Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Programs, 60379-60382 [2017-27336]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 20, 2017 / Notices
included a thorough evaluation of the
potential range of environmental effects
that could result from the various
restoration approaches and techniques
analyzed in the PDARP; (2) the analysis
of the environmental consequences of
those approaches and techniques in the
PDARP remains valid; (3) the effects of
the restoration approaches and
techniques, including the project
selected for further planning and
environmental review, evaluated in this
SRP/EA are within the range of impacts
evaluated in the PDARP; and (4) any
new information regarding the
environmental consequences of the
restoration approaches and techniques,
including the projects selected for
further planning and environmental
review, evaluated within this SRP/EA
are within the range of and consistent
with the environmental impacts
identified and analyzed within the
PDARP.
Next Steps
The public is encouraged to review
and comment on the Draft SRP/EA. A
public meeting has been scheduled to
also help facilitate the public review
and comment process. After the public
comment period ends, the Louisiana
TIG will consider the comments
received before issuing a Final SRP/EA.
A summary of comments received and
the Louisiana TIG’s responses and any
revisions to the document, as
appropriate, will be included in the
final document.
Administrative Record
The documents comprising the
Administrative Record for the Draft
SRP/EA can be viewed electronically at
https://www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon/
adminrecord.
Authority
The authority for this action is OPA
(33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), the OPA NRDA
regulations at 15 CFR part 990, and
NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Dated: December 14, 2017.
Carrie Selberg,
Deputy Director, Office of Habitat
Conservation, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–27295 Filed 12–19–17; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF877
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 2017 is 2.2 percent. This
action is intended to provide holders of
halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with
the 2017 standard prices and fee
percentage to calculate the required
payment for IFQ cost recovery fees due
by January 31, 2018.
DATES: Valid on December 20, 2017.
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.
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
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60379
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 20, 2017 / Notices
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 2017 calendar year
is 2.2 percent of the standard ex-vessel
value, which is below the 3.0 maximum
fee percentage allowed under section
304(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. An IFQ permit holder is to use the
fee percentage of 2.2 percent to calculate
his or her fee for IFQ equivalent
pound(s) landed during the 2017 halibut
and sablefish IFQ fishing season. An
IFQ permit holder is responsible for
submitting the 2017 IFQ fee payment to
NMFS on or before January 31, 2018.
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 2017 fee percentage of 2.2 percent
is lower than the 2016 fee percentage of
3.1 percent, which was capped at 3.0
percent (81 FR 89900, December 13,
2016). The change can be attributed to
an estimated 9.8 percent increase in the
value of the IFQ Program fisheries from
2016 to 2017, along with a
corresponding 21.2% drop in
management costs over the same period.
TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2017 IFQ SEASON 1
Landing location
Period ending
Halibut
standard
ex-vessel
price
Sablefish
standard
ex-vessel
price
Homer ...........................................................................
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 .....................................................................
........................
6.49
6.58
6.52
6.60
6.40
5.91
5.91
5.91
........................
6.71
6.57
6.59
6.53
6.49
6.63
6.63
6.63
6.53
6.44
6.51
6.41
6.30
6.14
5.88
5.88
5.88
........................
6.64
........................
6.53
........................
6.69
........................
........................
........................
6.75
6.48
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
4.38
4.51
........................
4.52
........................
5.00
5.00
5.00
........................
........................
4.93
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
4.59
4.53
4.75
5.10
4.94
5.13
5.13
5.13
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
Ketchikan ......................................................................
Kodiak ...........................................................................
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Petersburg ....................................................................
Seward ..........................................................................
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60381
TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2017 IFQ SEASON 1—
Continued
Period ending
Halibut
standard
ex-vessel
price
Sablefish
standard
ex-vessel
price
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
Sitka ..............................................................................
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 ................................................................
........................
........................
........................
........................
6.57
........................
6.55
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
5.71
6.04
6.15
5.96
5.73
5.94
5.94
5.94
6.66
6.45
6.49
6.46
6.46
6.33
5.96
5.96
5.96
6.77
6.57
6.52
6.54
6.58
6.64
6.46
6.46
6.46
6.72
6.48
6.47
6.44
6.34
6.24
6.08
6.08
6.08
6.72
6.48
6.47
6.44
6.34
6.24
6.08
6.08
6.08
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
5.21
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
3.93
4.03
4.69
4.86
4.70
4.58
4.58
4.58
4.69
4.62
4.61
4.67
4.87
4.79
4.93
4.93
4.93
4.80
4.77
5.07
5.18
5.15
5.36
5.30
5.30
5.30
4.70
4.65
4.71
4.84
4.94
4.88
5.01
5.01
5.01
4.70
4.65
4.71
4.84
4.94
4.88
5.01
5.01
5.01
Landing location
Port Group Bering Sea 2 ...............................................
Port Group Central Gulf 3 .............................................
Port Group Southeast 4 ................................................
