Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Fishing Year 2006 Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector Operations Plan and Agreement and Allocation of Georges Bank Cod Total Allowable Catch, 25568-25570 [06-4081]
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25568
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 83 / Monday, May 1, 2006 / Notices
of Institution of Five–Year Review
which covers these same order.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 1, 2006.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with section
751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (‘‘the Act’’), the Department of
Commerce (‘‘the Department’’) is
automatically initiating a five–year
(‘‘Sunset Review’’) of the antidumping
duty order listed below. The
International Trade Commission (‘‘the
Commission’’) is publishing
concurrently with this notice its notice
DOC Case No.
A–821–807 ...............................
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
The Department’s procedures for the
conduct of Sunset Reviews are set forth
Country
731–TA–702
As a courtesy, we are making
information related to Sunset
proceedings, including copies of the
Department’s regulations regarding
Sunset Reviews (19 CFR 351.218) and
Sunset Policy Bulletin, the Department’s
schedule of Sunset Reviews, case
history information (i.e., previous
margins, duty absorption
determinations, scope language, import
volumes), and service lists available to
the public on the Department’s sunset
Internet website at the following
address: ‘‘https://ia.ita.doc.gov/sunset/.’’
All submissions in these Sunset
Reviews must be filed in accordance
with the Department’s regulations
regarding format, translation, service,
and certification of documents. These
rules can be found at 19 CFR 351.303.
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.103(c), the
Department will maintain and make
available a service list for these
proceedings. To facilitate the timely
preparation of the service list(s), it is
requested that those seeking recognition
as interested parties to a proceeding
contact the Department in writing
within 10 days of the publication of the
Notice of Initiation.
Because deadlines in Sunset Reviews
can be very short, we urge interested
parties to apply for access to proprietary
information under administrative
protective order (‘‘APO’’) immediately
following publication in the Federal
18:29 Apr 28, 2006
Background
ITC Case No.
Filing Information
VerDate Aug<31>2005
The
Department official identified in the
Initiation of Review(s) section below at
AD/CVD Operations, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th & Constitution Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20230. For
information from the Commission
contact Mary Messer, Office of
Investigations, U.S. International Trade
Commission at (202) 205–3193.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Initiation of Five–Year (‘‘Sunset’’)
Reviews
Jkt 208001
Russia
Domestic interested parties (defined
in section 771(9)(C), (D), (E), (F), and (G)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.102(b))
wishing to participate in these Sunset
Reviews must respond not later than 15
days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register of this notice of
initiation by filing a notice of intent to
participate. The required contents of the
notice of intent to participate are set
forth at 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(ii). In
accordance with the Department’s
regulations, if we do not receive a notice
of intent to participate from at least one
domestic interested party by the 15–day
deadline, the Department will
automatically revoke the orders without
further review. See 19 CFR
351.218(d)(1)(iii).
If we receive an order–specific notice
of intent to participate from a domestic
interested party, the Department’s
regulations provide that all parties
wishing to participate in the Sunset
Review must file complete substantive
responses not later than 30 days after
the date of publication in the Federal
Register of this notice of initiation. The
Fmt 4703
In accordance with 19 CFR
351.218(c), we are initiating the Sunset
Review of the following antidumping
duty order:
Department Contact
Ferrovanadium & Nitrided
Vanadium (2nd Review)
Information Required from Interested
Parties
Frm 00009
Initiation of Reviews
Product
Register of the notice of initiation of the
sunset review. The Department’s
regulations on submission of proprietary
information and eligibility to receive
access to business proprietary
information under APO can be found at
19 CFR 351.304–306.
PO 00000
in its Procedures for Conducting Five–
Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Reviews of
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Orders, 63 FR 13516 (March 20, 1998)
and 70 FR 62061 (October 28, 2005).
Guidance on methodological or
analytical issues relevant to the
Department’s conduct of Sunset
Reviews is set forth in the Department’s
Policy Bulletin 98.3 - Policies Regarding
the Conduct of Five–Year (‘‘Sunset’’)
Reviews of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Orders; Policy
Bulletin, 63 FR 18871 (April 16, 1998)
(‘‘Sunset Policy Bulletin’’).
