Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Cost Recovery Program for North Pacific Halibut, Sablefish, and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Individual Fishing Quota Programs, 26728-26732 [E6-6925]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26728-26732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6925]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 679 and 680

[Docket No. 060424108-6108-01; I.D. 040706A]
RIN 0648-AT43


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Cost 
Recovery Program for North Pacific Halibut, Sablefish, and Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands Crab Individual Fishing Quota Programs

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 26729]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes an amendment to the Individual Fishing Quota 
(IFQ) Cost Recovery Program for the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Crab Rationalization Programs. 
This action modifies the procedure NMFS uses to publish notification of 
adjustment of the IFQ fee percentage for the IFQ Cost Recovery Program 
in the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and the Crab Rationalization Programs. 
This action is necessary to provide timely and efficient notice of fee 
obligations while maintaining compliance with the Administrative 
Procedure Act (APA). This action is intended to improve the fee 
collection methods required for all Alaska IFQ programs under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) and is necessary to promote the objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act with respect to the IFQ fisheries managed by NMFS 
in the Alaska Region.

DATES: Written comments must be received no later than June 7, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Walsh. Comments may be submitted by:
     Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
     Hand Delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
     Fax: 907-586-7557.
     E-mail: 0648-AT43@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of 
the e-mail the following document identifier: IFQ Cost Recovery RIN 
0648-AT43. E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 
five megabytes.
     Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
    Copies of the Categorical Exclusion (CE), regulatory impact review 
(RIR), and regulatory flexibility certification prepared for this 
action are available from NMFS at the above address or by calling the 
Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, at 907-586-7228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Bubba Cook, 907-586-7425 or 
bubba.cook@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS, Alaska Region, administers the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and 
the Crab Rationalization Programs in the North Pacific. These programs 
are limited access systems authorized by section 303(b) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. The Magnuson-Stevens Act defines IFQ as a Federal 
permit under a limited access system to harvest a quantity of fish, 
expressed by a unit or units representing a percentage of the total 
allowable catch of a fishery that may be received or held for exclusive 
use by a person. The Halibut and Sablefish Program and the Crab 
Rationalization Program meet this statutory definition of IFQ and are 
therefore subject to cost recovery fees under section 304(d)(2) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was amended (by Public Law 104-
297) to require, among other things, that the Secretary of Commerce 
``collect a fee to recover the actual costs directly related to the 
management and enforcement of any . . . individual fishing quota 
program'' (section 304(d)(2)(A)). The upper limits on these fees, fee 
collection times, and fee deposit locations are specified by section 
304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Section 303(d)(4) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act allows NMFS to reserve up to 25 percent of the 
fees collected for use in an IFQ loan program to aid in financing the 
purchase of IFQ or quota share (QS) by entry-level and small-vessel 
fishermen.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies the following with respect to 
the imposition of cost recovery fees:
    1. Fees must recover actual costs directly related to management 
and enforcement of the IFQ Program;
    2. Fees must not exceed 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of fish 
harvested under any such program;
    3. Fees are in addition to any other fees charged under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act;
    4. With the exception of money reserved for the Halibut and 
Sablefish IFQ and the Crab Rationalization loan program, fees must be 
deposited in the Limited Access System Administrative Fund (LASAF) in 
the U.S. Treasury; and
    5. Fees must be collected during one of the following times: when 
landing; when filing a landing report; when selling the fish during a 
fishing season; or in the last quarter of the calendar year in which 
the fish were harvested.
    The Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program and the Crab Rationalization 
Program are the only IFQ fisheries off Alaska currently subject to the 
cost recovery requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Fishing under 
the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program began in March 1995 through 
regulations set forth at 50 CFR part 679. Fishing under the Crab 
Rationalization Program began in August 2005 through regulations set 
forth at 50 CFR part 680.
    This action would only affect the methods by which NMFS calculates 
fee percentages and provides notice under the cost recovery provisions 
of the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program and Crab Rationalization 
Program. Specifically, this action proposes a structure for public 
notification of the fee percentage. Calculation of the fee percentage 
under this proposed action would become a ministerial duty conducted by 
NMFS. This proposed action would not affect the ex-vessel value 
determination under either program nor would it affect the current 
structure or administration of the standard prices calculated for the 
Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program or the Catcher/Processor ex-vessel 
values calculated for the Crab Rationalization Program. However, NMFS 
would make minor changes to the current fee regulations to ensure full 
compliance with the APA (5 U.S.C. 501 et seq., 701 et seq.) while 
improving administrative efficiency.

Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Cost Recovery

    On March 20, 2000, NMFS published regulations (65 FR 14919) 
implementing the IFQ Cost Recovery Program for IFQ landings of halibut 
and sablefish (set forth at 50 CFR 679.45). Under the regulations, an 
IFQ permit holder incurs a cost recovery fee liability for every pound 
of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish that is landed under his or her IFQ 
permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is responsible for self-collecting the 
fee liability for all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings on his or 
her permit(s). The IFQ permit holder also is responsible for submitting 
a fee liability payment to NMFS on or before the due date of January 
31, following the year in which the IFQ landings were made. For each 
permit, the dollar amount of the fee due is determined by multiplying 
the annual IFQ fee percentage (3 percent or less) by the ex-vessel 
value of each IFQ landing. If the permit holder has more than one 
permit, the total amounts of each permit are added.
    Section 304(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act sets a maximum fee 
of 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of fish harvested under an IFQ 
program. Current regulations allow NMFS to reduce the fee percentage if 
actual management and enforcement costs are recoverable through a 
lesser percentage.

[[Page 26730]]

NMFS will not know the actual annual costs of IFQ-related management 
and enforcement until after the end of each Federal fiscal year 
(September 30). If the management and enforcement costs total less than 
the 3 percent fee, NMFS will reduce the fee percentage for the new 
Federal fiscal year. Fishermen will not know at the time they sell 
their IFQ fish exactly what fee percentage will be applied to their IFQ 
landings made from February (season opening) through September (Federal 
fiscal year-end). Therefore, NMFS encourages IFQ permit holders to set 
aside the full 3 percent throughout the fishing year so a lump sum 
payment may be made by January 31 of the following calendar year. Early 
payments are allowed but do not relieve a permit holder of associated 
reporting requirements.

Crab Rationalization Cost Recovery

    Section 313(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides supplementary 
authority to section 304(d)(2)(A) and additional detail for cost 
recovery provisions specific to the Crab Rationalization Program. As a 
quota program, the Crab Rationalization Program must follow the 
statutory provisions set forth by section 304(d) and section 313(j) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    Section 313(j) requires the Secretary to approve a cost recovery 
program for the Crab Rationalization Program, conducted in accordance 
with the existing Halibut and Sablefish IFQ cost recovery program. 
Similar to the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ cost recovery program, the 
Crab Rationalization cost recovery program allows for the collection of 
actual management and enforcement costs up to 3 percent of ex-vessel 
gross revenues and a loan program using 25 percent of the fees 
collected.
    Section 313(j) includes specific cost recovery requirements to 
accommodate the crab processing industry and to address problems 
experienced under the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ cost recovery program. 
This section provides NMFS the authority to collect 133 percent of the 
actual costs of management and enforcement. By collecting 133 percent, 
25 percent of that amount can be set aside for the IFQ loan program and 
the remaining 75 percent more fully reimburses the management and 
enforcement costs of the program. Additionally, section 313(j) requires 
cost recovery fees to be paid in equal shares by the harvesting and 
processing sectors. Catcher/Processors, a combination of both sectors, 
pay the full fee percentage.
    NMFS developed the Crab Rationalization cost recovery program to 
conform with statutory requirements and to partially compensate the 
agency for the unique added costs of management and enforcement of the 
Crab Rationalization Program. Key provisions of the Crab 
Rationalization cost recovery program include: (1) a new definition and 
application of ``fee liability; (2) the establishment of a 
Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) permit system to streamline management 
and reporting; (3) the establishment of a ``crab fishing year'' for 
biological and administrative purposes; and (4) a new administrative 
process that requires the collection and submission of fees by RCRs 
rather than requiring separate billings to each person that receives a 
crab allocation (crab allocation holder). The crab allocations include 
IFQ, Crew IFQ, Individual Processing Quota (IPQ), Community Development 
Quota (CDQ), and the Adak community allocation.
    In the crab rationalization fishery, a crab allocation holder 
generally incurs a cost recovery fee liability for every pound of crab 
landed. The RCR permit holder must collect any fee liability of the 
crab allocation holder landing crab. Additionally, the RCR permit 
holder must self-collect their 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 the due date of July 31, following the 
crab fishing year in which payment for the crab is 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 Crab Rationalization cost 
recovery program may be found in the implementing regulations for the 
Crab Rationalization Program set forth at 50 CFR 680.44, and published 
March 2, 2005, at 70 FR 10174.
    The Crab Rationalization Program established a fee percentage 
calculation structure similar to the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program. 
To budget their costs, fishermen need to know the fee percentage that 
would apply to any crab deducted from a crab allocation in a crab 
fishing year at the time of sale. Based on preliminary calculations, 
however, NMFS determined that 3 percent of ex-vessel value will not be 
enough to cover the management and enforcement costs of the Program. 
Hence, NMFS began the cost recovery program using the maximum of 3 
percent. NMFS will reduce the fee in subsequent seasons if calculated 
to be less than 3 percent.

