Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Programs, 89900-89904 [2016-29879]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2016 / Notices
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–29778 Filed 12–12–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE808
Record of Decision for the Kalamazoo
River Natural Resources Damage
Assessment: Final Restoration Plan
and Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a
Record of Decision.
AGENCY:
The NOAA National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the
availability of the Record of Decision
(ROD) for the Kalamazoo River Natural
Resources Damage Assessment: Final
Restoration Plan and Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).
The NMFS Office of Habitat
Conservation Director signed the ROD
on November 29, 2016, which
constitutes the agency’s final decision.
ADDRESSES: Patricia A. Montanio,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
Sims, NOAA Restoration Center, 4840
South State Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan
48108–9719.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Kalamazoo River Trustees prepared the
Final Restoration Plan and
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for Restoration Resulting
from the Kalamazoo River Natural
Resource Damage Assessment (Final
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SUMMARY:
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RP/PEIS). The RP/PEIS was prepared
under the authority of Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) of 1980 and was also
developed to comply with the Federal
agency decision-making requirements of
the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (NEPA) and NOAA’s
environmental review procedures
(NOAA Administrative Order 216–6, as
preserved by NAO 216–6A). The
document was designed to solicit public
opinion on a proposed restoration
program for the Kalamazoo River
natural resource damage assessment
(NRDA). This ROD documents the
Trustees’ decision to select Alternative
C and conduct restoration within the
Kalamazoo River watershed (described
in the RP/PEIS in Section 3.2.3). This
alternative would consist of a mixture of
aquatic habitat restoration, riparian and
wetland habitat restoration, dam
removal for river and fish passage
restoration, and habitat conservation
actions in the Kalamazoo River
watershed, including potential projects
in tributaries. Through this alternative,
the Trustees could conduct restoration
actions in locations that have not been
affected by PCBs, including projects in
tributaries other than Portage Creek, and
in remediated areas that were
previously contaminated with PCBs.
This alternative also includes the two
specific projects to restore aquatic
connectivity on the Kalamazoo River by
removing dams in and near Otsego,
Michigan. The Trustees selected this
alternative since it allows the most
flexibility to meet the Trustees’
restoration objectives, both in terms of
geographic location and timing. The
scale of restoration activity that will be
implemented by the Trustees under the
RP/PEIS will depend upon the
resolution of natural resource damage
claims with the parties responsible for
poly-chlorinated biphenyl releases.
Under CERCLA, settlements received by
the Trustees, either through negotiated
or adjudicated processes, must be used
to restore, rehabilitate, replace, and/or
acquire the equivalent of those natural
resources that have been injured. The
Final RP/PEIS will guide future Trustee
decision-making regarding the
expenditure of settlements and the
implementation of restoration activities.
The NOAA RC is not soliciting
comments on the PEIS but will consider
any comments submitted that would
assist us in preparing future NEPA
documents. An electronic copy of the
PEIS is available at: https://
darrp.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/casedocuments/Final_Restoration_Plan_
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and_Programmatic_Environmental_
Impact_Statement_for_Restoration_
Resulting_from_the_Kalamazoo_River_
Natural_Resource_Damage_
Assessment.pdf. Electronic
correspondence regarding it can be
submitted to rc.compliance@noaa.gov.
Otherwise, please submit any written
comments via U.S. mail to the
responsible official named in the
ADDRESSES section.
Dated: December 7, 2016.
Carrie Selberg,
Deputy Director, Office of Habitat
Conservation, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–29792 Filed 12–12–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF038
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut
and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota
Cost Recovery Programs
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of standard prices and
fee percentage.
AGENCY:
NMFS publishes the
individual fishing quota (IFQ) standard
prices and fee percentage for cost
recovery for the IFQ Program for the
halibut and sablefish fisheries of the
North Pacific (IFQ Program). The fee
percentage for 2016 is 3.0 percent. This
action is intended to provide holders of
halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with
the 2016 standard prices and fee
percentage to calculate the required
payment for IFQ cost recovery fees due
by January 31, 2017.
