Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 53076-53077 [2013-21018]
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53076
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 167 / Wednesday, August 28, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited
in this document is available on the
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov at
Docket No. FWS–R9–ES–2011–0073 or
upon request from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Authority
We are taking this action under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.).
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 424
Administrative practice and
procedure, Endangered and threatened
species.
Regulation Promulgation
1. The authority citation for part 424
is revised to read as follows:
■
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
RIN 0648–XC831
§ 424.19 Impact analysis and exclusions
from critical habitat.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P; 3520–22–P
[Docket No. 121018563–3148–02]
2. Revise § 424.19 to read as follows:
(a) At the time of publication of a
proposed rule to designate critical
habitat, the Secretary will make
available for public comment the draft
economic analysis of the designation.
The draft economic analysis will be
summarized in the Federal Register
notice of the proposed designation of
critical habitat.
(b) Prior to finalizing the designation
of critical habitat, the Secretary will
consider the probable economic,
national security, and other relevant
impacts of the designation upon
proposed or ongoing activities. The
Secretary will consider impacts at a
scale that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, and will compare the
impacts with and without the
designation. Impacts may be
qualitatively or quantitatively described.
(c) The Secretary has discretion to
exclude any particular area from the
critical habitat upon a determination
that the benefits of such exclusion
outweigh the benefits of specifying the
particular area as part of the critical
habitat. In identifying those benefits, in
addition to the mandatory consideration
of impacts conducted pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this section, the
Secretary may assign the weight given to
any benefits relevant to the designation
of critical habitat. The Secretary,
however, will not exclude any
particular area if, based on the best
scientific and commercial data
available, the Secretary determines that
14:52 Aug 27, 2013
[FR Doc. 2013–20994 Filed 8–27–13; 8:45 am]
50 CFR Part 679
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Dated: May 14, 2013.
Rachel Jacobson,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish
and Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Department of
the Interior.
Dated: August 20, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
performing the functions and duties of the
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
PART 424—[AMENDED]
■
the failure to designate that area as
critical habitat will result in the
extinction of the species concerned.
Jkt 229001
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.
AGENCY:
NMFS is reallocating the
projected unused amounts of Pacific cod
from vessels using jig gear and catcher
vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 meters)
length overall (LOA) using hook-andline gear to catcher vessels less than 60
feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-andline or pot gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area. This
action is necessary to allow the 2013
total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be
harvested.
DATES: Effective August 23, 2013,
through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2013 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) specified for vessels using
jig gear in the BSAI is 3,251 metric tons
(mt) as established by the final 2013 and
2014 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813,
March 1, 2013). The Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional
Administrator) has determined that jig
vessels will not be able to harvest 2,500
mt of the remaining 2013 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 2,500 mt of Pacific
cod to catcher vessels less than 60 feet
(18.3 meters(m)) LOA using hook-andline or pot gear.
The 2013 Pacific cod TAC specified
for catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear
in the BSAI is 463 mt as established by
the final 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013). The
Regional Administrator has determined
that catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear
will not be able to harvest 450 mt of the
remaining 2013 Pacific cod TAC
allocated to those vessels under
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3). Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A),
NMFS apportions 450 mt of Pacific cod
to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3
m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific
cod included in the final 2013 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013) are
revised as follows: 751 mt for vessels
using jig gear, 13 mt for catcher vessels
greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m)
LOA using hook-and-line gear, and
7,577 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
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 other sectors to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
E:\FR\FM\28AUR1.SGM
28AUR1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 167 / Wednesday, August 28, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES
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
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:52 Aug 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
publish a notice providing time for
public comment because the most
recent, relevant data only became
available as of August 21, 2013.
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.
PO 00000
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53077
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: August 23, 2013.
Kelly Denit,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–21018 Filed 8–23–13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 28, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53076-53077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21018]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 121018563-3148-02]
RIN 0648-XC831
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific
cod from vessels using jig gear and catcher vessels greater than 60
feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line
or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.
This action is necessary to allow the 2013 total allowable catch of
Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Effective August 23, 2013, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (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 2013 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for
vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 3,251 metric tons (mt) as
established by the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013). The Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that jig
vessels will not be able to harvest 2,500 mt of the remaining 2013
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 2,500 mt of Pacific cod to
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters(m)) LOA using hook-and-
line or pot gear.
The 2013 Pacific cod TAC specified for catcher vessels greater than
or equal to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI is 463 mt
as established by the final 2013 and 2014 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013). The Regional
Administrator has determined that catcher vessels greater than or equal
to 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear will not be able to harvest 450
mt of the remaining 2013 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels
under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), NMFS apportions 450 mt of Pacific cod to catcher
vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear.
The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final
2013 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (78 FR 13813,
March 1, 2013) are revised as follows: 751 mt for vessels using jig
gear, 13 mt for catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3
m) LOA using hook-and-line gear, and 7,577 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 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 other
sectors to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA
[[Page 53077]]
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 August 21, 2013.
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: August 23, 2013.
Kelly Denit,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-21018 Filed 8-23-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
