[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 73 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9199]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Parts 672 and 675

[I.D. 040996A]
RIN 0648-AH03


Federal Fisheries off Alaska; Salmon Donation Program

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of amendments to fishery management 
plans; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island Area and 
Amendment 29 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf 
of Alaska (FMPs). These amendments would authorize a voluntary Salmon 
Donation Program (SDP) for distribution of Pacific salmon taken as 
bycatch in the groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to economically 
disadvantaged individuals by tax-exempt organizations through a NMFS 
authorized distributor. Comments are requested from the public.

DATES: Comments on the proposed amendments to the FMPs must be 
submitted by June 10, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed amendments to the FMPs must be 
submitted to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK, 99802, Attn: Lori 
Gravel, or delivered to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, 
Juneau, AK. Copies of the proposed amendments and the environmental 
assessment/regulatory impact review prepared for the proposed action 
may be obtained from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 
West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, telephone 907-
271-2809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan J. Salveson, 907-586-7229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson Act) requires that each Regional Fishery 
Management Council submit any fishery management plan or plan amendment 
it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial 
disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires that NMFS, after receiving 
a fishery management plan or amendment, immediately publish a notice in 
the Federal Register that the fishery management plan or amendment is 
available for public review and comment. NMFS will consider the public 
comments received during the comment period in determining whether to 
approve these amendments.
    Amendments 26 and 29 would authorize a voluntary SDP. The SDP's 
objective is to distribute salmon taken as bycatch in the groundfish 
trawl fisheries off Alaska to economically disadvantaged individuals by 
tax-exempt organizations, thereby reducing waste from discards in the 
groundfish trawl fisheries. Participants in the SDP would voluntarily 
retain and process salmon bycatch for delivery to an authorized 
distributor selected by NMFS. Vessels and processors would incur the 
costs of handling, processing, storing, and delivering donated salmon 
to tax-exempt organizations. Vessel operators and processors seeking to 
participate in the SDP must receive a Salmon Retention Permit from a 
NMFS-authorized distributor prior to retaining or processing salmon for 
donation purposes.
    Federal regulations to implement Amendments 26 and 29 are scheduled 
to be published within 15 days of the date of publication of this 
document.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 9, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-9199 Filed 4-9-96; 4:51 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F