Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska, 55104 [07-4798]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 188 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4798]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 070213032-7032-01]
RIN 0648-XC91


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 in 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 opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical 
Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully 
use the C season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 25, 
2007, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., 
October 10, 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 inseason-fakr@noaa.gov and include in the 
subject line of the e-mail the document identifier: g63plkro5.fo.wpd 
(E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 
megabytes).

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 prohibited directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 
630 in the GOA under Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii) on August 28, 2007 (72 FR 
48946, August 27, 2007). NMFS reopened the pollock fishery in 
Statistical Area 630 in the GOA for 72 hours on September 15, 2007 (72 
FR 53169, September 18, 2007). NMFS reopened the pollock fishery in 
Statistical Area 630 in the GOA for 48 hours on September 21, 2007. 
NMFS prohibited directed fishing for pollock on September 23, 2007.
    NMFS has determined that as of September 24, 2007 approximately 
1,590 mt remain in the C season allowance of the 2007 pollock directed 
fishing allowance in Statistical Area 630 in 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 C season allowance of the 2007 TAC of pollock 
in Statistical Area 630 in the GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous 
closure and is reopening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical 
Area 630 in the GOA.

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) 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 in 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 
September 24, 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 in 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 this action (see ADDRESSES) until October 10, 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: September 25, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-4798 Filed 9-25-07; 2:07 pm]
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