Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; 2017 Sector Quota Transfer Adjustment, 13402-13404 [2017-04864]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
the Board will add the additional
fertilizer STCC that TFI now proposes.
The Board will make this correction
without additional notice and public
comment. As noted, this technical
correction to the fertilizer STCCs in 49
CFR pt. 1250 is not contested. The
correction is also non-substantive in
that it merely corrects the fertilizer
STCC list to include all of the relevant
codes in accordance with the Board’s
decision to require certain reporting on
fertilizer traffic. See November Decision,
EP 724 (Sub-No. 4), slip op. at 15.
Accordingly, for good cause shown, the
Board finds that notice and public
comment on this correction is
unnecessary. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
The change to the final rule is set
forth in the Appendix to this decision.
The only correction to the final rule
served on November 30, 2016, is the
addition of STCC 2871313 to 49 CFR
1250.2(a)(6). The Board certifies that
there is no change to its Regulatory
Flexibility or Paperwork Reduction Act
analyses in the November Decision, EP
724 (Sub-No. 4), slip op. at 24–25.
It is ordered:
1. The Board will grant the
unopposed request for a technical
correction of the final rule.
2. The final rule set forth below is
adopted and will be effective on March
21, 2017. The initial reporting date will
be March 29, 2017. Notice of the rule
adopted here will be published in the
Federal Register.
3. A copy of this decision will be
served upon the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy, Office of Advocacy, U.S.
Small Business Administration.
§ 1250.2 Railroad performance data
elements.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1250
50 CFR Part 648
Administrative practice and
procedure, Railroads, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
[Docket No. 151130999–6594–02]
Decided: March 7, 2017.
By the Board, Board Members Begeman,
Elliott, and Miller.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; 2017
Sector Quota Transfer Adjustment
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
2. In 1250.2, paragraph (a)(6) is
revised to read as follows:
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer
adjustment.
This action adjusts the
previously established 2017 Atlantic
bluefish sector transfer amount from the
recreational fishery to the commercial
fishery. Updated information from 2016
catch estimates indicate that the 2017
transfer amount may be increased,
which adjusts the 2017 bluefish
recreational harvest limit and
SUMMARY:
1. The authority citation for part 1250
continues to read as follows:
■
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
AGENCY:
PART 1250—RAILROAD
PERFORMANCE DATA REPORTING
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 1321 and 11145.
[FR Doc. 2017–04841 Filed 3–10–17; 8:45 am]
RIN 0648–XF247
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, title 49, chapter X, subchapter
D, part 1250 of the Code of Federal
Regulations is corrected as follows:
■
(a) * * *
(6) The weekly average of loaded and
empty cars, operating in normal
movement and billed to an origin or
destination, which have not moved in
48 hours or more sorted by service type
(intermodal, grain, coal, crude oil,
automotive, ethanol, fertilizer (the
following Standard Transportation
Commodity Codes (STCCs): 2871236,
2871235, 2871238, 2819454, 2812534,
2818426, 2819815, 2818170, 2871315,
2818142, 2818146, 2871244, 2819173,
2871313, and 2871451), and all other).
In order to derive the averages for the
reporting period, carriers should run a
same-time snapshot each day of the
reporting period, capturing cars that
have not moved in 48 hours or more.
The number of cars captured on the
daily snapshot for each category should
be added, and then divided by the
number of days in the reporting period.
In deriving this data, carriers should
include cars in normal service anywhere
on their system, but should not include
cars placed at a customer facility; in
constructive placement; placed for
interchange to another carrier; in bad
order status; in storage; or operating in
railroad service (e.g., ballast).
*
*
*
*
*
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commercial quota values. This action
notifies the public of these adjustments.
DATES: This action is effective March 10,
2017, through December 31, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic bluefish
specifications final rule (81 FR 51370;
August 4, 2016) that established the
initial 2017 commercial quota and
recreational harvest limit is accessible
via the Internet at www.regulations.gov.
Copies of the original specifications
document, including the Environmental
Assessment and Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (EA/IRFA), and
other supporting documents, are
available on request from Dr.
Christopher M. Moore, Executive
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, Suite 201, 800
North State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
These documents are also accessible via
the Internet at https://www.mafmc.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The regulations governing the
Atlantic bluefish fishery are found in 50
CFR 648.160 through 648.167. In August
2016, we implemented the Atlantic
bluefish fishery specifications for the
2016 through 2018 fishing years. These
specifications, consistent with the
Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management
Plan (FMP) specification setting process,
included the contingency that the
estimated sector transfer of quota for
2017 would be re-evaluated and
adjusted with realized recreational
landings from the preceding year (2016).
