Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 57162-57163 [2017-26044]

Download as PDF 57162 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES Public Law 104–13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507. The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents are as follows: OMB Control Number: 3060–0298. OMB Approval Date: September 20, 2016. OMB Expiration Date: September 30, 2019. Title: Part 61, Tariffs (Other than Tariff Review Plan) (TRP). Form Number: N/A. Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities. Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,840 respondents; 4,277 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 30 hours–50 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion, annual, biennial, and one-time reporting requirements. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 151–155, 201– 203, 208, 251–271, 403, 502, and 503 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Total Annual Burden: 156,080 hours. Total Annual Cost: $1,307,670. Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s). Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Respondents are not being asked to submit confidential information to the Commission. If the Commission requests respondents to submit information which respondents believe is confidential, respondents may request confidential treatment of such information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission’s rules. Needs and Uses: On March 23, 2016 the Commission released the Rate of Return Order, FCC 16–33, which reformed universal service for rate-ofreturn local exchange carriers (LECs). These reforms require approximately 95 rate-of-return LECs to make one-time tariff filings and NECA to make two tariff filings with the necessary support materials outside the normal tariff filing period. Part 61 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR part 61, prescribes the framework for the initial establishment of and subsequent revisions to tariffs. The information collected through the carriers’ tariffs and supporting documentation is used by the Commission and state commissions to determine whether the services are offered in a just and reasonable manner. OMB Control Number: 3060–0400. OMB Approval Date: September 20, 2016. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:52 Dec 01, 2017 Jkt 244001 OMB Expiration Date: September 30, 2019. Title: Part 61, Tariff Review Plan (TRP). Form Number: N/A. Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities. Number of Respondents and Responses: 2,840 respondents; 5,437 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours–53 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion, annual, biennial, and one-time reporting requirements. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 201, 202, 203, and 251(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Total Annual Burden: 66,000 hours. Total Annual Cost: No cost. Privacy Impact Assessment: No impact(s). Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: Respondents are not being asked to submit confidential information to the Commission. If the Commission requests respondents to submit information which respondents believe is confidential, respondents may request confidential treatment of such information under 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission’s rules. Needs and Uses: On March 23, 2016 the Commission released the Rate of Return Order, FCC 16–33, which reformed universal service for rate-ofreturn local exchange carriers (LECs). These reforms require rate-of-return LECs to make tariff filings with the necessary support materials outside the normal tariff filing period. Sections 201, 202, and 203 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, require common carriers to establish just and reasonable charges, practices, and regulations for their interstate telecommunications services. For services that are still covered under section 203, tariff schedules containing charges, rates, rules, and regulations must be filed with the Commission. Part 61 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR part 61, prescribes the framework for the establishment of and subsequent revisions to tariffs. Certain LECs are required to submit a biennial or annual Tariff Review Plan (TRP) in partial fulfillment of cost support material required by part 61. The Commission developed the TRP to minimize reporting burdens on reporting incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs). TRPs set forth the summary material ILECs file to support revisions to their interstate access service tariffs. For those services still requiring cost PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 support, TRPs assist the Commission in determining whether ILEC access charges are just and reasonable as required under the Act. Federal Communications Commission. Katura Jackson, Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–25949 Filed 12–1–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] RIN 0648–XF859 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. AGENCY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from trawl catcher vessels (3,083 metric tons (mt)), American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors (205 mt), and jig vessels (94 mt) to hook-andline catcher/processors (2,732 mt) and pot catcher/processors (650 mt) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. SUMMARY: Effective November 29, 2017through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the BSAI specified for trawl catcher is 47,246 metric tons (mt), DATES: E:\FR\FM\04DER1.SGM 04DER1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with RULES for AFA trawl catcher/processors is 4,917 mt, and for jig vessels is 107 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) and reallocations (82 FR 47162, October 11, 2017, 82 FR 43503, September 18, 2017 and 82 FR 41899, September 5, 2017). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that trawl catcher vessels will not be able to harvest 3,083 mt of the remaining 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9), The Regional Administrator has determined that AFA trawl catcher/processors will not be able to harvest 205 mt of the remaining 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(7). The Regional Administrator has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 94 mt of the remaining 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii), taking into account the capabilities of the sectors to harvest reallocated amounts of Pacific cod, and following the hierarchies set forth in § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates 2,732 mt of Pacific cod to hook-and-line VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:52 Dec 01, 2017 Jkt 244001 catcher/processors and 650 mt to pot catcher/processors. The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) and two inseason adjustments (82 FR 8905, February 1, 2017 and 82 FR 41899, September 5, 2017) are revised as follows: 44,163 mt for trawl catcher vessels, 4,712 for AFA trawl catcher/ processors, 13 mt for jig vessels, 106,444 mt for hook-and-line catcher/processors, and 4,844 mt pot catcher/processors. Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the reallocation of Pacific cod specified from trawl catcher vessels, AFA catcher/processors, and jig gear to hook-and-line catcher/processors and PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 57163 pot catcher/processors in the BSAI management area. Since most of these fisheries are currently open, it is important to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of November 21, 2017. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. This action is required by § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 29, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–26044 Filed 11–29–17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\04DER1.SGM 04DER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57162-57163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26044]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 161020985-7181-02]
RIN 0648-XF859


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from trawl catcher vessels (3,083 metric tons (mt)), American 
Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors (205 mt), and jig vessels 
(94 mt) to hook-and-line catcher/processors (2,732 mt) and pot catcher/
processors (650 mt) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2017 total allowable 
catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective November 29, 2017through 2400 hours, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), December 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) according to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in 
accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 
CFR part 679.
    The 2017 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the BSAI 
specified for trawl catcher is 47,246 metric tons (mt),

[[Page 57163]]

for AFA trawl catcher/processors is 4,917 mt, and for jig vessels is 
107 mt as established by the final 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications 
for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) and 
reallocations (82 FR 47162, October 11, 2017, 82 FR 43503, September 
18, 2017 and 82 FR 41899, September 5, 2017). The Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that trawl 
catcher vessels will not be able to harvest 3,083 mt of the remaining 
2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(9), The Regional Administrator has determined that 
AFA trawl catcher/processors will not be able to harvest 205 mt of the 
remaining 2017 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(7). The Regional Administrator has determined that 
jig vessels will not be able to harvest 94 mt of the remaining 2017 
Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1).
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii), taking into 
account the capabilities of the sectors to harvest reallocated amounts 
of Pacific cod, and following the hierarchies set forth in Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), NMFS reallocates 
2,732 mt of Pacific cod to hook-and-line catcher/processors and 650 mt 
to pot catcher/processors.
    The harvest specifications for Pacific cod included in the final 
2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (82 FR 11826, 
February 27, 2017) and two inseason adjustments (82 FR 8905, February 
1, 2017 and 82 FR 41899, September 5, 2017) are revised as follows: 
44,163 mt for trawl catcher vessels, 4,712 for AFA trawl catcher/
processors, 13 mt for jig vessels, 106,444 mt for hook-and-line 
catcher/processors, and 4,844 mt pot catcher/processors.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from 
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and 
would delay the reallocation of Pacific cod specified from trawl 
catcher vessels, AFA catcher/processors, and jig gear to hook-and-line 
catcher/processors and pot catcher/processors in the BSAI management 
area. Since most of these fisheries are currently open, it is important 
to immediately inform the industry as to the revised allocations. 
Immediate notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct 
and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan 
for the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the 
fishing fleet as well as processors. NMFS was unable to publish a 
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, 
relevant data only became available as of November 21, 2017.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: November 29, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26044 Filed 11-29-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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