DATES: Effective December 13, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl
Greene, Fee Coordinator, 907–586–7105.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
NMFS Alaska Region administers the
IFQ Program in the North Pacific. The
IFQ Program is a limited access system
authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the
Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982.
Fishing under the IFQ Program began in
March 1995. Regulations implementing
the IFQ Program are set forth at 50 CFR
part 679.
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2016 / Notices
In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act
was amended to, among other purposes,
require the Secretary of Commerce to
‘‘collect a fee to recover the actual costs
directly related to the management and
enforcement of any . . . individual
quota program.’’ This requirement was
further amended in 2006 to include
collection of the actual costs of data
collection, and to replace the reference
to ‘‘individual quota program’’ with a
more general reference to ‘‘limited
access privilege program’’ at section
304(d)(2)(A). Section 304(d)(2) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act also specifies an
upper limit on these fees, when the fees
must be collected, and where the fees
must be deposited.
On March 20, 2000, NMFS published
regulations in § 679.45 implementing
cost recovery for the IFQ Program (65
FR 14919). Under the regulations, an
IFQ permit holder must pay a cost
recovery fee for every pound of IFQ
halibut and IFQ sablefish that is landed
on his or her IFQ permit(s). The IFQ
permit holder is responsible for selfcollecting the fee for all IFQ halibut and
IFQ sablefish landings on his or her
permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is also
responsible for submitting IFQ fee
payment(s) to NMFS on or before the
due date of January 31 of the year
following the year in which the IFQ
landings were made. The total dollar
amount of the fee due is determined by
multiplying the NMFS published fee
percentage by the ex-vessel value of all
IFQ landings made on the permit(s)
during the IFQ fishing year. As required
by § 679.45(d)(1) and (d)(3)(i), NMFS
publishes this notice of the fee
percentage for the halibut and sablefish
IFQ fisheries in the Federal Register
during or before the last quarter of each
year.
Standard Prices
The fee is based on the sum of all
payments made to fishermen for the sale
of the fish during the year. This
includes any retro-payments (e.g.,
bonuses, delayed partial payments,
post-season payments) made to the IFQ
permit holder for previously landed IFQ
halibut or sablefish.
For purposes of calculating IFQ cost
recovery fees, NMFS distinguishes
between two types of ex-vessel value:
Actual and standard. Actual ex-vessel
value is the amount of all compensation,
monetary or non-monetary, that an IFQ
permit holder received as payment for
his or her IFQ fish sold. Standard exvessel value is the default value used to
calculate the fee. IFQ permit holders
have the option of using actual ex-vessel
value if they can satisfactorily document
it; otherwise, the standard ex-vessel
value is used.
Section 679.45(b)(3)(iii) requires the
Regional Administrator to publish IFQ
standard prices during the last quarter
of each calendar year. These standard
prices are used, along with estimates of
IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings,
to calculate standard ex-vessel values.
The standard prices are described in
U.S. dollars per IFQ equivalent pound
for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish
landings made during the year.
According to § 679.2, IFQ equivalent
pound(s) means the weight amount,
recorded in pounds, and calculated as
round weight for sablefish and headed
and gutted weight for halibut, for an IFQ
landing. The weight of halibut in
pounds landed as guided angler fish is
converted to IFQ equivalent pound(s) as
specified in § 300.65(c) of this title.
NMFS calculates the standard prices to
closely reflect the variations in the
actual ex-vessel values of IFQ halibut
and IFQ sablefish landings by month
and port or port-group. The standard
prices for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish
are listed in the tables that follow the
next section. Data from ports are
combined as necessary to protect
confidentiality.
Fee Percentage
NMFS calculates the fee percentage
each year according to the factors and
methods described at § 679.45(d)(2).
NMFS determines the fee percentage
that applies to landings made in the
previous year by dividing the total costs
directly related to the management, data
collection, and enforcement of the IFQ
Program (management costs) during the
previous year by the total standard exvessel value of IFQ halibut and IFQ
sablefish landings made during the
previous year (fishery value). NMFS
captures the actual management costs
associated with certain management,
data collection, and enforcement
functions through an established
accounting system that allows staff to
track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and
procurement. NMFS calculates the
fishery value as described under the
section, Standard Prices.
