Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Logbook, 32096-32098 [2019-14351]

Download as PDF 32096 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with RULES impacts associated with alternative wastewater management approaches. These include changes in air emissions, solid waste generation, and energy consumption. The incremental change depends on the alternative wastewater management approach. For example, sludge generation would likely decrease if a UOG facility sends its wastewater to a UIC well and would likely increase if it sends its wastewater to a CWT facility. Even if each UOG operator that currently sends its wastewater to a POTW elected to use a wastewater management approach that incrementally increased air emissions, sludge generation or energy usage, these changes would be small relative to U.S. totals for this industry as a whole. The EPA then conducted a discounted cash flow analysis (modeled future revenue and operation costs) over 10 years to estimate the potential financial impacts on these entities. Based on this analysis, the EPA determined that seven of the 22 entities would have negative profits irrespective of the UOG rule’s incremental costs. For the remaining entities, when adding in the incremental costs of the rule, the EPA’s analysis shows that none of the 15 entities would be at risk of closure as a result of complying with the UOG rule. In light of the model predictions based on 2016 reported data that some of these entities would have negative profits irrespective of the UOG rule’s incremental costs, the EPA also reviewed oil and gas production data for all 22 entities as reported to Pennsylvania in 2017. All 22 entities continued to report oil and gas production to Pennsylvania, demonstrating that they remain in business. Therefore, the EPA is reporting cost information as a range with the lower value representing information for the 15 modeled profitable entities and the upper value representing information for all 22 entities. The EPA’s analysis shows that for 2016, the median incremental costs would be $131 to $279 per entity and the total costs of the UOG rule for 2016 would be approximately $33,000 to $65,000 (in 2016$). IV. Findings At the time the EPA promulgated the 2016 UOG rule, it established a zero discharge of pollutant pretreatment standard for UOG extraction facilities based on alternative wastewater management approaches. Consistent with the factors identified in the Clean Water Act and described in the preamble to the 2016 rule, the EPA found these alternatives to be available, have acceptable non-water quality VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Jul 03, 2019 Jkt 247001 environmental impacts, and be economically achievable, based in part on its findings that no existing UOG facilities were discharging pollutants to POTWs at the time of the 2016 rule. The EPA concluded that such standards would prevent some UOG extraction wastewater constituents from largely ‘‘passing through’’ the POTW untreated, and then discharged from the POTW to the receiving stream. The EPA has supplemented that rulemaking record to account for the UOG facilities in Pennsylvania that were in fact discharging wastewater to POTWs at the time of the rulemaking. Based on the EPA’s analysis of the new information described above, the EPA concludes that the zero discharge of pollutants standard is technologically available, economically achievable, and has acceptable non-water quality environmental impacts. Based on this information, the EPA will not revise the 2016 UOG rule. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Interim final rule, request for comments. implementing a Federal requirement for catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to complete and submit logbook forms in the absence of similar state regulations. This rule is necessary to continue collection of data vital to coastwide management of the groundfish trawl fishery. DATES: Effective July 5, 2019. Comments must be received by August 5, 2019. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2019–0031, by either of the following methods: • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20190031, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Barry A. Thom, Regional Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115–0070. Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public record and NMFS will post for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Electronic copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) and the Categorical Exclusion prepared for this rule may be obtained from https:// www.regulations.gov or from the West Coast Region website at https:// westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keeley Kent, phone: 206–526–4655, or email: keeley.kent@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This interim final rule creates a Federal requirement for vessels using trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery to complete and submit the trawl logbook form. Historically, the states of Washington, Oregon, and California each administered state logbook form requirements. However, the California Fish and Game Commission repealed its trawl logbook reporting requirement, effective July 1, 2019. In order to not lose data reporting coverage from vessels in California, NMFS is Background Currently, the states of Washington, Oregon, and California require the reporting of trawl fishery data in the trawl logbook form. The states use a single, identical logbook form the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) developed to collect information necessary to effectively manage the groundfish fishery on a coastwide basis. While each state has its own requirement for vessels to complete the trawl logbook form, each state transmits the logbooks or logbook data Dated: June 20, 2019. David P. Ross, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water. [FR Doc. 2019–14361 Filed 7–3–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 190214113–9522–01] RIN 0648–BI74 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Logbook AGENCY: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\05JYR1.SGM 05JYR1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with RULES to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). PSMFC compiles the data from the logbooks into the PacFIN Coastwide Trawl Logbook Database, and distributes the data to users such as the Council, NMFS, and the Groundfish Management Team (GMT). In addition to managing the logbook data, the PSMFC prints the logbook forms and distributes them to Washington and Oregon so that the states can distribute them to vessels, and