46 U.S.C. 1271-1279 and 16 U.S.C. 4101
(a) The regulations in this part pertain to fisheries assistance programs. Subpart B of these rules governs the Fisheries Obligation Guarantee Program, which guarantees the repayment of certain long-term fisheries and aquacultural debts. This allows those debts to be placed in the same private investment market that buys U.S. Treasury securities, where interest rates are lower and maturities are longer. The Program does all credit work and holds and services all credit collateral. The Program's guarantee fee makes it self-supporting.
(b) Subpart C implements Title III of Public Law 99-659 (16 U.S.C. 4100
(1) To promote and encourage State activities in support of the management of interjurisdictional fishery resources identified in interstate or Federal fishery management plans; and
(2) To promote and encourage management of interjurisdictional fishery resources throughout their range.
(3) The scope of this part includes guidance on making financial assistance awards to States or Interstate Commissions to undertake projects in support of management of interjurisdictional fishery resources in both the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and State waters, and to encourage States to enter into enforcement agreements with either the Department of Commerce or the Department of the Interior.
The terms used in this subpart have the following meanings:
(1) For a vessel, any fish species harvested below its sustainable yield.
(2) For a fisheries facility, any facility using that species or any for which aggregate facilities are inadequate to best use harvests of that or any other species.
(a) A guarantee financing or refinancing up to 80 percent of a project's actual cost shall be available to any qualified citizen otherwise eligible under the Act and these rules, except:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(b) Every project, other than those specified in paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section, is consistent with wise use and every project, other than those specifically precluded in paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section, may be financed, as well as refinanced.
(a)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(b)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(c)
A notemaker and the majority of its principals must generally have the ability, experience, resources, character, reputation, and other qualifications the Division deems necessary for successfully operating the project property and protecting the U.S. The Program will ordinarily not provide guarantees: For venture capital purposes; to a notemaker whose principals are all from outside the industry; or for a notemaker the majority of whose principals cannot document successful industry ability and experience of a duration, degree, and nature consistent with protecting the U.S.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(2)
(3)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Every demand must be delivered in writing to the Division. Each must include the noteholder's certified record of the date and amount of each payment made on the guaranteed note and the manner of its application. Should the Division not acknowledge receipt of a timely demand, the noteholder must possess evidence of the demand's timely delivery.
The Division may issue Program operating guidelines, as the need arises, governing national Program policy and administrative issues not addressed by these rules.
Upon default of the security documents, the Division shall take such remedial action (including, where appropriate, liquidation) as it deems best able to protect the U.S.' interest.
The terms used in this subpart have the following meanings:
(1) The inability to harvest or sell raw fish or manufactured and processed fishery merchandise; or
(2) Compensation for economic loss suffered by any segment of the fishing industry as the result of a resource disaster.
(1) A fishery resource for which a fishery occurs in waters under the jurisdiction of one or more states and the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone; or
(2) A fishery resource for which an interstate or a Federal fishery management plan exists; or
(3) A fishery resource which migrates between the waters under the jurisdiction of two or more States bordering on the Great Lakes.
(a) Apportionment formula. The amount of funds apportioned to each state is to be determined by the Secretary as the ratio which the equally weighted average of the volume and value of fishery resources harvested by domestic commercial fishermen and landed within such state during the 3 most recent calendar years for which data satisfactory to the Secretary are available bears to the total equally weighted average of the volume and value of all fishery resources harvested by domestic commercial fishermen and landed within all of the states during those calendar years.
(1) The equally weighted average value is determined by the following formula:
(2) Upon appropriation of funds by Congress, the Secretary will take the following actions:
(i) Determine each state's share according to the apportionment formula.
(ii) Certify the funds to the respective NMFS Regional Director.
(iii) Instruct NMFS Regional Directors to promptly notify states of funds' availability.
(b) No state, under the apportionment formula in paragraph (a) of this section, that has a ratio of one-third of 1 percent or higher may receive an apportionment for any fiscal year that is less than 1 percent of the total amount of funds available for that fiscal year.