All-Alaska 5 ....................................................................
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All 6 ................................................................................
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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 20, 2017 / Notices
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 14, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–27336 Filed 12–19–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Environmental Assessment (EA) for
the Proposed New Space Lease for the
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Laboratory in Princeton, NJ
Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research (OAR), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
EA; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NOAA announces its
intention to prepare an EA, in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, for a
new space lease to be occupied by the
NOAA/OAR Geophysical Fluid
Dynamics Laboratory.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before January 15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on
suggested alternatives and potential
impacts should be sent to Stephen F.
Mayle, Administrative Officer, NOAA/
OAR/GFDL, 201 Forrestal Road,
Princeton, NJ 08540. Comments may
also be submitted via facsimile to 609–
452–5395 or by email to Steve.Mayle@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
proposed action would involve a lease
for space for the offices, seminar rooms,
meeting rooms, etc. and computing
facilities used by the Geophysical Fluid
Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). The
current facilities, located in the
Princeton, New Jersey area, are part of
NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research (OAR). Research
conducted at this laboratory includes
development and use of mathematical
models and computer simulations to
improve our understanding and
prediction of the behavior of the
atmosphere and the oceans. GFDL
scientists focus on model-building
relevant for society, such as hurricane
research, weather and ocean prediction,
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SUMMARY:
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and forecasting on the continuum of
time and space scales. GFDL also
collaborates with visiting scientists and
students from academic and non-profit
institutions with whom NOAA has
partnered to further its mission goals.
The current physical space for GFDL
consists of two buildings that together
provide office space, teaching/seminar
space, high performance computing
space, a command/control center, and
mechanical and electrical plants. The
current GFDL facilities are
approximately 68,675 square feet.
Current space can house up to 215 staff,
including full-time employees, visiting
scientists and students, and contract
employees.
The current facilities are in need of
repairs and renovations in order to
continue to be effectively and safely
occupied by GFDL. The existing space
is also insufficient to accommodate
visiting scientists and students, for
example approximately 40 such staff
utilize nearby overflow space, and to
effectively store and stage necessary
equipment for current levels of effort. It
also does not allow space to expand to
continue to meet NOAA’s mission in
collaboration with our institutional
partners. NOAA is contracting with an
architectural and engineering firm to
conduct a space programming and
planning study, or a Program of
Requirements, that will more
specifically identify GFDL’s space
needs. This study is expected to be
completed on or about April 1, 2018,
and will also inform the alternatives to
be considered in an EA.
The purpose of the public scoping
process for this EA is to determine
relevant issues that will influence the
scope of the environmental analysis,
including potential alternatives, and the
extent to which those issues and
impacts will be analyzed in the EA.
Federal, state, and local agencies, along
with other stakeholders that may be
interested in or affected by NOAA’s
decision on this project are invited to
participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
by NOAA to participate as a cooperating
agency.
Dated: November 28, 2017.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/CAO, Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017–27387 Filed 12–19–17; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket ID ED–2017–OCO–0139]
Request for Information on Obtaining
Input From Rural Schools and Local
Educational Agencies
Office of Communications and
Outreach, Department of Education.
ACTION: Request for information.
AGENCY:
In accordance with section
5005 of the Every Student Succeeds Act
(ESSA), the Secretary seeks information
from the public regarding actions the
Department of Education (Department)
can take to improve how it considers the
unique needs of rural schools and local
educational agencies (LEAs) as it
develops and implements its policies
and programs. The Secretary intends to
use this information in issuing a final
report, required under section 5005,
describing the actions it will take to
increase the consideration and
participation of rural schools and LEAs
in the development and execution of the
Department’s processes, procedures,
policies, and regulations.
DATES: We must receive your comments
no later than February 20, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
hand delivery, or email. To ensure that
we do not receive duplicate copies,
please submit your comments only
once. In addition, please include the
Docket ID at the top of your comments.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov to submit your
comments electronically. Information
on using Regulations.gov, including
instructions for accessing agency
documents, submitting comments, and
viewing the docket, is available on the
site under the ‘‘Help’’ tab.
Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery,
Hand Delivery, or Email: The
Department encourages commenters to
submit their comments through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. However, if
you mail or deliver your comments in
response to this request, address them to
Michael Chamberlain, U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue
SW, Room 5E260, Washington, DC
20202. If you email your comments,
send them to rural@ed.gov.
Privacy Note: The Department’s
policy is to make all comments received
from members of the public available for
public viewing in their entirety on the
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60379-60382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27336]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF877
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 2017 is 2.2 percent. This action is intended to
provide holders of halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with the 2017
standard prices and fee percentage to calculate the required payment
for IFQ cost recovery fees due by January 31, 2018.
DATES: Valid on December 20, 2017.
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.
