Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit Reduction for Vermilion Snapper, 45207 [2017-20792]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 187 / Thursday, September 28, 2017 / Rules and Regulations
concerns about complying with these
requirements by the compliance date.
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have the processes already in place.
Programs that do not have processes
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30, 2018, to comply with the
requirements on background checks at
45 CFR 1302.90(b) and the requirement
to participate in their states’ QRIS at 45
CFR 1302.53(b)(2).
Dated: September 6, 2017.
Steven Wagner,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and
Families.
Approved: September 6, 2017.
Thomas E. Price,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–20499 Filed 9–27–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 130312235–3658–02]
RIN 0648–XF683
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Resources of the South
Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit
Reduction for Vermilion Snapper
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit
reduction.
AGENCY:
NMFS reduces the
commercial trip limit for vermilion
snapper in or from the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) of the South
Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted
weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight.
This trip limit reduction is necessary to
protect the South Atlantic vermilion
snapper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m.,
local time, October 2, 2017, until 12:01
a.m., local time, January 1, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email:
mary.vara@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
snapper-grouper fishery in the South
Atlantic includes vermilion snapper and
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:07 Sep 27, 2017
Jkt 241001
is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council prepared
the FMP. The FMP is implemented by
NMFS under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations
at 50 CFR part 622.
The commercial ACL (commercial
quota) for vermilion snapper in the
South Atlantic is divided into two 6month time periods, January through
June, and July through December. For
the July 1 through December 31, 2017,
fishing season, the commercial quota is
388,703 lb (176,313 kg), gutted weight,
431,460 lb (195,707 kg), round weight
(50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(ii)(D)). As
specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(iii),
any unused portion of the commercial
quota from the January through June
2017 fishing season will be added to the
commercial quota for the July through
December 2017 fishing season.
Accordingly, NMFS determined that
20,379 lb (9,407 kg), round weight, of
the commercial quota was not harvested
in the January through June 2017 fishing
season, and NMFS added that to the
July through December commercial
quota.
Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS
is required to reduce the commercial
trip limit for vermilion snapper from
1,000 lb (454 kg), gutted weight, 1,110
lb (503 kg), round weight, to 500 lb (227
kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg),
round weight, when 75 percent of the
fishing season commercial quota is
reached or projected to be reached, by
filing a notification to that effect with
the Office of the Federal Register. Based
on current information, NMFS has
determined that 75 percent of the
commercial quota for the July through
December 2017 fishing season for
vermilion snapper (including the
January through June unused quota) was
reached by September 19, 2017.
Accordingly, NMFS is reducing the
commercial trip limit for vermilion
snapper to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted
weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight,
in or from the South Atlantic EEZ at
12:01 a.m., local time, on October 2,
2017. This reduced commercial trip
limit will remain in effect until the start
of the next commercial fishing season
on January 1, 2018, or until the
commercial quota is reached and the
commercial sector closes, whichever
occurs first.
PO 00000
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45207
Classification
The Regional Administrator,
Southeast Region, NMFS, has
determined this temporary rule is
necessary for the conservation and
management of South Atlantic
vermilion snapper and is consistent
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR
622.191(a)(6)(ii) and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
These measures are exempt from the
procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act because the temporary rule is issued
without opportunity for prior notice and
comment.
This action responds to the best
scientific information available. The
Assistant Administrator for NOAA
Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to
immediately implement this
commercial trip limit reduction
constitutes good cause to waive the
requirements to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth in 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice
and opportunity for public comment on
this temporary rule is unnecessary and
contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary, because the
rule establishing the trip limit and trip
limit reduction has already been subject
to notice and comment, and all that
remains is to notify the public of the trip
limit reduction. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment is
contrary to the public interest, because
any delay in reducing the commercial
trip limit could result in the commercial
quota being exceeded. There is a need
to immediately implement this action to
protect the vermilion snapper resource,
since the capacity of the fishing fleet
allows for rapid harvest of the
commercial quota. Prior notice and
opportunity for public comment on this
action would require time and increase
the probability that the commercial
sector could exceed its quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the
AA also finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 25, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–20792 Filed 9–25–17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\28SER1.SGM
28SER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 45207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20792]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 130312235-3658-02]
RIN 0648-XF683
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit
Reduction for Vermilion Snapper
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; trip limit reduction.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper
in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to
500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight. This
trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the South Atlantic
vermilion snapper resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, October 2, 2017,
until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: mary.vara@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery in the South
Atlantic includes vermilion snapper and is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared
the FMP. The FMP is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
The commercial ACL (commercial quota) for vermilion snapper in the
South Atlantic is divided into two 6-month time periods, January
through June, and July through December. For the July 1 through
December 31, 2017, fishing season, the commercial quota is 388,703 lb
(176,313 kg), gutted weight, 431,460 lb (195,707 kg), round weight (50
CFR 622.190(a)(4)(ii)(D)). As specified in 50 CFR 622.190(a)(4)(iii),
any unused portion of the commercial quota from the January through
June 2017 fishing season will be added to the commercial quota for the
July through December 2017 fishing season. Accordingly, NMFS determined
that 20,379 lb (9,407 kg), round weight, of the commercial quota was
not harvested in the January through June 2017 fishing season, and NMFS
added that to the July through December commercial quota.
Under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii), NMFS is required to reduce the
commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper from 1,000 lb (454 kg),
gutted weight, 1,110 lb (503 kg), round weight, to 500 lb (227 kg),
gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight, when 75 percent of the
fishing season commercial quota is reached or projected to be reached,
by filing a notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal
Register. Based on current information, NMFS has determined that 75
percent of the commercial quota for the July through December 2017
fishing season for vermilion snapper (including the January through
June unused quota) was reached by September 19, 2017. Accordingly, NMFS
is reducing the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper to 500 lb
(227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight, in or from the
South Atlantic EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 2, 2017. This
reduced commercial trip limit will remain in effect until the start of
the next commercial fishing season on January 1, 2018, or until the
commercial quota is reached and the commercial sector closes, whichever
occurs first.
Classification
The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined
this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of
South Atlantic vermilion snapper and is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.191(a)(6)(ii) and is exempt
from review under Executive Order 12866.
These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without
opportunity for prior notice and comment.
This action responds to the best scientific information available.
The Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA) finds that the need
to immediately implement this commercial trip limit reduction
constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set
forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice and opportunity for
public comment on this temporary rule is unnecessary and contrary to
the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary, because the rule
establishing the trip limit and trip limit reduction has already been
subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the
public of the trip limit reduction. Prior notice and opportunity for
public comment is contrary to the public interest, because any delay in
reducing the commercial trip limit could result in the commercial quota
being exceeded. There is a need to immediately implement this action to
protect the vermilion snapper resource, since the capacity of the
fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial quota. Prior
notice and opportunity for public comment on this action would require
time and increase the probability that the commercial sector could
exceed its quota.
For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 25, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20792 Filed 9-25-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