The process to transfer quota from the
recreational to the commercial sector of
the bluefish fishery is described in
§ 648.162(b)(2).
Final Sector Transfer and Specification
Adjustments
A transfer of quota from the
recreational fishery to the commercial
fishery is permitted under the FMP up
to a commercial fishery quota of 10.5
million lb (4,763 mt), provided the
combined expected recreational
landings and the commercial quota do
not exceed the total allowable landings
(TAL), and the recreational fishery is
not projected to exceed its harvest limit.
The initial 2017 bluefish specifications
contained an estimated sector quota
transfer based on recreational catch data
projected from available 2015
recreational landings. That transfer
amount (2,561,747 lb; 1,161 mt) was
calculated so that the initial 2017
recreational harvest limit was equal to
the expected 2015 recreational landings,
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
13MRR1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
and the final commercial quota did not
exceed 10.5 million lb, consistent with
the FMP requirement outlining the
transfer process. This resulted in an
initial 2017 commercial quota of
6,070,867 lb (2,753 mt) and an initial
2017 recreational harvest limit of
11,581,548 lb (5,253 mt). The bluefish
quota management system for the
commercial fishery has been timely and
effective at constraining catch in the
past, and no state is expected to exceed
their quota. However, recreational
bluefish catches can be more variable,
so the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council recommended that
we re-evaluate the suggested sector
quota transfer each year, consistent with
the FMP requirements, as additional,
updated recreational fishery data
become available.
The preliminary 2016 Marine
Recreational Information Program
(MRIP) catch estimates for the full year
became available in February, providing
the most recent complete recreational
data for 2016. The 2016 recreational
bluefish catch estimate (see Table 1) is
lower than the 2015 projected value
(11,581,548 lb, 5,253 mt) used to
calculate the initial 2017 transfer in the
2016–2018 bluefish specifications, so
we are adjusting the transfer amount
and resulting quotas accordingly in this
notice. Using these updated recreational
landings to project 2017 catch, we are
13403
implementing an adjusted transfer of
5,033,101 lb (2,282 mt) from the
recreational to commercial sector;
resulting in a revised harvest limit of
9,653,715 lb (4,379 mt), and a revised
commercial quota of 8,542,221 lb (3,874
mt). Consistent with the FMP protocol,
we calculated the size of the transfer so
that the 2017 recreational harvest limit
is equal to the updated 2016
recreational landings estimate, and the
final commercial quota does not exceed
10.5 million lb. The adjusted 2017
specifications are shown in Table 1.
When final data become available later
this spring, we will determine if any
adjustments to this transfer amount are
necessary.
TABLE 1—ADJUSTED 2017 ATLANTIC BLUEFISH SPECIFICATIONS
2017
lb
OFL ..........................................................................................................................................................................
ABC ..........................................................................................................................................................................
ACL ..........................................................................................................................................................................
Management Uncertainty .........................................................................................................................................
Commercial ACT .....................................................................................................................................................
Recreational ACT ....................................................................................................................................................
Commercial Discards ...............................................................................................................................................
Recreational Discards* ............................................................................................................................................
Commercial TAL ......................................................................................................................................................
Recreational TAL* ....................................................................................................................................................
Combined TAL .........................................................................................................................................................
Expected Recreational Landings .............................................................................................................................
Transfer ....................................................................................................................................................................
Commercial Quota ...................................................................................................................................................
Recreational Harvest Limit ......................................................................................................................................
mt
26,444,448
20,641,883
20,641,883
0
3,509,120
17,132,763
0
2,445,947
3,509,120
14,686,816
18,195,936
9,653,715
5,033,101
8,542,221
9,653,715
11,995
9,363
9,363
0
1,592
7,770
0
1,109
1,592
6,661
8,253
4,379
2,282
3,874
4,379
* Recreational discards and TAL have also been updated from those outlined in the 2016–2018 specifications based on updated 2016 MRIP
information.
This sector transfer is included in the
Atlantic bluefish regulations, and is
therefore consistent with the objectives
of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act.
mt). Regardless of this adjustment, and
consistent with the recommendation of
the Council, the daily recreational
possession limit for 2017 remains up to
15 fish per person, with a year-round
open recreational season.