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
[[Page 60380]]
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 2017 calendar
year is 2.2 percent of the standard ex-vessel value, which is below the
3.0 maximum fee percentage allowed under section 304(d)(2)(B) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. An IFQ permit holder is to use the fee percentage
of 2.2 percent to calculate his or her fee for IFQ equivalent pound(s)
landed during the 2017 halibut and sablefish IFQ fishing season. An IFQ
permit holder is responsible for submitting the 2017 IFQ fee payment to
NMFS on or before January 31, 2018. 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 2017 fee percentage of 2.2 percent is lower than the 2016 fee
percentage of 3.1 percent, which was capped at 3.0 percent (81 FR
89900, December 13, 2016). The change can be attributed to an estimated
9.8 percent increase in the value of the IFQ Program fisheries from
2016 to 2017, along with a corresponding 21.2% drop in management costs
over the same period.
Table 1--Registered Buyer Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Landing Location for the 2017 IFQ Season \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut Sablefish
Landing location Period ending standard ex- standard ex-
vessel price vessel price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homer...................................... March 31........................... .............. ..............
April 30........................... 6.49 4.38
May 31............................. 6.58 4.51
June 30............................ 6.52 ..............
July 31............................ 6.60 4.52
August 31.......................... 6.40 ..............
September 30....................... 5.91 5.00
October 31......................... 5.91 5.00
November 30........................ 5.91 5.00
Ketchikan.................................. March 31........................... .............. ..............
April 30........................... 6.71 ..............
May 31............................. 6.57 4.93
June 30............................ 6.59 ..............
July 31............................ 6.53 ..............
August 31.......................... 6.49 ..............
September 30....................... 6.63 ..............
October 31......................... 6.63 ..............
November 30........................ 6.63 ..............
Kodiak..................................... March 31........................... 6.53 ..............
April 30........................... 6.44 4.59
May 31............................. 6.51 4.53
June 30............................ 6.41 4.75
July 31............................ 6.30 5.10
August 31.......................... 6.14 4.94
September 30....................... 5.88 5.13
October 31......................... 5.88 5.13
November 30........................ 5.88 5.13
Petersburg................................. March 31........................... .............. ..............
April 30........................... 6.64 ..............
May 31............................. .............. ..............
June 30............................ 6.53 ..............
July 31............................ .............. ..............
August 31.......................... 6.69 ..............
September 30....................... .............. ..............
October 31......................... .............. ..............
November 30........................ .............. ..............
Seward..................................... March 31........................... 6.75 ..............
April 30........................... 6.48 ..............
May 31............................. .............. ..............
June 30............................ .............. ..............
July 31............................ .............. ..............
August 31.......................... .............. ..............
[[Page 60381]]
September 30....................... .............. ..............
October 31......................... .............. ..............
November 30........................ .............. ..............
Sitka.............................. .............. ..............
March 31........................... 6.57 ..............
April 30........................... .............. ..............
May 31............................. 6.55 5.21
June 30............................ .............. ..............
July 31............................ .............. ..............
August 31.......................... .............. ..............
September 30....................... .............. ..............
October 31......................... .............. ..............
November 30........................ .............. ..............
Port Group Bering Sea \2\.................. March 31........................... .............. ..............
April 30........................... 5.71 3.93
May 31............................. 6.04 4.03
June 30............................ 6.15 4.69
July 31............................ 5.96 4.86
August 31.......................... 5.73 4.70
September 30....................... 5.94 4.58
October 31......................... 5.94 4.58
November 30........................ 5.94 4.58
Port Group Central Gulf \3\................ March 31........................... 6.66 4.69
April 30........................... 6.45 4.62
May 31............................. 6.49 4.61
June 30............................ 6.46 4.67
July 31............................ 6.46 4.87
August 31.......................... 6.33 4.79
September 30....................... 5.96 4.93
October 31......................... 5.96 4.93
November 30........................ 5.96 4.93
Port Group Southeast \4\................... March 31........................... 6.77 4.80
April 30........................... 6.57 4.77
May 31............................. 6.52 5.07
June 30............................ 6.54 5.18
July 31............................ 6.58 5.15
August 31.......................... 6.64 5.36
September 30....................... 6.46 5.30
October 31......................... 6.46 5.30
November 30........................ 6.46 5.30
All-Alaska \5\............................. March 31........................... 6.72 4.70
April 30........................... 6.48 4.65
May 31............................. 6.47 4.71
June 30............................ 6.44 4.84
July 31............................ 6.34 4.94
August 31.......................... 6.24 4.88
September 30....................... 6.08 5.01
October 31......................... 6.08 5.01
November 30........................ 6.08 5.01
All \6\.................................... March 31........................... 6.72 4.70
April 30........................... 6.48 4.65
May 31............................. 6.47 4.71
June 30............................ 6.44 4.84
July 31............................ 6.34 4.94
August 31.......................... 6.24 4.88
September 30....................... 6.08 5.01
October 31......................... 6.08 5.01
November 30........................ 6.08 5.01
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
[[Page 60382]]
\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 14, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27336 Filed 12-19-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