Overpayment of Fees

    In the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and Crab Rationalization Programs, 
the fee percentage calculation adjusts for overpayment of the 
management and enforcement costs through a variable that considers the 
account balance in the LASAF account. Separate accounts are designated 
within the LASAF to ensure that funds from one program's cost recovery 
only pay for the costs directly related to the management and 
enforcement of that program, and not other IFQ programs.

The Proposed Change

    This proposed action, if approved, would accomplish three goals:
    1. Inform the public of the equation and all factors used to 
calculate the fee percentage, thereby allowing the public to comment on 
the methodology used to conduct the standard calculation of the fee 
percentage;
    2. Calculation of direct program costs (DPC) through a new, 
independently-developed timekeeping system that automatically 
calculates management costs by individual employee; and
    3. Publish an annual fee percentage by Federal Register notice, 
rather than by proposed and final rulemaking. This action would make 
the publication of the Federal Register notice announcing the fee 
percentage a ministerial duty performed by NMFS. The determination of 
the fee percentage would become simply an administrative calculation 
rather than the current and more complicated process of changing the 
default percentage.
    Under the current cost recovery programs for the Halibut and 
Sablefish IFQ and the Crab Rationalization Programs, the fee percentage 
is calculated according to the following general equation:
    [100 (DPC-AB) /V]/ (1-NPR)
    ``DPC'' represents the direct program costs for the applicable IFQ 
program for the previous fiscal year. ``AB'' is the end of the fiscal 
year LASAF account balance for the applicable IFQ program. ``V'' is the 
estimated ex-vessel value of the catch subject to the cost recovery fee 
liability for the current year. V is based on the value reported by an 
established port or port group as reported by the fishery participants, 
which is subsequently summed and applied by NMFS. ``NPR'' is the 
calculated nonpayment rate based on the previous year as determined by 
subtracting the percentage of IFQ holders subject to a fee liability 
who do not pay from the percentage of IFQ holders subject to a fee 
liability. NPR, AB, and V are variables taken directly from sources 
which NMFS has no ability to change.

[[Page 26731]]

    This proposal would simplify the current calculation by eliminating 
or consolidating some variables. The NPR variable would be eliminated 
because it has had negligible effect on the overall calculation of the 
percentage since the inception of the program. The changes proposed by 
this action primarily affect the DPC variable. First, as part of this 
action, the AB variable would be automatically incorporated into the 
DPC variable rather than treated separately. Second, NMFS is adopting a 
new time and attendance management system that will more efficiently 
and accurately track individual management responsibilities. The new 
management system will remove all NMFS discretion in determining the 
DPC for any IFQ program. Therefore, in conjunction with the calculation 
of other variables used to calculate the fee percentage, the 
determination of DPC will be determined by formula. NMFS would then 
apply the automatically calculated DPC to the fee percentage formula to 
achieve the fee percentage for the prescribed fee period.

DPC Calculation

    Prior to this proposed action, the DPC calculation became an 
automated process managed by the Operations, Management, and 
Information (OMI) Division, Alaska Region, NMFS. The new process 
receives time allocation information from all personnel who engage in 
management or enforcement associated with any IFQ program. This 
information also is distinguished according to the specific IFQ program 
(i.e., Crab Rationalization or Halibut and Sablefish).
    For instance, a NMFS employee working on a regulation for the 
Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program would record the amount of time he or 
she spends on that IFQ program in a special timekeeping program by 15-
minute intervals over each two-week pay period. The timekeeping program 
would document and sum the specific time expended by that NMFS employee 
on work directly related to the management of the Halibut and Sablefish 
IFQ Program. The time expended by that NMFS employee would be 
automatically multiplied by his or her hourly rate-of-pay to achieve 
the management costs of that individual for the Halibut and Sablefish 
IFQ Program. The NMFS employee's management costs then would be 
automatically added with other employee's costs and added to any other 
documented costs incurred by NMFS (e.g., printing, training, and supply 
costs). Enforcement costs would continue to be calculated based on 
agents' salaries as dedicated full time to IFQ enforcement plus any 
other documented costs incurred by NMFS Enforcement (e.g., training, 
equipment, and travel costs). OMI would then add all individual DPCs to 
achieve the DPC variable.
    This action also proposes to revise existing regulatory text to 
clarify the public's obligations under the regulations and to clarify 
how the fee percentage will be calculated by substituting terms such as 
``shall'' and ``must'' regarding NMFS duties in places where ``would,'' 
``will,'' or ``may'' were previously used.

