Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 20 to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan, 48617-48618 [2022-17179]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 10, 2022 / Proposed Rules Therefore, for reasons stated in the preamble, 25 CFR part 585 is amended as follows: PART 585—APPEALS TO THE COMMISSION ON WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS OF NOTICES OF VIOLATION, PROPOSED CIVIL FINE ASSESSMENTS, ORDERS OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE, THE CHAIR’S DECISIONS TO VOID OR MODIFY MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS, THE COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS TO REMOVE A CERTIFICATE OF SELF– REGULATION, AND NOTICES OF LATE FEES AND LATE FEE ASSESSMENTS 1. The authority citation for part 585 continues to read as follows: (2) Inform the Commission that an agreement cannot be reached. (d) Disposition. If the parties enter into a full or partial settlement agreement, it shall constitute: full or partial dismissal of the appeal, as applicable; a final order of the Commission; and final agency action. Dated: August 2, 2022. E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, Chairman. Jeannie Hovland, Vice Chair. [FR Doc. 2022–16976 Filed 8–9–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7565–01–P ■ DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Authority: 25 U.S.C. 2706, 2710, 2711, 2713, 2715, 2717. ■ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2. Revise § 585.4 to read as follows: § 585.4 50 CFR Part 648 Are motions permitted? (a) Only motions for extension of time under § 580.4(f) of this subchapter, motions to supplement the record under § 581.5 of this subchapter, motions to intervene under § 585.5, and motions for reconsideration under § 581.6 of this subchapter, are permitted. (b) The Chair shall not, either individually or through counsel, respond to motions. ■ 3. Add § 585.8 to read as follows: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS § 585.8 What is the process for pursuing settlement in an appeal to the Commission? (a) General. At any time after the commencement of a proceeding, but before the date scheduled for the Commission to issue a final decision under § 585.7, the parties may jointly move to stay the proceeding for a reasonable time to permit negotiation of a settlement or an agreement disposing of the whole or any part of the proceeding. (b) Content. Any agreement disposing of the whole or any part of a proceeding shall also provide: (1) A waiver of any further proceedings before the Commission regarding the specific matter(s) settled under the agreement; and (2) That the agreement shall constitute dismissal of the appeal of the specific matter(s) settled, a final order of the Commission, and final agency action. (c) Submission. Before the expiration of the time granted for negotiations, the parties or their authorized representatives may: (1) Notify the Commission that the parties have reached a full or partial settlement and have agreed to dismissal of all or part of the action, subject to compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement; or VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:13 Aug 09, 2022 Jkt 256001 RIN 0648–BI18 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 20 to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 20 to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce. We are requesting comments from the public on the amendment. Amendment 20, also known as the Excessive Shares Amendment, would establish limits to the amount of surfclam or ocean quahog individual transferable quota share or annual allocation in the form of cage tags that an individual or their family members could hold. DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 11, 2022. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA– NMFS–2020–0112, by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA–NMFS–2020–0112 in the Search box. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 48617 • Mail: Submit written comments to Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope: ‘‘Comments on Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment.’’ Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted 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 will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Copies of Amendment 20, including the draft Environmental Assessment (EA), are available on request from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. These documents are also accessible via the internet at https://www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978–281–9341. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments on Amendment 20, also known as the Excessive Shares Amendment, and its incorporated documents through the end of the comment period stated in this notice of availability. We will soon publish a proposed rule that would implement the amendment’s management measures in the Federal Register for public comment, allowing for NMFS’s evaluation of the proposed rule under the procedures of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by the end of the comment period provided in this notice of availability to be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. All comments received by October 11, 2022, whether specifically directed to the amendment or the proposed rule will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. To be considered, comments must be received by close of business on the last day of the comment period. Comments received after that date will not be considered in the decision to approve or disapprove Amendment 20, including those E:\FR\FM\10AUP1.SGM 10AUP1 48618 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 10, 2022 / Proposed Rules khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS postmarked or otherwise transmitted by the last day of the comment period. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council developed this amendment to limit the amount of surfclam or ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ) share or annual allocation in the form of cage tags that an individual or their family members could hold. The Amendment would prohibit an ITQ shareholder, including business owners and their immediate VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:13 Aug 09, 2022 Jkt 256001 family members, from acquiring ownership of more than 35 percent of the surfclam quota or 40 percent of the ocean quahog quota. A separate, higher cap would be established for the maximum amount of available cage tags that an ITQ permit holder may acquire through leasing or other transactions during the course of an individual fishing year of 65 percent for surfclam tags and 70 percent for ocean quahog tags. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 Additional details of the proposed measures are available in the amendment document and the proposed rule. (Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) Dated: August 5, 2022. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2022–17179 Filed 8–9–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\10AUP1.SGM 10AUP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48617-48618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17179]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

RIN 0648-BI18


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 20 to the 
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed fishery management plan 
amendment; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council has submitted Amendment 20 to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean 
Quahog Fishery Management Plan for review and approval by the Secretary 
of Commerce. We are requesting comments from the public on the 
amendment. Amendment 20, also known as the Excessive Shares Amendment, 
would establish limits to the amount of surfclam or ocean quahog 
individual transferable quota share or annual allocation in the form of 
cage tags that an individual or their family members could hold.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 11, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0112, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2020-0112 in the Search box. 
Click the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Michael Pentony, Regional 
Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 
Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the 
envelope: ``Comments on Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares 
Amendment.''
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted 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 will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Copies of Amendment 20, including the draft Environmental 
Assessment (EA), are available on request from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. 
These documents are also accessible via the internet at https://www.mafmc.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
978-281-9341.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments on 
Amendment 20, also known as the Excessive Shares Amendment, and its 
incorporated documents through the end of the comment period stated in 
this notice of availability. We will soon publish a proposed rule that 
would implement the amendment's management measures in the Federal 
Register for public comment, allowing for NMFS's evaluation of the 
proposed rule under the procedures of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act. Public comments on the proposed rule 
must be received by the end of the comment period provided in this 
notice of availability to be considered in the approval/disapproval 
decision on the amendment. All comments received by October 11, 2022, 
whether specifically directed to the amendment or the proposed rule 
will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the 
amendment. To be considered, comments must be received by close of 
business on the last day of the comment period. Comments received after 
that date will not be considered in the decision to approve or 
disapprove Amendment 20, including those

[[Page 48618]]

postmarked or otherwise transmitted by the last day of the comment 
period.
    The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council developed this 
amendment to limit the amount of surfclam or ocean quahog individual 
transferable quota (ITQ) share or annual allocation in the form of cage 
tags that an individual or their family members could hold. The 
Amendment would prohibit an ITQ shareholder, including business owners 
and their immediate family members, from acquiring ownership of more 
than 35 percent of the surfclam quota or 40 percent of the ocean quahog 
quota. A separate, higher cap would be established for the maximum 
amount of available cage tags that an ITQ permit holder may acquire 
through leasing or other transactions during the course of an 
individual fishing year of 65 percent for surfclam tags and 70 percent 
for ocean quahog tags.
    Additional details of the proposed measures are available in the 
amendment document and the proposed rule.

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

    Dated: August 5, 2022.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-17179 Filed 8-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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