Using the fee percentage formula
described above, the estimated
percentage of management costs to
fishery value for the 2016 calendar year
is 3.1 percent of the standard ex-vessel
value; except the fee percentage amount
must not exceed 3.0 percent pursuant
section 304(d)(2)(B) of the MagnusonStevens Act. Therefore, the 2016 fee
percentage is set at 3.0 percent. An IFQ
permit holder is to use the fee
percentage of 3.0 percent to calculate
his or her fee for IFQ equivalent
pound(s) landed during the 2016 halibut
and sablefish IFQ fishing season. An
IFQ permit holder is responsible for
submitting the 2016 IFQ fee payment to
NMFS on or before January 31, 2017.
Payment must be made in accordance
with the payment methods set forth in
§ 679.45(a)(4). NMFS no longer accepts
credit card information by phone or inperson for fee payments. NMFS has
determined that the practice of
accepting credit card information by
phone or in-person no longer meets
agency standards for protection of
personal financial information (81 FR
23645; April 22, 2016).
The 2016 fee percentage of 3.0 percent
is unchanged from the 2015 fee
percentage of 3.0 percent (80 FR 78172;
December 16, 2015). Between 2015 and
2016, there was a 5 percent increase in
management costs. NMFS incurred
higher costs in 2015 due to additional
costs to maintain permit databases;
however, other costs decreased,
therefore the change in overall
management costs was limited. The
value of halibut and sablefish harvests
under the IFQ Program also increased
by 3 percent from 2015 to 2016. This
increase in value of the fishery offset
some of the increase in management
costs, which limited the change in the
fee percentage between 2015 and 2016.
TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2016 IFQ SEASON
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[Registered Buyer Standard Ex–Vessel Prices by Landing Location for 2015 IFQ Season] 1
Halibut
standard
ex-vessel
price
Landing
location
Period
ending
Cordova ..................................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
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Sablefish
Standard
ex-vessel
price
-
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TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2016 IFQ SEASON—
Continued
[Registered Buyer Standard Ex–Vessel Prices by Landing Location for 2015 IFQ Season 1]
Landing
location
Homer .....................................................................
Ketchikan ................................................................
Kodiak .....................................................................
Petersburg ..............................................................
Seward ....................................................................
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Sitka ........................................................................
Port Group Bering Sea 2 .........................................
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Halibut
standard
ex-vessel
price
Period
ending
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June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
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Sablefish
Standard
ex-vessel
price
7.17
6.69
6.99
7.32
7.20
7.27
6.96
6.96
6.96
6.51
6.72
6.77
6.77
6.69
6.76
7.15
7.15
7.15
6.40
6.52
6.51
6.54
6.70
6.85
6.78
6.78
6.78
6.65
6.63
6.97
6.57
6.69
6.88
7.21
6.96
6.96
6.96
6.48
6.45
6.45
6.04
6.10
6.08
6.17
6.17
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3.97
4.21
4.17
4.39
4.68
4.68
4.68
5.20
5.20
5.20
4.01
4.05
3.95
4.36
4.38
4.49
4.49
4.49
3.94
4.02
4.87
4.87
4.87
4.19
5.14
4.64
4.82
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2016 / Notices
89903
TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2016 IFQ SEASON—
Continued
[Registered Buyer Standard Ex–Vessel Prices by Landing Location for 2015 IFQ Season] 1
Landing
location
Halibut
standard
ex-vessel
price
Period
ending
Port Group Central Gulf 3 ........................................
Port Group Southeast 4 ...........................................
All-Alaska 5 ..............................................................
All 6 ..........................................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
March 31 ................................................................
April 30 ...................................................................
May 31 ...................................................................
June 30 ..................................................................
July 31 ....................................................................
August 31 ...............................................................
September 30 .........................................................
October 31 .............................................................
