[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 28132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12870]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 051401A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by the Offshore Component in the Western Regulatory Area in the Gulf of 
Alaska

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to fully use the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 
cod in the Western Regulatory Area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, May 18, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing 
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H 
of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 2001 A season Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,098 metric tons (mt) as established by 
the Final 2001 Harvest Specifications and Associated Management 
Measures for the Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska (66 FR 7276, January 
22, 2001).
    NMFS closed the directed fishery for Pacific cod to vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area under Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i) on April 26, 2001 
(66 FR 21691, May 1, 2001).
    NMFS has determined that approximately 250 mt remain in the 
directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous 
closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA, finds that the need to immediately implement this action to allow 
full use of the Pacific cod TAC constitutes good cause to waive the 
requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 50 CFR 
679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A), as such procedures would be unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest. Similarly, the need to implement these 
measures in a timely fashion to allow full use of the Pacific cod TAC 
constitutes good cause to find that the effective date of this action 
cannot be delayed for 30 days. In addition, this action relieves a 
restriction on the harvest of Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory 
Area of the Gulf of Alaska. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay 
in the effective date is hereby waived.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: May 16, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director,Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12870 Filed 5-17-01; 4:19 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S