[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 9369-9370] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-5482] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 50 CFR Part 351 [Docket No. 960228055-6055-01; I.D. 022396B] Whaling Provisions; Elimination of Regulations AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is eliminating outdated regulations pertaining to whaling. This action will reduce Federal regulations consistent with the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 8, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kevin Chu (508)548-5123. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March 1995, President Clinton issued a directive to Federal agencies regarding their responsibilities under his Regulatory Reinvention Initiative. This initiative is part of the National Performance Review and calls for immediate, comprehensive regulatory reform. The President directed all agencies to undertake an exhaustive review of all their regulations, with an [[Page 9370]] emphasis on eliminating or modifying those that are obsolete, duplicative, or otherwise in need of reform. This final rule is intended to carry out the President's directive with respect to the regulations implementing the Whaling Convention Act of 1949 (U.S.C. 916 et seq.). Based on its review, NMFS is removing 50 CFR part 351, which pertains to the regulation of whaling. Part 351 contains the 1984 regulations of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). No portion of part 351 is relevant to the management of whaling within the United States today. Most of part 351 deals with regulations pertaining to commercial whaling, which is illegal in the United States. The sections of part 351 dealing with aboriginal whaling, which is permitted under some circumstances in the United States, regulated only the 1984 and 1985 whale hunt and are, therefore, no longer necessary. Aboriginal whaling within the United States remains regulated under 50 CFR part 230. Part 230 also contains certain outdated material, which will be revised and updated through another rulemaking to be published in the Federal Register. The elimination of 50 CFR part 351 by this final rule is intended to reduce the volume and publication costs of the regulations. Classification This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of E.O. 12866. Because this rule only eliminates regulations that are no longer applicable to anyone, no useful purpose would be served by providing notice and the opportunity for public comment. Accordingly, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), for good cause finds that providing notice and opportunity for public comment is unnecessary. For the same reason, the AA, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), for good cause finds that a 30-day delay in their elimination is unnecessary. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 351 Fisheries, Marine mammals, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Treaties. Dated: March 1, 1996. Gary Matlock, Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the reasons set out in the preamble, under authority of Article 5, 62 Stat. 1718, sec. 2-14, 64 Stat. 421-425; 16 U.S.C. 916 et seq., 50 CFR part 351 is removed and subchapter B is reserved. [FR Doc. 96-5482 Filed 3-7-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F