November 30 ..........................................................
Sablefish
Standard
ex-vessel
price
6.17
6.17
6.58
6.63
6.76
7.10
7.14
7.03
6.91
6.91
6.91
6.56
6.56
6.60
6.68
6.76
6.95
6.92
6.92
6.92
6.55
6.57
6.66
6.82
6.79
6.80
6.72
6.72
6.72
6.55
6.57
6.82
6.79
6.80
6.72
6.72
6.72
6.72
4.82
4.82
3.95
3.91
4.03
4.09
4.32
4.36
4.75
4.75
4.75
3.89
3.94
4.38
4.51
4.68
4.74
5.13
5.13
5.13
3.90
3.97
4.14
4.25
4.56
4.48
4.91
4.91
4.91
3.90
3.97
4.14
4.25
4.56
4.48
4.91
4.91
4.94
1 Note: In many instances prices have not been reported to comply with confidentiality guidelines that prevent price reports when there are
fewer than three processors operating in a location during a month.
2 Landing locations Within Port Group—Bering Sea: Adak, Akutan, Akutan Bay, Atka, Bristol Bay, Chefornak, Dillingham, Captains Bay, Dutch
Harbor, Egegik, Ikatan Bay, Hooper Bay, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk, Mekoryuk, Naknek, Nome, Quinhagak, Savoonga, St. George, St.
Lawrence, St. Paul, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tununak, Beaver Inlet, Ugadaga Bay, Unalaska.
3 Landing Locations Within Port Group—Central Gulf of Alaska: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Alitak, Chignik, Cordova, Eagle River, False Pass,
West Anchor Cove, Girdwood, Chinitna Bay, Halibut Cove, Homer, Kasilof, Kenai, Kenai River, Alitak, Kodiak, Port Bailey, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Old
Harbor, Palmer, Sand Point, Seldovia, Resurrection Bay, Seward, Valdez, Whittier.
4 Landing Locations Within Port Group—Southeast Alaska: Angoon, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Edna Bay, Elfin Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hollis, Hoonah, Hyder, Auke Bay, Douglas, Tee Harbor, Juneau, Kake, Ketchikan, Klawock, Metlakatla, Pelican, Petersburg, Portage Bay, Port Alexander, Port Graham, Port Protection, Point Baker, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Yakutat.
5 Landing Locations Within Port Group—All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 2, 3, and 4. For California: Eureka, Fort Bragg, Other
California. For Oregon: Astoria, Aurora, Lincoln City, Newport, Warrenton, Other Oregon. For Washington: Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham,
Nagai Island, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Ilwaco, La Conner, Port Angeles, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Rainier, Fox Island, Mercer Island, Seattle, Standwood, Other Washington. For Canada: Port Hardy, Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Haines Junction, Other Canada.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 8, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–29879 Filed 12–12–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 13, 2016 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF048
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific
Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel
Prices
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of standard exvessel prices.
AGENCY:
NMFS publishes standard exvessel prices for groundfish and halibut
for the calculation of the observer fee
under the North Pacific Observer
Program (Observer Program). This
notice is intended to provide
information to vessel owners,
processors, registered buyers, and other
participants about the standard exvessel prices that will be used to
calculate the observer fee for landings of
groundfish and halibut made in 2017.
NMFS will send invoices to processors
and registered buyers subject to the fee
by January 15, 2018. Fees are due to
NMFS on or before February 15, 2018.
DATES: Effective January 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general questions about the observer fee
and standard ex-vessel prices, contact
Sally Bibb at 907–586–7389. For
questions about the fee billing process,
contact Carl Greene at 907–586–7003.
Additional information about the
Observer Program is available on NMFS
Alaska Region’s Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/
observer-program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
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Background
The Observer Program deploys
NMFS-certified observers (observers)
who collect information necessary for
the conservation and management of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish
and halibut fisheries. Fishery managers
use information collected by observers
to monitor quotas, manage groundfish
and prohibited species catch, and
document and reduce fishery
interactions with protected resources.
Scientists use observer-collected
information for stock assessments and
marine ecosystem research.
