Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program, 3647-3649 [2020-00949]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2020 / Notices
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild by causing disruption of behavioral
patterns, including, but not limited to,
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (Level B
harassment).
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Summary of Request
On June 20, 2018, NMFS published
final notice of our issuance of an IHA
authorizing take of marine mammals
incidental to the Tenakee Springs dock
project (83 FR 29749). The effective
dates of that IHA were June 1, 2019,
through May 31, 2020. On October 14,
2019, ADOT informed NMFS that the
project was delayed. None of the work
identified in the initial IHA (e.g., pile
driving and removal) has occurred.
ADOT submitted a request for a new
identical IHA that would be effective
from June 1, 2020 through May 31,
2021, in order to conduct the
construction work that was analyzed
and authorized through the previously
issued IHA. Therefore, re-issuance of
the IHA is appropriate.
Summary of Specified Activity and
Anticipated Impacts
The planned activities (including
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting),
authorized incidental take, and
anticipated impacts on the affected
stocks are the same as those analyzed
and authorized through the previously
issued IHA.
The purpose of ADOT’s construction
project is to replace the existing, aging
mooring and transfer structures nearing
the end of their operational life due to
corrosion and wear with modern
facilities that provide improved
operations for Alaska Marine Highway
System (AMHS) ferry vessels, as well as
freight and fueling operators, servicing
the community of Tenakee Springs.
Planned improvements include the
installation of new shoreside facilities
and marine structures and the
renovation of existing structures. The
location, timing, and nature of the
activities, including the types of
equipment planned for use, are the same
as those described in the initial IHA.
The mitigation and monitoring are also
as prescribed in the initial IHA.
Species that are expected to be taken
by the planned activity include harbor
porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Dall’s
porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), killer
whale (Orcinus orca), humpback whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae), minke whale
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), harbor
seal (Phoca vitulina), and Steller sea
lion (Eumetopias jubatus). A
description of the methods and inputs
used to estimate take anticipated to
occur and, ultimately, the take that was
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16:42 Jan 21, 2020
Jkt 250001
authorized is found in the previous
documents referenced above. The data
inputs and methods of estimating take
are identical to those used in the initial
IHA. NMFS has reviewed recent Stock
Assessment Reports, information on
relevant Unusual Mortality Events, and
recent scientific literature, and
determined that no new information
affects our original analysis of impacts
or take estimate under the initial IHA.
We refer to the documents related to
the previously issued IHA, which
include the Federal Register notice of
the issuance of the initial 2019 IHA for
ADOT’s construction work (83 FR
29749), ADOT’s application, the Federal
Register notice of the proposed IHA (83
FR 12152), and all associated references
and documents.
Determinations
ADOT will conduct activities as
analyzed in the initial 2019 IHA. As
described above, the number of
authorized takes of the same species and
stocks of marine mammals are identical
to the numbers that were found to meet
the negligible impact and small
numbers standards and authorized
under the initial IHA and no new
information has emerged that would
change those findings. The re-issued
2020 IHA includes identical required
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
measures as the initial IHA, and there is
no new information suggesting that our
analysis or findings should change.
Based on the information contained
here and in the referenced documents,
NMFS has determined the following: (1)
The required mitigation measures will
effect the least practicable impact on
marine mammal species or stocks and
their habitat; (2) the authorized takes
will have a negligible impact on the
affected marine mammal species or
stocks; (3) the authorized takes
represent small numbers of marine
mammals relative to the affected stock
abundances; and (4) ADOT’s activities
will not have an unmitigable adverse
impact on taking for subsistence
purposes.
National Environmental Policy Act
To comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and
NOAA Administrative Order (NAO)
216–6A, NMFS must review our
proposed action with respect to
environmental consequences on the
human environment.
Accordingly, NMFS has determined
that the issuance of the IHA qualifies to
be categorically excluded from further
NEPA review. This action is consistent
with categories of activities identified in
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3647
CE B4 of the Companion Manual for
NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A,
which do not individually or
cumulatively have the potential for
significant impacts on the quality of the
human environment and for which we
have not identified any extraordinary
circumstances that would preclude this
categorical exclusion.
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal
agency insure that any action it
authorizes, funds, or carries out is not
likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of any endangered or
threatened species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of
designated critical habitat. To ensure
ESA compliance for the issuance of
IHAs, NMFS consults internally
whenever we propose to authorize take
for endangered or threatened species.