(c) If a State's ratio under the apportionment formula in paragraph (b) of this section is less than one-third of 1 percent, that state may receive funding if the state:
(1) Is signatory to an interstate fishery compact;
(2) Has entered into an enforcement agreement with the Secretary and/or the Secretary of the Interior for a fishery that is managed under an interstate fishery management plan;
(3) Borders one or more of the Great Lakes;
(4) Has entered into an interstate cooperative fishery management agreement and has in effect an interstate fisheries management plan or an interstate fisheries research program; or
(5) Has adopted a Federal fishery management plan for an interjurisdictional fishery resource.
(d) Any state that has a ratio of less than one-third of 1 percent and meets any of the requirements set forth in paragraphs (c) (1) through (5) of this section may receive an apportionment for any fiscal year that is not less than 0.5 percent of the total amount of funds available for apportionment for such fiscal year.
(e) No state may receive an apportionment under this section for any fiscal year that is more than 6 percent of the total amount of funds available for apportionment for such fiscal year.
(f) Unused apportionments. Any part of an apportionment for any fiscal year to any state:
(1) That is not obligated during that year;
(2) With respect to which the state notifies the Secretary that it does not wish to receive that part; or
(3) That is returned to the Secretary by the state, may not be considered to be appropriated to that state and must be added to such funds as are appropriated for the next fiscal year. Any notification or return of funds by a state referred to in this section is irrevocable.
(a)
(2) States that choose to submit proposals in any fiscal year must so notify
(3) Any state may, through its state agency, submit to the NMFS Regional Director a completed NOAA Grants and Cooperative Agreement Application Package with its proposal for a project, which may be multiyear. Proposals must describe the full scope of work, specifications, and cost estimates for such project.
(4) States may submit a proposal for a project through, and request payment to be made to, an Interstate Fisheries Commission. Any payment so made shall be charged against the apportionment of the appropriate state(s). Submitting a project through one of the Commissions does not remove the matching funds requirement for any state, as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b)
(c)
(1) The state has adopted an interstate fishery management plan for the fishery resource to which the project applies; or
(2) The state has adopted fishery regulations that the Secretary has determined are consistent with any Federal fishery management plan for the species to which the project applies, in which case the Federal share cannot exceed 90 percent of the total estimated cost of the project.
(d)
(e)
(2) The expenditure of funds under this subpart may be applied only to projects for which a proposal has been evaluated under paragraph (b) of this section and approved by the Secretary, except that up to $25,000 each fiscal year may be awarded to a state out of the state's regular apportionment to carry out an “enforcement agreement.” An enforcement agreement does not require state matching funds.
(f)
(a)
(2) In addition, pursuant to section 308(d) of the Act, the Secretary is authorized to award grants to persons engaged in commercial fisheries, for uninsured losses determined by the Secretary to have been suffered as a direct result of a fishery resource disaster.
(b)
Federal assistance awards made as a result of this Act are subject to all Federal laws, Executive Orders, Office of Management and Budget Circulars as incorporated by the award; Department of Commerce and NOAA regulations; policies and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards; and terms and conditions of the awards.
46 U.S.C. 1177.
In the case of a taxable year of a taxpayer beginning after December 31, 1969, and before January 1, 1972, the rules governing the execution of agreements and deposits under such agreements shall be as follows:
(a) A capital construction fund agreement executed and entered into by the taxpayer on or prior to the due date, with extensions, for the filing of his Federal income tax return for such taxable year or years will be deemed to be effective on the date of the execution of such agreement or as of the close of business of the last regular business day of each such taxable year or years to which such deposit relates, whichever day is earlier.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, where:
(1) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 1969, and prior to January 1, 1971, an application for a capital construction fund agreement is filed by a taxpayer prior to January 1, 1972, and a capital construction fund agreement is executed and entered into by the taxpayer prior to March 1, 1972, and
(2) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 1970, and prior to January 1, 1972, an application for a capital construction fund agreement is filed by a taxpayer prior to January 1, 1973, and a capital construction fund agreement is executed and entered into by the taxpayer prior to March 1, 1973 (or, if earlier, 60 days after the publication of final joint regulations under section 607 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended); then such a capital construction fund agreement will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business of the last regular business day of each such taxable year or years to which such deposit related.