The Observer Program is divided into
two observer coverage categories—the
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partial observer coverage category and
the full observer coverage category. All
groundfish and halibut vessels and
processors are included in one of these
two categories. The partial observer
coverage category includes vessels and
processors that are not required to have
an observer at all times; the full observer
coverage category includes vessels and
processors required to have all of their
fishing and processing operations off
Alaska observed. Vessels and processors
in the full coverage category arrange and
pay for observer services from a
permitted observer provider. Observer
coverage for the partial coverage
category is funded through a system of
fees based on the ex-vessel value of
groundfish and halibut.
Landings Subject to Observer Coverage
Fee
The objective of the observer fee
assessment is to levy a fee on all
landings accruing against a Federal total
allowable catch (TAC) for groundfish or
a commercial halibut quota made by
vessels that are subject to Federal
regulations and not included in the full
coverage category. A fee is only assessed
on landings of groundfish from vessels
designated on a Federal Fisheries Permit
or from vessels landing individual
fishing quota (IFQ) or community
development quota (CDQ) halibut or
IFQ sablefish. Within the subset of
vessels subject to the observer fee, only
landings accruing against an IFQ
allocation or a Federal TAC for
groundfish are included in the fee
assessment. A table with additional
information about which landings are
and are not subject to the observer fee
is in NMFS regulations at § 679.55(c)
and is on page 2 of an informational
bulletin titled ‘‘Observer Fee
Collection’’ on the NMFS Alaska Region
Web site at
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/
default/files/observerfees.pdf.
Fee Determination
A fee equal to 1.25 percent of the exvessel value is assessed on the landings
of groundfish and halibut subject to the
fee. Ex-vessel value is determined by
multiplying the standard price for
groundfish by the round weight
equivalent for each species, gear, and
port combination, and the standard
price for halibut by the headed and
gutted weight equivalent. NMFS will
assess each landing report submitted via
eLandings and each manual landing
entered into the IFQ landing database
and determine if the landing is subject
to the observer fee and, if it is, which
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Sfmt 4703
groundfish in the landing are subject to
the observer fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut
in a landing subject to the observer fee
will be assessed as part of the fee. For
any groundfish or halibut subject to the
observer fee, NMFS will apply the
appropriate standard ex-vessel prices for
the species, gear type, and port, and
calculate the observer fee associated
with the landing.
Processors and registered buyers
access the landing-specific, observer fee
information through NMFS Web
Application(https://alaskafisheries.
noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login) or
eLandings (https://elandings.alaska
.gov/). For IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut,
and IFQ sablefish, this information is
available as soon as the IFQ report is
submitted. For groundfish and sablefish
that accrue against the fixed gear
sablefish CDQ reserve, the observer fee
information is generally available
within 24 hours of receipt of the report.
The time lag on the groundfish and
sablefish CDQ fee information is
necessary because NMFS must process
the landings report through the catch
accounting system computer programs
to determine if all of the groundfish in
the landings are subject to the observer
fee. Information about which groundfish
in a landing accrues against a Federal
TAC is not immediately available from
the processor’s data entry into
eLandings.
The intent of the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council and
NMFS is for vessel owners to split the
fee 50/50 with the processor or
registered buyer. While vessels and
processors are responsible for their
portion of the fee, the owner of a
shoreside processor or a stationary
floating processor and the registered
buyer are responsible for collecting the
fee, including the vessel’s portion of the
fee, and remitting the full fee to NMFS.
NMFS will send invoices to
processors and registered buyers for
their total fee, which is determined by
the sum of the fees reported for each
landing for that processor or registered
buyer for the prior calendar year, by
January 15, 2018. Processors and
registered buyers must pay the fees to
NMFS using NMFS Web Application by
February 15, 2018. Processors and
registered buyers have access to this
system through a User ID and password
issued by NMFS. Instructions for
electronic payment will be provided on
the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov and on
E:\FR\FM\13DEN1.SGM
13DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89900-89904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29879]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF038
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North
Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery
Programs
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of standard prices and fee percentage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS publishes the individual fishing quota (IFQ) standard
prices and fee percentage for cost recovery for the IFQ Program for the
halibut and sablefish fisheries of the North Pacific (IFQ Program). The
fee percentage for 2016 is 3.0 percent. This action is intended to
provide holders of halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with the 2016
standard prices and fee percentage to calculate the required payment
for IFQ cost recovery fees due by January 31, 2017.
