[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55191-55192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22119]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC219


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of loan repayment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to inform interested parties that the 
California Dungeness crab sub-loan in the fishing capacity reduction 
program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery has been repaid. 
Therefore, buyback fee collections on California Dungeness crab will 
cease for all landings after June 30, 2012.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before 5 p.m. EST September 24, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments about this notice to Paul Marx, Chief, 
Financial Services Division, NMFS, Attn: California Dungeness Crab 
Buyback, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael A. Sturtevant at (301) 427-
8799, fax (301) 713-1306, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 16, 2004, NMFS published a 
Federal Register document (69 FR 67100) proposing regulations to 
implement an industry fee system for repaying the reduction loan. The 
final rule was published July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40225) and fee collection 
began on September 8, 2005. Interested persons should review these for 
further program details.

[[Page 55192]]

    The California Dungeness crab sub-loan of the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Capacity Reduction (Buyback) loan in the amount of 
$2,334,334.20 will be repaid in full upon receipt of buyback fees on 
landings through June 30, 2012. NMFS has received $3,446,217.69 to 
repay the principal and interest on this sub-loan since fee collection 
began September 8, 2005. Buyback fees in the California Dungeness crab 
fishery increased rapidly in December 2011 through March 2012 which 
reduced the $1 million balance on the loan in a short period of time 
resulting in early loan repayment. Therefore, these buyback loan fees 
will no longer be collected in the California Dungeness crab fishery.
    Based on buyback fees received to date, landings after June 30, 
2012 will not be subject to the buyback fee. Buyback fees not yet 
forwarded to NMFS for California Dungeness crab landings through June 
30, 2012 should be forwarded to NMFS immediately. Any overpayment of 
buyback fees submitted to NMFS will be refunded on a pro-rata basis to 
the fish buyers/processors based upon best available fish ticket 
landings data. The fish buyers/processors should return excess buyback 
fees collected to the harvesters, including buyback fees collected but 
not yet remitted to NMFS for landings after June 30, 2012. Any 
discrepancies in fees owed and fees paid must be resolved immediately. 
After the sub-loan is closed, no further adjustments to fees paid and 
fees received can be made. Fish dealers whose fees for 2012 were not 
yet due as they have accumulated less than $100 in fees should forward 
their fees at this time for landings through June 30, 2012.

    Dated: August 31, 2012.
Cherish Johnson,
Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22119 Filed 9-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P