(c)(1) Deposits made in a capital construction fund pursuant to such an agreement within 60 days after the date of execution of the agreement, or on or prior to the due date, with extensions, for the filing of his Federal income tax return for such taxable year or years, whichever date shall be later, shall be deemed to have been made on
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1970, and ending prior to January 1, 1972, deposits made later than the last date permitted under paragraph (c)(1) of this section but on or before January 9, 1973, in a capital construction fund pursuant to an agreement with the Secretary of Commerce, acting by and through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall be deemed to have been made on the date of the actual deposit or as of the close of business of the last regular business day of such taxable year, whichever is earlier.
(d) Nothing in this section shall alter the rules and regulations governing the timing of deposits with respect to existing capital and special reserve funds or with respect to the treatment of deposits for any taxable year or years other than a taxable year or years beginning after December 31, 1969, and before January 1, 1972.
(a)
(1) Be a citizen of the United States (citizenship requirements are those for documenting vessels in the coastwise trade within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended);
(2) Own or lease one or more eligible vessels (as defined in section 607(k)(1) of the Act) operating in the foreign or domestic commerce of the United States.
(3) Have an acceptable program for the acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of one or more qualified vessels (as defined in section 607(k)(2) of the Act). Qualified vessels must be for commercial operation in the fisheries of the United States. If the qualified vessel is 5 net tons or over, it must be documented in the fisheries of the United States. Dual documentation in both the fisheries and the coastwise trade of the United States is permissible. Any vessel which will carry fishing parties for hire must be inspected and certified (under 46 CFR part 176) by the U.S. Coast Guard as qualified to carry more than six passengers or demonstrate to the Secretary's satisfaction that the carrying of fishing parties for hire will constitute its primary activity. The program must be a firm representation of the applicant's actual intentions. Vague or contingent objectives will not be acceptable.
(b)
(1) Proof of U.S. citizenship;
(2) The first taxable year for which the Interim CCF Agreement is to apply (see § 259.33 for the latest time at which applications for an Interim CCF Agreement relating to a previous taxable year may be received);
(3) The following information regarding each “eligible vessel” which is to be incorporated in Schedule A of the Interim CCF Agreement for purposes of making deposits into a CCF pursuant to section 607 of the Act:
(i) Name of vessel,
(ii) Official number, or, in the case of vessels under 5 net tons, the State registration number where required,
(iii) Type of vessel (i.e., catching vessel, processing vessel, transporting vessel, charter vessel, barge, passenger carrying fishing vessel, etc.),
(iv) General characteristic (i.e., net tonnage, fish-carrying capacity, age, length, type of fishing gear, number of
(v) Whether owned or leased and, if leased, the name of the owner, and a copy of the lease,
(vi) Date and place of construction,
(vii) If reconstructed, date of redelivery and place of reconstruction,
(viii) Trade (or trades) in which vessel is documented and date last documented,
(ix) If a fishing vessel, the fishery of operation (which in this section means each species or group of species—each species must be specifically identified by acceptable common names—of fish, shellfish, or other living marine resources which each vessel catches, processes, or transports or will catch, process, or transport for commercial purposes such as marketing or processing the catch),
(x) If a fishing vessel, the area of operation (which for fishing vessels means the general geographic areas in which each vessel will catch, process, or transport, or charter for each species or group of species of fish, shellfish, or other living marine resources).
