Fishing Capacity Reduction Program; Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, 43624-43625 [E7-15205]

Download as PDF 43624 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 150 / Monday, August 6, 2007 / Notices An applicant’s partisan, political activities (including political contribution) are entirely irrelevant to the selection process. The fee to participate in this mission is approximately USD 1,500. The fee will not cover travel expenses, meals or lodging. Recruitment begins immediately and will close on August 8, 2007. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit. The mission Web site (https:// www.export.gov/afghanistan/events) will share information as it becomes available. Disclaimer Trade mission members participate in the trade mission and undertake related travel at their own risk and are advised to obtain insurance accordingly. Any question regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. Companies should consult the State Department’s travel warning for Afghanistan: https://travel.state.gov/ travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2121.html. The Department of Commerce will coordinate with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to arrange for all transportation of the trade mission participants to and from the hotel and on visits to rug producing facilities. The Serena Hotel is responsible for providing security for the event venue. The Serena Hotel is a luxury hotel and does have security measures in place. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the success of the trade mission. Noor Alam, Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, Tel: (202) 482–1812, Fax: (202) 482–0980, E-mail: AfghanInfo@ita.doc.gov. [FR Doc. E7–15202 Filed 8–3–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES RIN 0648 XB46 Fishing Capacity Reduction Program; Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. AGENCY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:38 Aug 03, 2007 Jkt 211001 ACTION: Notice of fee rate adjustment. SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to increase the fee rates for the Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king crab reduction endorsement fisheries to repay the $17,129,957.23 and $6,380,837.19 sub-loans, respectively, of the $97,399,357.11 reduction loan to finance the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crab fishing capacity reduction program. DATES: The BSAI King and Tanner Crab fishing capacity reduction program fee rate increases will begin on September 5, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send questions about this notice to Leo Erwin, Chief, Financial Services Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910– 3282. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leo Erwin, (301) 713–2390. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Sections 312(b) through (e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a(b) through (e)) generally authorizes fishing capacity reduction programs. In particular, section 312(d) authorizes industry fee systems for repaying reduction loans which finance reduction program costs. Subpart L of 50 part 600 is the framework rule generally implementing section 312(b) through (e). Sections 1111 and 1112 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1279f and 1279g) generally authorized reduction loans. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 (Public Law 106–554) directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish the $100 million fishing capacity reduction program in the BSAI king and tanner crab fishery. Congress amended the authorizing Act twice (Public Law 107 20 and Public Law 107 117), once to change the crab reduction program’s funding from a $50 million appropriation and a $50 million loan to a $100 million loan and once to clarify provisions about crab fishery vessels. NMFS adopted the program’s implementation rule as § 600.1103 in a subpart M of part 600. NMFS published the BSAI crab reduction program’s proposed implementation rule on December 12, 2002 (67 FR 76329) and its final rule on December 12, 2003 (68 FR 69331). On November 24, 2004, NMFS published a Federal Register notice (69 FR 68313) advising the public that beginning on PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 December 27, 2004, NMFS would tender the crab reduction program’s reduction payments to 25 accepted bidders. NMFS allocated the $97,399,357.11 million reduction loan to six reduction endorsement fisheries involved, as the following subamounts: 1. Bristol Bay red king, $17,129,957.23, 2. BSAI C. opilio and C. bairdi, $66,410,767.20, 3. Aleutian Islands brown king, $6,380,837.19, 4. Aleutian Islands red king, $237,588.04, 5. Pribilof red king and blue king, $1,571,216.35; and 6. St. Matthew blue king, $5,668,991.10. NMFS published a fee payment collection system implementation rule on September 16, 2005 (70 FR 54653). Fee collection and payment began on October 17, 2005. On May 10, 2006, NMFS published a final rule to exempt any crab landed under the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program from the fee regulations for the BSAI King and Tanner Crab Fishing Capacity Reduction Program (71 FR 27209). Anyone interested in the program’s full implementation details should refer to these documents. II. Purpose The purpose of this notice is to adjust, in accordance with the framework rule’s § 600.1013(b), the fee rates for the BSAI king and tanner crab fishery. Section 600.1013(b) directs NMFS to recalculate the fee rate that will be reasonably necessary to ensure reduction loan repayment within the specified 30 year term. NMFS has determined that the current fee rates for the Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king reduction endorsement fisheries, 1.9 percent and 2.6 percent respectively, are inadequate to service these sub-loans. Therefore, NMFS is increasing the fee rates to 2.5 percent for the Bristol Bay red king crab reduction endorsement fishery, and to 5.0 percent for the Aleutian Islands brown king crab reduction endorsement fishery. NMFS has determined this action for the Bristol Bay red king crab reduction endorsement fishery is necessary to ensure timely loan repayment. NMFS does not expect the Aleutian Island brown king crab reduction endorsement fishery to remain on a timely repayment schedule even with