Sfmt 4703
Brandon Farlander (202) 482–0182
required contents of a substantive
response, on an order–specific basis, are
set forth at 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3). Note
that certain information requirements
differ for respondent and domestic
parties. Also, note that the Department’s
information requirements are distinct
from the Commission’s information
requirements. Please consult the
Department’s regulations for
information regarding the Department’s
conduct of Sunset Reviews.1 Please
consult the Department’s regulations at
19 CFR Part 351 for definitions of terms
and for other general information
concerning antidumping and
countervailing duty proceedings at the
Department.
This notice of initiation is being
published in accordance with section
751(c) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(c).
Dated: April 25, 2006.
Thomas F. Futtner,
Acting Office Director, AD/CVD Operations,
Office 4, for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 06–4098 Filed 4–28–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
1 In comments made on the interim final sunset
regulations, a number of parties stated that the
proposed five-day period for rebuttals to
substantive responses to a notice of initiation was
insufficient. This requirement was retained in the
final sunset regulations at 19 CFR 351.218(d)(4). As
provided in 19 CFR 351.302(b), however, the
Department will consider individual requests for
extension of that five-day deadline based upon a
showing of good cause.
E:\FR\FM\01MYN1.SGM
01MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 83 / Monday, May 1, 2006 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 042406F]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Northeast Multispecies
Fishery; Fishing Year 2006 Georges
Bank Cod Hook Sector Operations
Plan and Agreement and Allocation of
Georges Bank Cod Total Allowable
Catch
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS announces partial
approval of an Operations Plan and
Sector Contract titled ≥Amendment 2 to
Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector (Sector)
Operations Plan and Agreement≥
(together referred to as the Sector
Agreement), and the associated
allocation of GB cod, consistent with
regulations implementing Amendment
13, as modified by Framework
Adjustment 40-B to the Northeast (NE)
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) for fishing year (FY) 2006. The
intent is to allow regulated harvest of
groundfish by the GB Cod Hook Sector
(Sector), consistent with the objectives
of the FMP.
DATES: The Sector Operations Plan was
approved on April 25, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Sector
Operations Plan and the Supplemental
Environmental Assessment (EA) are
available upon request from the NE
Regional Office at the following mailing
address: George H. Darcy, Assistant
Regional Administrator for Sustainable
Fisheries, NMFS, Northeast Regional
Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930. These documents may also
be requested by calling (978) 281–9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Warren, Fishery Policy Analyst,
phone (978) 281–9347, fax (978) 281–
9135, e-mail
Thomas.Warren@NOAA.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final
rule implementing Amendment 13 to
the FMP (69 FR 22906, April 27, 2004)