DATES: Effective December 13, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Greene, Fee Coordinator, 907-586-
7105.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NMFS Alaska Region administers the IFQ Program in the North
Pacific. The IFQ Program is a limited access system authorized by the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982. Fishing
under the IFQ Program began in March 1995. Regulations implementing the
IFQ Program are set forth at 50 CFR part 679.
[[Page 89901]]
In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was amended to, among other
purposes, require the Secretary of Commerce to ``collect a fee to
recover the actual costs directly related to the management and
enforcement of any . . . individual quota program.'' This requirement
was further amended in 2006 to include collection of the actual costs
of data collection, and to replace the reference to ``individual quota
program'' with a more general reference to ``limited access privilege
program'' at section 304(d)(2)(A). Section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act also specifies an upper limit on these fees, when the fees
must be collected, and where the fees must be deposited.
On March 20, 2000, NMFS published regulations in Sec. 679.45
implementing cost recovery for the IFQ Program (65 FR 14919). Under the
regulations, an IFQ permit holder must pay a cost recovery fee for
every pound of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish that is landed on his or
her IFQ permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is responsible for self-
collecting the fee for all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings on
his or her permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is also responsible for
submitting IFQ fee payment(s) to NMFS on or before the due date of
January 31 of the year following the year in which the IFQ landings
were made. The total dollar amount of the fee due is determined by
multiplying the NMFS published fee percentage by the ex-vessel value of
all IFQ landings made on the permit(s) during the IFQ fishing year. As
required by Sec. 679.45(d)(1) and (d)(3)(i), NMFS publishes this
notice of the fee percentage for the halibut and sablefish IFQ
fisheries in the Federal Register during or before the last quarter of
each year.
Standard Prices
The fee is based on the sum of all payments made to fishermen for
the sale of the fish during the year. This includes any retro-payments
(e.g., bonuses, delayed partial payments, post-season payments) made to
the IFQ permit holder for previously landed IFQ halibut or sablefish.
For purposes of calculating IFQ cost recovery fees, NMFS
distinguishes between two types of ex-vessel value: Actual and
standard. Actual ex-vessel value is the amount of all compensation,
monetary or non-monetary, that an IFQ permit holder received as payment
for his or her IFQ fish sold. Standard ex-vessel value is the default
value used to calculate the fee. IFQ permit holders have the option of
using actual ex-vessel value if they can satisfactorily document it;
otherwise, the standard ex-vessel value is used.
Section 679.45(b)(3)(iii) requires the Regional Administrator to
publish IFQ standard prices during the last quarter of each calendar
year. These standard prices are used, along with estimates of IFQ
halibut and IFQ sablefish landings, to calculate standard ex-vessel
values. The standard prices are described in U.S. dollars per IFQ
equivalent pound for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings made during
the year. According to Sec. 679.2, IFQ equivalent pound(s) means the
weight amount, recorded in pounds, and calculated as round weight for
sablefish and headed and gutted weight for halibut, for an IFQ landing.
The weight of halibut in pounds landed as guided angler fish is
converted to IFQ equivalent pound(s) as specified in Sec. 300.65(c) of
this title. NMFS calculates the standard prices to closely reflect the
variations in the actual ex-vessel values of IFQ halibut and IFQ
sablefish landings by month and port or port-group. The standard prices
for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish are listed in the tables that follow
the next section. Data from ports are combined as necessary to protect
confidentiality.