this increase. However, fee rates are capped at 5.0 percent by statute. To provide more accessible services, streamline collections, and save taxpayer dollars, fish buyers may E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM 06AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 150 / Monday, August 6, 2007 / Notices disburse collected fee deposits to NMFS by using a secure Federal system on the Internet known as Pay.gov. Pay.gov enables fish buyers to use their checking accounts to electronically disburse their collected fee deposits to NMFS. Fish buyers who have access to the Internet should consider using this quick and easy collected fee disbursement method. Fish buyers may access Pay.gov by going directly to Pay.gov’s Federal website at: https://www.pay.gov/paygov/ . Fish buyers who do not have access to the Internet or who simply do not wish to use the Pay.gov electronic system, may continue to disburse their collected fee deposits to us by sending their checks to our lockbox. Our lockbox’s address is: NOAA Fisheries BSAI Crab Buyback P O Box 979060 St. Louis, MO 63197 9000 Fish buyers must not forget to include with their disbursements the fee collection report applicable to each disbursement. The fee collection report tells NMFS how much of the disbursement it must apply to each of the six reduction endorsement fisheries subamounts. Fish buyers using Pay.gov will find an electronic fee collection report form to receive information and accompany electronic disbursements. Fish buyers who do not use Pay.gov must include a hard copy fee collection report with each of their disbursements. Fish buyers not using Pay.gov may also access the NMFS website for an Excel spreadsheet version of the fee collection report at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ mb/financiallservices/buyback.htm. III. Notice The new rates for the Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king 43625 reduction endorsement fisheries will begin on September 5, 2007. From and after this date, all fish sellers paying fees on the Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king reduction endorsement fisheries shall begin paying BSAI crab reduction loan program fees at the revised rates. From and after this date, all fees received by NMFS for the Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king reduction endorsement fisheries shall be subject to the new fee rates, regardless of the applicable fee month. Fee collection and submission shall follow previously established methods in § 600.1013 of the framework rule and in the final fee rule published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2005 (70 FR 54654). The revised fees applicable to the BSAI crab reduction program’s reduction endorsement fisheries are as follows: REDUCTION ENDORSEMENT FISHERIES CRAB RATIONALIZATION FISHERIES CURRENT FEE RATE NEW FEE RATE Bristol Bay red king BSAI C. opilio and C. bairdi Aleutian Islands brown king Aleutian Islands red king Pribilof red king and Pribilof blue king St. Matthew Blue BBR ............................... BSS, WBT, and EBT ..... EAG and WAG .............. WAI ................................ PIK ................................. SMB ............................... 1.9% 5.0% 2.6% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 2.5% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% 5.0% Authority: The authority for this action is 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Coast groundfish fishing capacity reduction program. Dated: July 31, 2007. John Oliver, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–15205 Filed 8–3–07; 8:45 am] DATES: The Pacific Coast groundfish program fee rate increase for Oregon pink shrimp will begin on September 5, 2007. Send questions about this notice to Leo Erwin, Chief, Financial Services Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910– 3282. ADDRESSES: BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RIN 0648–XB47 Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. AGENCY: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES ACTION: Notice of fee rate adjustment. SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to increase the fee rate for the Oregon pink shrimp fee-share fishery to repay the $2,228,845 sub-loan of the $35,662,471 reduction loan to finance the Pacific VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:38 Aug 03, 2007 Leo Erwin, (301) 713–2390. Jkt 211001 I. Background Sections 312(b) through (e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a(b)through (e)) general authorizes fishing capacity reduction programs. In particular, section 312(d) authorizes industry fee systems for repaying reduction loans which finance reduction program costs. Subpart L of 50 CFR part 600 is the framework rule generally implementing section 312(b) through (e). Sections 1111 and 1112 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 U.S.C. 1279f and 1279g) generally authorizes reduction loans. Enacted on February 20, 2003, section 212 of Division B, Title II, of Public Law 108–7 (section 212) specifically authorizes a fishing capacity reduction program for that portion of the limited entry trawl fishery under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan whose permits, excluding those registered to whiting catcher-processors are endorsed for trawl gear operation (reduction fishery). The groundfish reduction program’s objective was to reduce the number of vessels and permits endorsed for the operation of groundfish trawl gear. The program also involved corollary fishing capacity reduction in the California, Oregon, and Washington fisheries for Dungeness crab and pink shrimp (feeshare fisheries). All post-reduction fish landings from the reduction fishery and the six feeshare fisheries are subject to the groundfish program’s fee. NMFS proposed the implementing notice on May 28, 2003 (68 FR 31653) and published the final notice on July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42613). NMFS allocated the $35,662,471 reduction loan to the reduction fishery E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM 06AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 150 (Monday, August 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43624-43625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15205]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648 XB46


