[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 8, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02592]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 1512-01999-6969-02]
RIN 0648-BF51


Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' published in the Federal Register 
on January 24, 2017 (the Memorandum), this action delays the effective 
date of the final rule NMFS published on January 19, 2017.

DATES: Effective February 8, 2017, the effective date of the final rule 
amending 50 CFR part 600, that published on January 19, 2017, at 82 FR 
6317, is delayed to March 21, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Abrams, 301-427-8508, or by 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 19, 2017, NMFS published this 
final rule to interpret and provide guidance on the requirement of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) that all 
fishery management plans (FMPs), with respect to any fishery, establish 
a standardized reporting methodology to assess the amount and type of 
bycatch occurring in a fishery. The final establishes requirements and 
provides guidance to regional fishery management councils and the 
Secretary of Commerce regarding the development, documentation, and 
review of such methodologies, commonly referred to as Standardized 
Bycatch Reporting Methodologies (SBRMs).
    On January 20, 2017, the White House issued a memorandum 
instructing Federal agencies to temporarily postpone the effective date 
for 60 days after January 20, 2017, of any regulations or guidance 
documents that have been published in the Federal Register but not yet 
taken effect, for the purpose of ``reviewing questions of fact, law, 
and policy they raise.'' In accordance with this memorandum, this 
action delays the final rule NMFS published on January 19, 2017, at 82 
FR 6317, until March 21, 2017.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 600

    Administrative practice and procedure, Bycatch, Fisheries, 
Standardized Reporting Methodology.

    Dated: February 3, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-02592 Filed 2-7-17; 8:45 am]
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