Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 2015 Management Measures; Correction, 46852 [2015-19268]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19268]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 150316270-5662-02]
RIN 0648-XD843


Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 
2015 Management Measures; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: On May 5, 2015, NMFS published a final rule to implement 
fishery management measures for the 2015 ocean salmon fisheries off the 
coast of the states of Washington, Oregon, and California under the 
jurisdiction of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (Council). 
This correcting amendment changes the date of an area closure in the 
recreational salmon fishery that was incorrect in the original rule; 
this will make the Federal rule consistent with State regulations.

DATES: This correction is effective August 10, 2015, until the 
effective date of the 2016 management measures, as published in the 
Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Mundy at 206-526-4323.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Need for Correction

    On May 5, 2015, NMFS published a final rule (80 FR 25611) that 
implemented the fishery management measures for the 2015 ocean salmon 
fisheries off the coasts of the states of Washington, Oregon, and 
California under the jurisdiction of the (Council). On page 25620, in 
the first column, under the subheading ``--Queets River to Leadbetter 
Point (Westpoint Subarea),'' in the second paragraph, fifth sentence, 
an incorrect date was provided for the closure of the Grays Harbor 
Control Zone. Under Washington State regulations, the Grays Harbor 
Control Zone is closed beginning the second Monday in August. The 
Federal fishery management measures for the 2015 ocean salmon fisheries 
were intended to be consistent with the Washington State regulations 
and to include the same closing date. In 2015, the second Monday in 
August is August 10. However, the date for the second Monday in August 
in 2014 (August 11) was inadvertently left in the management measures 
for 2015, as originally published. To be consistent with the state 
regulations, as was intended, the correct date of the Grays Harbor 
Control Zone closure in 2015 is August 10, 2015. This rule corrects the 
closure date for the Grays Harbor Control Zone in 2015, from ``August 
11'' to ``August 10.'' This correction was discussed during an inseason 
consultation among NMFS, the Council, Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Salmon Advisory 
Subpanel, and Salmon Technical Team on July 21, 2015. Also, the date is 
correct in state regulations. Therefore, this correction is anticipated 
by the public and the regulatory agencies and its implementation will 
cause no harm.

Correction

    In the Federal Register of May 5, 2015 (80 FR 25611), on page 
25620, under the subheading ``--Queets River to Leadbetter Point 
(Westport Subarea)'', the second paragraph, fifth sentence is corrected 
to read as follows:
    ``Grays Harbor Control Zone closed beginning August 10 (C.4.b).''

Classification

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries (AA) finds there is good cause to waive prior notice and an 
opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment 
would be unnecessary and contrary to public interest. Notice and 
comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because 
this action corrects an inadvertent error in regulations for a fishery 
that opened on July 1, and immediate notice of the error and correction 
is necessary to prevent confusion among participants in the fishery 
that could result from the existing conflict between state regulations 
and the final rule. This error was called to NMFS' attention on July 
21, 2015. To effectively correct the error, this correction must be 
done as soon as possible prior to August 10, the date when the Grays 
Harbor Control Zone should be closed. There is not sufficient time for 
a notice and comment rulemaking prior to August 10. In addition, this 
action makes only a minor change to the dates of the fishery.
    This correction will not affect the results of analyses conducted 
to support management decisions in the salmon fishery nor change the 
total catch of salmon. No change in operating practices in the fishery 
is required. For the same reasons, the AA has determined that good 
cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d). Because prior notice and an opportunity for public 
comment are not required to be provided for this rule by 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 not applicable. Accordingly, 
no Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is required for this rule and none 
has been prepared.
    This final rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 773-773k; 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 31, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19268 Filed 8-5-15; 8:45 am]
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