distributes them directly to the vessels in California. Washington, Oregon, and California have long required trawl vessels to submit information on their fishing activity. Since the late 1980’s, all three states have collected similar data in order to facilitate coastwide monitoring of the groundfish trawl fishery. As a result of this longstanding requirement for the collection of trawl effort data, NMFS and the Council have an extensive dataset on how trawling activity has changed over time. This data has been especially useful in actions to assess the effects of area management, such as the rockfish conservation areas, and to otherwise supplement stock assessments, especially for stocks that are managed by area. On December 12, 2018, the California Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) voted to repeal its requirement for commercial trawl vessels to complete and submit the logbook form, effective July 1, 2019. There is no existing Federal requirement for vessels to complete and submit the trawl logbook form. Instead, the Federal requirement is for vessels to follow their respective state logbook requirements (50 CFR 660.13(b)). Therefore, without this rule, trawl vessels off of California would no longer be required to complete and submit the trawl logbook form. Contents and Use of the Trawl Logbook The trawl logbook form developed by the Council collects fisherman-reported haul-level effort data including tow time, tow location, depth of catch, net type, target strategy, and estimated pounds of fish retained per tow. Most data is collected while the vessel is fishing, with only buyer information collected upon landing. Each trawl log represents a single fishing trip. The logbook forms are due monthly to each state, and the data is matched to a landing receipt (fish ticket) summary data submitted by seafood processors. This matching step acts as a data corroboration process for landings, and allows the PSMFC to identify and correct any errors in the data. NMFS, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Jul 03, 2019 Jkt 247001 the Council, the GMT, the Northwest Fishery Science Center, and the PSMFC use the data obtained from the logbooks in analyses of catch locations and bycatch hotspots, spot verification of fish tickets, analyses on gear usage by area, stock assessments, and a variety of other applications. Additionally, Federal groundfish regulations require vessels to make the logbooks available to fishery observers under the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP). The observers collect biological samples and pair these samples with logbook data describing vessel position, target, depth, and retained catch. These data are not always accessible from other sources such as equipment on the ship. Finally, the logbook data are also used by the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard in investigations. Federal Trawl Logbook Requirement This rule creates a Federal requirement for trawl catcher vessels operating under a limited entry trawl permit operating in the Shorebased IFQ Program to complete and submit the trawl logbook form in the absence of a similar state requirement in the state in which the vessel operates. This requirement applies to all trawl catcher vessels off the West Coast, but because Washington and Oregon have a state requirement for trawl logbook forms, vessels operating in those states will only be subject to their respective state’s rules. Should Washington or Oregon choose to rescind their logbook requirement in the future, vessels operating in those states would then be subject to this regulation. However, Washington and Oregon continue to have state requirements for the logbook form and have not indicated any intent to change the requirement, therefore this rule will only affect trawl vessels operating off of California at this time. In 2018, there were 21 trawl vessels operating in California, 8 of which were also participating under the electronic monitoring exempted fishing permit (EFP), which separately requires completion and submission of the trawl logbook form. However, vessels may move in and out of the EFP, therefore 21 vessels is the maximum pool of affected vessels. Overall, there were approximately 97 trawl vessels operating in the fishery coastwide in 2018, therefore this action will affect about 22 percent off the trawl fleet off of the West Coast. This rule is structured to minimize the impact on trawl vessels off of California by maintaining the identical logbook form that vessels have been using for the past several years and by PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 32097 maintaining the same reporting timeframe (logbooks due monthly by the 10th of the month after which fishing was completed). The logbook forms for trawl vessels operating off California will continue to be distributed by the PSMFC, as they currently are. The only difference that California fishermen will notice is that the address where the logbooks must be submitted will change. Under this rule, vessels will be required to send logbook forms to the PSFMC, on behalf of NMFS, at: Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, 619 2nd Street, Eureka, CA 95501. NMFS and the PSMFC plan to provide pre-addressed and stamped envelopes with the logbook forms for return of the logbooks, as California did, for the first year of the new requirement, with further costs to be evaluated at a later date. This rule will continue a longstanding requirement for the trawl fleet, and maintain the way in which the information is collected and how often it must be submitted. Therefore, NMFS expects that there will be minimal public disruption by this rule. Changes to Existing Regulations At its June 2019 meeting, the Council requested that NMFS promulgate regulations to implement a Federal requirement to maintain the existing logbook information collection program pursuant to Section 402(a)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS determined that the need for a Federal requirement to ensure the continuation of this information collection program is justified, and therefore is publishing this rule. This rule adds paragraphs § 660.12(b)(3) and § 660.13(a)(1) and (2) to require trawl vessels operating under a limited entry trawl permit to complete and submit the trawl logbook form in the absence of a similar state requirement in the state in which the vessel operates. Classification The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has determined that this rule is consistent with the National Standards, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws. Due to the abbreviated timeline within which the repeal of