[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24489]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 625

[I.D. 092694B]

 

Summer Flounder Fishery

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

ACTION: Notification of commercial quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring 
23,085 lb (10,471 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to the State 
of Connecticut. NMFS adjusted the quotas and announces the revised 
commercial quota for each state involved.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 29, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hannah Goodale, 508-281-9101.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing Amendment 2 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder Fishery 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 are described in 
Sec. 625.20.
    The commercial quota for summer flounder for the 1994 calendar year 
was set equal to 16,005,560 lb (7,260,000 kg), and the allocations to 
each state were published March 7, 1994 (59 FR 10586). At that time, 
New Jersey was allocated a quota of 2,676,928 lb (1,214,234 kg), and 
Connecticut was allocated a quota of 361,258 lb (163,864 kg). The 1994 
quotas for several states were adjusted for overages occurring in 1993, 
as required under Sec. 625.20(d)(2), on May 25, 1994 (59 FR 26971). 
Since Connecticut's quota was not exceeded in 1993, its 1994 quota was 
unaffected by this adjustment; the New Jersey quota after the 
adjustment for overages was 2,533,830 lb (1,149,338 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.
    New Jersey has agreed to transfer 23,085 lb (10,471 kg) of 
commercial quota to Connecticut. The Regional Director has determined 
that the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f) have been met, and 
publishes this notification of quota transfers. The revised quotas for 
the calendar year 1994 are: New Jersey, 2,510,745 lb (1,138,855 kg); 
and Connecticut, 384,343 lb (174,335 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 section 
6.02b.3(b)(i)(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: September 28, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries, Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-24489 Filed 9-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P