Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Rationalization Program; 2015 Cost Recovery, 78400-78402 [2014-30488]

Download as PDF 78400 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Notices Dated: December 19, 2014. Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Appendix—Scope of Investigation The scope of this investigation is passenger vehicle and light truck tires. Passenger vehicle and light truck tires are new pneumatic tires, of rubber, with a passenger vehicle or light truck size designation. Tires covered by this investigation may be tubetype, tubeless, radial, or non-radial, and they may be intended for sale to original equipment manufacturers or the replacement market. Subject tires have, at the time of importation, the symbol ‘‘DOT’’ on the sidewall, certifying that the tire conforms to applicable motor vehicle safety standards. Subject tires may also have the following prefixes or suffix in their tire size designation, which also appears on the sidewall of the tire: Prefix designations: P—Identifies a tire intended primarily for service on passenger cars LT—Identifies a tire intended primarily for service on light trucks Suffix letter designations: LT—Identifies light truck tires for service on trucks, buses, trailers, and multipurpose passenger vehicles used in nominal highway service All tires with a ‘‘P’’ or ‘‘LT’’ prefix, and all tires with an ‘‘LT’’ suffix in their sidewall markings are covered by this investigation regardless of their intended use. In addition, all tires that lack a ‘‘P’’ or ‘‘LT’’ prefix or suffix in their sidewall markings, as well as all tires that include any other prefix or suffix in their sidewall markings, are included in the scope, regardless of their intended use, as long as the tire is of a size that is among the numerical size designations listed in the passenger car section or light truck section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, as updated annually, unless the tire falls within one of the specific exclusions set out below. Passenger vehicle and light truck tires, whether or not attached to wheels or rims, are included in the scope. However, if a subject tire is imported attached to a wheel or rim, only the tire is covered by the scope. Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are the following types of tires: (1) racing car tires; such tires do not bear the symbol ‘‘DOT’’ on the sidewall and may be marked with ‘‘ZR’’ in size designation; (2) new pneumatic tires, of rubber, of a size that is not listed in the passenger car section or light truck section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book; (3) pneumatic tires, of rubber, that are not new, including recycled and retreaded tires; (4) non-pneumatic tires, such as solid rubber tires; (5) tires designed and marketed exclusively as temporary use spare tires for passenger vehicles which, in addition, exhibit each of the following physical characteristics: (a) the size designation and load index combination molded on the tire’s sidewall VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:42 Dec 29, 2014 Jkt 235001 are listed in Table PCT–1B (‘‘T’’ Type Spare Tires for Temporary Use on Passenger Vehicles) of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, (b) the designation ‘‘T’’ is molded into the tire’s sidewall as part of the size designation, and, (c) the tire’s speed rating is molded on the sidewall, indicating the rated speed in MPH or a letter rating as listed by Tire and Rim Association Year Book, and the rated speed is 81 MPH or a ‘‘M’’ rating; (6) tires designed and marketed exclusively for specialty tire (ST) use which, in addition, exhibit each of the following physical characteristics: * (a) the size designation molded on the tire’s sidewall is listed in the ST sections of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, (b) the designation ‘‘ST’’ is molded into the tire’s sidewall as part of the size designation, (c) the tire incorporates a warning, prominently molded on the sidewall, that the tire is ‘‘For Trailer Service Only’’ or ‘‘For Trailer Use Only’’, (d) the load index molded on the tire’s sidewall meets or exceeds those load indexes listed in the Tire and Rim Association Year Book for the relevant ST tire size, and (e) the tire’s speed rating is molded on the sidewall, indicating the rated speed in MPH or a letter rating as listed by TRA, and the rated speed does not exceed 81 MPH or an ‘‘M’’ rating; (7) tires designed and marketed exclusively for off-road use and which, in addition, exhibit each of the following physical characteristics: (a) the size designation and load index combination molded on the tire’s sidewall are listed in the off-the-road, agricultural, industrial or ATV section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, (b) in addition to any size designation markings, the tire incorporates a warning, prominently molded on the sidewall, that the tire is ‘‘Not For Highway Service’’ or ‘‘Not for Highway Use’’, (c) the tire’s speed rating is molded on the