Department of Commerce 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 201 - 250 of 2,810
Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip From Korea: Notice of Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review
In response to a request from interested parties, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip from Korea on July 28, 2011.\1\ This review covers one company, Kolon Industries, Inc. (Kolon) for the period of review (POR) of June 1, 2010, through May 31, 2011. On November 18, 2011, the Department published in the Federal Register notice of revocation of the antidumping duty order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip from Korea with regard to Kolon, effective June 1, 2010.\2\ Based on the revocation of the order with regard to Kolon, we are now rescinding this administrative review.
Certain Helical Spring Lock Washers From Taiwan and the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders
As a result of the determinations by the Department of Commerce (``Department'') and the International Trade Commission (``ITC'') that revocation of the antidumping duty orders on certain helical spring lock washers from Taiwan and the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') would be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, the Department is publishing a notice of continuation of the antidumping duty orders.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Current Population Survey (CPS) Fertility Supplement
The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast Groundfish Trawl Economic Data Collection
The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Certain Steel Nails From the People's Republic of China: Final Rescission of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review
The Department of Commerce (``Department'') is currently conducting a new shipper review (``NSR'') of the antidumping duty order on certain steel nails (``nails'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). On September 12, 2011, we published in the Federal Register our preliminary notice to rescind the NSR with respect to Shanghai Colour \1\ on the basis that its sale to the United States did not constitute a bona fide transaction.\2\ Because we received no comments or new information after the publication of our intent to rescind this NSR, we have made no changes to our preliminary decision. Therefore, we have determined that this NSR should be rescinded.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Marine Geophysical Survey in the Central Pacific Ocean, November, 2011 Through January, 2012
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulation, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO), a part of Columbia University, for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a marine geophysical survey in the central Pacific Ocean, November, 2011 through January, 2012.
Marine Mammals
Notice is hereby given that Dr. Peter Tyack, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA has applied for an amendment to Permit No. 14241-02 to conduct research on marine mammals.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Amendment 10
NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils). This rule revises the lobster species contained within the fishery management unit; establishes an annual catch limit (ACL) for Caribbean spiny lobster; revises the Federal spiny lobster tail-separation permit requirements; revises the regulations specifying the condition of spiny lobster landed during a fishing trip; modifies the undersized attractant regulations; modifies the framework procedures and the protocol for cooperative management with Florida; and authorizes the removal of derelict traps in Federal waters off Florida through Florida's trap cleanup program. Additionally, this rule revises codified text to reflect updated contact information for the state of Florida and regulatory references for the Florida Administrative Code. The intent of this final rule is to specify ACLs for spiny lobster while maintaining catch levels consistent with achieving optimum yield (OY) for the resource.
Vessel Monitoring Systems; Approved Mobile Transmitting Units and Communications Service Providers for Use in Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries
This document provides notice that three mobile transmitting unit (MTU) vessel monitoring systems (VMS) that were previously approved for use in Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries are no longer approved for use. This document also provides a list and describes relevant features of the enhanced mobile transmitting unit (E-MTU) VMS and communications service providers that are currently approved by NMFS for use by vessels participating in Atlantic HMS fisheries.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Vessel Monitoring Systems
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is finalizing requirements for fishermen to replace currently required Mobile Transmitting Unit (MTU) Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) units with Enhanced Mobile Transmitting Unit (E-MTU) VMS in Atlantic HMS fisheries. The key difference between MTU and E-MTU VMS units is that the E-MTU VMS units are capable of two-way communication. The purpose of this final action is to facilitate enhanced communication with HMS vessels at sea, provide HMS fishery participants with an additional means of sending and receiving information at sea, ensure that HMS VMS units are consistent with the current VMS technology and type approval requirements that apply to newly installed units, and to provide NMFS enforcement with additional information describing gear onboard and target species. This rule affects all HMS pelagic longline (PLL), bottom longline (BLL), and shark gillnet fishermen who are currently required to have VMS onboard their vessels.
Endangered Species
Notice is hereby given that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 21 South Putt Corners Rd., New Paltz, NY 12561 [Responsible Party: Kathryn Hattala], has been issued a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.
