Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska, 5346-5347 [07-503]

Download as PDF 5346 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 6, 2007 / Rules and Regulations possessed on board or landed from a permitted vessel in amounts exceeding 1,500 lb (680 kg) per day. NMFS has determined that 75 percent of the adjusted quota for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel has been taken. Accordingly, the 1,500–lb (680–kg) per day commercial trip limit applies to Spanish mackerel in or from the EEZ in the southern zone effective 6 a.m., local time, February 5, 2007, through February 28, 2007, unless changed by further notification in the Federal Register. 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)(3)(B), as such prior notice and opportunity for public comment is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures would be unnecessary because the rule itself already has been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the trip limit reduction. Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment is contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action in order to protect the fishery since the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment will require time and would potentially result in a harvest well in excess of the established quota. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30 day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.43(a) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 31, 2007. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 07–504 Filed 2–1–07; 2:37 pm] rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:04 Feb 05, 2007 Jkt 211001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 060216044–6044–01; I.D. 013107A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of a closure. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS is reopening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 48 hours. This action is necessary to fully use the A season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 6, 2007, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 8, 2007. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., February 16, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. 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 630pollock@noaa.gov and include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: g63plkro1.fo.wpd (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes); or • Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for submitting comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 907–586–7228. NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Management 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. NMFS closed the directed fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA under § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 22, 2007 (72 FR 2793, January 23, 2007). NMFS has determined that approximately 3,134 mt of pollock remain in the directed fishing allowance in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the A season allowance of the 2007 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is reopening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will be reached after 48 hours. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA for 48 hours, effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 6, 2007. 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 679.25(c)(1)(ii) as such 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 opening of pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of January 30, 2007. 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. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA to be harvested in an expedient manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on E:\FR\FM\06FER1.SGM 06FER1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 6, 2007 / Rules and Regulations this action to the above address until February 16, 2007. This action is required by § 679.25 and § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 31, 2007. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 07–503 Filed 2–1–07; 2:37 pm] rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:04 Feb 05, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 5347 E:\FR\FM\06FER1.SGM 06FER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5346-5347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-503]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 060216044-6044-01; I.D. 013107A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION:  Temporary rule; modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS is reopening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical 
Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 48 hours. This action is 
necessary to fully use the A season allowance of the 2007 total 
allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for Statistical Area 630 of 
the GOA.

DATES:  Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 6, 
2007, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 8, 2007. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., 
February 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. 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 630pollock@noaa.gov and include in the subject 
line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: g63plkro1.fo.wpd 
(E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 
megabytes); or
     Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jennifer Hogan, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 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.
    NMFS closed the directed fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 
630 of the GOA under Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 22, 2007 (72 FR 
2793, January 23, 2007).
    NMFS has determined that approximately 3,134 mt of pollock remain 
in the directed fishing allowance in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and 
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the A season allowance of the 2007 
TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630, NMFS is terminating the 
previous closure and is reopening directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed 
fishing allowance will be reached after 48 hours. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the 
GOA for 48 hours, effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 6, 2007.

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 679.25(c)(1)(ii) as such 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 opening of pollock in Statistical Area 630 
of the GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for 
public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became 
available as of January 30, 2007.
    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.
    Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery 
for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA to be harvested in an 
expedient manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under 
Sec.  679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written 
comments on

[[Page 5347]]

this action to the above address until February 16, 2007.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.25 and Sec.  679.20 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: January 31, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-503 Filed 2-1-07; 2:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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