California’s regulation will be effective (July 1, 2019), and the negative effects of a logbook coverage gap for all entities that depend on the information obtained through the logbook, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as E:\FR\FM\05JYR1.SGM 05JYR1 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with RULES 32098 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2019 / Rules and Regulations notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. If the implementation of this requirement were to be delayed, there would be gaps in the collection of trawl effort data for vessels off of California. This gap would have a significant detrimental impact on the dataset and its utility for management purposes as a continuous time series for stock assessments, as fine scale data on protected species catch, for data validation of fish tickets, and for enforcement purposes. Of specific concern, the Council is increasingly moving towards using targeted bycatch hotspot closures as a means to manage take of protected or prohibited species. Without catch data by area collected in the trawl logbook form, this type of targeted closures are difficult to enact. Additionally, observers in the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program regularly use the information in the logbook during a trip to apportion biological data by area, and this biological data is used in stock assessments and other catch and bycatch reporting. If NMFS went through notice and comment rulemaking, the resulting three-month delay would mean a significant portion of the 2019 trawl fishing season would lack complete data from trawl activities off of California. There would be no way to corroborate landings reports during this time, or for observers to be able to match biological samples and catch or discard records to a specific area, or for NMFS Office of Law Enforcement to have information to investigate fisheries violations. For these reasons, NMFS finds good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action. For the same reasons, NMFS also finds good cause, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to waive the 30day delay in the date of effectiveness, so that this interim final rule may become effective upon publication in the Federal Register. Because this requirement will mirror the requirement these vessels have been subject to under California law since the 1980s, NMFS does not expect that this interim final rule will cause any concern or disruption to participants in the fishery. This interim final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. There are no relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this action. Although we are waiving prior notice and opportunity for public comment, we are requesting comments on this VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Jul 03, 2019 Jkt 247001 interim final rule until August 5, 2019. Please see ADDRESSES for more information on the ways to submit comments. Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., are inapplicable. Collection of Information Requirements This action contains a new information collection requirement subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), which has been submitted for approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0648–XXXX. Send comments regarding these burden estimates or any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to NMFS (see ADDRESSES), and by email to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov, or fax to 202–395–5806. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. All currently approved NOAA collections of information may be viewed at: https://www.cio.noaa.gov/ services_programs/prasubs.html. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660 Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: July 1, 2019. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended as follows: PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES 1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. 2. In § 660.12, add paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows: ■ § 660.12 General groundfish prohibitions. * * * * * (b) * * * (3) Falsify or fail to prepare and/or file, retain or make available records of PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 fishing activities as specified in § 660.13(a)(1). * * * * * ■ 3. In § 660.13, add paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) to read as follows: § 660.13 Recordkeeping and reporting. (a) * * * (1) Trawl logbook. In the absence of a state trawl logbook requirement based on the port of landing, the authorized representative of the commercial trawl fishing vessel registered to a limited entry permit with a trawl gear endorsement participating in the Shorebased IFQ Program groundfish trawl fisheries must keep and submit a complete and accurate record of fishing activities in the trawl logbook form. The following requirements apply: (i) The authorized representative of the vessel must keep the trawl logbook form on board the vessel while engaged in, or returning from, all Shorebased IFQ Program trips using groundfish trawl gear, and must immediately surrender the logbook form upon demand to NMFS or other authorized officers. (ii) The authorized representative of the vessel must complete the trawl logbook form on all Shorebased IFQ Program trips using groundfish trawl gear, with all available information, except for information not yet ascertainable, prior to entering port. The logbook form must be completed as soon as the information becomes available. The information on the logbook form will include at a minimum: Vessel name, vessel trip start and end dates, crew size, tow start, tow completion, location of tow, average depth of catch, net type, target strategy, and estimated retained pounds by species. (iii) The authorized representative of the vessel must deliver the NMFS copy of the trawl logbook form by mail or in person to NMFS or its agent. The authorized representative of the vessel must transmit the logbook form on or before the 10th day of each month following the month to which the records pertain. (iv) The authorized representative of the vessel responsible for submitting the trawl logbook forms must maintain a copy of all submitted logbooks for up to three years after the fishing activity ended. (2) [Reserved] * * * * * [FR Doc. 2019–14351 Filed 7–3–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\05JYR1.SGM 05JYR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32096-32098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14351]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 190214113-9522-01]
RIN 0648-BI74