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program; Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 
King and Tanner Crabs

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

ACTION:  Notice of fee rate adjustment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  NMFS issues this notice to increase the fee rates for the 
Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king crab reduction 
endorsement fisheries to repay the $17,129,957.23 and $6,380,837.19 
sub-loans, respectively, of the $97,399,357.11 reduction loan to 
finance the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crab 
fishing capacity reduction program.

DATES:  The BSAI King and Tanner Crab fishing capacity reduction 
program fee rate increases will begin on September 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  Send questions about this notice to Leo Erwin, Chief, 
Financial Services Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leo Erwin, (301) 713-2390.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Sections 312(b) through (e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a(b) through (e)) 
generally authorizes fishing capacity reduction programs. In 
particular, section 312(d) authorizes industry fee systems for repaying 
reduction loans which finance reduction program costs.
    Subpart L of 50 part 600 is the framework rule generally 
implementing section 312(b) through (e).
    Sections 1111 and 1112 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. 
U.S.C. 1279f and 1279g) generally authorized reduction loans.
    The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001 (Public Law 106-554) 
directed the Secretary of Commerce to establish the $100 million 
fishing capacity reduction program in the BSAI king and tanner crab 
fishery. Congress amended the authorizing Act twice (Public Law 107 20 
and Public Law 107 117), once to change the crab reduction program's 
funding from a $50 million appropriation and a $50 million loan to a 
$100 million loan and once to clarify provisions about crab fishery 
vessels. NMFS adopted the program's implementation rule as Sec.  
600.1103 in a subpart M of part 600.
    NMFS published the BSAI crab reduction program's proposed 
implementation rule on December 12, 2002 (67 FR 76329) and its final 
rule on December 12, 2003 (68 FR 69331). On November 24, 2004, NMFS 
published a Federal Register notice (69 FR 68313) advising the public 
that beginning on December 27, 2004, NMFS would tender the crab 
reduction program's reduction payments to 25 accepted bidders. NMFS 
allocated the $97,399,357.11 million reduction loan to six reduction 
endorsement fisheries involved, as the following subamounts:
    1. Bristol Bay red king, $17,129,957.23,
    2. BSAI C. opilio and C. bairdi, $66,410,767.20,
    3. Aleutian Islands brown king, $6,380,837.19,
    4. Aleutian Islands red king, $237,588.04,
    5. Pribilof red king and blue king, $1,571,216.35; and
    6. St. Matthew blue king, $5,668,991.10.
    NMFS published a fee payment collection system implementation rule 
on September 16, 2005 (70 FR 54653). Fee collection and payment began 
on October 17, 2005. On May 10, 2006, NMFS published a final rule to 
exempt any crab landed under the Community Development Quota (CDQ) 
Program from the fee regulations for the BSAI King and Tanner Crab 
Fishing Capacity Reduction Program (71 FR 27209). Anyone interested in 
the program's full implementation details should refer to these 
documents.

