Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2023-2024 Recreational Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass, 18442-18443 [2023-06517]

Download as PDF 18442 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, entitled ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) This action does not involve technical standards; thus, the requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations This action is subject to the Congressional Review Act, and EPA will submit a rule report to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 423 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 Michael S. Regan, Administrator. For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Environmental Protection Agency amends 40 CFR part 423 as follows: PART 423—STEAM ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY 17:14 Mar 28, 2023 Jkt 259001 * * * * * (f) * * * (1) Notice of Planned Participation. For sources seeking to qualify as an electric generating unit that will achieve permanent cessation of coal combustion by December 31, 2028, under this part, a Notice of Planned Participation shall be made to the permitting authority, or to the control authority in the case of an indirect discharger, no later than June 27, 2023. * * * * * DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 130403320–4891–02] RTID 0648–XC842 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2023–2024 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 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic will extend throughout the species’ 2023–2024 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 while NMFS manages harvest to protect the black sea bass resource. DATES: This rule is effective from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, unless changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register. SUMMARY: Environmental protection, Electric power generation, Power facilities, Waste treatment and disposal, Water pollution control. VerDate Sep<11>2014 § 423.19 Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. BILLING CODE 6560–50–P K. Congressional Review Act (CRA) 1. The authority citation for part 423 continues to read as follows: 2. Amend § 423.19 by revising paragraph (f)(1) to read as follows: ■ [FR Doc. 2023–04985 Filed 3–28–23; 8:45 am] EPA believes that this action is not subject to Executive Order 12898, entitled ‘‘Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations’’ (59 FR 7629; February 16, 1994), because it does not establish an environmental health or safety standard. This regulatory action is a minor date change for filing a notice contained in a previously promulgated regulatory action and does not have any impact on human health or the environment. ■ Authority: Secs. 101; 301; 304(b), (c), (e), and (g); 306; 307; 308 and 501, Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, as amended; 33 U.S.C. 1251; 1311; 1314(b), (c), (e), and (g); 1316; 1317; 1318 and 1361). PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 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°15.19′ N latitude, due east of Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina, and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared the FMP and NMFS implements the FMP 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 allow recreational fishers to maximize their opportunity to harvest the recreational ACL through a more predictable recreational season while NMFS manages harvest within the recreational ACL to protect the stock from experiencing adverse biological consequences. The recreational ACL for black sea bass during the 2023–2024 fishing year is 310,602 lb (140,887 kg) in gutted weight, or 366,510 lb (166,246 kg) in round weight (50 CFR 622.193(e)(2)). NMFS estimates that recreational landings for the 2023–2024 fishing year will be less than the 2023–2024 recreational ACL. To make this determination, NMFS compared recreational landings of black sea bass in the last 3 fishing years with available data (2019–20 through 2021–22) to the recreational ACL for the 2023–2024 fishing year. Recreational landings in each of these past 3 fishing years have been less than the 2023–2024 recreational ACL; and NMFS expects similar landings for the 2023–2024 fishing season. Therefore, because NMFS projects that the recreational landings of black sea bass will be less than the 2023–2024 recreational ACL, NMFS does not expect to close the recreational sector during the fishing year and announces the season end date for recreational fishing for black sea bass in the South Atlantic EEZ south of 35°15.19′ N latitude is March 31, 2024. E:\FR\FM\29MRR1.SGM 29MRR1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(e)(2), which were issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. 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 notice and comment 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 reasons already stated, the Assistant Administrator for NMFS 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, 2023. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–06517 Filed 3–28–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 230306–0065; RTID 0648– XC879] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. AGENCY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Mar 28, 2023 Jkt 259001 vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2023 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. Effective March 24, 2023 through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Milani, 907–581–2062. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The A season apportionment of the 2023 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is 1,019 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023). The 2023 Pacific cod TAC allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI is 2,410 mt as established by final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that jig vessels will not be able to harvest 950 mt of the A season apportionment of the 2023 Pacific cod TAC allocated to those vessels under § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(1). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(C), NMFS apportions 950 mt of Pacific cod from the A season jig gear apportionment to the annual amount DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 18443 specified for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. The harvest specifications for 2023 Pacific cod included in final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (88 FR 14926, March 10, 2023) are revised as follows: 69 mt to the A season apportionment and 748 mt to the annual amount for vessels using jig gear, and 3,360 mt to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. 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 notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest, as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion, and would delay the reallocation of Pacific cod specified from jig vessels to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of March 20, 2023. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 24, 2023. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–06542 Filed 3–24–23; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\29MRR1.SGM 29MRR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18442-18443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06517]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 130403320-4891-02]
RTID 0648-XC842


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2023-2024 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 recreational fishing season for black 
sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic 
will extend throughout the species' 2023-2024 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 
while NMFS manages harvest to protect the black sea bass resource.

DATES: This rule is effective from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 
2024, 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]15.19' N latitude, due east of 
Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina, and is managed under the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
Region (FMP). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared 
the FMP and NMFS implements the FMP 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 allow recreational fishers 
to maximize their opportunity to harvest the recreational ACL through a 
more predictable recreational season while NMFS manages harvest within 
the recreational ACL to protect the stock from experiencing adverse 
biological consequences.
    The recreational ACL for black sea bass during the 2023-2024 
fishing year is 310,602 lb (140,887 kg) in gutted weight, or 366,510 lb 
(166,246 kg) in round weight (50 CFR 622.193(e)(2)).
    NMFS estimates that recreational landings for the 2023-2024 fishing 
year will be less than the 2023-2024 recreational ACL. To make this 
determination, NMFS compared recreational landings of black sea bass in 
the last 3 fishing years with available data (2019-20 through 2021-22) 
to the recreational ACL for the 2023-2024 fishing year. Recreational 
landings in each of these past 3 fishing years have been less than the 
2023-2024 recreational ACL; and NMFS expects similar landings for the 
2023-2024 fishing season. Therefore, because NMFS projects that the 
recreational landings of black sea bass will be less than the 2023-2024 
recreational ACL, NMFS does not expect to close the recreational sector 
during the fishing year and announces the season end date for 
recreational fishing for black sea bass in the South Atlantic EEZ south 
of 35[deg]15.19' N latitude is March 31, 2024.

[[Page 18443]]

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(e)(2), which 
were issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempt from review under 
Executive Order 12866.
    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 notice 
and comment 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 reasons already stated, the Assistant Administrator for 
NMFS 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, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06517 Filed 3-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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