specified a process for the formation of
sectors within the NE multispecies
fishery and the allocation of TAC for a
specific groundfish species,
implemented restrictions that apply to
all sectors, authorized the Sector,
established the GB Cod Hook Sector
Area (Sector Area), and specified a
formula for the allocation of GB cod
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:38 Apr 28, 2006
Jkt 208001
TAC to the Sector. Framework
Adjustment 40-B (70 FR 31323, June 1,
2005) modified that process by allowing
any vessel, regardless of gear used in
previous fishing years, to join the
Sector. All landings of GB cod by Sector
participants, regardless of gear
previously used, are used to determine
the Sector’s GB cod allocation for a
particular fishing year. The Sector was
authorized for FY 2005 and, based upon
the GB cod landings history of its 49
members, was allocated 455 mt of cod,
which was 11.12 percent of the total FY
2005 GB cod TAC.
In accordance with the regulations
that specify the process of Sector
approval, on January 23, 2006, the
Sector submitted to NMFS an
Operations Plan, Sector Agreement, and
a Supplemental EA that analyzes the
impacts of the proposed Operations
Plan. Subsequent to their initial
submission, the Sector revised the
documents and submitted a final
version on March 8, 2006. According to
these documents, the Sector will be
overseen by a Board of Directors and a
Sector Manager. Consistent with
Amendment 13, the cod TAC for the
Sector is based upon the number of
Sector participants and their historic
landings of GB cod. In addition,
participating vessels will be required to
fish under their Amendment 13 DAS
allocations to account for any incidental
groundfish species that they may catch
while fishing for GB cod. Once the GB
cod TAC is reached, participating
vessels will not be allowed to fish under
a day-at-sea (DAS)(category A or B
DAS), possess or land GB cod or other
regulated species managed under the
FMP, or use gear capable of catching
groundfish (unless fishing under
recreational or charter/party regulations)
for the remainder of the fishing year.
With three substantive exceptions, the
proposed FY 2006 Sector Operations
Plan contained the same elements as the
FY 2005 Sector Operations Plan. These
exceptions are proposed exemptions
from the differential DAS counting
requirements, from the DAS Leasing
Program vessel size restrictions, and the
72-hr observer notification requirement.
Rationale by the Sector for these
proposed exemptions can be found in
the Federal Register notice soliciting
public comment on the FY 2006 GB Cod
Hook Sector Operations Plan and
Agreement (71 FR 16122, March 30,
2006). NMFS has approved the
continuation of all provisions from the
FY 2005 Sector Operations Plan for FY
2006 and, in addition, has approved the
exemption from the 72-hr observer
notification requirement.
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
25569
NMFS has not approved the proposed
exemption from the differential DAS
requirements implemented in the
Secretarial emergency action and
proposed in Framework Adjustment 42,
nor the proposed exemption from the
DAS Leasing Program size restrictions.
The reasons for this decision can be
found below in this notice.
Comments and Responses:
NMFS provided interested parties an
opportunity to comment on the Sector
Agreement proposed for FY 2006
through notification published in the
Federal Register on March 30, 2006 (71
FR 16122). Seven comments were
received, two from groups representing
the fishing industry, one from the New
England Fishery Management Council
(Council), one from the Maine
Department of Marine Resources
(MEDMR), two from industry members
not associated with the Sector and one
from a Sector member.
Based on comments received during
the public comment period, NMFS has
determined that the exemptions from
differential DAS counting and the DAS
Leasing Program vessel size restrictions
should not be approved at this time, but
rather should be deferred to the Council
for full discussion. Both of these
exemptions would modify effort-based
management measures. Given the
substantial effort reductions that are
necessary in the NE multispecies fishery
and the fact that the Sector relies on
DAS as a primary effort reduction tool
for all stocks except GB cod, NMFS has
determined that it is important that the
Council discuss in public these
proposed exemptions.
After consideration of the proposed
Sector Agreement, which contains the
Sector Contract and Operations Plan,
NMFS has concluded that the Sector
Agreement, excluding the proposed
exemptions from differential DAS
counting and DAS Leasing Program
vessel size restrictions, is consistent
with the goals of the FMP and other
applicable law and is in compliance
with the regulations governing the
development and operation of a sector
as specified under 50 CFR 648.87.
Accordingly, NMFS is granting the
Sector an exemption from the 72-hr
observer notification requirement when
fishing under an A DAS in the Western
U.S./Canada Area and approving the
continuation of all provisions from the
FY 2005 Sector Operations Plan for FY
2006. NMFS may reconsider approval of
both the exemption from the differential
DAS requirements (effective May 1,
2006, and proposed in FW 42) and an
exemption from the DAS Leasing
Program vessel size restrictions if the
E:\FR\FM\01MYN1.SGM
01MYN1
25570
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 83 / Monday, May 1, 2006 / Notices
full Council concludes that the merits of
such exemptions justify them, given the
potential importance of such measures
to effort control.
There are 37 members of the approved
Sector. The GB cod TAC calculation is
based upon the historic cod landings of
the participating Sector vessels, using
all gear. The allocation percentage is
calculated by dividing the sum of total
landings of GB cod by Sector members
for the FY 1996 through 2001, by the
sum of the total accumulated landings
of GB cod harvested by all NE
multispecies vessels for the same time
period (113,278,842 lb (51,383.9 mt)).
