Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 32037 [2012-13221]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 24, 2012.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–13190 Filed 5–25–12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111213751–2102–02]
RIN 0648–XC052
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of
closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is opening directed
fishing for northern rockfish in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to fully use the 2012 total
allowable catch (TAC) of northern
rockfish in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), May 25, 2012, through 2400
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
Comments must be received at the
following address no later than 4:30
p.m., A.l.t., June 11, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by RIN
0648–XC052, by any of the following
methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal
www.regulations.gov. To submit
comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first click the ‘‘submit a comment’’ icon,
then enter RIN 0648–XC052 in the
keyword search. Locate the document
you wish to comment on from the
resulting list and click on the ‘‘Submit
a Comment’’ icon on that line.
• Mail: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O.
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
• Fax: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:27 May 30, 2012
Jkt 226001
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to 907–
586–7557.
• Hand delivery to the Federal
Building: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Deliver comments to
709 West 9th Street, Room 420A,
Juneau, AK.
Instructions: Comments must be
submitted by one of the above methods
to ensure that the comments are
received, documented, and considered
by NMFS. Comments sent by any other
method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered. All comments received are
a part of the public record and will
generally be posted for public viewing
on www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will 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 or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe
PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269.
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.
Pursuant to the final 2012 and 2013
harvest specifications for groundfish in
the BSAI (77 FR 10669, February 23,
2012), NMFS closed the directed fishery
for northern rockfish under
679.2(d)(1)(iii).
As of May 23, 2012, NMFS has
determined that approximately 4,308
metric tons of northern rockfish remain
unharvested in the BSAI. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(i),
(a)(2)(i)(C) and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully
utilize the 2012 TAC of northern
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
32037
rockfish in the BSAI, NMFS is
terminating the previous closure and is
opening directed fishing for northern
rockfish in the BSAI. This will enhance
the socioeconomic well-being of
harvesters in this area. The
Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional
Administrator) considered the following
factors in reaching this decision: (1) The
current catch of northern rockfish in the
BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity and
stated intent on future harvesting
patterns of vessels in participating in
this fishery.
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Acting 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) and 679.25(c)(1)(ii) 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 northern rockfish in the
BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as
of May 23, 2012.
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
northern rockfish in the BSAI to be
harvested in an expedient manner and
in accordance with the regulatory
schedule. Under § 679.25(c)(2),
interested persons are invited to submit
written comments on this action to the
above address until June 11, 2012.
This action is required by§ 679.20 and
§ 679.25 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 25, 2012.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–13221 Filed 5–25–12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\31MYR1.SGM
31MYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13221]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111213751-2102-02]
RIN 0648-XC052
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern
Rockfish 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; modification of closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to fully use the 2012 total allowable catch (TAC) of northern
rockfish in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 25, 2012,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012. Comments must be received
at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., June 11,
2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by RIN
0648-XC052, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a
comment'' icon, then enter RIN 0648-XC052 in the keyword search. Locate
the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click
on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on that line.
Mail: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802-1668.
Fax: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to 907-586-7557.
Hand delivery to the Federal Building: Address written
comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Administrator,
Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen
Sebastian. Deliver comments to 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau,
AK.
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender
will 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 or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.
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.
Pursuant to the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (77 FR 10669, February 23, 2012), NMFS closed
the directed fishery for northern rockfish under 679.2(d)(1)(iii).
As of May 23, 2012, NMFS has determined that approximately 4,308
metric tons of northern rockfish remain unharvested in the BSAI.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the 2012 TAC of northern rockfish
in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening
directed fishing for northern rockfish in the BSAI. This will enhance
the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters in this area. The
Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) considered the
following factors in reaching this decision: (1) The current catch of
northern rockfish in the BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated
intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in participating in
this fishery.
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. The Acting 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) and 679.25(c)(1)(ii) 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 northern rockfish in
the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as
of May 23, 2012.
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 northern rockfish in the BSAI 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 to the above address until June 11, 2012.
This action is required bySec. 679.20 and Sec. 679.25 and is
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 25, 2012.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13221 Filed 5-25-12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P