(4) The specific objectives to be achieved by the accumulation of assets in a Capital Construction Fund (to be incorporated in Schedule B of the Interim CCF Agreement) including:
(i) Number of vessels,
(ii) Type of vessel (i.e., catching, processing, transporting, or passenger carrying fishing vessel),
(iii) General characteristics (i.e., net tonnage, fish-carrying capacity, age, length, type of fishing gear, number of passengers carried),
(iv) Cost of projects,
(v) Amount of indebtedness to be paid for vessels to be constructed, acquired, or reconstructed (all notes, mortgages, or other evidences of the indebtedness must be submitted as soon as available, together with sufficient additional evidence to establish that full proceeds of the indebtedness to be paid from a CCF under an Interim CCF Agreement, were used solely for the purpose of the construction, acquisition, or reconstruction of Schedule B vessels),
(vi) Date of construction, acquisition, or reconstruction,
(vii) Fishery of operation (which in this section means each species or group of species—each species must be specifically identified by acceptable common name—of fish, shellfish, or other living marine resources),
(viii) Area of operation (which in this section means the general geographic areas in which each vessel will will operate for each species or group of species of fish, shellfish, or other living marine resources).
(c)
(a)
(1) A vessel not more than 5 years old, at the time of its acquisition by the party seeking CCF withdrawal therefor may be a qualified vessel for the purpose of acquisition, but only if each acquisition in this category becomes a Schedule A vessel and there exists for each acquisition in this category (on a one-for-one basis) an additional Schedule B construction or reconstruction. The sole consideration for permitting an acquisition in this category is that it will enable the party (but the Secretary will not attempt to predetermine such an ability) to accelerate accomplishment of the additional Schedule B construction or
(2) A vessel more than 5 years old, but not more than 25 years old (special showing required if more than 25 years old, see paragraph (b) of this section), at the time of acquisition by the party seeking CCF withdrawal therefor may be a qualified vessel for the purpose of acquisition, but only if that same vessel becomes a Schedule A vessel and (in addition to being a Schedule B vessel for the purpose of its acquisition) becomes a Schedule B vessel for the purpose of that same vessel's reconstruction to be accomplished ordinarily within 7 years from the date of acquisition. The sole consideration for permitting an acquisition in this category is that it will enable a party (but the Secretary will not attempt to predetermine such an ability) to accelerate accomplishment of the Schedule B reconstruction of the vessel so acquired. Should this consideration materially fail, the same penalty prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section applies.
(3) Reserved for minimum deposits under this section.
(4) Reserved for liquidated damages.
(b)
(1) Reconstruction may include rebuilding, replacing, reconditioning, converting and/or improving any portion of a vessel. A reconstruction project must, however, substantially prolong the useful life of the reconstructed vessel, increase its value, or adapt it to a different commercial use in the fishing trade or industry.
(2) All, or the major portion (ordinarily, not less than 80 percent), of a reconstruction project's actual cost must (for the purpose of meeting the above dollar or percentage tests) be classifiable as a capital expenditure for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) purposes. That otherwise allowable (i.e., for the purpose of meeting the above dollar or percentage tests) portion of a reconstruction project's actual cost which is not classifiable as a capital expenditure shall, however, be excluded from the amount qualified for withdrawal as a result of the reconstruction project.
(3) No vessel more than 25 years old at the time of withdrawal or request for withdrawal shall be a qualified vessel for the purpose of reconstruction unless a special showing is made, to the Secretary's discretionary satisfaction, that the type and degree of reconstruction intended will result in an efficient and productive vessel with an economically useful life at least 10 years beyond the date reconstruction is completed.
(c)
(d)
(1) An energy saving improvement shall be required to meet both conditional fishery requirements and the qualifying tests for reconstruction if it serves the dual purpose of saving energy and meeting the reconstruction requirement of paragraph (a) of this section for qualifying a withdrawal for the acquisition of a used vessel.