Final Recreational Possession Limit
As a result of the revised sector
transfer of 5,033,101 lb (2,282 mt)
described above, the final, adjusted
recreational harvest limit for the 2017
bluefish fishery is 9,653,715 lb (4,379
Final State Commercial Allocations
As required by regulations and
described in § 648.162, the 2016–2018
bluefish specifications set an initial
distribution of commercial quota for
2017 among the coastal states from
Maine through Florida. Due to the
increase in the 2017 commercial quota
resulting from this sector quota transfer,
these state-by-state allocations are also
revised based on percentages specified
in the FMP. The final, adjusted state
commercial quotas for 2017 are shown
in Table 2. No states exceeded their
quota in 2016, so we are not
implementing any accountability
measures for the 2017 fishing year.
TABLE 2—FINAL 2017 BLUEFISH COMMERCIAL STATE-BY-STATE ALLOCATIONS
FMP percent
share
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
State
ME ................................................................................................................................................
NH ................................................................................................................................................
MA ................................................................................................................................................
RI .................................................................................................................................................
CT ................................................................................................................................................
NY ................................................................................................................................................
NJ .................................................................................................................................................
DE ................................................................................................................................................
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0.6685
0.4145
6.7167
6.8081
1.2663
10.3851
14.8162
1.8782
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
13MRR1
2017 Quota
kg
25,902
16,061
260,251
263,793
49,065
402,390
574,081
72,774
lb
57,105
35,408
573,755
581,563
108,170
887,118
1,265,633
160,440
13404
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 47 / Monday, March 13, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 2—FINAL 2017 BLUEFISH COMMERCIAL STATE-BY-STATE ALLOCATIONS—Continued
FMP percent
share
State
2017 Quota
kg
lb
MD ...............................................................................................................................................
VA ................................................................................................................................................
NC ................................................................................................................................................
SC ................................................................................................................................................
GA ................................................................................................................................................
FL .................................................................................................................................................
3.0018
11.8795
32.0608
0.0352
0.0095
10.0597
116,310
460,293
1,242,255
1,364
368
389,782
256,420
1,014,773
2,738,704
3,007
812
859,322
Total ......................................................................................................................................
100.0001
3,874,690
8,542,230
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR
part 648 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Dated: March 7, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–04864 Filed 3–10–17; 8:45 am]
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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PO 00000
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13402-13404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04864]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 151130999-6594-02]
RIN 0648-XF247
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish
Fishery; 2017 Sector Quota Transfer Adjustment
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer adjustment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action adjusts the previously established 2017 Atlantic
bluefish sector transfer amount from the recreational fishery to the
commercial fishery. Updated information from 2016 catch estimates
indicate that the 2017 transfer amount may be increased, which adjusts
the 2017 bluefish recreational harvest limit and commercial quota
values. This action notifies the public of these adjustments.
DATES: This action is effective March 10, 2017, through December 31,
2017.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic bluefish specifications final rule (81 FR
51370; August 4, 2016) that established the initial 2017 commercial
quota and recreational harvest limit is accessible via the Internet at
www.regulations.gov. Copies of the original specifications document,
including the Environmental Assessment and Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (EA/IRFA), and other supporting documents, are
available on request from Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive Director,
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 201, 800 North State
Street, Dover, DE 19901. These documents are also accessible via the
Internet at https://www.mafmc.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish fishery are found
in 50 CFR 648.160 through 648.167. In August 2016, we implemented the
Atlantic bluefish fishery specifications for the 2016 through 2018
fishing years. These specifications, consistent with the Atlantic
Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) specification setting process,
included the contingency that the estimated sector transfer of quota
for 2017 would be re-evaluated and adjusted with realized recreational
landings from the preceding year (2016). The process to transfer quota
from the recreational to the commercial sector of the bluefish fishery
is described in Sec. 648.162(b)(2).
Final Sector Transfer and Specification Adjustments
A transfer of quota from the recreational fishery to the commercial
fishery is permitted under the FMP up to a commercial fishery quota of
10.5 million lb (4,763 mt), provided the combined expected recreational
landings and the commercial quota do not exceed the total allowable
landings (TAL), and the recreational fishery is not projected to exceed
its harvest limit. The initial 2017 bluefish specifications contained
an estimated sector quota transfer based on recreational catch data
projected from available 2015 recreational landings. That transfer
amount (2,561,747 lb; 1,161 mt) was calculated so that the initial 2017
recreational harvest limit was equal to the expected 2015 recreational
landings,
[[Page 13403]]
and the final commercial quota did not exceed 10.5 million lb,
consistent with the FMP requirement outlining the transfer process.