sidewall, indicating the rated speed in MPH or a letter rating as listed by the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, and the rated speed does not exceed 55 MPH or a ‘‘G’’ rating, and (d) the tire features a recognizable off-road tread design. The products covered by the investigation are currently classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 4011.10.10.10, 4011.10.10.20, 4011.10.10.30, 4011.10.10.40, 4011.10.10.50, 4011.10.10.60, 4011.10.10.70, 4011.10.50.00, 4011.20.10.05, and 4011.20.50.10. Tires meeting the scope description may also enter under the following HTSUS subheadings: 4011.99.45.10, 4011.99.45.50, 4011.99.85.10, 4011.99.85.50, 8708.70.45.45, 8708.70.45.60, 8708.70.60.30, 8708.70.60.45, and 8708.70.60.60. While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and for * We are currently suspending requirements (6)(d) and (e); therefore, tires entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption that meet exclusion requirements (6)(a)–(c) above are excluded from the scope of this investigation. PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 customs purposes, the written description of the subject merchandise is dispositive. [FR Doc. 2014–30544 Filed 12–29–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD691 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Rationalization Program; 2015 Cost Recovery National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; 2015 cost recovery fee percentages and mothership (MS) pricing. AGENCY: This action provides participants in the Pacific coast groundfish trawl rationalization program with the 2015 fee percentages and MS pricing needed to calculate the required payments for cost recovery fees due in 2015. For calendar year 2015, NMFS announces the following fee percentages by sector: 3.0 percent for the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program, 1.2 percent for the MS Coop Program, 0.0 percent for the Catcher Processor (C/ P) Coop Program. For 2015, the MS pricing to be used as a proxy by the C/P Coop Program is: $0.13/lb for Pacific whiting. DATES: Effective January 1, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Biegel, Cost Recovery Program Coordinator, (503) 231–6291, fax (503) 872–2737, email Christopher.Biegel@NOAA.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires NMFS to collect fees to recover the costs directly related to the management, data collection, and enforcement of a limited access privilege program (LAPP) (16 U.S.C. 1854(d)(2)), also called ‘‘cost recovery.’’ The Pacific coast groundfish trawl rationalization program is a LAPP, implemented in 2011, and consists of three sectors: the Shorebased IFQ Program, the MS Coop Program, and the C/P Coop Program. In accordance with the MSA, and based on a recommended structure and methodology developed in coordination with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, NMFS collects SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Notices mandatory fees of up to three percent of the ex-vessel value of groundfish by sector (Shorebased IFQ Program, MS Coop Program, and C/P Coop Program). NMFS collects the fees to recover the incremental costs of management, data collection, and enforcement of the trawl rationalization program. Beginning in January 2014, NMFS implemented cost recovery for the trawl rationalization program. Additional background can be found in the cost recovery proposed and final rules, 78 FR 7371 (February 1, 2013) and 78 FR 75268 (December 11, 2013), respectively. The details of cost recovery for the groundfish trawl rationalization program are in regulation at 50 CFR 660.115 (trawl fishery cost recovery program), § 660.140 (Shorebased IFQ Program), § 660.150 (MS Coop Program), and § 660.160 (C/P Coop Program). The cost recovery program regulations require NMFS to announce, in a Federal Register document, the next year’s applicable fee percentages and the applicable MS pricing for the C/P Coop Program. NMFS calculates and announces the fee percentage after each fiscal year ends, and before the fee would go into effect on January 1 of the following year. NMFS calculated the fee percentages by sector using the best available information. For 2015, the fee percentages by sector, which must not exceed three percent of the ex-vessel value of fish harvested, are: • 3.0 percent for the Shorebased IFQ Program, • 1.2 percent for the MS Coop Program, • 0.0 percent for the C/P Coop Program. To calculate the fee percentages, NMFS used the formula specified in regulation at § 660.115(b)(1), where the fee percentage by sector equals the lower of three percent or direct program costs (DPC) for that sector divided by total ex-vessel value (V) for that sector multiplied by 100. ‘‘DPC’’, as defined in the regulations at § 660.115(b)(1)(i), are the actual incremental costs for the previous fiscal year directly related to the management, data collection, and enforcement of each sector (Shorebased IFQ Program, MS Coop Program, and C/P Coop Program). Actual incremental