Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 12293-12294 [2011-5075]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2011 / Rules and Regulations In our August 2009 Federal Register notice, we explained that, due to a previous clerical error, the Upper Columbia River steelhead DPS had been inadvertently dropped from the enumeration of threatened species at 50 CFR 223.102(c). The August 2009 notice included a correcting amendment to reinstate the Upper Columbia River steelhead DPS to our list of threatened species at 50 CFR 223.102(c)(25). That correcting amendment, however, failed to update the cross-references at 50 CFR 223.203, which identifies the threatened anadromous fish subject to protections under ESA section 4(d). This correcting amendment remedies that oversight. WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with RULES Classification The Assistant Administrator finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and opportunity for public comment, because it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest. NMFS fully intended the Upper Columbia River steelhead DPS to be subject to the ESA section 4(d) protections and expressly stated this intent in the February 2006 final rule. NMFS also previously provided public notice in the Federal Register and considered public comments on the 2006 final rule. However, due to a clerical error, the conforming change is not currently reflected in the regulations. In order to avoid regulatory confusion and ensure continuous protections and enforcement capability for the Upper Columbia River steelhead DPS, the Assistant Administrator waives the requirement for prior notice and opportunity for public comment. For the same reasons above, the Assistant Administrator finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness and makes this rule effective immediately upon publication. Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and has not been prepared. It has been determined that this rule is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. References Copies of previous Federal Register notices and related reference materials are available on the Internet at https:// www.nwr.noaa.gov, or upon request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above). VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:59 Mar 04, 2011 Jkt 223001 12293 AGENCY: length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2011 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. DATES: Effective March 1, 2011, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (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 A season apportionment of the 2011 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) is 1,710 metric tons (mt) for the period 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2011, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 30, 2011, as established by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 1,500 mt of the A season apportionment of the 2011 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS apportions 1,500 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hookand-line or pot gear. The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 2011 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011) are revised as follows: 810 mt to the A season apportionment for vessels using jig gear and 5,555 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) 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 List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 223 Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Transportation. Dated: March 1, 2011. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part 223 is corrected by making the following correcting amendment: PART 223—THREATENED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES 1. The authority citation for part 223 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531–1543. 2. In § 223.203, paragraphs (a) and (b) are revised to read as follows: ■ § 223.203 Anadromous fish. * * * * * (a) Prohibitions. The prohibitions of section 9(a)(1) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1538(a)(1)) relating to endangered species apply to fish with an intact adipose fin that are part of the threatened species of salmonids listed in § 223.102(c)(3) through (c)(25). (b) Limits on the prohibitions. The limits to the prohibitions of paragraph (a) of this section relating to threatened species of salmonids listed in § 223.102(c)(3) through (c)(25) are described in the following paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(13): * * * * * [FR Doc. 2011–5109 Filed 3–4–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 101126521–0640–02] RIN 0648–XA260 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\07MRR1.SGM 07MRR1 12294 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2011 / Rules and Regulations WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with RULES 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 reallocation of Pacific cod specified from jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since the fishery is currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:59 Mar 04, 2011 Jkt 223001 Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 1, 2011. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 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 2, 2011. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–5075 Filed 3–2–11; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\07MRR1.SGM 07MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12293-12294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5075]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 101126521-0640-02]
RIN 0648-XA260


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet 
(18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is 
necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2011 total 
allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective March 1, 2011, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (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 A season apportionment of the 2011 Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) is 1,710 metric tons (mt) for 
the period 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2011, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
April 30, 2011, as established by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that jig 
vessels will not be able to harvest 1,500 mt of the A season 
apportionment of the 2011 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels 
under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS apportions 1,500 mt of Pacific cod from the 
A season jig gear apportionment to catcher vessels less than 60 feet 
(18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear.
    The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 
2011 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (76 FR 11139, 
March 1, 2011) are revised as follows: 810 mt to the A season 
apportionment for vessels using jig gear and 5,555 mt to catcher 
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.

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

[[Page 12294]]

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 reallocation of Pacific cod 
specified from jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 
m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Since the fishery is currently 
open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the 
revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for 
the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow 
the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential 
disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable 
to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of March 1, 2011.
    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.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: March 2, 2011.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-5075 Filed 3-2-11; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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