Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2022-2023 Recreational Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass, 18275-18276 [2022-06702]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 61 / Wednesday, March 30, 2022 / Rules and Regulations included a negative declaration for the 2016 Oil and Natural Gas Industry Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG). The term ‘‘negative declaration’’ means that the State has explored whether any facilities subject to the applicability requirements of the CTG exist within the State and concluded that there are no such sources within its borders. This is consistent with EPA’s understanding of where sources subject to the Oil and Natural Gas Industry CTG are located. The formal SIP revision was submitted by Connecticut on December 29, 2020. Other specific requirements of the Connecticut negative declaration for the 2016 Oil and Natural Gas Industry CTG and the rationale for EPA’s proposed action are explained in the NPRM and will not be restated here. No public comments were received on the NPRM. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES II. Final Action EPA is approving Connecticut’s negative declaration for the 2016 Oil and Natural Gas Industry CTG as a revision to the Connecticut SIP. III. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Under the Clean Air Act, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable Federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA’s role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this action: • Is not a significant regulatory action subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011); • Does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); • Is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); • Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4); • Does not have federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999); VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:36 Mar 29, 2022 Jkt 256001 • Is not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997); • Is not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001); • Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act; and • Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). Under section 307(b)(1) of the Clean Air Act, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by May 31, 2022. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).) PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 18275 List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds. Dated: March 23, 2022. David Cash, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1. [FR Doc. 2022–06580 Filed 3–29–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 130403320–4891–02; RTID 0648–XB868] Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2022–2023 Recreational Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; recreational season length. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the length of the recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic will extend throughout the species’ 2022–2023 fishing year. Announcing the length of recreational season for black sea bass is one of the accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector. This announcement allows recreational fishers to maximize their opportunity to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for black sea bass during the fishing season while managing harvest to protect the black sea bass resource. DATES: This rule is effective from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, unless changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, email: nikhil.mehta@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery includes black sea bass south of 35°15.9′ N latitude and is managed under the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30MRR1.SGM 30MRR1 18276 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 61 / Wednesday, March 30, 2022 / Rules and Regulations Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared the FMP and the FMP is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. The recreational fishing year for black sea bass is April 1 through March 31. The recreational AM for black sea bass requires that before the April 1 start date of each recreational fishing year, NMFS projects the length of the recreational fishing season based on when NMFS projects the recreational ACL will be met, and announces the recreational season end date in the Federal Register (50 CFR 622.193(e)(2)). The purpose of this AM is to have a more predictable recreational season length while still constraining harvest at or below the recreational ACL to protect the stock from experiencing adverse biological consequences. The recreational ACL for the 2020– 2021 black sea bass fishing year is 310,602 lb (140,887 kg), gutted weight, 366,510 lb (166,246 kg), round weight. The recreational ACL was set through the final rule for Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2 to the FMP (84 FR 14021, April 9, 2019). NMFS estimates that recreational landings for the 2022–2023 fishing year will be less than the 2020–2021 recreational ACL. To make this determination, NMFS compared recreational landings in the last 3 fishing years (2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021) to the recreational ACL for the 2022–2023 black sea bass fishing year. Recreational landings in each of the past 3 fishing years have been substantially less than the 2022–2023 recreational ACL; therefore, recreational landings are projected to be less than the 2022–2023 recreational ACL. Accordingly, the recreational sector for black sea bass is not expected to close during the fishing year as a result of reaching its ACL, and the season end date for recreational fishing for black sea bass in the South Atlantic EEZ south of 35°15.9′ N latitude is March 31, 2021. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES Classification 16:36 Mar 29, 2022 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 24, 2022. Ngagne Jafnar Gueye, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2022–06702 Filed 3–29–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 201209–0332; RTID 0648– XB687] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From MD to NC National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification; quota transfers. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the State of Maryland is transferring a portion of its 2021 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of South Atlantic black sea bass and is consistent with the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws. VerDate Sep<11>2014 This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(e)(2) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without opportunity for prior notice and comment. This action responds to the best scientific information available. The Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA) finds that the need to immediately implement the notice of the recreational season length constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule is unnecessary. Such procedures are unnecessary, because the rule establishing the AM has already been subject to notice and comment and all that remains is to notify the public of the recreational season length. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Jkt 256001 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for Maryland and North Carolina. Effective March 25, 2022 through December 31, 2021. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9225. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish fishery are found in 50 CFR 648.160 through 648.167. These regulations require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from Maine through Florida. The process to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state is described in § 648.162, and the final 2021 allocations were published on December 16, 2020 (85 FR 81421). The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2000 (65 FR 45844), and provided a mechanism for transferring bluefish quota from one state to another. Two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator, can request approval to transfer or combine bluefish commercial quota under § 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii). The Regional Administrator must approve any such transfer based on the criteria in § 648.162(e). In evaluating requests to transfer a quota or combine quotas, the Regional Administrator shall consider whether: The transfer or combinations would preclude the overall annual quota from being fully harvested; the transfer addresses an unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery; and the transfer is consistent with the objectives of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Maryland is transferring 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) to North Carolina through mutual agreement of the states. This transfer was requested to ensure that North Carolina would not exceed their 2021 state quota. The revised bluefish quotas for 2021 are: Maryland 33,084 lb (15,007 kg) and North Carolina, 1,082,377 lb (490,958 kg). Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempted from review under Executive Order 12866. E:\FR\FM\30MRR1.SGM 30MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18275-18276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06702]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130403320-4891-02; RTID 0648-XB868]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2022-2023 Recreational 
Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; recreational season length.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the length of the recreational fishing 
season for black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the 
South Atlantic will extend throughout the species' 2022-2023 fishing 
year. Announcing the length of recreational season for black sea bass 
is one of the accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational 
sector. This announcement allows recreational fishers to maximize their 
opportunity to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for 
black sea bass during the fishing season while managing harvest to 
protect the black sea bass resource.