(2) That portion of the actual cost of an energy saving improvement which is
(e)
(1) A safety improvement shall be required to meet both conditional fishery requirements and all qualifying tests for reconstruction if it serves the dual purpose of safety and meeting the reconstruction requirement of paragraph (a) of this section for qualifying a withdrawal for the acquisition of a used vessel;
(2) That portion of the actual cost of a safety improvement that is to be paid for from the CCF must be classifiable and treated as a capital expenditure for Internal Revenue Service purposes;
(3) Safety improvement projects whose clear and central purpose is restricted to complying with the requirements of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-424 Sec. 1, 102 stat. 1585 (1988) (codified in scattered sections of 46 U.S.C.)) shall, without further documentation, be considered to fall within this paragraph (e). Satisfactory documentation will be required for all other projects proposed to be considered as falling within this paragraph (e). Projects not required by law or regulation whose central purpose clearly involves something other than an improvement that materially increases the safety of a vessel will not be considered to fall within this paragraph (e).
(a) The Secretary may from time-to-time establish certain fisheries in which CCF benefits will be restricted. The regulatory mechanism for so doing is part 251 of this chapter. Each fishery so restricted is termed a “conditional fishery”. Subpart A of part 251 of this chapter establishes the procedure to be used by the Secretary in proposing and adopting a fishery as a conditional fishery. Subpart B of part 251 of this chapter enumerates each fishery actually adopted as a conditional fishery (part 251 of this chapter should be referred to for details). The purpose of this § 259.32 is to establish the effect of conditional fishery adoption upon Interim CCF Agreements.
(b) If a written request for an otherwise permissible action under an Interim CCF Agreement is submitted prior to the date upon which conditional fishery adoption occurs, then the Secretary will act, in an otherwise normal manner, upon so much of the action then applied for as is then permissible without regard to the subsequent adoption of a conditional fishery (even, if that adoption occurs before the Secretary gives his consent or issues an Interim CCF Agreement or amendment thereto, all as the case may be). Nevertheless, the conditions as set forth in paragraph (d) of this section shall apply.
(c) If a written request for an otherwise permissible action under an Interim CCF Agreement, or an application for an Interim CCF Agreement, is submitted after the date upon which conditional fishery adoption occurs, then the Secretary will act, in an otherwise normal manner, upon so much of the action then applied for as is then permissible without regard to the previous adoption of a conditional fishery provided, however, that this paragraph shall apply only to construction or reconstruction for which a binding contract has been reduced to writing prior to the date upon which conditional fishery adoption occurred. Nevertheless, the conditions as set forth in paragraph (d) of this section shall apply.
(d) Conditional fishery adoption shall have no effect whatsoever upon a
(e) Conditional fishery adoption shall have no effect whatsoever upon Schedule B objectives which will not result in significantly increasing harvesting capacity in a fishery adopted as a conditional fishery.
(1) Construction of a new vessel (vessel “Y”) for operation in an adopted conditional fishery shall be deemed to significantly increase harvesting capacity in that fishery unless the party causing the “Y” vessel to be constructed causes (within 1 year after the delivery of vessel “Y”) to be permanently removed from all fishing, or placed permanently in a fishery not then adopted as a conditional fishery, under such conditions as the Secretary may deem necessary or desirable, a vessel (vessel “Z”) which has during the previous 18 months operated substantially in the same fishery as the “Y” vessel and which has a fishing capacity substantially equivalent to the “Y” vessel. Failure to remove a vessel could subject all withdrawals to be treated as nonqualified and may be cause for termination of the CCF. What constitutes substantially equivalent fishing capacity shall be a matter for the Secretary's discretion. Ordinarily, in exercising his discretion about what does or does not constitute substantially equivalent fishing capacity, the Secretary will take into consideration (i) the average size of vessels constructed for the adopted conditional fishery in question at the time vessel “Z” was constructed (or, if constructed for a different fishery, the average size of vessels in the adopted conditional fishery at the time vessel “Z” entered it), (ii) the average size of vessels constructed for the adopted conditional fishery at the time vessel “Y” was or will be constructed, and (iii) such other factors as the Secretary may deem material and equitable, including the length of time the party had owned or leased vessel “Z” and the length of time the vessel has operated in the conditional fishery. The Secretary will consider these factors, and exercise his discretion, in such a way as to encourage use of this program by established fishermen who have owned or leased for substantial periods vessels which need to be replaced, even though a “Z” vessel may have been constructed at a time which dictated a lesser fishing capacity than dictated for a “Y” vessel at the time of its construction.
