Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Scup Fishery; Reduction of Winter I Commercial Possession Limit, 11327-11328 [E9-5749]

Download as PDF 11327 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations Required Determinations Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) This rule does not contain any new collections of information that require approval by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This rule will not impose recordkeeping or reporting requirements on State or local governments, individuals, businesses, or organizations. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. National Environmental Policy Act We have determined that environmental assessments and environmental impact statements, as defined under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), need not be prepared in connection with regulations adopted under section 4(a) of the Act. We published a notice outlining our reasons for this determination in the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). recordkeeping requirements, Transportation. Regulation Promulgation Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as follows: ■ References Cited A complete list of all references cited in this rule is available on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov or upon request from the Field Supervisor, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Author(s) The primary authors of this document are the staff members of the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES). List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and PART 17—[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 4201-4245; Pub. L. 99625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted. 2. Amend §17.12(h) by adding the following entry to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants in alphabetical order under ‘‘Flowering Plants’’: ■ § 17.12 * Endangered and threatened plants. * * (h) * * * * * Species Historic range Scientific name Family * Phyllostegia hispida None U.S.A. (HI) * * * * * * * Dated: March 4, 2009. Rowan W. Gould, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. E9–5348 Filed 3–16–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 0809251266–81485–02] RIN 0648–XN60 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Scup Fishery; Reduction of Winter I Commercial Possession Limit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment. dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with RULES AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS announces the reduction of the scup coastwide commercial possession limit from VerDate Nov<24>2008 Status When listed Critical habitat Special rules Common name 14:14 Mar 16, 2009 Jkt 217001 FLOWERING PLANTS * * * * * Lamiaceae E * 762 Maine through North Carolina for the Winter I period. Regulations governing the scup fishery require publication of this notification to advise the coastal states from Maine through North Carolina that 80 percent of the commercial quota allocated to the Winter I period is projected to be harvested and to announce that the possession limit for a Federal vessel permit holder is reduced. DATES: Effective 0001 hours, March 19, 2009, through April 30, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Bryant, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9244. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the scup fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at § 648.120(c) require the Northeast Regional Administrator to publish annual scup quota allocations and the percentage of landings attained during the Winter I period at which the possession limits would be reduced. On January 2, 2009, NMFS published the final rule for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass specifications in the Federal Register (74 FR 29). This final rule requires NMFS to publish a notification in the Federal Register advising and notifying commercial PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 NA NA vessels and dealer permit holders that the commercial scup possession limit will be reduced once 80 percent of the Winter I Period quota is projected to be harvested. Based upon recent projections, the Regional Administrator anticipates that 80 percent of the Federal commercial quota of 3,777,443 lb (1,713 mt) for the 2009 Winter I period will be harvested by March 19, 2009. Therefore, to maintain the integrity of the 2010 Winter I period quota by avoiding quota overages, the commercial scup possession limit will be reduced from 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) to 1,000 lb (454 kg) of scup per trip. This possession limit will remain in effect until the end of the Winter I period (through April 30, 2009) or until the Winter I quota allocation has been fully harvested, which ever occurs first. Classification This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. E:\FR\FM\17MRR1.SGM 17MRR1 11328 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations Dated: March 12, 2009. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–5749 Filed 3–16–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 09100091344–9056–02] RIN 0648–XO07 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with RULES SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 12, 2009, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 25, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the VerDate Nov<24>2008 14:14 Mar 16, 2009 Jkt 217001 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. The B season allowance of the 2009 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 3,233 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (74 FR 7333, February 17, 2009). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has determined that the B season allowance of the 2009 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 3,000 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 233 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 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 closure of pollock in Statistical Area 610 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 March 11, 2009. 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. 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: March 11, 2009. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–5713 Filed 3–12–09; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S E:\FR\FM\17MRR1.SGM 17MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11327-11328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5749]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 0809251266-81485-02]
RIN 0648-XN60


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Scup Fishery; 
Reduction of Winter I Commercial Possession Limit

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the reduction of the scup coastwide commercial 
possession limit from Maine through North Carolina for the Winter I 
period. Regulations governing the scup fishery require publication of 
this notification to advise the coastal states from Maine through North 
Carolina that 80 percent of the commercial quota allocated to the 
Winter I period is projected to be harvested and to announce that the 
possession limit for a Federal vessel permit holder is reduced.

DATES: Effective 0001 hours, March 19, 2009, through April 30, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Bryant, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9244.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the scup fishery are 
found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations at Sec.  648.120(c) require 
the Northeast Regional Administrator to publish annual scup quota 
allocations and the percentage of landings attained during the Winter I 
period at which the possession limits would be reduced. On January 2, 
2009, NMFS published the final rule for the summer flounder, scup, and 
black sea bass specifications in the Federal Register (74 FR 29). This 
final rule requires NMFS to publish a notification in the Federal 
Register advising and notifying commercial vessels and dealer permit 
holders that the commercial scup possession limit will be reduced once 
80 percent of the Winter I Period quota is projected to be harvested. 
Based upon recent projections, the Regional Administrator anticipates 
that 80 percent of the Federal commercial quota of 3,777,443 lb (1,713 
mt) for the 2009 Winter I period will be harvested by March 19, 2009. 
Therefore, to maintain the integrity of the 2010 Winter I period quota 
by avoiding quota overages, the commercial scup possession limit will 
be reduced from 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) to 1,000 lb (454 kg) of scup per 
trip. This possession limit will remain in effect until the end of the 
Winter I period (through April 30, 2009) or until the Winter I quota 
allocation has been fully harvested, which ever occurs first.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

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


[[Page 11328]]


    Dated: March 12, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-5749 Filed 3-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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