DATES: This rule is effective from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on April 1, 
2022, through March 31, 2023, unless changed by subsequent notification 
in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery 
includes black sea bass south of 35[deg]15.9' N latitude and is managed 
under the

[[Page 18276]]

Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South 
Atlantic Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
prepared the FMP and the FMP is implemented by NMFS under the authority 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
    The recreational fishing year for black sea bass is April 1 through 
March 31. The recreational AM for black sea bass requires that before 
the April 1 start date of each recreational fishing year, NMFS projects 
the length of the recreational fishing season based on when NMFS 
projects the recreational ACL will be met, and announces the 
recreational season end date in the Federal Register (50 CFR 
622.193(e)(2)). The purpose of this AM is to have a more predictable 
recreational season length while still constraining harvest at or below 
the recreational ACL to protect the stock from experiencing adverse 
biological consequences.
    The recreational ACL for the 2020-2021 black sea bass fishing year 
is 310,602 lb (140,887 kg), gutted weight, 366,510 lb (166,246 kg), 
round weight. The recreational ACL was set through the final rule for 
Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2 to the FMP (84 FR 14021, April 9, 
2019).
    NMFS estimates that recreational landings for the 2022-2023 fishing 
year will be less than the 2020-2021 recreational ACL. To make this 
determination, NMFS compared recreational landings in the last 3 
fishing years (2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021) to the recreational 
ACL for the 2022-2023 black sea bass fishing year. Recreational 
landings in each of the past 3 fishing years have been substantially 
less than the 2022-2023 recreational ACL; therefore, recreational 
landings are projected to be less than the 2022-2023 recreational ACL. 
Accordingly, the recreational sector for black sea bass is not expected 
to close during the fishing year as a result of reaching its ACL, and 
the season end date for recreational fishing for black sea bass in the 
South Atlantic EEZ south of 35[deg]15.9' N latitude is March 31, 2021.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Region has 
determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and 
management of South Atlantic black sea bass and is consistent with the 
FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.
    This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.193(e)(2) and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without 
opportunity for prior notice and comment.
    This action responds to the best scientific information available. 
The Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries (AA) finds that the need 
to immediately implement the notice of the recreational season length 
constitutes good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment on this temporary rule is unnecessary. Such procedures 
are unnecessary, because the rule establishing the AM has already been 
subject to notice and comment and all that remains is to notify the 
public of the recreational season length.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to 
waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

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

    Dated: March 24, 2022.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-06702 Filed 3-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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