83 FR 62302 - Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 232 (December 3, 2018)

NMFS issues this notice to inform persons of their eligibility to vote and the voting period for the proposed second fishing capacity reduction program loan in the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery. This notice informs the public of the permanent permit holders eligible to vote in the referendum. The referendum, if approved, will result in a loan of $10.1 million and permanently retire an additional 36 permits from the fishery.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 232 (Monday, December 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62302-62308]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26178]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG642


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Southeast Alaska Purse 
Seine Salmon Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of eligible voters; referendum voting period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to inform persons of their eligibility 
to vote and the voting period for the proposed second fishing capacity 
reduction program loan in the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon 
Fishery. This notice informs the public of the permanent permit holders 
eligible to vote in the referendum. The referendum, if approved, will 
result in a loan of $10.1 million and permanently retire an additional 
36 permits from the fishery.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before 5 p.m. EST January 2, 
2019. The referendum voting period will start January 15, 2019 and end 
on February 14, 2019. Any votes not received by NMFS by 5 p.m. on 
February 14, 2019, will not be counted.

ADDRESSES: Send comments about this notice to Michael A. Sturtevant, 
Acting Chief, Financial Services Division, NMFS, Attn: SE Alaska Purse 
Seine Salmon Buyback, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine Saiz at (301) 427-8752, fax 
(301) 713-1306, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Southeast Alaska purse seine salmon fishery is a commercial 
fishery in Alaska state waters and adjacent Federal waters. It 
encompasses the commercial taking of salmon with purse seine gear, and 
participation is limited to fishermen designated by the Alaska 
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC). Congress authorized a 
$23.5 million loan to finance a fishing capacity reduction program in 
the Southeast Alaska purse seine salmon fishery. NMFS published 
proposed program regulations on May 23, 2011 (76 FR 29707), and final 
program regulations on October 6, 2011 (76 FR 61986), to implement the 
reduction program. Interested persons should review these for further 
program details.

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    In 2012, NMFS conducted a referendum to determine the remaining 
fishermen's willingness to repay a $13.1 million fishing capacity 
reduction loan to remove 64 permits. After a majority of permit holders 
approved the loan, NMFS disbursed payments to the successful bidders 
and began collecting fees to repay the loan. Since only $13.1 million 
was expended from the total loan amount, $10.4 million remains 
available. This referendum, if approved, will result in a loan of $10.1 
million and permanently retire an additional 36 permits from the 
fishery.
    In June, 2018, the Southeast Revitalization Association submitted a 
capacity reduction plan to NMFS and NMFS approved the plan in November, 
2018. The final regulations require NMFS to publish this notice before 
conducting a referendum to determine the industry's willingness to 
repay a fishing capacity reduction loan to purchase the permits 
identified in the reduction plan.
    As of November 16, 2018, there are 315 permits in the fishery 
designated as S01A by CFEC. These permanent permit holders are eligible 
to vote in the referendum.
    Comments may address: (1) Persons who appear on the list below but 
should not; (2) persons who do not appear on the list but should; (3) 
persons whose names and/or business mailing addresses are incorrect; 
and (4)any other pertinent matter. NMFS will update the list, as 
necessary, immediately before mailing referendum ballots. Mailed 
ballots will be accompanied by NMFS' detailed voting guidance.

II. Referendum Voting Period

    The referendum voting period will start January 15, 2019 and end on 
February 14, 2019. Any votes not received by NMFS by 5 p.m. on February 
14, 2019, will not be counted. The following list of eligible voters 
was provided by CFEC on November 13, 2018:
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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    Dated: November 27, 2018.
Brian T. Pawlak,
CFO/Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26178 Filed 11-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-C