[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 222 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28414]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 625

[Docket No. 950206038; I.D. 110395A]


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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is 
transferring 50,658 lb (22,978 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: November 13, 1995.

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 1995 calendar year 
was set equal to 14,690,407 lb (6,663,456 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 Virginia was allocated a quota of 3,131,519 lb (1,420,433 kg). A 
transfer of commercial summer flounder quota of 7,229 lb (3,279 kg) 
between North Carolina and New Jersey reduced the summer flounder quota 
for North Carolina to 4,024,676 lb (1,825,562 kg) which was published 
August 30, 1995 (60 FR 45107).
    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 50,658 lb (22,978 kg) of 
commercial quota to Virginia. The Regional Director has determined that 
the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f)(1) have been met. The revised 
quotas for the calendar year 1995 are: North Carolina, 3,974,018 lb 
(1,802,584 kg); and Virginia, 3,182,177 lb (1,443,411 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: November 13, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-28414 Filed 11-13-95; 4:50 pm]

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