The resulting number is 10.03 percent
(of the overall GB cod TAC). Based upon
these 37 prospective Sector members,
the Sector TAC of GB cod is 615 mt
(10.03 percent times the fishery-wide
GB cod target TAC of 6,132 mt). The
fishery-wide GB cod target TAC of 6,132
mt is less than the GB cod target TAC
proposed for FY 2006 (7,458 mt; 71 FR
12665; March 13, 2006) because the
7,458 mt included Canadian catch. That
is, the fishery-wide GB cod target TAC
of 6,132 mt was calculated by
subtracting the GB cod TAC specified
for Canada under the U.S./Canada
Resource Sharing Understanding for FY
2006 (1,326 mt) from the overall GB cod
target TAC of 7,458 mt proposed by the
Council for FY 2006.
Letters of Authorization will be issued
to members of the Sector exempting
them, conditional upon their
compliance with the Sector Agreement,
from the requirements of the GOM cod
trip limit exemption program, limits on
the number of hooks, the GB Seasonal
Closure Area, and the 72-hour observer
notification requirement for trips to the
U.S./Canada Management Area, as
specified in §§ 648.86(b),
648.80(a)(4)(v), 648.81(g), and
648.85(a)(3)(viii), respectively.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 26, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06–4081 Filed 4–26–06; 3:44 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:29 Apr 28, 2006
Jkt 208001
ACTION:
Notice of a public meeting.
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council will convene a
public meeting of the Ad Hoc Grouper
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
Advisory Panel (AHGIFQAP).
The AHGIFQAP meeting will
convene at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 18
and conclude no later than 3 p.m. on
Friday, May 19, 2006.
DATES:
The meeting will be held at
the DoubleTree Hotel Tampa Westshore,
4500 West Cypress Street, Tampa, FL
33607; telephone: (813) 879–4800.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2203
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa,
FL 33607.
ADDRESSES:
Stu
Kennedy, Fishery Biologist, telephone:
(813) 348–1630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Gulf
of Mexico Fishery Management Council
(Council) has begun deliberation of a
Dedicated Access Privilege System
(DAP) for the Commercial grouper
fishery. The Council has appointed an
AHGIFQAP composed of commercial
grouper fishermen and others
knowledgeable about DAP systems to
assist in the development of such a
program. The Panel will discuss the
scope and the general configuration of
an IFQ program for the Gulf of Mexico
commercial grouper fishery.
Although other non-emergency issues
not on the agenda may come before the
AHGIFQAP for discussion, in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during these meetings. Actions of
the AHGIFQAP will be restricted to
those issues specifically identified in
the agenda and any issues arising after
publication of this notice that require
emergency action under Section 305(c)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided
the public has been notified of the
Council’s intent to take action to
address the emergency.
Copies of the agenda can be obtained
by calling (813) 348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Special Accommodations
[I.D. 042506F]
AGENCY:
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Dawn Aring at the Council (see
ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior
to the meeting.
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dated: April 26, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6–6487 Filed 4–28–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS
Notice of Meeting
The next meeting of the Commission
of Fine Arts is scheduled for 18 May,
2006 at 10 a.m. in the Commission’s
offices at the National Building
Museum, Suite 312, Judiciary Square,
401 F Street, NW., Washington, DC
20001–2728. Items of discussion
affecting the appearance of Washington,
DC, may include buildings, parks and
memorials.
Draft agendas and additional
information regarding the Commission
are available on our Web site: https://
www.cfa.gov. Inquires regarding the
agenda and requests to submit written
or oral statements should be addressed
to Thomas Luebke, Secretary,
Commission of Fine Arts, at the above
address or call 202–504–2200.
Individuals requiring sign language
interpretation for the hearing impaired
should contact the Secretary at least 10
days before the meeting date.
Dated in Washington, DC, 25 April 2006.