Initiation of Five-Year (“Sunset”) Review
In accordance with section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is automatically initiating a five-year review (``Sunset Review'') of the antidumping duty orders listed below. The International Trade Commission (``the Commission'') is publishing concurrently with this notice its notice of Institution of Five-Year Review which covers the same orders.
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; 2011 Bigeye Tuna Longline Fishery Closure
NMFS withdraws the temporary rule that would have closed the U.S. pelagic longline fishery for bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean as a result of the fishery reaching the 2011 catch limit. NMFS no longer expects that the fishery will reach the limit by the date specified in the temporary rule.
Notice of Implementation of Determination Under Section 129 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act and Revocation of the Antidumping Duty Order on Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From the Republic of Korea; and Partial Revocation of the Antidumping Duty Order on Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From the Republic of Korea
On November 16, 2011, the U.S. Trade Representative (``USTR'') instructed the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') to implement its determination under section 129 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (``URAA'') regarding the investigation of stainless steel plate in coils from the Republic of Korea (``SSPC'') and stainless steel sheet and strip from the Republic of Korea (``SSSS''). The Department issued its determination on November 4, 2011, regarding the offsetting of dumped comparisons with non-dumped comparisons when making average-to- average comparisons of export price and normal value in the investigation challenged by the Republic of Korea before the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') in United StatesUse of Zeroing in Antidumping Measures Involving Products from Korea (DS402). The Department is now implementing this determination.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 11
NMFS announces approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of collection-of-information requirements in regulations implementing Amendment 11 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This final rule sets the effective date of the collection-of-information requirements.
Revision of Patent Term Adjustment Provisions Relating to Information Disclosure Statements
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) is revising the patent term adjustment provisions of the rules of practice in patent cases. The patent term adjustment provisions of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) provide for a reduction of any patent term adjustment if the applicant failed to engage in reasonable efforts to conclude prosecution of the application. The Office is revising the rules of practice pertaining to the reduction of patent term adjustment for applicant delays to exclude information disclosure statements resulting from the citation of information in a counterpart application that are promptly filed with the Office. The rule change allows the diligent applicant to avoid patent term adjustment reduction for an IDS submission that results from a communication from the Office. Presently, the rule only provides relief if the IDS was cited as a result of a communication from a foreign patent office. Under this final rule, there will be no reduction of patent term adjustment in the following situations: when applicant promptly submits a reference in an information disclosure statement after the mailing of a notice of allowance if the reference was cited by the Office in another application, or when applicant promptly submits a copy of an Office communication (e.g., an Office action) in an information disclosure statement after the mailing of a notice of allowance if the Office communication was issued by the Office in another application or by a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application. The above changes are intended to ensure compliance with AIPA in light of the evolving case law.
Forum-Trends in Extreme Winds, Waves, and Extratropical Storms Along the Coasts
This notice sets forth the schedule and topics of an upcoming forum hosted by the NOAA National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina on January 11-13, 2012. Invited participants will discuss topics as outlined below. Members of the public are invited to attend the forum and are required to RSVP to Brooke.Stewart@noaa.gov by 5 p.m. EST, Wednesday, December 28, 2011 if they wish to attend. The forum is to be held in a federal facility; building security restrictions preclude attendance by members of the public who do not RSVP by the deadline. Space is also limited and public attendees will be admitted based on the order in which RSVPs are received. Members of the public will be invited to offer their comments during a 30-minute period to be held from 9:30 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of five minutes. Please indicate your intention to participate in the public comment period when submitting your RSVP. Time for public comments will be allotted based on the order in which RSVPs are received. Written comments may be submitted via email or in hardcopy and must be received by December 28, 2011. For information on how to submit written comments, please see addresses below. Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Brooke Stewart (828) 257- 3020, Brooke.Stewart@noaa.gov) by December 28, 2011.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod Allocations in the Gulf of Alaska; Amendment 83