(2) Acquisition and/or reconstruction of a used vessel for operation in an adopted conditional fishery shall be deemed to significantly increase harvesting capacity in that fishery unless the vessel to be acquired and/or reconstructed had during the previous 3 years operated substantially in the same fishery as the adopted conditional fishery in which it will operate after acquisition and/or reconstruction. If less than 3 years, then acquisition and/or reconstruction of a used vessel for operation in an adopted conditional fishery shall be deemed to significantly increase harvesting capacity in that fishery unless there occurs vessel removal or permanent placement elsewhere under the same conditions specified for construction in paragraph (e)(1) of this section.
(3) Construction of a new vessel or the acquisition and/or reconstruction of a used vessel for operation in an adopted conditional fishery shall not be deemed to significantly increase the harvesting capacity where the vessel
(f) Conditional fishery adoption shall have the following effect on all Schedule B objectives (whether for acquisition, construction, or reconstruction) which the Secretary deems to significantly increase harvesting capacity in that fishery, excluding those circumstances specifically exempted by paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section (which shall be governed by the provisions of paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section).
(1) The Secretary may nevertheless consent to the qualification of withdrawal, but only up to an amount not exceeding the total of eligible ceilings actually deposited during tax years other than the taxable year in which conditional fishery adoption occurs plus a pro-rata portion of eligible ceilings generated in the tax year in which conditional fishery adoption occurs. Pro-ration shall be according to the number of months or any part thereof in a party's tax year which elapse before the adoption of the conditional fishery occurs. For example, if a party's tax year runs from January 1, 1974, to December 31, 1974, and conditional fishery adoption occurs on August 15, 1974, (i.e., during the 8th month of the party's tax year), then the pro-rata portion for that year is eight-twelfths of the total eligible ceilings generated during that year.
(2) Qualified withdrawals in excess of the amount specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this section shall not, during the continuance of the adopted conditional fishery, be consented to. Parties at this point shall have the following option:
(i) Make, with the Secretary's consent, a nonqualified withdrawal of the excess and discontinue the future deposit of eligible ceilings (which may effect termination of the Interim CCF Agreement).
(ii) Reserve the excess, as well as the future deposit of eligible ceilings, for a Schedule B objective not then involving an adopted conditional fishery. If amendment of an Interim CCF Agreement is necessary in order to include a Schedule B objective not then involving an adopted conditional fishery, the party may, with the Secretary's consent, make the necessary amendment.
(iii) Reserve the excess, as well as the future deposit of eligible ceilings, for a Schedule B objective involving a then adopted conditional fishery in anticipation that the then adopted conditional fishery will eventually be disadopted, in which case all deposits of eligible ceilings will once again be eligible for the Secretary's consent as qualified withdrawals. If the adoption of a conditional fishery continues for a substantial length of time and there is no forseeable prospect of disadoption, then the Secretary, in his discretion, may require paragraph (f)(2)(i) or (ii) of this section to be effected.
(g) The Secretary shall neither enter into a new Interim CCF Agreement, nor permit amendment of an existing one, which involves a Schedule B objective in a then adopted conditional fishery unless paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of this § 259.32 applies or unless the Schedule B objective is expressly conditioned upon acquisition construction, or reconstruction of the type permitted under paragraph (e) of this § 259.32. Such an express condition would not survive beyond the time at which conditional fishery status is removed.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) If, however, the Secretary receives the request in proper form so close to the latest permissible period that the consent cannot be given before expiration of Period (bb) or Period (cc), whichever applies, then the burden is entirely upon the party to negotiate with IRS for such relief as may be available (e.g., filing an amended tax return, if appropriate). The Secretary will nevertheless issue his consent however long past the party's Period (bb) or Period (cc), whichever applies, the Secretary's administrative workload requires. Should IRS relief be, for any reason, unavailable, the Secretary shall regard the same as merely due to the party's having failed to apply in a more timely fashion.
(2) All parties shall be counseled that it is manifestly in their best interest to request the Secretary's consent 45 days in advance of the expected date of withdrawal. Withdrawals made without the Secretary's consent, in reliance on obtaining the Secretary's consent, are made purely at a party's own risk. Should any withdrawal made without the Secretary's consent prove, for any reason, to be one to which the Secretary will not or cannot consent by
(3) Should the withdrawal made without having first obtained the Secretary's consent be made in pursuance of a project not then an eligible Schedule B objective, then the Secretary may entertain an application to amend the Interim CCF Agreement's Schedule B objectives as the prerequisite to consenting by ratification to the withdrawal, all under the same time constraints and conditions as otherwise specified herein.
(4) Any withdrawals made, after the effective date of an Interim CCF Agreement, without the Secretary's consent are automatically non-qualified withdrawals unless the Secretary subsequently consents to them by ratification as otherwise specified herein.
(5) Redeposit of that portion of the ceiling withdrawn without the Secretary's consent, and for which such consent is not subsequently given (either by ratification or otherwise), shall not be permitted. If such a non-qualified withdrawal adversely affects the Interim CCF Agreement's general status in any wise deemed by the Secretary, at his discretion, to be significant and material, the Secretary may involuntarily terminate the Interim CCF Agreement.
(e)
(1) If, however, the Secretary receives an Agreement executed and entered into by the party in proper form so close to the latest permissible period that the Secretary cannot execute the Agreement before expiration of Period (bb) or Period (cc), whichever applies, then the burden is entirely upon the party to negotiate with IRS for such relief as may be available (e.g., filing an amended tax return, if appropriate). The Secretary will nevertheless execute the Agreement however long past the party's Period (bb) or Period (cc), whichever applies, the Secretary's administrative workload requires. Should IRS relief be, for any reason, unavailable, the Secretary shall regard the same as merely due to the party's having failed to apply in a more timely manner.
(2) All parties shall be counseled that it is manifestly in their best interest to enter into and execute an Agreement, and submit the same to the Secretary, at least 45 days in advance of the Period (bb) or Period (cc), whichever applies, for the Period (aa) for which the Agreement is first intended to be effective.
(a)
(1) Minimum annual deposit compliance shall be audited at the end of each party's taxable year unless any one or more of the Schedule B objectives is scheduled for commencement more than 3 taxable years in advance of the taxable year in which the agreement is effected, in which case minimum annual deposit compliance shall be audited at the end of each 3 year taxable period. In any taxable year, a Party may apply any eligible amount in excess of the 2 percent minimum annual deposit toward meeting the party's minimum annual deposit requirement in past or future years:
(2) The Secretary may, at his discretion and for good and sufficient cause shown, consent to minimum annual deposits in any given tax year or combination of tax years in an amount lower than prescribed herein:
(b)
(c)
(a) The Secretary will require from each Interim CCF Agreement holder (Party) the following annual deposit and withdrawal reports. Failure to submit such reports may be cause for involuntary termination of CCF Agreements.
(1) A preliminary deposit and withdrawal report at the end of each calendar year, which must be submitted not later than 45 days after the close of the calendar year. The report must give the amounts withdrawn from and deposited into the party's CCF during the subject year, and be in letter form showing the agreement holder's name, FVCCF identification number, and taxpayer identification number. Each report must bear certification that the deposit and withdrawal information given includes all deposit and withdrawal activity for the year and the account reported. Negative reports must be submitted in those cases where there is no deposit and/or withdrawal activity. If the party's tax year is the same as the calendar year, and if the final deposit and withdrawal report required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section is submitted before the due date for this preliminary report, then this report is not required.
(2) A final deposit and withdrawal report at the end of the tax year, which shall be submitted not later than 30 days after expiration of the due date, with extensions (if any), for filing the party's Federal income tax return. The report must be made on a form prescribed by the Secretary using a separate form for each FVCCF depository. Each report must bear certification that the deposit and withdrawal information given includes all deposit and withdrawal activity for the year and account reported. Negative reports must be submitted in those cases where there is no deposit and/or withdrawal activity.
(b) Failure to submit the required annual deposit and withdrawal reports shall be cause after due notice for either, or both, disqualification of withdrawals or involuntary termination of the Interim CCF Agreement, at the Secretary's discretion.
(c) Additionally, the Secretary shall require from each Interim CCF Agreement holder, not later than 30 days after expiration of the party's tax due date, with extensions (if any), a copy of the party's Federal Income Tax Return filed with IRS for the preceding tax year. Failure to submit shall after due notice be cause for the same adverse action specified in the paragraph above.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2) Unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, the party may select the type or types of accounts in which the assets of the Fund may be deposited.
(3) Non-cash deposits or investments of the Fund should be placed in control of a trustee under the following conditions:
(i) The trustee should be specified in the Agreement;
(ii) The trust instrument should provide that all investment restrictions stated in section 607(c) of the Act will be observed;
(iii) The trust instrument should provide that the trustee will give consideration to the party's withdrawal requirements under the Agreement when investing the Fund;
(iv) The trustee must agree to be bound by all rules and regulations which have been or will be promulgated governing the investment or management of the Fund.
The Secretary may conditionally consent to the qualification of withdrawal, such consent being conditional upon the timely submission to the Secretary of such further proofs, assurances, and advices as the Secretary, in his discretion, may require. Failure of a party to comply with the conditions of such a consent within a reasonable time and after due notice shall, at the Secretary's discretion, be cause for either, or both, nonqualification of withdrawal or involuntary Interim CCF Agreement termination.
(a) Wherever the Secretary prescribes time constraints herein for the submission of any CCF transactions, the postmark date shall control if mailed or, if personally delivered, the actual date of submission. All required materials may be submitted to any Financial Assistance Division office of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
(b) All CCF information received by the Secretary shall be held strictly confidential, except that it may be published or disclosed in statistical form provided such publication does not disclose, directly or indirectly, the identity of any fundholder.
(c) While recognizing that precise regulations are necessary in order to treat similarly situated parties similarly, the Secretary also realizes that precision in regulations can often cause inequitable effects to result from unavoidable, unintended, or minor discrepancies between the regulations and the circumstances they attempt to govern. The Secretary will, consequently, at his discretion, as a matter of privilege and not as a matter of right, attempt to afford relief to parties where literal application of the purely procedural, as opposed to substantive, aspects of these regulations would otherwise work an inequitable hardship. This privilege will be sparingly granted and no party should before the fact attempt to act in reliance on its being granted after the fact.
(d) These §§ 259.30 through 259.38 are applicable absolutely to all Interim CCF Agreements first entered into (or the amendment of all then existing Interim CCF Agreements, which amendment is first entered into) on or after the date these §§ 259.30 through 259.38 are adopted. These §§ 259.30 through 259.38 are applicable to all Interim CCF Agreements entered into before the date these §§ 259.30 through 259.38 are adopted, with the following exceptions only:
(1) The vessel age limitations imposed by § 259.31 shall not apply to already scheduled Schedule B objectives.
(2) The minimum deposits imposed by § 259.34 shall not apply to any party's tax year before that party's tax year next following the one in which these §§ 259.30 through 259.38 are adopted.
(e) These §§ 259.30 through 259.38 are specifically incorporated in all past, present, and future Interim CCF Agreements by reference thereto made in Whereas Clause number 2 of all such Interim CCF Agreements.