II. Purpose

    The purpose of this notice is to adjust, in accordance with the 
framework rule's Sec.  600.1013(b), the fee rates for the BSAI king and 
tanner crab fishery. Section 600.1013(b) directs NMFS to recalculate 
the fee rate that will be reasonably necessary to ensure reduction loan 
repayment within the specified 30 year term.
    NMFS has determined that the current fee rates for the Bristol Bay 
red king and Aleutian Islands brown king reduction endorsement 
fisheries, 1.9 percent and 2.6 percent respectively, are inadequate to 
service these sub-loans. Therefore, NMFS is increasing the fee rates to 
2.5 percent for the Bristol Bay red king crab reduction endorsement 
fishery, and to 5.0 percent for the Aleutian Islands brown king crab 
reduction endorsement fishery. NMFS has determined this action for the 
Bristol Bay red king crab reduction endorsement fishery is necessary to 
ensure timely loan repayment. NMFS does not expect the Aleutian Island 
brown king crab reduction endorsement fishery to remain on a timely 
repayment schedule even with this increase. However, fee rates are 
capped at 5.0 percent by statute.
    To provide more accessible services, streamline collections, and 
save taxpayer dollars, fish buyers may

[[Page 43625]]

disburse collected fee deposits to NMFS by using a secure Federal 
system on the Internet known as Pay.gov. Pay.gov enables fish buyers to 
use their checking accounts to electronically disburse their collected 
fee deposits to NMFS. Fish buyers who have access to the Internet 
should consider using this quick and easy collected fee disbursement 
method. Fish buyers may access Pay.gov by going directly to Pay.gov's 
Federal website at: https://www.pay.gov/paygov/.
    Fish buyers who do not have access to the Internet or who simply do 
not wish to use the Pay.gov electronic system, may continue to disburse 
their collected fee deposits to us by sending their checks to our 
lockbox. Our lockbox's address is:
    NOAA Fisheries BSAI Crab Buyback
    P O Box 979060
    St. Louis, MO 63197 9000
    Fish buyers must not forget to include with their disbursements the 
fee collection report applicable to each disbursement. The fee 
collection report tells NMFS how much of the disbursement it must apply 
to each of the six reduction endorsement fisheries subamounts. Fish 
buyers using Pay.gov will find an electronic fee collection report form 
to receive information and accompany electronic disbursements. Fish 
buyers who do not use Pay.gov must include a hard copy fee collection 
report with each of their disbursements. Fish buyers not using Pay.gov 
may also access the NMFS website for an Excel spreadsheet version of 
the fee collection report at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mb/financial_
services/buyback.htm.

III. Notice

    The new rates for the Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands 
brown king reduction endorsement fisheries will begin on September 5, 
2007.
    From and after this date, all fish sellers paying fees on the 
Bristol Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king reduction 
endorsement fisheries shall begin paying BSAI crab reduction loan 
program fees at the revised rates.
    From and after this date, all fees received by NMFS for the Bristol 
Bay red king and Aleutian Islands brown king reduction endorsement 
fisheries shall be subject to the new fee rates, regardless of the 
applicable fee month.
    Fee collection and submission shall follow previously established 
methods in Sec.  600.1013 of the framework rule and in the final fee 
rule published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2005 (70 FR 
54654).
    The revised fees applicable to the BSAI crab reduction program's 
reduction endorsement fisheries are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        CRAB RATIONALIZATION      CURRENT FEE
           REDUCTION ENDORSEMENT FISHERIES                    FISHERIES               RATE         NEW FEE RATE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Bristol Bay red king                                      BBR             1.9%             2.5%
            BSAI C. opilio and C. bairdi                    BSS, WBT, and EBT             5.0%             5.0%
             Aleutian Islands brown king                          EAG and WAG             2.6%             5.0%
              Aleutian Islands red king                                   WAI             5.0%             5.0%
      Pribilof red king and Pribilof blue king                            PIK             5.0%             5.0%
                  St. Matthew Blue                                        SMB             5.0%             5.0%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Authority: The authority for this action is 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 31, 2007.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15205 Filed 8-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S >
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.