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Logbook

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

ACTION: Interim final rule, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This interim final rule creates a Federal requirement for 
vessels using trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery to 
complete and submit the trawl logbook form. Historically, the states of 
Washington, Oregon, and California each administered state logbook form 
requirements. However, the California Fish and Game Commission repealed 
its trawl logbook reporting requirement, effective July 1, 2019. In 
order to not lose data reporting coverage from vessels in California, 
NMFS is implementing a Federal requirement for catcher vessels using 
trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery Shorebased 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to complete and submit logbook 
forms in the absence of similar state regulations. This rule is 
necessary to continue collection of data vital to coastwide management 
of the groundfish trawl fishery.

DATES: Effective July 5, 2019. Comments must be received by August 5, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2019-0031, by 
either of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0031, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Barry A. Thom, Regional 
Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0070.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post for public viewing on www.regulations.gov 
without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, 
address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise 
sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender is publicly 
accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the 
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) and the 
Categorical Exclusion prepared for this rule may be obtained from 
https://www.regulations.gov or from the West Coast Region website at 
https://westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keeley Kent, phone: 206-526-4655, or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Currently, the states of Washington, Oregon, and California require 
the reporting of trawl fishery data in the trawl logbook form. The 
states use a single, identical logbook form the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) developed to collect information necessary 
to effectively manage the groundfish fishery on a coastwide basis. 
While each state has its own requirement for vessels to complete the 
trawl logbook form, each state transmits the logbooks or logbook data

[[Page 32097]]

to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). PSMFC 
compiles the data from the logbooks into the PacFIN Coastwide Trawl 
Logbook Database, and distributes the data to users such as the 
Council, NMFS, and the Groundfish Management Team (GMT). In addition to 
managing the logbook data, the PSMFC prints the logbook forms and 
distributes them to Washington and Oregon so that the states can 
distribute them to vessels, and distributes them directly to the 
vessels in California.
    Washington, Oregon, and California have long required trawl vessels 
to submit information on their fishing activity. Since the late 1980's, 
all three states have collected similar data in order to facilitate 
coastwide monitoring of the groundfish trawl fishery. As a result of 
this longstanding requirement for the collection of trawl effort data, 
NMFS and the Council have an extensive dataset on how trawling activity 
has changed over time. This data has been especially useful in actions 
to assess the effects of area management, such as the rockfish 
conservation areas, and to otherwise supplement stock assessments, 
especially for stocks that are managed by area.
    On December 12, 2018, the California Fish and Wildlife Commission 
(Commission) voted to repeal its requirement for commercial trawl 
vessels to complete and submit the logbook form, effective July 1, 
2019. There is no existing Federal requirement for vessels to complete 
and submit the trawl logbook form. Instead, the Federal requirement is 
for vessels to follow their respective state logbook requirements (50 
CFR 660.13(b)). Therefore, without this rule, trawl vessels off of 
California would no longer be required to complete and submit the trawl 
logbook form.