Fee Percentage
NMFS calculates the fee percentage each year according to the
factors and methods described at Sec. 679.45(d)(2). NMFS determines
the fee percentage that applies to landings made in the previous year
by dividing the total costs directly related to the management, data
collection, and enforcement of the IFQ Program (management costs)
during the previous year by the total standard ex-vessel value of IFQ
halibut and IFQ sablefish landings made during the previous year
(fishery value). NMFS captures the actual management costs associated
with certain management, data collection, and enforcement functions
through an established accounting system that allows staff to track
labor, travel, contracts, rent, and procurement. NMFS calculates the
fishery value as described under the section, Standard Prices.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of management costs to fishery value for the 2016 calendar
year is 3.1 percent of the standard ex-vessel value; except the fee
percentage amount must not exceed 3.0 percent pursuant section
304(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Therefore, the 2016 fee
percentage is set at 3.0 percent. An IFQ permit holder is to use the
fee percentage of 3.0 percent to calculate his or her fee for IFQ
equivalent pound(s) landed during the 2016 halibut and sablefish IFQ
fishing season. An IFQ permit holder is responsible for submitting the
2016 IFQ fee payment to NMFS on or before January 31, 2017. Payment
must be made in accordance with the payment methods set forth in Sec.
679.45(a)(4). NMFS no longer accepts credit card information by phone
or in-person for fee payments. NMFS has determined that the practice of
accepting credit card information by phone or in-person no longer meets
agency standards for protection of personal financial information (81
FR 23645; April 22, 2016).
The 2016 fee percentage of 3.0 percent is unchanged from the 2015
fee percentage of 3.0 percent (80 FR 78172; December 16, 2015). Between
2015 and 2016, there was a 5 percent increase in management costs. NMFS
incurred higher costs in 2015 due to additional costs to maintain
permit databases; however, other costs decreased, therefore the change
in overall management costs was limited. The value of halibut and
sablefish harvests under the IFQ Program also increased by 3 percent
from 2015 to 2016. This increase in value of the fishery offset some of
the increase in management costs, which limited the change in the fee
percentage between 2015 and 2016.
Table 1--Registered Buyer Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Landing Location for the 2016 IFQ Season
[Registered Buyer Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Landing Location for 2015 IFQ Season] \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish
Landing location Period ending Halibut standard Standard ex-
ex-vessel price vessel price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cordova.................................... March 31..................... - -
April 30..................... - -
May 31....................... - -
[[Page 89902]]
June 30...................... - -
July 31...................... 7.17 -
August 31.................... - -
September 30................. - -
October 31................... - -
November 30.................. - -
Homer...................................... March 31..................... - -
April 30..................... 6.69 3.97
May 31....................... 6.99 4.21
June 30...................... 7.32 4.17
July 31...................... 7.20 -
August 31.................... 7.27 4.39
September 30................. 6.96 4.68
October 31................... 6.96 4.68
November 30.................. 6.96 4.68
Ketchikan.................................. March 31..................... 6.51 -
April 30..................... 6.72 -
May 31....................... 6.77 -
June 30...................... 6.77 -
July 31...................... 6.69 -
August 31.................... 6.76 -
September 30................. 7.15 5.20
October 31................... 7.15 5.20
November 30.................. 7.15 5.20
Kodiak..................................... March 31..................... 6.40 -
April 30..................... 6.52 4.01
May 31....................... 6.51 4.05
June 30...................... 6.54 3.95
July 31...................... 6.70 4.36
August 31.................... 6.85 4.38
September 30................. 6.78 4.49
October 31................... 6.78 4.49
November 30.................. 6.78 4.49
Petersburg................................. March 31..................... - -
April 30..................... - -
May 31....................... 6.65 -
June 30...................... 6.63 -
July 31...................... - -
August 31.................... 6.97 -
September 30................. - -
October 31................... - -
November 30.................. - -
Seward..................................... March 31..................... 6.57 3.94
April 30..................... 6.69 -