NMFS’ Alaska Regional Office issued
a Biological Opinion to NMFS’ Office of
Protected Resources which concluded
the city dock and improvement project
is not likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of Steller sea lions (western
Distinct Population Segment) or
humpback whales (Mexico DPS) or
adversely modify critical habitat.
Authorization
NMFS has issued an IHA to ADOT for
in-water construction activities
associated with the specified activity
from June 1, 2020, through May 31,
2021. All previously described
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements from the initial 2019 IHA
are incorporated.
Dated: January 14, 2020.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–00937 Filed 1–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XY060]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the
Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska
Rockfish Program
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
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22JAN1
3648
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2020 / Notices
ACTION:
Notification of standard prices
and fee percentage.
vessel value of the fish harvested under
the Rockfish Program.
NMFS publishes the standard
ex-vessel prices and fee percentage for
cost recovery under the Central Gulf of
Alaska Rockfish Program. This action is
intended to provide participants in a
rockfish cooperative with the standard
prices and fee percentage for the 2019
fishing year, which was authorized from
May 1 through November 15. The fee
percentage is 3.0 percent. The fee
payments are due from each rockfish
cooperative on or before February 15,
2020.
Standard Prices
NMFS calculates cost recovery fees
based on standard ex-vessel value
prices, rather than actual price data
provided by each rockfish CQ holder.
Use of standard ex-vessel prices is
allowed under sections 303A and
304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
NMFS generates a standard ex-vessel
price for each rockfish primary and
secondary species on a monthly basis to
determine the average price paid per
pound for all shoreside processors
receiving rockfish primary and
secondary species CQ.
Regulations at § 679.85(b)(2) require
the Regional Administrator to publish
rockfish standard ex-vessel values
during the first quarter of each calendar
year. The standard prices are described
in U.S. dollars per pound for rockfish
primary and secondary species CQ
landings made during the previous year.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Valid on: January 22, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carl
Greene, 907–586–7105.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Background
The rockfish fisheries are conducted
in Federal waters near Kodiak, AK, by
trawl and longline vessels. Regulations
implementing the Central Gulf of Alaska
(GOA) Rockfish Program (Rockfish
Program) are set forth at 50 CFR part
679. Exclusive harvesting privileges are
allocated as quota share under the
Rockfish Program for rockfish primary
and secondary species. Each year,
NMFS issues rockfish primary and
secondary species cooperative quota
(CQ) to rockfish quota shareholders to
authorize harvest of these species. The
rockfish primary species are northern
rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky
rockfish. In 2012, dusky rockfish
replaced the pelagic shelf rockfish
species group in the GOA Groundfish
Harvest Specifications (77 FR 15194,
March 14, 2012). The rockfish
secondary species include Pacific cod,
rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish,
sablefish, and thornyhead rockfish.
Rockfish cooperatives began fishing
under the Rockfish Program on May 1,
2012.
The Rockfish Program is a limited
access privilege program established
under the provisions of section 303A of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act). Sections 303A
and 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act
require NMFS to collect fees to recover
the actual costs directly related to the
management, data collection and
analysis, and enforcement of any
limited access privilege program.
Therefore, NMFS is required to collect
fees for the Rockfish Program under
sections 303A and 304(d)(2) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Section
304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act
also limits the cost recovery fee so that
it may not exceed 3 percent of the ex-
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 250001
Fee Percentage
NMFS assesses a fee on the standard
ex-vessel value of rockfish primary
species and rockfish secondary species
CQ harvested by rockfish cooperatives
in the Central GOA and waters adjacent
to the Central GOA when rockfish
primary species caught by a cooperative
are deducted from the Federal total
allowable catch. The rockfish entry level
longline fishery and trawl vessels that
opt out of joining a cooperative are not
subject to cost recovery fees because
those participants do not receive
rockfish CQ. Specific details on the
Rockfish Program’s cost recovery
provision may be found in the
implementing regulations set forth at
§ 679.85.
NMFS informs—by letter—each
rockfish cooperative of the fee
percentage applied to the previous
year’s landings and the total amount
due. Fees are due on or before February
15 of each year. Failure to pay on time
will result in the permit holder’s
rockfish quota share becoming nontransferable, and the person will be
ineligible to receive any additional
rockfish quota share by transfer. In
addition, cooperative members will not
receive any rockfish CQ the following
year until full payment of the fee is
received by NMFS.