APA Compliance

    The APA requires Federal agencies to advise the public through a 
notice in the Federal Register of the terms or substance of a proposed 
substantive rule and provide the public a period to comment. This is 
the ``notice and comment'' requirement of the APA. The requirement is 
designed to give interested persons, through written submissions or 
oral presentations, an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking 
process. Generally, the procedural safeguards of the APA help ensure 
that government agencies are accountable to the public and their 
decisions are reasoned. This proposed rule would provide substantive 
elements that are subject to the APA's notice and comment procedures 
and is intended to provide the public with a meaningful opportunity to 
comment on the proposed provisions.
    If this proposal is implemented, the fee percentage calculation 
would become a simple administrative calculation subject to a statutory 
maximum fee cap (3 percent) rather than a maximum fee value subject to 
a reduction. As a result of this regulatory change, subsequent 
administrative calculations of the fee percentage would be published in 
the Federal Register as a notice because they would have no substantive 
effect beyond the requirements of the existing regulations and would 
only serve to inform the public of their preexisting duty to pay fees. 
This change in methodology would make the cost recovery fee calculation 
process more compliant with the APA.

Classification

    NMFS has determined that the proposed rule is consistent with the 
associated FMPs and preliminarily determined that the rule is 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared a Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) to assess all costs 
and benefits of available regulatory alternatives. The North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council considered all quantitative and qualitative 
measures and chose a preferred alternative based on those measures that 
maximize net benefits to the affected public.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act directs the Secretary of 
Commerce collect a fee to recover the actual costs directly related to 
the management and enforcement of any individual fishing quota program 
and that such fee shall not exceed 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of 
fish harvested under the program. The proposed rule would only explain 
the process for notifying the public of fee obligations and would not 
substantively change the amount of fees owed by any regulated entities. 
The proposed rule would clarify the regulations governing the methods 
NMFS uses to determine the appropriate level of cost recovery fees to 
collect. The proposed rule will not affect the definitions of the costs 
that NMFS is required to recover under the Magnuson-Stevens Act or the 
size or distribution of the cost recovery fees that fishermen are 
expected to pay. Additionally, the proposed rule will not directly 
regulate, impose, or change any obligations of entities, and will thus 
not directly regulate any small entities. The proposed regulatory 
change is not expected to change the size or distribution of the cost 
recovery fees imposed on fishermen and should not impose any economic 
impact on small entities.
    The two criteria recommended to determine significant economic 
impact are the disproportionality and profitability of the action. The 
proposed action would not place a substantial number of small entities 
at a disadvantage relative to large entities, and it does not reduce 
the profit for small entities. No entities appear to be directly 
regulated by this action. The economic analysis in the RIR describes 
the proposed rule and its operation in detail. It is apparent from the 
description of the rule that it would not have significant economic 
impacts on a substantial number of small entities. As a result, an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and has not 
been prepared.

[[Page 26732]]

    According to NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6, including the 
criteria used to determine significance, this rule would not have a 
significant effect, individually or cumulatively, on the human 
environment beyond those effects identified in previous NEPA analyses. 
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared for the final rule 
implementing the original Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Cost Recovery 
Program regulations (65 FR 14919, March 15, 2000) and an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) was prepared for the final rule implementing the 
Crab Rationalization Program (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005). These NEPA 
documents analyzed all potential and cumulative environmental impacts 
of the cost recovery systems. The scope of these analyses includes the 
potential environmental impacts of this proposed rule. Based on the 
nature of the proposed rule and the previous environmental analyses, 
this proposed rule is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, 
in accordance with Section 5.05b of NAO 216-6. Copies of the EA for the 
original Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Cost Recovery Program, the EIS for 
the original Crab Rationalization Program, and the categorical 
exclusion for this action are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Parts 679 and 680

    Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: May 2, 2006.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 679 and 680 
are proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

    1. The authority citation for part 679 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1540(f); 1801 et seq.; 1851 
note; 3631 et seq.