May 31....................... 6.88 4.02
June 30...................... 7.21 -
July 31...................... - -
August 31.................... - -
September 30................. 6.96 4.87
October 31................... 6.96 4.87
November 30.................. 6.96 4.87
Sitka...................................... March 31..................... 6.48 -
April 30..................... - -
May 31....................... 6.45 -
June 30...................... 6.45 -
July 31...................... - -
August 31.................... - -
September 30................. - -
October 31................... - -
November 30.................. - -
Port Group Bering Sea \2\.................. March 31..................... - -
April 30..................... - -
May 31....................... 6.04 -
June 30...................... 6.10 4.19
July 31...................... 6.08 5.14
August 31.................... 6.17 4.64
September 30................. 6.17 4.82
[[Page 89903]]
October 31................... 6.17 4.82
November 30.................. 6.17 4.82
Port Group Central Gulf \3\................ March 31..................... 6.58 3.95
April 30..................... 6.63 3.91
May 31....................... 6.76 4.03
June 30...................... 7.10 4.09
July 31...................... 7.14 4.32
August 31.................... 7.03 4.36
September 30................. 6.91 4.75
October 31................... 6.91 4.75
November 30.................. 6.91 4.75
Port Group Southeast \4\................... March 31..................... 6.56 3.89
April 30..................... 6.56 3.94
May 31....................... 6.60 4.38
June 30...................... 6.68 4.51
July 31...................... 6.76 4.68
August 31.................... 6.95 4.74
September 30................. 6.92 5.13
October 31................... 6.92 5.13
November 30.................. 6.92 5.13
All-Alaska \5\............................. March 31..................... 6.55 3.90
April 30..................... 6.57 3.97
May 31....................... 6.66 4.14
June 30...................... 6.82 4.25
July 31...................... 6.79 4.56
August 31.................... 6.80 4.48
September 30................. 6.72 4.91
October 31................... 6.72 4.91
November 30.................. 6.72 4.91
All \6\.................................... March 31..................... 6.55 3.90
April 30..................... 6.57 3.97
May 31....................... 6.82 4.14
June 30...................... 6.79 4.25
July 31...................... 6.80 4.56
August 31.................... 6.72 4.48
September 30................. 6.72 4.91
October 31................... 6.72 4.91
November 30.................. 6.72 4.94
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Note: In many instances prices have not been reported to comply with confidentiality guidelines that prevent
price reports when there are fewer than three processors operating in a location during a month.
\2\ Landing locations Within Port Group--Bering Sea: Adak, Akutan, Akutan Bay, Atka, Bristol Bay, Chefornak,
Dillingham, Captains Bay, Dutch Harbor, Egegik, Ikatan Bay, Hooper Bay, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk,
Mekoryuk, Naknek, Nome, Quinhagak, Savoonga, St. George, St. Lawrence, St. Paul, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tununak,
Beaver Inlet, Ugadaga Bay, Unalaska.
\3\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--Central Gulf of Alaska: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Alitak, Chignik,
Cordova, Eagle River, False Pass, West Anchor Cove, Girdwood, Chinitna Bay, Halibut Cove, Homer, Kasilof,
Kenai, Kenai River, Alitak, Kodiak, Port Bailey, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Old Harbor, Palmer, Sand Point, Seldovia,
Resurrection Bay, Seward, Valdez, Whittier.
\4\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--Southeast Alaska: Angoon, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Edna Bay, Elfin
Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hollis, Hoonah, Hyder, Auke Bay, Douglas, Tee Harbor, Juneau, Kake,
Ketchikan, Klawock, Metlakatla, Pelican, Petersburg, Portage Bay, Port Alexander, Port Graham, Port
Protection, Point Baker, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Yakutat.
\5\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 2, 3, and 4. For
California: Eureka, Fort Bragg, Other California. For Oregon: Astoria, Aurora, Lincoln City, Newport,
Warrenton, Other Oregon. For Washington: Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham, Nagai Island, Edmonds, Everett,
Granite Falls, Ilwaco, La Conner, Port Angeles, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Rainier, Fox Island, Mercer
Island, Seattle, Standwood, Other Washington. For Canada: Port Hardy, Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Vancouver,
Haines Junction, Other Canada.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 8, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-29879 Filed 12-12-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
