[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45106-45107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21448]



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[[Page 45107]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 625

[Docket No. 950206038-5038; I.D. 082395B]


Summer Flounder Fishery; Commercial Quota Transfer

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

ACTION: Commercial quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is 
transferring 7,229 lb (3,279 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to 
the State of New Jersey. NMFS adjusted the quotas and announces the 
revised commercial quota for each state involved.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 24, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina L. Spallone, 508-281-9221.

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 1995 calendar year 
was set equal to 14,690,407 lb (6,663,569 kg), and the allocations to 
each state were published February 16, 1995 (60 FR 8958). At that time, 
North Carolina was allocated a quota of 4,031,905 lb (1,828,841 kg), 
and New Jersey was allocated a quota of 2,456,969 lb (1,114,462 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.
    North Carolina has agreed to transfer 7,229 lb (3,279 kg) of 
commercial quota to New Jersey. 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 1995 are: North Carolina, 4,024,676 lb (1,825,562 
kg); and New Jersey, 2,464,198 lb (1,117,741 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: August 24, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-21448 Filed 8-24-95; 4:55 pm]
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