[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41134-41135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19450]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska; Dungeness Crab Commercial 
Fishery Interim Compensation Program for Processors

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Glacier Bay National Park application procedures for the 
Dungeness crab commercial fishery interim compensation program for 
processors.

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SUMMARY: Section 123(c) of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1999 (``the Act''), as amended 
by Section 501 of the 1999 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
Pub. L. 106-31 (05/21/99), authorizes compensation for fish processors, 
fishing vessel crew members, communities, and others negatively 
affected by congressionally-directed restrictions on commercial fishing 
in the marine waters of Glacier Bay National Park. The National Park 
Service (NPS) and the State of Alaska recently announced a framework 
for completing the compensation program within the next 2 years. The 
closure of designated wilderness areas to commercial fishing 
(implemented by NPS on June 15, 1999) and the pending closure of 
Glacier Bay proper to commercial fishing for Dungeness crab (September 
30, 1999) will adversely affect some Dungeness crab fishermen and 
processors this year, before the compensation program can be completed. 
NPS is a currently compensating qualifying Dungeness crab commercial 
fishermen under a specific compensation program authorized by Section 
(b) of the Act (See 64 FR 32888 [June 18, 1999.]) To address 1999 
economic impacts to Dungeness crab processors, NPS, with concurrence of 
the State of Alaska, intends to provide interim compensation to those 
processors who meet qualifying criteria similar to those described for 
commercial fishermen under Section (b) of the Act. An interim 
compensation payment will be made to Dungeness crab processors who have 
purchased Dungeness crab harvested from either the Beardslee Island or 
Dundas Bay wilderness areas in the park for at least six years during 
the period 1987-1998. This interim payment is intended to mitigate 1999 
income losses for qualifying Dungeness crab processors until the 
compensation program under Section (c) of the Act--and appropriate 
eligibility criteria, priorities and levels of compensation for

[[Page 41135]]

processors--can be developed and implemented. This Federal Register 
notice serves to provide application instructions for licensed 
Dungeness crab buyer/processors who believe they qualify for interim 
compensation. Applications must be provided to the Superintendent, 
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, on or before October 1, 1999.

DATES: Applications for the Dungeness crab commercial fishery processor 
interim compensation program will be accepted on or before October 1, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Applications for the Dungeness crab commercial fishery 
processor interim compensation program should be submitted to the 
Superintendent, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 140, 
Gustavus, Alaska 99826. A delivery address is located at 1 Park Road, 
in Gustavus.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
Dungeness crab commercial fishery compensation program, please contact 
Tomie Lee, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, P. O. Box 140, 
Gustavus, Alaska 99826. Phone: (907) 697-2230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act, as amended, requires Dungeness crab 
fishermen to provide certain information sufficient to determine their 
eligibility for compensation. NPS will require similar corroborating 
documentation from Dungeness crab buyers/processors making application 
to NPS for 1999 interim compensation as described in this notice. 
Dungeness crab processors must provide the following information to the 
Superintendent: (1) Full name, mailing address, and a contact phone 
number. (2) A sworn and notarized personal affidavit from the owner of 
the processing business attesting to the applicant's history of buying 
Dungeness crab harvested from either the Beardslee Island or Dundas Bay 
wilderness areas of the park as a licensed buyer/processor for at least 
6 of 12 years during the period of 1987 through 1998. (3) A copy of the 
business's current State of Alaska license for buying/processing 
Dungeness crab. (4) Any available corroborating information--including 
documentation of Dungeness crab landed/purchased from the Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game shellfish statistical units that include 
wilderness areas in the Beardslee Islands or Dundas Bay and/or sworn 
and notarized affidavits of witnesses--that can assist in a 
determination of eligibility for compensation. The Superintendent, with 
the concurrence of the State of Alaska, will make a written 
determination on eligibility for compensation based on the 
documentation provided by the applicant. The Superintendent, with the 
concurrence of the State of Alaska, will also make a written 
determination on the amount of 1999 interim compensation to be paid to 
an eligible applicant. NPS intends to complete payment of interim 
compensation to processors meeting the above eligibility criteria by 
December 1, 1999. Receipt of compensation for 1999 losses will not 
prejudice any opportunity the applicant may have to seek any additional 
compensation that may be provided for in the Act, as amended.
    If an application for compensation is denied, the Superintendent 
will provide the applicant the reasons for the denial in writing. 
Denial of interim compensation as a Dungeness crab processor will not 
affect consideration for future compensation for processors under the 
Act, as amended.

    Dated: July 20, 1999.
Paul R. Anderson,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 99-19450 Filed 7-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P