[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 10, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 35911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17094]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010111009-1009-01; I.D. 122600A]
RIN 0648-AO72


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Emergency 
Interim Rule to Revise Certain Provisions of the American Fisheries 
Act; Extension of Expiration Date

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

ACTION: Extension of an emergency interim rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On January 22, 2001, NMFS published an emergency interim rule, 
effective January 18, 2001, through July 17, 2001, which supersedes and 
revises certain provisions of the American Fisheries Act (AFA). On May 
15, 2001, NMFS published a correction to the emergency interim rule. 
This action extends this emergency interim rule, as corrected for an 
additional 180 days, through January 14, 2002, to maintain requirements 
of the AFA for the 2001 fishing year. The intended effect of this 
action is to further the socioeconomic objectives of the AFA.

DATES: The expiration date of the emergency interim rule, published on 
January 22, 2001 (66 FR 7327), and corrected on May 15, 2001 (66 FR 
26808), is extended from July 17, 2001, to January 14, 2002.
    Comments on this emergency interim rule must be received by August 
9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to 
Federal Building, Fourth Floor, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK, and 
marked Attn: Lori Gravel. Comments also may be sent via facsimile (fax) 
to (907) 586-7465. Comments will not be accepted if sent by e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Harrington, 907-586-7228 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 21, 1998, the President signed 
into law the AFA (Div. C, Title II, Subtitle II, Public Law No. 105-
277, 112 Stat. 2681, 1998), which made profound changes to the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) pollock fishery and, to 
a lesser extent, to the groundfish and crab fisheries within the 
exclusive economic zone off Alaska. The major provisions of the AFA 
were implemented on an interim basis by an emergency rule published 
January 28, 2000 (65 FR 4520, extended at 65 FR 39107, June 23, 2000). 
Detailed information on the AFA may be found in the January 2000 
emergency interim rule and in the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory 
Impact Review developed for that emergency interim rule. The Council 
has recommended Federal fishery management plan amendments to implement 
the major provisions of the AFA. If approved by NMFS, implementing 
regulations are expected to be effective by early 2002.
    On January 22, 2001, NMFS published an emergency interim rule that 
implemented management measures to supersede and revise certain 
provisions of the AFA prior to the start of the Bering Sea pollock 
fishery (66 FR 7327). The preamble to the emergency interim rule 
provides a detailed description of the purpose and need for that action 
and is not repeated here. NMFS received no public comments during the 
comment period, which expired on February 21, 2001. A correction notice 
for this emergency interim rule was published on May 15, 2001 (66 FR 
26808), which added Prohibitions specific to the AFA that were 
inadvertently omitted in the emergency interim rule. Extending the 
emergency interim rule maintains the revisions necessary for the 
continuation of the pollock fisheries in 2001. This extension makes no 
changes to the emergency interim rule, as corrected.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), has 
determined that the extension of this emergency interim rule, as 
corrected, is necessary to respond to an emergency situation and that 
it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the AFA, and other applicable laws.

    Dated: June 29, 2001.
William T. Hogarth,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-17094 Filed 7-9-01; 8:45 am]
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