costs means those net costs that would not have been incurred but for the implementation of the trawl rationalization program, including both increased costs for new requirements of the program and reduced costs resulting from any program efficiencies. Similar to 2014, NMFS only included the cost of employees’ time (salary and benefits) spent working on the program in calculating DPC rather than all incremental costs of management, data collection, and enforcement. ‘‘V’’, as specified at § 660.115(b)(1)(ii), is the total ex-vessel value for each sector from the previous calendar year. The ex-vessel value for each sector is further described in the definition section at § 660.111, and includes the total ex-vessel value for all groundfish species. For 2015, NMFS used the exvessel value for 2013 as reported in Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN) from electronic fish tickets to determine V. The electronic fish ticket data in PacFIN is for the Shorebased IFQ Program. Therefore, the ex-vessel value for both the MS Coop Program and the C/P Coop Program is a proxy based on the Shorebased IFQ Program ex-vessel price and on the retained catch estimates (weight) from the observer data for the MS and C/P Coop Programs. Due to fluctuations in actual ex-vessel values and amounts landed, the amount NMFS collects each year in cost recovery fees can be over or under NMFS’ costs from the previous fiscal year. Accordingly, the cost recovery regulations at § 660.115(b)(1)(i) state that if the amount of fees collected by NMFS is greater or less than the actual net incremental costs incurred, the DPC will be adjusted accordingly for the calculation of the fee percentage in the following year. For the IFQ and MS sectors, NMFS estimates the total fees that will be collected based on the collections up to the date of determination, as landings data have not been finalized when an adjustment is determined. However, NMFS has final data on the pounds of Pacific whiting harvested by the C/P Coop Program for 2014 and the price per pound that the C/P Coop Program participants used to calculate their 2014 fee (i.e., $ 0.14 per pound as the ‘‘MS pricing’’ for 2014 reported in 78 FR 75268, 12/11/2013). With these data, NMFS can determine the fees that should be collected from C/ P Coop Program participants. An adjustment ensures that the aggregate fees being collected are appropriate. In 2014 it is estimated that both the MS Coop and C/P Coop fisheries will have remitted fee amounts greater than the FY 2013 DPC used to calculate the 2014 fee percentages. As such the 2015 DPC will be adjusted as follows: FY 2013 DPC used for 2014 calculation mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Shorebased IFQ Program ............................................................................................... MS Coop Program ........................................................................................................... C/P Coop Program .......................................................................................................... The DPC used to calculate the 2015 fee percentage for the Shorebased IFQ Program was already above the 3 percent cap before the adjustment and therefore the adjustment for 2015 would have no effect on the 2015 fee percentage and is not included. The adjustments for the MS Coop Program and C/P Coop program are included, and reduce the DPC values shown below in the fee percentage calculations for those two sectors. The adjustment in the C/P Coop program costs shows that NMFS anticipates collecting $15,295.71 more than the adjusted costs in 2014 resulting VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:42 Dec 29, 2014 Jkt 235001 $1,877,752.00 274,936.05 176,460.05 in a fee percentage of -0.1. Because a fee percentage cannot be negative, NMFS is setting the 2015 C/P Coop program cost recovery fee at 0.0 percent and will deduct $15,295.71 from the 2015 DPC to adjust the 2016 fee percentage. The calculations, using the adjusted DPCs as described above, are as follows: Shorebased IFQ Program—3.0% = the lower of 3% or ($2,028,859.04/ $51,557,998) × 100 MS Coop Program—1.2% = the lower of 3% or ($233,300.78/$14,759,147) × 100 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 78401 2014 Fees collected $1,356,285.28 331,004.07 350,387.25 Adjustment for 2015 N/A ($56,068.02) ($173,927.20) C/P Coop Program— ¥0.1% = the lower of 3% or ($¥15,295.71/$22,233,966) × 100. MS pricing is the MS Coop Program’s average price per pound from the previous complete calendar year. The MS pricing will be used by the C/P Coop Program to determine their fee amount due (MS pricing multiplied by the value of the aggregate pounds of all groundfish species harvested by the vessel registered to a C/P-endorsed limited entry trawl permit, multiplied by the C/P fee percentage, equals the fee amount due). Similar to 2014, MS pricing for cost recovery is based on the E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1 78402 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES average price per pound of Pacific whiting as reported in PacFIN from the Shorebased IFQ Program. For 2015 MS pricing, NMFS used data from calendar year 2013. In other words, data from the IFQ fishery is used as a proxy for the MS average price per pound to determine the ‘‘MS pricing’’ used in the calculation for the C/P sector’s fee amount due. In future years, NMFS may use values derived from those reported on the MS Coop Program cost recovery form from the previous calendar year, depending on what NMFS determines is the best information available. NMFS has calculated the 2015 MS pricing to be used as a proxy by the C/P Coop Program as: $0.13/lb for Pacific whiting. Cost recovery fees are submitted to NMFS by Fish buyers via Pay.gov (https://www.pay.gov/paygov/). Fish buyers registered with Pay.gov can login in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Fish buyers not registered with Pay.gov can go to the cost recovery forms directly from the Web site below. Click on the link to Pacific Coast Groundfish Cost Recovery for your sector (IFQ, MS, or C/P): https:// pay.gov/public/search/ global?searchString =+groundfish+cost+recovery &formToken=6c80d7e6-a44c-4e9f-a4cceb7aa5000820. As stated in the preamble to the cost recovery proposed and final rules, in the spring of each year, NMFS will release an annual report documenting the details and data used for the above calculations. The report will include information such as the fee percentage calculation, program costs, and exvessel value by sector. The annual report for fishing year 2013 and calculation for 2014 is available at: https:// www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ publications/fishery_management/ trawl_program/analytical%20docs/cost_ recovery_annual_report_01.pdf. The annual report for fishing year 2014 and calculation for 2015 will be made available to the public electronically via the NMFS West Coast Region Groundfish Web site: https:// www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ fisheries/groundfish_catch_shares/ index.html. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 23, 2014. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–30488 Filed 12–24–14; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:42 Dec 29, 2014 Jkt 235001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Dated: December 22, 2014. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–30413 Filed 12–29–14; 8:45 am] RIN 0648–XD686 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice of public meetings. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) will hold a Crab Modeling Workshop and a Crab Plan Team meeting. The workshop will be held January 13–15, 2015 with a Crab Plan Team meeting January 16, 2015. SUMMARY: The workshop will be held January 13–15, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day; The Crab Plan Team meeting will be held January 16, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. DATES: Both meetings will be held at the Alaska Fishery Science Center AFSC, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Bldg 4, Traynor Room, Seattle, WA. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501–2252. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Stram; telephone: (907)271–2809. The agenda includes: Modeling Workshop: Work session on the development of the generic crab modeling framework (Gmacs). Goals are to communicate with and receive feedback from stock assessment authors on the development and application of the modeling framework for BSAI crab stocks. The Crab Plan Team meeting will review the stock assessment for Norton Sound Red King Crab and recommend the Overfishing Levels (OFL) and Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) for 2015/16. The Agenda is subject to change, and the latest version will be posted at https://www.npfmc.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen at (907) 271–2809 at least 7 working days prior to the meeting date. PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD662 Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 39 assessment webinars for HMS Smoothhound Sharks. AGENCY: The SEDAR 39 assessment of HMS Smoothhound Sharks will consist of a series of webinars. This notice is for a webinar associated with the Assessment portion of the SEDAR process. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The assessment webinar for SEDAR 39 will be held on Friday, January 16, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., central time. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to the public. Those interested in participating should contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below) to request an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar. SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; phone: (843) 571–4366; email: julie.neer@ safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78400-78402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30488]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD691