    2. In Sec.  679.45 paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  679.45  IFQ cost recovery program.

* * * * *
    (d) IFQ fee percentage--(1) Established percentage. The annual IFQ 
fee percentage is the amount as determined by the factors and 
methodology described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. This amount 
will be announced by publication in the Federal Register in accordance 
with paragraph (d)(3) of this section. This amount must not exceed 3 
percent pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1854(d)(2)(B).
    (2) Calculating fee percentage value. Each year NMFS shall 
calculate and publish the fee percentage according to the following 
factors and methodology:
    (i) Factors. NMFS must use the following factors to determine the 
fee percentage:
    (A) The catch to which the IFQ fee will apply;
    (B) The ex-vessel value of that catch; and
    (C) The costs directly related to the management and enforcement of 
the IFQ program.
    (ii) Methodology. NMFS must use the following equation to determine 
the fee percentage:
    100 (DPC / V)
    where:
    ``DPC'' is the direct program costs for the IFQ fishery for the 
previous fiscal year, and ``V'' is the ex-vessel value of the catch 
subject to the IFQ fee for the current year.
    (3) Publication--(i) General. During or before the last quarter of 
each year, NMFS shall publish the IFQ fee percentage in the Federal 
Register. NMFS shall base any calculations on the factors and 
methodology in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
    (ii) Effective period. The calculated IFQ fee percentage shall 
remain in effect through the end of the calendar year in which it was 
determined.
    (4) Applicable percentage. The IFQ permit holder must use the IFQ 
fee percentage in effect at the time an IFQ landing is made to 
calculate his or her fee liability for such landed IFQ pounds. The IFQ 
permit holder must use the IFQ percentage in effect at the time an IFQ 
retro-payment is received by the IFQ permit holder to calculate his or 
her IFQ fee liability for the IFQ retro-payment.
* * * * *

PART 680--SHELLFISH FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF 
ALASKA

    3. The authority citation for part 680 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1862.

    4. In Sec.  680.44 paragraphs (a)(2)(iii) and (c)(1) through (3) 
are revised; paragraph (c)(4) is removed; and paragraph (c)(5) is 
redesignated as paragraph (c)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  680.44  Cost recovery.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) NMFS will provide a summary to all RCR permit holders during 
the last quarter of the crab fishing year. The summary will explain the 
fee liability determination including the current fee percentage, 
details of raw crab pounds debited from CR allocations by permit, port 
or port-group, species, date, and prices.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Established percentage. The crab fee percentage is the amount 
as determined by the factors and methodology described in paragraph 
(c)(2) of this section. This amount will be announced by publication in 
the Federal Register in accordance with paragraph (c)(3) of this 
section. This amount must not exceed 3 percent pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 
1854(d)(2)(B).
    (i) The calculated crab fee percentage will be divided equally 
between the harvesting and processing sectors.
    (ii) Catcher/Processors must pay the full crab fee percentage 
determined by the fee percentage calculation for all CR crab debited 
from a CR allocation.
    (2) Calculating fee percentage value. Each year NMFS shall 
calculate and publish the fee percentage according to the following 
factors and methodology:
    (i) Factors. NMFS must use the following factors to determine the 
fee percentage:
    (A) The catch to which the crab cost recovery fee will apply;
    (B) The ex-vessel value of that catch; and
    (C) The costs directly related to the management and enforcement of 
the Crab Rationalization Program.
    (ii) Methodology. NMFS must use the following equations to 
determine the fee percentage:
    Harvesting and Processing Sectors: [100 (DPC/ V)] 0.5
    Catcher/Processors: 100 (DPC /V)
    Where:
    ``DPC'' is the direct program costs for the Crab Rationalization 
Program for the previous fiscal year, and
    ``V'' is the ex-vessel value of the catch subject to the crab cost 
recovery fee liability for the current year.
    (3) Publication--(i) General. During the first quarter of each crab 
fishing year, NMFS shall calculate the crab fee percentage based on the 
calculations described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
    (ii) Effective period. The calculated IFQ fee percentage remains in 
effect through the end of the crab fishing year in which it was 
determined.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E6-6925 Filed 5-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S