Contents and Use of the Trawl Logbook

    The trawl logbook form developed by the Council collects fisherman-
reported haul-level effort data including tow time, tow location, depth 
of catch, net type, target strategy, and estimated pounds of fish 
retained per tow. Most data is collected while the vessel is fishing, 
with only buyer information collected upon landing. Each trawl log 
represents a single fishing trip. The logbook forms are due monthly to 
each state, and the data is matched to a landing receipt (fish ticket) 
summary data submitted by seafood processors. This matching step acts 
as a data corroboration process for landings, and allows the PSMFC to 
identify and correct any errors in the data. NMFS, the Council, the 
GMT, the Northwest Fishery Science Center, and the PSMFC use the data 
obtained from the logbooks in analyses of catch locations and bycatch 
hotspots, spot verification of fish tickets, analyses on gear usage by 
area, stock assessments, and a variety of other applications. 
Additionally, Federal groundfish regulations require vessels to make 
the logbooks available to fishery observers under the West Coast 
Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP). The observers collect biological 
samples and pair these samples with logbook data describing vessel 
position, target, depth, and retained catch. These data are not always 
accessible from other sources such as equipment on the ship. Finally, 
the logbook data are also used by the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement 
and the U.S. Coast Guard in investigations.

Federal Trawl Logbook Requirement

    This rule creates a Federal requirement for trawl catcher vessels 
operating under a limited entry trawl permit operating in the 
Shorebased IFQ Program to complete and submit the trawl logbook form in 
the absence of a similar state requirement in the state in which the 
vessel operates. This requirement applies to all trawl catcher vessels 
off the West Coast, but because Washington and Oregon have a state 
requirement for trawl logbook forms, vessels operating in those states 
will only be subject to their respective state's rules. Should 
Washington or Oregon choose to rescind their logbook requirement in the 
future, vessels operating in those states would then be subject to this 
regulation. However, Washington and Oregon continue to have state 
requirements for the logbook form and have not indicated any intent to 
change the requirement, therefore this rule will only affect trawl 
vessels operating off of California at this time.
    In 2018, there were 21 trawl vessels operating in California, 8 of 
which were also participating under the electronic monitoring exempted 
fishing permit (EFP), which separately requires completion and 
submission of the trawl logbook form. However, vessels may move in and 
out of the EFP, therefore 21 vessels is the maximum pool of affected 
vessels. Overall, there were approximately 97 trawl vessels operating 
in the fishery coastwide in 2018, therefore this action will affect 
about 22 percent off the trawl fleet off of the West Coast.
    This rule is structured to minimize the impact on trawl vessels off 
of California by maintaining the identical logbook form that vessels 
have been using for the past several years and by maintaining the same 
reporting timeframe (logbooks due monthly by the 10th of the month 
after which fishing was completed). The logbook forms for trawl vessels 
operating off California will continue to be distributed by the PSMFC, 
as they currently are. The only difference that California fishermen 
will notice is that the address where the logbooks must be submitted 
will change. Under this rule, vessels will be required to send logbook 
forms to the PSFMC, on behalf of NMFS, at: Pacific States Marine 
Fisheries Commission, 619 2nd Street, Eureka, CA 95501. NMFS and the 
PSMFC plan to provide pre-addressed and stamped envelopes with the 
logbook forms for return of the logbooks, as California did, for the 
first year of the new requirement, with further costs to be evaluated 
at a later date.
    This rule will continue a longstanding requirement for the trawl 
fleet, and maintain the way in which the information is collected and 
how often it must be submitted. Therefore, NMFS expects that there will 
be minimal public disruption by this rule.

Changes to Existing Regulations

    At its June 2019 meeting, the Council requested that NMFS 
promulgate regulations to implement a Federal requirement to maintain 
the existing logbook information collection program pursuant to Section 
402(a)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS determined that the need 
for a Federal requirement to ensure the continuation of this 
information collection program is justified, and therefore is 
publishing this rule.
    This rule adds paragraphs Sec.  660.12(b)(3) and Sec.  660.13(a)(1) 
and (2) to require trawl vessels operating under a limited entry trawl 
permit to complete and submit the trawl logbook form in the absence of 
a similar state requirement in the state in which the vessel operates.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, has determined 
that this rule is consistent with the National Standards, other 
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.
    Due to the abbreviated timeline within which the repeal of 
California's regulation will be effective (July 1, 2019), and the 
negative effects of a logbook coverage gap for all entities that depend 
on the information obtained through the logbook, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity 
for public comment on this action, as

