[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68374-68375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27167]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD624
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several
Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management
Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) northern rockfish and BSAI skates, and the total allowable catch
(TAC) of Bering Sea (BS) ``other rockfish'' and BSAI octopuses in the
BSAI management area. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries
to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and
objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
DATES: Effective November 12, 2014, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local
time, December 31, 2014. Comments must be received at the following
address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, November 28, 2014.
[[Page 68375]]
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by FDMS
Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2013-0152 by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0152, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802-1668.
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). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
(BSAI) exclusive economic zone 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 2014 ITAC of BSAI northern rockfish in the BSAI was established
as 2,205 metric tons (mt), the 2014 ITAC of BSAI skates was established
as 22,100 mt, the 2014 TAC of BS ``other rockfish'' was established as
300 mt, and the 2014 TAC of BSAI octopuses was established as 225 mt by
the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish of the
BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(3) the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
reviewed the most current available data and finds that the ITACs for
BSAI northern rockfish and BSAI skates, and the TACs of BS ``other
rockfish'' and BSAI octopuses need to be supplemented from the non-
specified reserve to promote efficiency in the utilization of fishery
resources in the BSAI and allow fishing operations to continue.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions
from the non-specified reserve of groundfish 200 mt to the BSAI
northern rockfish ITAC, 4,500 mt to the BSAI skates ITAC, 100 mt to the
BS ``other rockfish'' TAC, and 200 mt to the BSAI octopuses TAC in the
BSAI. These apportionments are consistent with Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)
and do not result in overfishing of any target species because the
revised ITACs and TAC are equal to or less than the specifications of
the acceptable biological catch in the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014).
The harvest specification for the 2014 ITACs included in the
harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as
follows: 2,405 mt for BSAI northern rockfish, 26,600 mt for BSAI
skates, 400 mt for BS ``other rockfish'', 425 mt for BSAI octopuses.
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, (AA) finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a
requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This
requirement is 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 apportionment of the non-specified
reserves of groundfish to the BSAI northern rockfish, BSAI skates, BS
``other rockfish'', and BSAI octopuses fisheries in the BSAI. Immediate
notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and
efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for
the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing
fleet and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only
became available as of October 31, 2014.
The AA 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.
Under Sec. 679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until November
28, 2014.
This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Dated: November 12, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-27167 Filed 11-12-14; 4:15 pm]
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