Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska, 35827 [E9-17279]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 35827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17279]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 09100091344-9056-02]
RIN 0648-XQ26


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish 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 northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 96 hours. This 
action is necessary to fully use the 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) 
of northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 17, 2009, 
through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., July 21, 2009. Comments must be received at 
the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., July 31, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by [RIN], by 
any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
     Fax: (907) 586-7557.
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
    All comments received are a part of the public record and will 
generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All 
Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Enter ``N/A'' in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous. Attachments to electronic 
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or 
Adobe portable document file (pdf) file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

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 northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA on July 9, 2009 (74 FR 33923, July 
14, 2009).
    NMFS has determined that approximately 392 mt of the 2009 TAC of 
northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA remain in 
the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize 
the 2009 TAC of northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the 
GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is reopening directed 
fishing for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA 
for 96 hours, effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., July 17, 2009, through 1200 
hrs, A.l.t., July 21, 2009.

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 reopening and closure of northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area 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 July 15, 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 Sec.  679.25 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: July 16, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-17279 Filed 7-16-09; 4:15 pm]
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