NMFS publishes regulations to implement Amendment 83 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Amendment 83 allocates Western and Central GOA Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) limits among various gear and operational sectors. Sector allocations limit the amount of Western and Central GOA Pacific cod that each sector is authorized to harvest. This action reduces competition among sectors and supports stability in the Pacific cod fishery. This rule limits access to the Federal Pacific cod TAC fisheries prosecuted in State of Alaska waters, commonly known as the parallel fishery, adjacent to the Western and Central GOA. This action is intended to promote community participation and provide incentives for new entrants in the jig sector. It also promotes the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Fishery Management Plan, and other applicable laws.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment for the South Atlantic
NMFS proposes regulations to implement the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment (Comprehensive ACL Amendment) to the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper), the Golden Crab Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Golden Crab), the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery off the Atlantic States (Dolphin and Wahoo), and the Pelagic Sargassum Habitat of the South Atlantic Region (Sargassum) as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would specify annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for species in the FMPs for Snapper- Grouper, Dolphin and Wahoo, and Golden Crab. The rule would also describe the current terminology and measures in place in the Sargassum FMP that are equivalent to an ACL and AMs. For Sargassum, the rule would not specifically set an ACL because there is currently a commercial quota in place which functions as an ACL, and there are commercial closure provisions in the event the quota is met or projected to be met which functions as an AM. In addition, the rule would revise the snapper-grouper fishery management unit (FMU), including the removal of some species, designation of ecosystem component (EC) species, and the development of species groups. This rule would establish a daily vessel limit for the recreational possession of wreckfish, create a closed season for the wreckfish recreational sector, prohibit recreational bag limit sales of dolphin from for-hire vessels, and set a minimum size limit for dolphin off most of the South Atlantic states. The intent of this rule is to specify ACLs for species not undergoing overfishing while maintaining catch levels consistent with achieving optimum yield (OY) for the resource.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; Trawl Rationalization Program; Program Improvement and Enhancement; Amendment 21-1
This action implements revisions to the Pacific coast groundfish trawl rationalization program (program), a catch share program, and includes regulations that affect all commercial sectors (limited entry trawl, limited entry fixed gear, and open access) managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action includes regulatory amendments to further implement Amendments 20 and 21 to the FMP and an FMP amendment to further revise Amendment 21 (called Amendment 21-1). This action includes, but is not limited to: Revisions to the Pacific halibut trawl bycatch mortality limit; clarification that Amendment 21 supersedes limited entry/open access allocations for certain groundfish species; revisions to the observer coverage requirement while a vessel is in port and before the offload is complete; revisions to the electronic fish ticket reporting requirements; revisions to the first receiver site license requirement; further clarification on moving between limited entry and open access fisheries; a process for end-of-the-year vessel account reconciliation; and an exemption from processing at sea for qualified participants in the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program.
National Marine Protected Areas Center External Review
On May 26, 2000, President Clinton signed Executive Order (EO) 13158, directing federal agencies (led by NOAA and DOI) to establish a comprehensive national system of MPAs serving multiple conservation and management goals. To this end, the EO directs NOAA to establish a National Marine Protected Area Center (``MPA Center'') within NOAA (Sec. 4(e)) to carry out several provisions in cooperation with the Department of the Interior. Over the past decade, the MPA Center has conducted a variety of efforts to establish and support the growing national system through targeted science, information resources, coordination and policy development. An external review of the MPA Center is needed to maximize its effectiveness and transparency and to ensure that the MPA Center is conducting high quality work of significant value to NOAA and the nation. To this end, the MPA Center is seeking external feedback, including public comment on the program's approach to balancing competing priorities. All comments received in response to this request will be summarized and provided to an expert review panel scheduled to convene in late January, 2012.
Honey From Argentina: Final Results of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review
On August 31, 2011, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published its preliminary results of the 2009-2010 new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on honey from Argentina.\1\ This review covers one exporter, Villamora S.A. (Villamora).\2\ The period of review (POR) is December 1, 2009 through November 30, 2010. We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results and received no comments. Therefore, our final results remain unchanged from our Preliminary Results.
Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part
The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') has received requests to conduct administrative reviews of various antidumping and countervailing duty orders and findings with October anniversary dates. In accordance with the Department's regulations, we are initiating those administrative reviews. The Department also received a request to revoke one antidumping duty order in part.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico; Commercial Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Control Date
This notice announces that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering creating additional restrictions limiting participation in the Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. If such management measures are implemented, the Council is considering January 1, 2012, as a possible control date. Anyone entering the program after the control date will not be assured of future access should a management regime that limits participation in the program be prepared and implemented. NMFS invites comments on the establishment of this control date.
Snapper-Grouper Fishery off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendments 18A, 18B, 18C, 20A, and 20B
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) previously published a NOI for Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 18), on January 28, 2009, which has subsequently been divided into five separate amendments to the FMP for the Snapper- Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP). The new amendments to the Snapper-Grouper FMP are: Amendment 18A, which is supported by an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); Amendment 18B, which is supported by an Environmental Assessment (EA); Amendment 18C, for which the specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document type (EIS or EA) has not yet been determined; Amendment 20A, which is supported by an EA; and Amendment 20B, for which the specific NEPA document has also not yet been determined. If Amendments 18C and 20B to the Snapper-Grouper FMP subsequently require the development of DEISs, NOIs for those amendments will be published in the Federal Register at a later date. This supplemental NOI is intended to inform the public of the Council's decision to divide the actions in Amendment 18 into five separate amendments and subsequently prepare separate supporting NEPA documents for the new amendments. Comments are being solicited on each of the Amendments, regardless of the specific NEPA document being prepared.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer
The State of Florida is transferring a portion of its 2011 commercial bluefish quota to New York State. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Longline Catcher Processor Subsector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Non Pollock Groundfish Fishery
NMFS issues this notice to decrease the fee rate for the non- pollock groundfish fishery to repay the $35,000,000 reduction loan to finance the non-pollock groundfish fishing capacity reduction program.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Adjustments to the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General and Harpoon Category Regulations
NMFS is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery regulations to: Increase the General category maximum daily retention limit; allow the General category season to remain open until the January subquota is reached, or March 31, whichever happens first; and increase the Harpoon category daily incidental retention limit. This action is intended to enable more thorough utilization of the available U.S. BFT quota for the General and Harpoon (commercial handgear) categories; minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality to the extent practicable; expand fishing opportunities for participants in the commercial winter General category fishery; and increase NMFS' flexibility for setting the General category retention limit depending on available quota.
Uncovered Innerspring Units From the People's Republic of China: Second Extension of Final Results of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review
The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') is extending the time limit for the final results of the first new shipper review of uncovered innerspring units (``innersprings'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). The review covers the period of review (``POR'') of February 1, 2010, through July 31, 2010.
Notice of Scope Rulings
The Department of Commerce (``Department'') hereby publishes a list of scope rulings completed between January 1, 2011, and March 31, 2011. In conjunction with this list, the Department is also publishing a list of requests for scope rulings and anticircumvention determinations pending as of March 31, 2011. We intend to publish future lists after the close of the next calendar quarter.
Certain Lined Paper Products From Indonesia: Final Results of the Expedited Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order
The Department has conducted an expedited sunset review of the countervailing duty (``CVD'') order on certain lined paper products (``lined paper'') from Indonesia. As a result of the review, the Department finds that revocation of the CVD order would be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the rates identified in the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.
Silicomanganese From Brazil, the People's Republic of China, and Ukraine: Final Results of the Expedited Third Sunset Reviews of the Antidumping Duty Orders
On August 1, 2011, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') initiated the third sunset reviews of the antidumping duty orders on silicomanganese from Brazil, the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), and Ukraine \1\ pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``Act''). The Department received a notice of intent to participate in all three reviews from the domestic interested party, Eramet Marietta, Inc. (``Eramet''), within the time specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i).\2\ On August 31, 2011, the Department received substantive responses from Eramet. Based on the receipt of the substantive responses filed by the domestic interested party within the 30-day deadline as specified by 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3)(i) and the lack of response from any respondent interested party, the Department conducted expedited sunset reviews of the antidumping duty orders pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2). As a result of these sunset reviews, the Department finds that revocation of the antidumping duty orders would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping, at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Sunset Reviews'' section of this notice.
