Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Longline Catcher Processor Subsector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Non-Pollock Groundfish Fishery, 95185-95186 [2024-28163]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 231 / Monday, December 2, 2024 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 William Fritz, (301) 427–8078. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Sections 312(b) through (e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861a (b) through (e)) generally authorizes fishing capacity reduction programs. In particular, section 312(d) authorizes industry fee systems for repaying reduction loans that finance reduction programs. Subpart L of 50 CFR part 600 is the framework rule generally implementing section 312(b) through (e). Sections 1111 and 1112 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1279f and 1279g) generally authorizes reduction loans. Enacted on February 20, 2003, section 212 of division B, title II, of Public Law 108–7 (section 212) specifically authorizes a fishing capacity reduction program for that portion of the limited entry trawl fishery under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan whose permits, excluding those registered to whiting catcher-processors, are endorsed for trawl gear operation (reduction fishery). The reduction program’s objective was to reduce the number of vessels and permits endorsed for the operation of groundfish trawl gear. The program also involved corollary fishing capacity reduction in the California, Oregon, and Washington fisheries for Dungeness crab and pink shrimp and the sub-loans for these State fisheries have all been repaid. NMFS proposed the implementing notice on May 28, 2003 (68 FR 31653) and published the final notice on July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42613). NMFS allocated a $28,428,719 reduction loan to the groundfish fishery. The allocation became a reduction loan repayable by fees from the groundfish fishery. NMFS published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40225), the final rule to implement the industry fee system for repaying the program’s reduction loan. The regulations implementing the program are located at 50 CFR part 600 subpart M. On August 8, 2005, NMFS published in the Federal Register (70 FR 45695) a notice of the fee effective date and established September 8, 2005 as the effective date when fee collection and loan repayment began. that will be reasonably necessary to ensure reduction loan repayment within the specified 30-year term. NMFS has determined that the current fee rate of 3.5 percent for the groundfish fishery is projected to collect more than the annual amortization amount needed for 2025. Therefore, NMFS is decreasing the fee rate to 2.25 percent for all landings beginning January 1, 2025. Fish buyers may continue to disburse collected fee deposits to NMFS by using https://www.pay.gov or by mailing payments to our lockbox. Our lockbox’s address is: ‘‘NMFS Pacific Coast Groundfish Buyback Loan, P.O. Box 979008, St. Louis, MO 63197–9000. Fish buyers must include the fee collection report with the fee payment. Fish buyers using https://www.pay.gov will find an electronic fee collection report form. Fish buyers not using https:// www.pay.gov may also access the NMFS website for a copy of the fee collection report at: https://www.fisheries. noaa.gov/national/funding-andfinancial-services/pacific-coastgroundfish-buyback. III. Notice The new 2.25 percent fee rate for the groundfish fishery will begin for all landings starting January 1, 2025. From and after this date, all groundfish program fish sellers paying fees shall begin paying groundfish program fees at the revised rate. The first due date for fee payments with the decreased rate will be February 14, 2025. Fee collection and submission shall follow previously established methods in § 600.1013 of the framework rule and in the final fee rule published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40225). Authority: The authority for this action is Pub. L. 107 206, Pub. L. 108 7, 16 U.S.C. 1861a (b) through (e), and 50 CFR 600.1000 et seq. Dated: November 22, 2024. Brian T. Pawlak, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Director, Office of Management and Budget, NOAA Fisheries. [FR Doc. 2024–28144 Filed 11–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P II. Purpose The purpose of this notice is to adjust, in accordance with the framework rule’s § 600.1013(b), the fee rate for the groundfish fishery. Section 600.1013(b) directs NMFS to recalculate the fee rate VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Nov 29, 2024 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 95185 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XE485] Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Longline Catcher Processor Subsector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Non-Pollock Groundfish Fishery National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of fee rate adjustment. AGENCY: NMFS issues this notice to inform the public that there will be a decrease of the fee rate required to repay the reduction loan financing the nonpollock groundfish fishing capacity reduction program. Effective January 1, 2025, NMFS is decreasing the Loan A fee rate to $0.016 per pound to ensure timely repayment of the loan. The fee rate for Loan B will remain unchanged at $0.001 per pound. The decreased fee rate is due to a recalculation based on the required amortization target and projected non-pollock groundfish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2025, as well as a temporary adjustment related to 2024 Season B. DATES: The non-pollock groundfish program fee rate decrease will begin with landings on January 1, 2025. The first due date for fee payments with the decreased rate will be February 15, 2025. SUMMARY: Send questions about this notice to William Fritz, Financial Assistance Specialist, Financial Services Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3282. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Fritz, (301) 427–8078. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Background Sections 312(b)–(e) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) generally authorizes fishing capacity reduction programs. In particular, section 312(d) authorizes industry fee systems for repaying reduction loans which finance reduction program costs. Subpart L of 50 CFR part 600 is the framework rule generally implementing section 312(b)–(e). Sections 1111 and 1112 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1279f and 1279g) generally authorize reduction loans. Enacted on December 8, 2004, section 219, Title II, of FY 2005 Appropriations E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1 95186 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 231 / Monday, December 2, 2024 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Act, Public Law 104–447 (Act) authorizes a fishing capacity reduction program implementing capacity reduction plans submitted to NMFS by catcher processor subsectors of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) non-pollock groundfish fishery (reduction fishery) as set forth in the Act. The longline catcher processor subsector (Longline Subsector) is among the catcher processor subsectors eligible to submit to NMFS a capacity reduction plan under the terms of the Act. The longline subsector non-pollock groundfish reduction program’s objective was to reduce the number of vessels and permits endorsed for longline subsector of the non-pollock groundfish fishery. All post-reduction fish landings from the reduction fishery are subject to the longline subsector non-pollock groundfish program’s fee. NMFS proposed the implementing notice on August 11, 2006 (71 FR 46364), and published the final notice on September 29, 2006 (71 FR 57696). NMFS allocated the $35,000,000 reduction loan (A Loan) to the reduction fishery and this loan is repayable by fees from the fishery. On September 24, 2007, NMFS published in the Federal Register (72 FR 54219), the final rule to implement the industry fee system for repaying the non-pollock groundfish program’s reduction loan and established October 24, 2007, as the effective date when fee collection and loan repayment began. The regulations implementing the program are located at § 600.1012. NMFS published a final rule to implement a second $2,700,000 reduction loan (B Loan) for this fishery in the Federal Register on September 24, 2012 (77 FR 58775). The loan was disbursed December 18, 2012 with fee collection of $0.001 per pound to begin January 1, 2013. This fee is in addition to the A Loan fee. Purpose The purpose of this notice is to adjust the fee rate for the reduction fishery in accordance with the framework rule’s § 600.1013(b). Section 600.1013(b) directs NMFS to recalculate the fee rate that will be reasonably necessary to ensure reduction loan repayment within the specified 30 year term. NMFS has determined for the reduction fishery that the current fee rate of Loan A, $0.020 per pound, is more than that needed to service the loan in 2025. Therefore, NMFS is decreasing the Loan A fee rate to $0.016 per pound. NMFS has determined $0.017 per pound is sufficient to ensure timely loan repayment, with an VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Nov 29, 2024 Jkt 265001 additional temporary $0.001 per pound adjustment related to the 2024 Season B rate having been set at $0.020 per pound rather than $0.019 per pound. The fee rate for Loan B will remain $0.001 per pound. Subsector members may continue to use Pay.gov to disburse collected fee deposits at: https\://www.pay.gov/ paygov/. Please visit the NMFS website for additional information at:https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ funding-and-financial-services/longlinecatcher-processor-subsector-bering-seaand-aleutian-islands-non-pollock. Notice The new fee rate for the non-pollock groundfish fishery will begin on January 1, 2025. From and after this date, all subsector members paying fees on the non-pollock groundfish fishery shall begin paying non-pollock groundfish fishery program fees at the revised rate. Fee collection and submission shall follow previously established methods in § 600.1013 of the framework rule and in the final fee rule published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2007 (72 FR 54219). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.; Pub. L. 108–447. Dated: November 26, 2024. Brian T. Pawlak, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–28163 Filed 11–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XE341] Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Maryland Offshore Wind Project Offshore of Maryland National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of Letter of Authorization. AGENCY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to US Wind, Inc. (US Wind), for the taking of marine SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 mammals incidental to the construction of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project (hereafter known as the ‘‘Project’’). DATES: The LOA is effective from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029. ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting documentation are available online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/ incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Taylor, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of marine mammals, with certain exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made, regulations are promulgated (when applicable), and public notice and an opportunity for public comment are provided. An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses (where relevant). If such findings are made, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods of taking; ‘‘other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact’’ on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on the availability of the species or stocks for taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to as ‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such takings. The MMPA defines ‘‘take’’ to mean harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal (16 U.S.C. 1362(13); 50 CFR 216.103). Level A harassment is defined as any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (16 U.S.C. 1362(18); 50 CFR 216.3). Level A harassment is defined as any act of E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95185-95186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28163]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE485]