Thomas Luebke, AIA,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 06–4057 Filed 4–28–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6330–01–M
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request—Consumer Opinion Forum
Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC or
Commission) requests comments on a
proposed collection of information from
persons who may voluntarily register
and participate in a Consumer Opinion
Forum posted on the CPSC Web site,
https://wwww.cpsc.gov. The Commission
will consider all comments received in
response to this notice before requesting
approval of this collection of
information from the Office of
Management and Budget.
E:\FR\FM\01MYN1.SGM
01MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 83 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25568-25570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4081]
[[Page 25569]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 042406F]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern
United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Fishing Year 2006
Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector Operations Plan and Agreement and
Allocation of Georges Bank Cod Total Allowable Catch
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces partial approval of an Operations Plan and
Sector Contract titled Amendment 2 to Georges Bank Cod Hook
Sector (Sector) Operations Plan and Agreement (together
referred to as the Sector Agreement), and the associated allocation of
GB cod, consistent with regulations implementing Amendment 13, as
modified by Framework Adjustment 40-B to the Northeast (NE)
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for fishing year (FY) 2006.
The intent is to allow regulated harvest of groundfish by the GB Cod
Hook Sector (Sector), consistent with the objectives of the FMP.
DATES: The Sector Operations Plan was approved on April 25, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Sector Operations Plan and the Supplemental
Environmental Assessment (EA) are available upon request from the NE
Regional Office at the following mailing address: George H. Darcy,
Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS,
Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
These documents may also be requested by calling (978) 281-9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren, Fishery Policy Analyst,
phone (978) 281-9347, fax (978) 281-9135, e-mail
Thomas.Warren@NOAA.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final rule implementing Amendment 13 to
the FMP (69 FR 22906, April 27, 2004) specified a process for the
formation of sectors within the NE multispecies fishery and the
allocation of TAC for a specific groundfish species, implemented
restrictions that apply to all sectors, authorized the Sector,
established the GB Cod Hook Sector Area (Sector Area), and specified a
formula for the allocation of GB cod TAC to the Sector. Framework
Adjustment 40-B (70 FR 31323, June 1, 2005) modified that process by
allowing any vessel, regardless of gear used in previous fishing years,
to join the Sector. All landings of GB cod by Sector participants,
regardless of gear previously used, are used to determine the Sector's
GB cod allocation for a particular fishing year. The Sector was
authorized for FY 2005 and, based upon the GB cod landings history of
its 49 members, was allocated 455 mt of cod, which was 11.12 percent of
the total FY 2005 GB cod TAC.
In accordance with the regulations that specify the process of
Sector approval, on January 23, 2006, the Sector submitted to NMFS an
Operations Plan, Sector Agreement, and a Supplemental EA that analyzes
the impacts of the proposed Operations Plan. Subsequent to their
initial submission, the Sector revised the documents and submitted a
final version on March 8, 2006. According to these documents, the
Sector will be overseen by a Board of Directors and a Sector Manager.
Consistent with Amendment 13, the cod TAC for the Sector is based upon
the number of Sector participants and their historic landings of GB
cod. In addition, participating vessels will be required to fish under
their Amendment 13 DAS allocations to account for any incidental
groundfish species that they may catch while fishing for GB cod. Once
the GB cod TAC is reached, participating vessels will not be allowed to
fish under a day-at-sea (DAS)(category A or B DAS), possess or land GB
cod or other regulated species managed under the FMP, or use gear
capable of catching groundfish (unless fishing under recreational or
charter/party regulations) for the remainder of the fishing year.
With three substantive exceptions, the proposed FY 2006 Sector
Operations Plan contained the same elements as the FY 2005 Sector
Operations Plan. These exceptions are proposed exemptions from the
differential DAS counting requirements, from the DAS Leasing Program
vessel size restrictions, and the 72-hr observer notification
requirement. Rationale by the Sector for these proposed exemptions can
be found in the Federal Register notice soliciting public comment on
the FY 2006 GB Cod Hook Sector Operations Plan and Agreement (71 FR
16122, March 30, 2006). NMFS has approved the continuation of all
provisions from the FY 2005 Sector Operations Plan for FY 2006 and, in
addition, has approved the exemption from the 72-hr observer
notification requirement.