Second Administrative Review of Sodium Hexametaphosphate From the People's Republic of China: Extension of Preliminary Results
The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') is extending the time limit for the preliminary results of the administrative review of sodium hexametaphosphate (``sodium hex'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). The review covers the period March 1, 2010, through February 28, 2011.
Galvanized Steel Wire From the People's Republic of China: Amended Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
On November 4, 2011, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') published the preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value in the antidumping investigation of galvanized steel wire from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'').\1\ We are amending our Preliminary Determination to correct certain ministerial errors with respect to the antidumping duty margin calculation for the Baozhang entity.\2\ The corrections to the Baozhang entity's margin also affect the margin assigned to companies receiving a separate rate.
The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Meeting of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship will hold a meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. The open meeting will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and will be open to the public via a listen-only conference number (888) 989-4718, passcode NACIE. The Council was chartered on November 10, 2009, to advise the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to innovation and entrepreneurship in the United States.
Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results of the New Shipper Review
The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') has decided to extend the time limit for the preliminary results of the new shipper review (``NSR'') of the antidumping duty order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp (``shrimp'') from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam'') to January 9, 2012. The period of review (``POR'') for this NSR is February 1, 2010, through January 31, 2011.
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Missile Launch Operations From San Nicolas Island, CA
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 the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, U.S. Navy (Navy), to take three species of seals and sea lions incidental to missile launch operations from San Nicolas Island (SNI), California, a military readiness activity.
Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean; Pelagic Fisheries; Vessel Identification Requirements
NMFS hereby revises vessel identification requirements for fishing vessels with west coast highly migratory species (HMS) permits that are required under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species and for U.S. vessels fishing under the U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty. The new measures allow these vessels to be marked in accordance with international standards that were implemented in early 2010 by NMFS for vessels fishing on the high seas in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention Area). Currently, the marking requirements for fishing vessels with west coast HMS permits or under the U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty do not comport with these international standards. These new measures require vessels that fish in the Convention Area to display at all times their International Radio Call Sign (IRCS), or if an IRCS has not been assigned to the vessel, the vessel is required to display its official number, preceded by the characters ``USA-.'' The intent of this action is to bring the existing vessel identification requirements for U.S. vessels with west coast HMS permits or under the U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty into conformity with the binding vessel identification requirements adopted by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revisions to Pacific Cod Fishing in the Parallel Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
NMFS issues regulations to limit access of Federally permitted pot and hook-and-line catcher/processors (C/Ps) to the Pacific cod fishery in Alaska State waters within 3 nautical miles of shore adjacent to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). The affected fishery is commonly known as the ``parallel'' fishery. The parallel fishery is managed by the State of Alaska concurrent with the Federal pot and hook-and-line fishery for Pacific cod in the BSAI. This rule limits access by Federally permitted vessels to the parallel fishery for Pacific cod in three ways. First, it requires an owner of a Federally permitted pot or hook-and-line C/P vessel used to catch Pacific cod in the State of Alaska parallel fishery to be issued the same endorsements on his or her Federal fisheries permit (FFP) or license limitation program (LLP) license as currently are required for catching Pacific cod in the Federal waters of the BSAI. Second, it provides that the owner of a pot or hook-and-line C/P vessel who surrenders an FFP will not be reissued a new FFP for that vessel within the 3-year term of the permit. Third, it requires an operator of any Federally permitted pot or hook-and-line C/P vessel used to catch Pacific cod in the parallel fishery to comply with the same seasonal closures of Pacific cod that apply in the Federal fishery. These three measures are necessary to limit some C/Ps from catching a greater amount of Pacific cod in the parallel fishery than has been allocated to their sector from the BSAI total allowable catch. Maintaining Pacific cod catch amounts within BSAI sector allocations also will reduce the potential for shortened Pacific cod seasons for C/Ps in the Federal fishery. These three measures will improve the effectiveness of NMFS' catch accounting and monitoring requirements on vessels participating in the parallel fishery. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws.
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