[[Page 32098]]

notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest. If the implementation of this requirement were to be delayed, 
there would be gaps in the collection of trawl effort data for vessels 
off of California. This gap would have a significant detrimental impact 
on the dataset and its utility for management purposes as a continuous 
time series for stock assessments, as fine scale data on protected 
species catch, for data validation of fish tickets, and for enforcement 
purposes. Of specific concern, the Council is increasingly moving 
towards using targeted bycatch hotspot closures as a means to manage 
take of protected or prohibited species. Without catch data by area 
collected in the trawl logbook form, this type of targeted closures are 
difficult to enact.
    Additionally, observers in the West Coast Groundfish Observer 
Program regularly use the information in the logbook during a trip to 
apportion biological data by area, and this biological data is used in 
stock assessments and other catch and bycatch reporting. If NMFS went 
through notice and comment rulemaking, the resulting three-month delay 
would mean a significant portion of the 2019 trawl fishing season would 
lack complete data from trawl activities off of California. There would 
be no way to corroborate landings reports during this time, or for 
observers to be able to match biological samples and catch or discard 
records to a specific area, or for NMFS Office of Law Enforcement to 
have information to investigate fisheries violations. For these 
reasons, NMFS finds good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity 
for public comment on this action. For the same reasons, NMFS also 
finds good cause, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to waive the 30-day 
delay in the date of effectiveness, so that this interim final rule may 
become effective upon publication in the Federal Register. Because this 
requirement will mirror the requirement these vessels have been subject 
to under California law since the 1980s, NMFS does not expect that this 
interim final rule will cause any concern or disruption to participants 
in the fishery.
    This interim final rule has been determined to be not significant 
for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    There are no relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with this action.
    Although we are waiving prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment, we are requesting comments on this interim final rule until 
August 5, 2019. Please see ADDRESSES for more information on the ways 
to submit comments.
    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., are inapplicable.

Collection of Information Requirements

    This action contains a new information collection requirement 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), which has been submitted 
for approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB 
Control Number 0648-XXXX.
    Send comments regarding these burden estimates or any other aspect 
of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to NMFS (see ADDRESSES), and by email to [email protected], 
or fax to 202-395-5806.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. All currently approved NOAA 
collections of information may be viewed at: https://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prasubs.html.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: July 1, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended 
as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 
U.S.C. 7001 et seq.


0
2. In Sec.  660.12, add paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.12   General groundfish prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Falsify or fail to prepare and/or file, retain or make 
available records of fishing activities as specified in Sec.  
660.13(a)(1).
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  660.13, add paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.13   Recordkeeping and reporting.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Trawl logbook. In the absence of a state trawl logbook 
requirement based on the port of landing, the authorized representative 
of the commercial trawl fishing vessel registered to a limited entry 
permit with a trawl gear endorsement participating in the Shorebased 
IFQ Program groundfish trawl fisheries must keep and submit a complete 
and accurate record of fishing activities in the trawl logbook form. 
The following requirements apply:
    (i) The authorized representative of the vessel must keep the trawl 
logbook form on board the vessel while engaged in, or returning from, 
all Shorebased IFQ Program trips using groundfish trawl gear, and must 
immediately surrender the logbook form upon demand to NMFS or other 
authorized officers.
    (ii) The authorized representative of the vessel must complete the 
trawl logbook form on all Shorebased IFQ Program trips using groundfish 
trawl gear, with all available information, except for information not 
yet ascertainable, prior to entering port. The logbook form must be 
completed as soon as the information becomes available. The information 
on the logbook form will include at a minimum: Vessel name, vessel trip 
start and end dates, crew size, tow start, tow completion, location of 
tow, average depth of catch, net type, target strategy, and estimated 
retained pounds by species.
    (iii) The authorized representative of the vessel must deliver the 
NMFS copy of the trawl logbook form by mail or in person to NMFS or its 
agent. The authorized representative of the vessel must transmit the 
logbook form on or before the 10th day of each month following the 
month to which the records pertain.
    (iv) The authorized representative of the vessel responsible for 
submitting the trawl logbook forms must maintain a copy of all 
submitted logbooks for up to three years after the fishing activity 
ended.
    (2) [Reserved]
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-14351 Filed 7-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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