Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 41738-41739 [E6-11751]

Download as PDF 41738 * * Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 141 / Monday, July 24, 2006 / Rules and Regulations * * * [FR Doc. E6–11615 Filed 7–21–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 060314069–6069–01; I.D. 071806D] Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Closure of the Nantucket Lightship Scallop Access Area to Scallop Vessels National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES1 AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure of the Nantucket Lightship Scallop Access Area (NLCA) to scallop vessels until June 15, 2007. This closure, effective 0001 hours on July 20, 2006, is based on a determination by the Northeast Regional Administrator (RA) that scallop vessels may attain the yellowtail flounder (YT) bycatch total allowable catch (TAC) for the NLCA on July 20, 2006. This action is being taken to prevent the scallop fleet from exceeding the YT bycatch TAC allocated to the NLCA for the 2006 scallop fishing year in accordance with the regulations implementing the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP), Northeast (NE) Multispecies FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. DATES: The closure of the NLCA to all scallop vessels is effective 0001 hr local time, July 20, 2006, until June 15, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Silva, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9326, fax (978) 281–9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commercial scallop vessels fishing in access areas are allocated 9.8–percent of the annual YT TACs established in the Northeast (NE) Multispecies FMP. Given current fishing effort by scallop vessels in the NLCA, the RA has made a determination that the NLCA YT TAC is projected to be attained on July 20, 2006. Pursuant to 50 CFR 648.60(a)(5)(ii)(C) and 648.85(c)(3)(ii), this Federal Register action notifies scallop vessel owners that, effective VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:41 Jul 21, 2006 Jkt 208001 0001 hours on July 20, 2006, scallop vessels are prohibited from declaring or initiating a trip into the NLCA until June 15, 2007. If a vessel with a limited access scallop permit has an unused trip(s) into the NLCA, it will be allocated 4.9 additional open areas days-at-sea (DAS) for each unused trip. If a vessel has an unused compensation trip(s), it is allocated additional open area DAS based on estimated catch rates for the NLCA. The conversion rate from access area DAS to open area DAS for the NLCA is 0.41 per open area DAS. An access area DAS is equal to 1,500 lbs. A separate letter will be sent to notify vessel owners of their allocations for unused complete and/or compensation trips in the NLCA. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Classification SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve of groundfish to the yellowfin sole initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the fishery to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI. DATES: Effective July 24, 2006 through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, December 31, 2006. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, August 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 to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802; • Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska; • FAX to 907–586–7557; • E-mail to bsairelys@noaa.gov and include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: bsairelys; or • Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for submitting comments. This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. This action closes NLCA to scallop vessels until June 15, 2007. The regulations at 50 CFR 648.59(a)(5)(ii)(C) and 648.85(c)(3)(ii) require such action to ensure that scallop vessels do not take more YT than set aside for the scallop fishery. The NLCA opened for the 2006 fishing year on June 15, 2006. Data indicating the scallop fleet has taken, or is projected to take, all of the NLCA YT TAC has only recently become available. To allow scallop vessels to continue to take trips in the NLCA during the period necessary to publish and receive comments on a proposed rule would result in vessels taking much more YT than allocated to the scallop fleet. Excessive YT harvest from the NLCA would result in excessive fishing effort on the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic YT stock, where tight effort controls are critical for the rebuilding program. Should excessive fishing effort occur, future management measures may need to be more restrictive. Based on the above, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), proposed rule making is waived because it would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest to allow a period for public comment. Furthermore, for the same reasons, there is good cause under 5 U.S.C 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness period for this action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: July 18, 2006. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 06–6428 Filed 7–19–06; 2:04 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 060216045–6045–01; I.D. 071806A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for comments. AGENCY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907–586–7228. NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\24JYR1.SGM 24JYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 141 / Monday, July 24, 2006 / Rules and Regulations rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES1 Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2006 ITAC of yellowfin sole in the BSAI was established as 81,346 metric tons by the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006). The Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the ITAC for yellowfin sole in the BSAI needs to be supplemented from the nonspecified reserve in order to continue operations. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions 7,500 mt from the non-specified reserve of groundfish to the yellowfin sole ITAC in the BSAI. This apportionment is consistent with § 679.20(b)(1)(ii) and does not result in overfishing of a target species because the revised ITAC is equal to or less than the specification of the acceptable biological catch in the 2006 and 2007 final harvest VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:41 Jul 21, 2006 Jkt 208001 specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006). Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, (AA) finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and § 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the apportionment of the non-specified reserves of groundfish to the yellowfin sole fishery. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 41739 recent, relevant data only became available as of July 11, 2006. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. Under § 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until August 7, 2006. This action is required by § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq. Dated: July 18, 2006. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6–11751 Filed 7–21–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S E:\FR\FM\24JYR1.SGM 24JYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 141 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41738-41739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11751]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 060216045-6045-01; I.D. 071806A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin 
Sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve of 
groundfish to the yellowfin sole initial total allowable catch (ITAC) 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This 
action is necessary to allow the fishery to continue operating. It is 
intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management 
plan for the BSAI.

DATES: Effective July 24, 2006 through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, 
December 31, 2006. Comments must be received at the following address 
no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, August 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 to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska;
     FAX to 907-586-7557;
     E-mail to bsairelys@noaa.gov and include in the subject 
line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: bsairelys; or
     Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management

[[Page 41739]]

Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with 
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 2006 ITAC of yellowfin sole in the BSAI was established as 
81,346 metric tons by the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications 
for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006). The Acting 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the ITAC for 
yellowfin sole in the BSAI needs to be supplemented from the non-
specified reserve in order to continue operations.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions 
7,500 mt from the non-specified reserve of groundfish to the yellowfin 
sole ITAC in the BSAI. This apportionment is consistent with Sec.  
679.20(b)(1)(ii) and does not result in overfishing of a target species 
because the revised ITAC is equal to or less than the specification of 
the acceptable biological catch in the 2006 and 2007 final harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA, (AA) finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and Sec.  679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a 
requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This 
requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it 
would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in 
a timely fashion and would delay the apportionment of the non-specified 
reserves of groundfish to the yellowfin sole fishery. NMFS was unable 
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of July 11, 2006.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    Under Sec.  679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to 
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until August 7, 
2006.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: July 18, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-11751 Filed 7-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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