[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28169-28170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12977]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 170817779-8161-02]
RIN 0648-XF292
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Alaska
Plaice 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) Alaska plaice. 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 June 15, 2018, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time,
December 31, 2018. Comments must be received at the following address
no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, June 30, 2018.
[[Page 28170]]
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0108, by
either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0108, 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: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public
record and NMFS will post the comments 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 is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
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 2018 ITAC of BSAI Alaska plaice was established as 13,685
metric tons (mt) by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for
groundfish of the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). 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
ITAC for BSAI Alaska plaice needs 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 2,415 mt to the BSAI
Alaska plaice ITAC in the BSAI management area. This apportionment is
consistent with Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i) and does not result in
overfishing of this target species because the revised ITAC is equal to
or less than the specifications of the acceptable biological catch in
the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the
BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018).
The harvest specification for the 2018 ITAC included in the harvest
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as 16,100 mt for
Alaska plaice.
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 Alaska plaice 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 June 12, 2018.
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 June 30,
2018.
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: June 13, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-12977 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P