NMFS calculates and publishes in the
Federal Register the fee percentage in
the first quarter of each year according
to the factors and methods described in
Federal regulations at § 679.85(c)(2).
NMFS determines the fee percentage
that applies to landings made in the
previous year by dividing the total
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Rockfish Program management, data
collection and analysis, and
enforcement costs (direct program costs)
during the previous year by the total
standard ex-vessel value of the rockfish
primary species and rockfish secondary
species for all rockfish CQ landings
made during the previous year (fishery
value). NMFS captures the direct
program costs through an established
accounting system that allows staff to
track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and
procurement. Fee collections in any
given year may be less than, or greater
than, the direct program costs and
fishery value for that year, because, by
regulation, the fee percentage is
established in the first quarter of the
calendar year based on the program
costs and the fishery value of the
previous calendar year.
Using the fee percentage formula
described above, the estimated
percentage of program costs to value for
the 2019 calendar year is 3.08 percent
of the standard ex-vessel value;
however, the fee percentage amount
must not exceed 3.0 percent pursuant
section 304(d)(2)(B) of the MagnusonStevens Act. Therefore, the 2019 fee
percentage is set at 3.0 percent. The fee
percentage for 2019 is an increase from
the 2018 fee percentage of 2.86 percent
(84 FR 1709, February 5, 2019).
Although program costs for 2019
decreased over costs accrued in 2018,
this was offset by a 7.6 percent decrease
in the value of the fishery in 2019,
relative to the 2018 fishery value. The
majority of the 2019 costs come from
direct personnel and overhead costs,
which has been consistent across all
years of the program.
TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL
PRICES BY SPECIES FOR THE 2019
ROCKFISH PROGRAM SEASON IN KODIAK, ALASKA
Species
Period ending
Dusky rockfish * ........
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
November 30
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
November 30
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
Northern rockfish ......
Pacific cod ................
E:\FR\FM\22JAN1.SGM
22JAN1
Standard
ex-vessel
price per
pound
$0.18
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.46
0.48
0.45
0.45
0.45
0.43
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2020 / Notices
Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish
TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL
PRICES BY SPECIES FOR THE 2019 (MSB) Advisory Panel will hold two
ROCKFISH PROGRAM SEASON IN KO- meetings.
DATES: The meetings will be held on
DIAK, ALASKA—Continued
Species
Period ending
Pacific ocean perch ..
Rougheye rockfish ...
Sablefish ...................
Shortraker rockfish ...
Thornyhead rockfish
Standard
ex-vessel
price per
pound
November 30
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
November 30
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
November 30
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
November 30
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
November 30
May 31 ..........
June 30 .........
July 31 ..........
August 31 .....
September 30
October 31 ....
November 30
0.45
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.18
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
1.27
1.02
1.21
1.21
1.21
1.40
1.18
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.23
0.22
0.57
0.20
0.42
0.42
0.42
0.42
0.42
* The pelagic shelf rockfish species group has
been changed to ‘‘dusky rockfish.’’
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et
seq.; 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 108–447; Pub. L.
111–281.
Dated: January 16, 2020.
Karyl K. Brewster-Geisz,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–00949 Filed 1–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 and Tuesday
February 18, 2020. Both will begin at 3
p.m. and conclude by 5 p.m. For agenda
details, see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
via webinar with a telephone-only audio
connection: https://
mafmc.adobeconnect.com/illex-wg/.
Telephone instructions are provided
upon connecting, or the public can call
direct: 800–832–0736, Rm: *7833942#.
Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, 800 N State
Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901;
telephone: (302) 674–2331 or on their
website at www.mafmc.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, telephone: (302)
526–5255.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to gather
Advisory Panel input on analysis
related to possible changes to the Illex
squid quota. An agenda and background
documents will be posted at the
Council’s website (www.mafmc.org)
prior to the meeting.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aid
should be directed to M. Jan Saunders,
(302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to
any meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 16, 2020.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–00984 Filed 1–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
PROTECTION
[RTID 0648–XA019]
[Docket No: CFPB–2020–0002]
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
AGENCY:
AGENCY:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council’s (Council)
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:42 Jan 21, 2020
Jkt 250001
Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection.
ACTION: Notice of a modified System of
Records.
