens Plaza North, Long Island City, collections for any given year may be NY 11101. The meeting agenda, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE less than, or greater than, the actual including times and topics, can be found here: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric costs and fishery value for that year, Administration because, by regulation, the fee management/bac/meetings.html. percentage is established in the first FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RIN 0648–XG361 quarter of a crab fishery year based on LeAnn Hogan, Office of National Marine the fishery value and the costs of the Sanctuaries, 1305 East West Highway, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management prior year. Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (Phone: Council; Public Meeting 240–533–0679; Fax: 301–713–0404; AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Based upon the fee percentage Email: LeAnn.Hogan@noaa.gov). Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and formula described above, the estimated SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ONMS Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), percentage of costs to value for the 2017/2018 fishery was 1.85 percent. serves as the trustee for a network of Commerce. Therefore, the fee percentage will be underwater parks encompassing more ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. than 600,000 square miles of marine and 1.85 percent for the 2018/2019 crab Great Lakes waters from Washington SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery fishing year. This is an increase of 0.28 State to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Management Council will hold a public percent from the 2017/2018 fee Huron to American Samoa. The network hearing via webinar to solicit public percentage of 1.57 percent (81 FR 32329, includes a system of 13 national marine comments on Amendment 13—Spiny July 13, 2017). Although direct program sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea Lobster for Management in the Gulf of costs for managing the fishery increased and Rose Atoll marine national Mexico. by 2.9 percent from 2016/2017 to 2017/ monuments. National marine 2018, the increase in the fee percentage DATES: The webinar will convene on sanctuaries protect our nation’s most Thursday, August 2, 2018, from 6 p.m. was more affected by a $24.0 million vital coastal and marine natural and decrease in the value of the crab to 9 p.m., EDT. The webinar will begin cultural resources, and through active at 6 p.m. and will conclude no later harvested under the Program. Similar to research, management, and public previous years, the largest direct than 9 p.m. engagement, sustain healthy program costs are incurred by the ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be environments that are the foundation for Alaska Department of Fish and Game thriving communities and stable held via webinar. Council address: Gulf and the NOAA Office of Law economies. One of the many ways of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Enforcement. ONMS ensures public participation in 4701 W Spruce Street, Suite 200, the designation and management of Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348– Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1862; Pub. L. 109– national marine sanctuaries is through 1630. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 241; Pub. L. 109–479. the formation of advisory councils. The FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Dated: July 16, 2018. Morgan Kilgour, Fishery Biologist, Gulf Sanctuary System Business Advisory Jennifer M. Wallace, Council (council) has been formed to of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Acting Director, Office of Sustainable provide advice and recommendations to morgan.kilgour@gulfcouncil.org, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. the Director regarding the relationship telephone: (813) 348–1630. [FR Doc. 2018–15468 Filed 7–18–18; 8:45 am] of ONMS with the business community. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Additional information on the council agenda for the following webinar is as VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Jul 18, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19JYN1.SGM 19JYN1


Document Created: 2018-07-19 01:35:08
Document Modified: 2018-07-19 01:35:08
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotification of fee percentage.
DatesThe Crab Rationalization Program Registered Crab Receiver permit holder is responsible for submitting the fee liability payment to NMFS on or before July 31, 2019.
ContactKurt Iverson, (907) 586-7210.
FR Citation83 FR 34119 
RIN Number0648-XG27
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR