[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 10286] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-5894] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 50 CFR Part 625 [I.D. 022996D] Summer Flounder Fishery; Commercial Quota Transfer from North Carolina to Virginia AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Commercial quota transfer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring 5,773 lb (2,619 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. NMFS adjusted the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 12, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Helvenston, 508-281-9347. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder Fishery (FMP) are found at 50 CFR part 625. The regulations require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from North Carolina through Maine. The process to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state is described in Sec. 625.20. The commercial quota for summer flounder for the 1996 calendar year was set equal to 11,111,298 lb (5,040,000 kg), and the allocations to each state were published January 4, 1996 (61 FR 291). At that time, the State of North Carolina was allocated a quota of 3,049,589 lb (1,383,270 kg) and the Commonwealth of Virginia was allocated a quota of 2,368,569 lb (1,074,365 kg). The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the FMP was published December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), and allows two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, (Regional Director) to transfer or combine summer flounder commercial quota. The Regional Director is required to consider the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f)(1), in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations. The State of North Carolina has agreed to transfer 5,773 lb (2,619 kg) of commercial quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Regional Director has determined that the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f)(1) have been met, and hereby publishes this notification of quota transfers. The revised quotas for the calendar year 1996 are: North Carolina, 3,043,816 lb (1,380,652 kg); and Virginia, 2,374,342 lb (1,076,983 kg). This action does not alter any of the conclusions reached in the environmental impact statement prepared for Amendment 2 to the FMP regarding the effects of summer flounder fishing activity on the human environment. Amendment 2 established procedures for setting an annual coastwide commercial quota for summer flounder and a formula for determining commercial quotas for each state. The quota transfer provision was established by Amendment 5 to the FMP and the environmental assessment prepared for Amendment 5 found that the action had no significant impact on the environment. Under sections 6.02b.3(b)(i)(aa) and (ii)(aa) of NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, this action is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare additional environmental analyses. This is a routine administrative action that reallocates commercial quota within the scope of previously published environmental analyses. Classification This action is taken under 50 CFR part 625 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 6, 1996. Donald J. Leedy, Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 96-5894 Filed 3-12-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F