In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the
Bureau of Consumer Financial
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3649
Protection, hereinto referred to as the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
(Bureau), gives notice of the
modification of a Privacy Act System of
Records. The information in the system
will enable the Bureau to carry out its
responsibilities with respect to banks,
savings associations, credit unions, and
their affiliates and service providers,
including the coordination and conduct
of examinations, supervisory
evaluations and analyses, enforcement
actions, actions in Federal court, and
coordination with other financial
regulatory agencies. The Bureau is
modifying the system of records in order
to update descriptions of the system
location; the system manager; the
address whereby a member of the public
can request access to records, contest
records, or request notification whether
a system contains a record pertaining to
him or her; and the policies and
practices for retention and disposal of
records.
DATES: Comments must be received no
later than February 21, 2020. The
modified system of records will be
effective January 22, 2020, unless the
comments received result in a contrary
determination.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by the title and the docket
number (see above), by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic: https://
www.regulations.gov: Follow the
instructions for soliciting comments.
• Email: privacy@cfpb.gov.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier:
Tannaz Haddadi, Acting Chief Privacy
Officer, Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau, 1700 G Street NW, Washington,
DC 20552.
All submissions must include the
agency name and docket number for this
notice. In general, all comments
received will be posted without change
to https://www.regulations.gov. In
addition, comments will be available for
public inspection and copying at 1700
G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552 on
official business days between the hours
of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You
can make an appointment to inspect
comments by telephoning (202) 435–
7058. All comments, including
attachments and other supporting
materials, will become part of the public
record and subject to public disclosure.
You should submit only information
that you wish to make available
publicly.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tannaz Haddadi, Acting Chief Privacy
Officer, at (202) 435–7058. If you require
this document in an alternative
electronic format, please contact
E:\FR\FM\22JAN1.SGM
22JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3647-3649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00949]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XY060]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 3648]]
ACTION: Notification of standard prices and fee percentage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS publishes the standard ex-vessel prices and fee
percentage for cost recovery under the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish
Program. This action is intended to provide participants in a rockfish
cooperative with the standard prices and fee percentage for the 2019
fishing year, which was authorized from May 1 through November 15. The
fee percentage is 3.0 percent. The fee payments are due from each
rockfish cooperative on or before February 15, 2020.
DATES: Valid on: January 22, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Greene, 907-586-7105.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The rockfish fisheries are conducted in Federal waters near Kodiak,
AK, by trawl and longline vessels. Regulations implementing the Central
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program) are set forth
at 50 CFR part 679. Exclusive harvesting privileges are allocated as
quota share under the Rockfish Program for rockfish primary and
secondary species. Each year, NMFS issues rockfish primary and
secondary species cooperative quota (CQ) to rockfish quota shareholders
to authorize harvest of these species. The rockfish primary species are
northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky rockfish. In 2012,
dusky rockfish replaced the pelagic shelf rockfish species group in the
GOA Groundfish Harvest Specifications (77 FR 15194, March 14, 2012).
The rockfish secondary species include Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish,
shortraker rockfish, sablefish, and thornyhead rockfish. Rockfish
cooperatives began fishing under the Rockfish Program on May 1, 2012.
The Rockfish Program is a limited access privilege program
established under the provisions of section 303A of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
Sections 303A and 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act require NMFS to
collect fees to recover the actual costs directly related to the
management, data collection and analysis, and enforcement of any
limited access privilege program. Therefore, NMFS is required to
collect fees for the Rockfish Program under sections 303A and 304(d)(2)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act also limits the cost recovery fee so that it may not exceed 3
percent of the ex-vessel value of the fish harvested under the Rockfish
Program.
Standard Prices
NMFS calculates cost recovery fees based on standard ex-vessel
value prices, rather than actual price data provided by each rockfish
CQ holder. Use of standard ex-vessel prices is allowed under sections
303A and 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS generates a
standard ex-vessel price for each rockfish primary and secondary
species on a monthly basis to determine the average price paid per
pound for all shoreside processors receiving rockfish primary and
secondary species CQ.
Regulations at Sec. 679.85(b)(2) require the Regional
Administrator to publish rockfish standard ex-vessel values during the
first quarter of each calendar year. The standard prices are described
in U.S. dollars per pound for rockfish primary and secondary species CQ
landings made during the previous year.