NMFS has not approved the proposed exemption from the differential
DAS requirements implemented in the Secretarial emergency action and
proposed in Framework Adjustment 42, nor the proposed exemption from
the DAS Leasing Program size restrictions. The reasons for this
decision can be found below in this notice.
Comments and Responses:
NMFS provided interested parties an opportunity to comment on the
Sector Agreement proposed for FY 2006 through notification published in
the Federal Register on March 30, 2006 (71 FR 16122). Seven comments
were received, two from groups representing the fishing industry, one
from the New England Fishery Management Council (Council), one from the
Maine Department of Marine Resources (MEDMR), two from industry members
not associated with the Sector and one from a Sector member.
Based on comments received during the public comment period, NMFS
has determined that the exemptions from differential DAS counting and
the DAS Leasing Program vessel size restrictions should not be approved
at this time, but rather should be deferred to the Council for full
discussion. Both of these exemptions would modify effort-based
management measures. Given the substantial effort reductions that are
necessary in the NE multispecies fishery and the fact that the Sector
relies on DAS as a primary effort reduction tool for all stocks except
GB cod, NMFS has determined that it is important that the Council
discuss in public these proposed exemptions.
After consideration of the proposed Sector Agreement, which
contains the Sector Contract and Operations Plan, NMFS has concluded
that the Sector Agreement, excluding the proposed exemptions from
differential DAS counting and DAS Leasing Program vessel size
restrictions, is consistent with the goals of the FMP and other
applicable law and is in compliance with the regulations governing the
development and operation of a sector as specified under 50 CFR 648.87.
Accordingly, NMFS is granting the Sector an exemption from the 72-hr
observer notification requirement when fishing under an A DAS in the
Western U.S./Canada Area and approving the continuation of all
provisions from the FY 2005 Sector Operations Plan for FY 2006. NMFS
may reconsider approval of both the exemption from the differential DAS
requirements (effective May 1, 2006, and proposed in FW 42) and an
exemption from the DAS Leasing Program vessel size restrictions if the
[[Page 25570]]
full Council concludes that the merits of such exemptions justify them,
given the potential importance of such measures to effort control.
There are 37 members of the approved Sector. The GB cod TAC
calculation is based upon the historic cod landings of the
participating Sector vessels, using all gear. The allocation percentage
is calculated by dividing the sum of total landings of GB cod by Sector
members for the FY 1996 through 2001, by the sum of the total
accumulated landings of GB cod harvested by all NE multispecies vessels
for the same time period (113,278,842 lb (51,383.9 mt)). The resulting
number is 10.03 percent (of the overall GB cod TAC). Based upon these
37 prospective Sector members, the Sector TAC of GB cod is 615 mt
(10.03 percent times the fishery-wide GB cod target TAC of 6,132 mt).
The fishery-wide GB cod target TAC of 6,132 mt is less than the GB cod
target TAC proposed for FY 2006 (7,458 mt; 71 FR 12665; March 13, 2006)
because the 7,458 mt included Canadian catch. That is, the fishery-wide
GB cod target TAC of 6,132 mt was calculated by subtracting the GB cod
TAC specified for Canada under the U.S./Canada Resource Sharing
Understanding for FY 2006 (1,326 mt) from the overall GB cod target TAC
of 7,458 mt proposed by the Council for FY 2006.
Letters of Authorization will be issued to members of the Sector
exempting them, conditional upon their compliance with the Sector
Agreement, from the requirements of the GOM cod trip limit exemption
program, limits on the number of hooks, the GB Seasonal Closure Area,
and the 72-hour observer notification requirement for trips to the
U.S./Canada Management Area, as specified in Sec. Sec. 648.86(b),
648.80(a)(4)(v), 648.81(g), and 648.85(a)(3)(viii), respectively.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 26, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4081 Filed 4-26-06; 3:44 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