This resulted in an initial 2017 commercial quota of 6,070,867 lb
(2,753 mt) and an initial 2017 recreational harvest limit of 11,581,548
lb (5,253 mt). The bluefish quota management system for the commercial
fishery has been timely and effective at constraining catch in the
past, and no state is expected to exceed their quota. However,
recreational bluefish catches can be more variable, so the Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council recommended that we re-evaluate the
suggested sector quota transfer each year, consistent with the FMP
requirements, as additional, updated recreational fishery data become
available.
The preliminary 2016 Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP)
catch estimates for the full year became available in February,
providing the most recent complete recreational data for 2016. The 2016
recreational bluefish catch estimate (see Table 1) is lower than the
2015 projected value (11,581,548 lb, 5,253 mt) used to calculate the
initial 2017 transfer in the 2016-2018 bluefish specifications, so we
are adjusting the transfer amount and resulting quotas accordingly in
this notice. Using these updated recreational landings to project 2017
catch, we are implementing an adjusted transfer of 5,033,101 lb (2,282
mt) from the recreational to commercial sector; resulting in a revised
harvest limit of 9,653,715 lb (4,379 mt), and a revised commercial
quota of 8,542,221 lb (3,874 mt). Consistent with the FMP protocol, we
calculated the size of the transfer so that the 2017 recreational
harvest limit is equal to the updated 2016 recreational landings
estimate, and the final commercial quota does not exceed 10.5 million
lb. The adjusted 2017 specifications are shown in Table 1. When final
data become available later this spring, we will determine if any
adjustments to this transfer amount are necessary.
Table 1--Adjusted 2017 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017
-------------------------------
lb mt
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL..................................... 26,444,448 11,995
ABC..................................... 20,641,883 9,363
ACL..................................... 20,641,883 9,363
Management Uncertainty.................. 0 0
Commercial ACT.......................... 3,509,120 1,592
Recreational ACT........................ 17,132,763 7,770
Commercial Discards..................... 0 0
Recreational Discards*.................. 2,445,947 1,109
Commercial TAL.......................... 3,509,120 1,592
Recreational TAL*....................... 14,686,816 6,661
Combined TAL............................ 18,195,936 8,253
Expected Recreational Landings.......... 9,653,715 4,379
Transfer................................ 5,033,101 2,282
Commercial Quota........................ 8,542,221 3,874
Recreational Harvest Limit.............. 9,653,715 4,379
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Recreational discards and TAL have also been updated from those
outlined in the 2016-2018 specifications based on updated 2016 MRIP
information.
This sector transfer is included in the Atlantic bluefish
regulations, and is therefore consistent with the objectives of the FMP
and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Final Recreational Possession Limit
As a result of the revised sector transfer of 5,033,101 lb (2,282
mt) described above, the final, adjusted recreational harvest limit for
the 2017 bluefish fishery is 9,653,715 lb (4,379 mt). Regardless of
this adjustment, and consistent with the recommendation of the Council,
the daily recreational possession limit for 2017 remains up to 15 fish
per person, with a year-round open recreational season.
Final State Commercial Allocations
As required by regulations and described in Sec. 648.162, the
2016-2018 bluefish specifications set an initial distribution of
commercial quota for 2017 among the coastal states from Maine through
Florida. Due to the increase in the 2017 commercial quota resulting
from this sector quota transfer, these state-by-state allocations are
also revised based on percentages specified in the FMP. The final,
adjusted state commercial quotas for 2017 are shown in Table 2. No
states exceeded their quota in 2016, so we are not implementing any
accountability measures for the 2017 fishing year.
Table 2--Final 2017 Bluefish Commercial State-by-State Allocations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 Quota
State FMP percent -------------------------------
share kg lb
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ME.............................................................. 0.6685 25,902 57,105
NH.............................................................. 0.4145 16,061 35,408
MA.............................................................. 6.7167 260,251 573,755
RI.............................................................. 6.8081 263,793 581,563
CT.............................................................. 1.2663 49,065 108,170
NY.............................................................. 10.3851 402,390 887,118
NJ.............................................................. 14.8162 574,081 1,265,633
DE.............................................................. 1.8782 72,774 160,440
[[Page 13404]]
MD.............................................................. 3.0018 116,310 256,420
VA.............................................................. 11.8795 460,293 1,014,773
NC.............................................................. 32.0608 1,242,255 2,738,704
SC.............................................................. 0.0352 1,364 3,007
GA.............................................................. 0.0095 368 812
FL.............................................................. 10.0597 389,782 859,322
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 100.0001 3,874,690 8,542,230
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 7, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04864 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