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Longline Catcher 
Processor Subsector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Non-Pollock 
Groundfish Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of fee rate adjustment.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to inform the public that there will 
be a decrease of the fee rate required to repay the reduction loan 
financing the non-pollock groundfish fishing capacity reduction 
program. Effective January 1, 2025, NMFS is decreasing the Loan A fee 
rate to $0.016 per pound to ensure timely repayment of the loan. The 
fee rate for Loan B will remain unchanged at $0.001 per pound. The 
decreased fee rate is due to a recalculation based on the required 
amortization target and projected non-pollock groundfish Total 
Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2025, as well as a temporary adjustment 
related to 2024 Season B.

DATES: The non-pollock groundfish program fee rate decrease will begin 
with landings on January 1, 2025. The first due date for fee payments 
with the decreased rate will be February 15, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send questions about this notice to William Fritz, Financial 
Assistance Specialist, Financial Services Division, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3282.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Fritz, (301) 427-8078.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Sections 312(b)-(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) generally authorizes 
fishing capacity reduction programs. In particular, section 312(d) 
authorizes industry fee systems for repaying reduction loans which 
finance reduction program costs. Subpart L of 50 CFR part 600 is the 
framework rule generally implementing section 312(b)-(e). Sections 1111 
and 1112 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1279f and 
1279g) generally authorize reduction loans.
    Enacted on December 8, 2004, section 219, Title II, of FY 2005 
Appropriations

[[Page 95186]]

Act, Public Law 104-447 (Act) authorizes a fishing capacity reduction 
program implementing capacity reduction plans submitted to NMFS by 
catcher processor subsectors of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
(BSAI) non-pollock groundfish fishery (reduction fishery) as set forth 
in the Act.
    The longline catcher processor subsector (Longline Subsector) is 
among the catcher processor subsectors eligible to submit to NMFS a 
capacity reduction plan under the terms of the Act. The longline 
subsector non-pollock groundfish reduction program's objective was to 
reduce the number of vessels and permits endorsed for longline 
subsector of the non-pollock groundfish fishery. All post-reduction 
fish landings from the reduction fishery are subject to the longline 
subsector non-pollock groundfish program's fee.
    NMFS proposed the implementing notice on August 11, 2006 (71 FR 
46364), and published the final notice on September 29, 2006 (71 FR 
57696). NMFS allocated the $35,000,000 reduction loan (A Loan) to the 
reduction fishery and this loan is repayable by fees from the fishery.
    On September 24, 2007, NMFS published in the Federal Register (72 
FR 54219), the final rule to implement the industry fee system for 
repaying the non-pollock groundfish program's reduction loan and 
established October 24, 2007, as the effective date when fee collection 
and loan repayment began. The regulations implementing the program are 
located at Sec.  600.1012.
    NMFS published a final rule to implement a second $2,700,000 
reduction loan (B Loan) for this fishery in the Federal Register on 
September 24, 2012 (77 FR 58775). The loan was disbursed December 18, 
2012 with fee collection of $0.001 per pound to begin January 1, 2013. 
This fee is in addition to the A Loan fee.

Purpose

    The purpose of this notice is to adjust the fee rate for the 
reduction fishery in accordance with the framework rule's Sec.  
600.1013(b). Section 600.1013(b) directs NMFS to recalculate the fee 
rate that will be reasonably necessary to ensure reduction loan 
repayment within the specified 30 year term.
    NMFS has determined for the reduction fishery that the current fee 
rate of Loan A, $0.020 per pound, is more than that needed to service 
the loan in 2025. Therefore, NMFS is decreasing the Loan A fee rate to 
$0.016 per pound. NMFS has determined $0.017 per pound is sufficient to 
ensure timely loan repayment, with an additional temporary $0.001 per 
pound adjustment related to the 2024 Season B rate having been set at 
$0.020 per pound rather than $0.019 per pound. The fee rate for Loan B 
will remain $0.001 per pound.
    Subsector members may continue to use Pay.gov to disburse collected 
fee deposits at: https\://www.pay.gov/paygov/.
    Please visit the NMFS website for additional information at:https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/funding-and-financial-services/longline-catcher-processor-subsector-bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands-non-pollock.

Notice

    The new fee rate for the non-pollock groundfish fishery will begin 
on January 1, 2025.
    From and after this date, all subsector members paying fees on the 
non-pollock groundfish fishery shall begin paying non-pollock 
groundfish fishery program fees at the revised rate.
    Fee collection and submission shall follow previously established 
methods in Sec.  600.1013 of the framework rule and in the final fee 
rule published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2007 (72 FR 
54219).
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.; Pub. L. 108-447.

    Dated: November 26, 2024.
Brian T. Pawlak,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Director, Office 
of Management and Budget, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-28163 Filed 11-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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