Fee Percentage
NMFS assesses a fee on the standard ex-vessel value of rockfish
primary species and rockfish secondary species CQ harvested by rockfish
cooperatives in the Central GOA and waters adjacent to the Central GOA
when rockfish primary species caught by a cooperative are deducted from
the Federal total allowable catch. The rockfish entry level longline
fishery and trawl vessels that opt out of joining a cooperative are not
subject to cost recovery fees because those participants do not receive
rockfish CQ. Specific details on the Rockfish Program's cost recovery
provision may be found in the implementing regulations set forth at
Sec. 679.85.
NMFS informs--by letter--each rockfish cooperative of the fee
percentage applied to the previous year's landings and the total amount
due. Fees are due on or before February 15 of each year. Failure to pay
on time will result in the permit holder's rockfish quota share
becoming non-transferable, and the person will be ineligible to receive
any additional rockfish quota share by transfer. In addition,
cooperative members will not receive any rockfish CQ the following year
until full payment of the fee is received by NMFS.
NMFS calculates and publishes in the Federal Register the fee
percentage in the first quarter of each year according to the factors
and methods described in Federal regulations at Sec. 679.85(c)(2).
NMFS determines the fee percentage that applies to landings made in the
previous year by dividing the total Rockfish Program management, data
collection and analysis, and enforcement costs (direct program costs)
during the previous year by the total standard ex-vessel value of the
rockfish primary species and rockfish secondary species for all
rockfish CQ landings made during the previous year (fishery value).
NMFS captures the direct program costs through an established
accounting system that allows staff to track labor, travel, contracts,
rent, and procurement. Fee collections in any given year may be less
than, or greater than, the direct program costs and fishery value for
that year, because, by regulation, the fee percentage is established in
the first quarter of the calendar year based on the program costs and
the fishery value of the previous calendar year.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of program costs to value for the 2019 calendar year is 3.08
percent of the standard ex-vessel value; however, the fee percentage
amount must not exceed 3.0 percent pursuant section 304(d)(2)(B) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Therefore, the 2019 fee percentage is set at 3.0
percent. The fee percentage for 2019 is an increase from the 2018 fee
percentage of 2.86 percent (84 FR 1709, February 5, 2019). Although
program costs for 2019 decreased over costs accrued in 2018, this was
offset by a 7.6 percent decrease in the value of the fishery in 2019,
relative to the 2018 fishery value. The majority of the 2019 costs come
from direct personnel and overhead costs, which has been consistent
across all years of the program.
Table 1--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Species for the 2019 Rockfish
Program Season in Kodiak, Alaska
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard
ex-vessel
Species Period ending price per
pound
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dusky rockfish *................... May 31................ $0.18
June 30............... 0.18
July 31............... 0.18
August 31............. 0.18
September 30.......... 0.18
October 31............ 0.18
November 30........... 0.18
Northern rockfish.................. May 31................ 0.17
June 30............... 0.17
July 31............... 0.17
August 31............. 0.17
September 30.......... 0.17
October 31............ 0.17
November 30........... 0.17
Pacific cod........................ May 31................ 0.46
June 30............... 0.48
July 31............... 0.45
August 31............. 0.45
September 30.......... 0.45
October 31............ 0.43
[[Page 3649]]
November 30........... 0.45
Pacific ocean perch................ May 31................ 0.20
June 30............... 0.20
July 31............... 0.20
August 31............. 0.20
September 30.......... 0.20
October 31............ 0.20
November 30........... 0.20
Rougheye rockfish.................. May 31................ 0.18
June 30............... 0.20
July 31............... 0.20
August 31............. 0.20
September 30.......... 0.20
October 31............ 0.20
November 30........... 0.20
Sablefish.......................... May 31................ 1.27
June 30............... 1.02
July 31............... 1.21
August 31............. 1.21
September 30.......... 1.21
October 31............ 1.40
November 30........... 1.18
Shortraker rockfish................ May 31................ 0.22
June 30............... 0.22
July 31............... 0.22
August 31............. 0.22
September 30.......... 0.22
October 31............ 0.23
November 30........... 0.22
Thornyhead rockfish................ May 31................ 0.57
June 30............... 0.20
July 31............... 0.42
August 31............. 0.42
September 30.......... 0.42
October 31............ 0.42
November 30........... 0.42
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The pelagic shelf rockfish species group has been changed to ``dusky
rockfish.''
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.;
Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 111-281.
Dated: January 16, 2020.
Karyl K. Brewster-Geisz,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-00949 Filed 1-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