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Rationalization Program; 2015 
Cost Recovery

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

ACTION: Notice; 2015 cost recovery fee percentages and mothership (MS) 
pricing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action provides participants in the Pacific coast 
groundfish trawl rationalization program with the 2015 fee percentages 
and MS pricing needed to calculate the required payments for cost 
recovery fees due in 2015.
    For calendar year 2015, NMFS announces the following fee 
percentages by sector: 3.0 percent for the Shorebased Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program, 1.2 percent for the MS Coop Program, 0.0 
percent for the Catcher Processor (C/P) Coop Program.
    For 2015, the MS pricing to be used as a proxy by the C/P Coop 
Program is: $0.13/lb for Pacific whiting.

DATES: Effective January 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Biegel, Cost Recovery 
Program Coordinator, (503) 231-6291, fax (503) 872-2737, email 
Christopher.Biegel@NOAA.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson[hyphen]Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires NMFS to collect fees to 
recover the costs directly related to the management, data collection, 
and enforcement of a limited access privilege program (LAPP) (16 U.S.C. 
1854(d)(2)), also called ``cost recovery.'' The Pacific coast 
groundfish trawl rationalization program is a LAPP, implemented in 
2011, and consists of three sectors: the Shorebased IFQ Program, the MS 
Coop Program, and the C/P Coop Program. In accordance with the MSA, and 
based on a recommended structure and methodology developed in 
coordination with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, NMFS collects

[[Page 78401]]

mandatory fees of up to three percent of the ex[hyphen]vessel value of 
groundfish by sector (Shorebased IFQ Program, MS Coop Program, and C/P 
Coop Program). NMFS collects the fees to recover the incremental costs 
of management, data collection, and enforcement of the trawl 
rationalization program. Beginning in January 2014, NMFS implemented 
cost recovery for the trawl rationalization program. Additional 
background can be found in the cost recovery proposed and final rules, 
78 FR 7371 (February 1, 2013) and 78 FR 75268 (December 11, 2013), 
respectively. The details of cost recovery for the groundfish trawl 
rationalization program are in regulation at 50 CFR 660.115 (trawl 
fishery cost recovery program), Sec.  660.140 (Shorebased IFQ Program), 
Sec.  660.150 (MS Coop Program), and Sec.  660.160 (C/P Coop Program).
    The cost recovery program regulations require NMFS to announce, in 
a Federal Register document, the next year's applicable fee percentages 
and the applicable MS pricing for the C/P Coop Program. NMFS calculates 
and announces the fee percentage after each fiscal year ends, and 
before the fee would go into effect on January 1 of the following year. 
NMFS calculated the fee percentages by sector using the best available 
information. For 2015, the fee percentages by sector, which must not 
exceed three percent of the ex-vessel value of fish harvested, are:
     3.0 percent for the Shorebased IFQ Program,
     1.2 percent for the MS Coop Program,
     0.0 percent for the C/P Coop Program.
    To calculate the fee percentages, NMFS used the formula specified 
in regulation at Sec.  660.115(b)(1), where the fee percentage by 
sector equals the lower of three percent or direct program costs (DPC) 
for that sector divided by total ex-vessel value (V) for that sector 
multiplied by 100.
    ``DPC'', as defined in the regulations at Sec.  660.115(b)(1)(i), 
are the actual incremental costs for the previous fiscal year directly 
related to the management, data collection, and enforcement of each 
sector (Shorebased IFQ Program, MS Coop Program, and C/P Coop Program). 
Actual incremental costs means those net costs that would not have been 
incurred but for the implementation of the trawl rationalization 
program, including both increased costs for new requirements of the 
program and reduced costs resulting from any program efficiencies. 
Similar to 2014, NMFS only included the cost of employees' time (salary 
and benefits) spent working on the program in calculating DPC rather 
than all incremental costs of management, data collection, and 
enforcement.
    ``V'', as specified at Sec.  660.115(b)(1)(ii), is the total ex-
vessel value for each sector from the previous calendar year. The ex-
vessel value for each sector is further described in the definition 
section at Sec.  660.111, and includes the total ex-vessel value for 
all groundfish species. For 2015, NMFS used the ex-vessel value for 
2013 as reported in Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN) from 
electronic fish tickets to determine V. The electronic fish ticket data 
in PacFIN is for the Shorebased IFQ Program. Therefore, the ex-vessel 
value for both the MS Coop Program and the C/P Coop Program is a proxy 
based on the Shorebased IFQ Program ex-vessel price and on the retained 
catch estimates (weight) from the observer data for the MS and C/P Coop 
Programs.
    Due to fluctuations in actual ex-vessel values and amounts landed, 
the amount NMFS collects each year in cost recovery fees can be over or 
under NMFS' costs from the previous fiscal year. Accordingly, the cost 
recovery regulations at Sec.  660.115(b)(1)(i) state that if the amount 
of fees collected by NMFS is greater or less than the actual net 
incremental costs incurred, the DPC will be adjusted accordingly for 
the calculation of the fee percentage in the following year. For the 
IFQ and MS sectors, NMFS estimates the total fees that will be 
collected based on the collections up to the date of determination, as 
landings data have not been finalized when an adjustment is determined. 
However, NMFS has final data on the pounds of Pacific whiting harvested 
by the C/P Coop Program for 2014 and the price per pound that the C/P 
Coop Program participants used to calculate their 2014 fee (i.e., $ 
0.14 per pound as the ``MS pricing'' for 2014 reported in 78 FR 75268, 
12/11/2013). With these data, NMFS can determine the fees that should 
be collected from C/P Coop Program participants. An adjustment ensures 
that the aggregate fees being collected are appropriate. In 2014 it is 
estimated that both the MS Coop and C/P Coop fisheries will have 
remitted fee amounts greater than the FY 2013 DPC used to calculate the 
2014 fee percentages. As such the 2015 DPC will be adjusted as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            FY 2013 DPC used
                                                                for 2014          2014 Fees      Adjustment for
                                                               calculation        collected           2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shorebased IFQ Program....................................     $1,877,752.00     $1,356,285.28               N/A
MS Coop Program...........................................        274,936.05        331,004.07      ($56,068.02)
C/P Coop Program..........................................        176,460.05        350,387.25     ($173,927.20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The DPC used to calculate the 2015 fee percentage for the 
Shorebased IFQ Program was already above the 3 percent cap before the 
adjustment and therefore the adjustment for 2015 would have no effect 
on the 2015 fee percentage and is not included. The adjustments for the 
MS Coop Program and C/P Coop program are included, and reduce the DPC 
values shown below in the fee percentage calculations for those two 
sectors.
    The adjustment in the C/P Coop program costs shows that NMFS 
anticipates collecting $15,295.71 more than the adjusted costs in 2014 
resulting in a fee percentage of -0.1. Because a fee percentage cannot 
be negative, NMFS is setting the 2015 C/P Coop program cost recovery 
fee at 0.0 percent and will deduct $15,295.71 from the 2015 DPC to 
adjust the 2016 fee percentage. The calculations, using the adjusted 
DPCs as described above, are as follows:

Shorebased IFQ Program--3.0% = the lower of 3% or ($2,028,859.04/
$51,557,998) x 100
MS Coop Program--1.2% = the lower of 3% or ($233,300.78/$14,759,147) x 
100
C/P Coop Program-- -0.1% = the lower of 3% or ($-15,295.71/$22,233,966) 
x 100.
    MS pricing is the MS Coop Program's average price per pound from 
the previous complete calendar year. The MS pricing will be used by the 
C/P Coop Program to determine their fee amount due (MS pricing 
multiplied by the value of the aggregate pounds of all groundfish 
species harvested by the vessel registered to a C/P-endorsed limited 
entry trawl permit, multiplied by the C/P fee percentage, equals the 
fee amount due). Similar to 2014, MS pricing for cost recovery is based 
on the

[[Page 78402]]

average price per pound of Pacific whiting as reported in PacFIN from 
the Shorebased IFQ Program. For 2015 MS pricing, NMFS used data from 
calendar year 2013. In other words, data from the IFQ fishery is used 
as a proxy for the MS average price per pound to determine the ``MS 
pricing'' used in the calculation for the C/P sector's fee amount due. 
In future years, NMFS may use values derived from those reported on the 
MS Coop Program cost recovery form from the previous calendar year, 
depending on what NMFS determines is the best information available. 
NMFS has calculated the 2015 MS pricing to be used as a proxy by the C/
P Coop Program as: $0.13/lb for Pacific whiting.
    Cost recovery fees are submitted to NMFS by Fish buyers via Pay.gov 
(https://www.pay.gov/paygov/). Fish buyers registered with Pay.gov can 
login in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Fish buyers not 
registered with Pay.gov can go to the cost recovery forms directly from 
the Web site below. Click on the link to Pacific Coast Groundfish Cost 
Recovery for your sector (IFQ, MS, or C/P): https://pay.gov/public/search/global?searchString=+groundfish+cost+recovery&formToken=6c80d7e6-a44c-4e9f-a4cc-eb7aa5000820.
    As stated in the preamble to the cost recovery proposed and final 
rules, in the spring of each year, NMFS will release an annual report 
documenting the details and data used for the above calculations. The 
report will include information such as the fee percentage calculation, 
program costs, and ex-vessel value by sector. The annual report for 
fishing year 2013 and calculation for 2014 is available at: https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/fishery_management/trawl_program/analytical%20docs/cost_recovery_annual_report_01.pdf.
    The annual report for fishing year 2014 and calculation for 2015 
will be made available to the public electronically via the NMFS West 
Coast Region Groundfish Web site: https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish_catch_shares/.

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

    Dated: December 23, 2014.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-30488 Filed 12-24-14; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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