[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18572]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 010502110-1110-01; I.D. 071601E]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West 
Coast Salmon Fisheries; Closure of the Commercial Fishery from U.S.-
Canada Border to Leadbetter Pt., WA

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

ACTION: Closure; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the commercial fishery for all salmon in 
the area from the U.S.-Canada Border to Leadbetter Pt., WA, was closed 
on July 9, 2001, at 2359 hours local time (l.t.). The Northwest 
Regional Administrator of NMFS (Regional Administrator) determined that 
the guideline of 7,000 chinook salmon had been reached. This action was 
necessary to conform to the 2001 annual management measures for ocean 
salmon fisheries.

DATES: Closure effective 2359 hours l.t., July 9, 2001. Comments will 
be accepted through August 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this action may be mailed to Donna Darm, Acting 
Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point 
Way N.E., Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; fax 206-526-6376; or Rebecca 
Lent, Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, NOAA, 501 W. 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4132; fax 562-980-4018. 
Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet. 
Information relevant to this document is available for public review 
during business hours at the Office of the Regional Administrator, 
Northwest Region, NMFS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Wright, 206-526-6140, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, NOAA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the ocean salmon 
fisheries at 50 CFR 660.409 (a)(1) state that, when a quota for any 
salmon species in any portion of the fishery management area is 
projected by the Regional Administrator to be reached on or by a 
certain date, NMFS will, by notification issued under 50 CFR 660.411 
(a)(2), close the fishery for all salmon species in the portion of the 
fishery management area to which the quota applies, as of the date the 
quota is projected to be reached.
    In the 2001 annual management measures for ocean salmon fisheries 
(66 FR 23185, May 8, 2001), NMFS announced that the commercial fishery 
for all salmon in the area from the U.S.-Canada Border to Leadbetter 
Pt., WA, would open on July 1 through the earlier of July 27, a 7,000-
chinook preseason guideline, or a 12,000-marked coho guideline.
    The Regional Administrator consulted with representatives of the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, the Washington Department of Fish 
and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The best 
available information as of July 9, 2001, related to the catch and 
effort to date and projected catch for fish that were yet to be landed, 
indicated that the 7,000-chinook quota would likely be reached by 2359 
hours l.t., July 9, 2001, and that a closure of the area was warranted. 
The State of Washington will manage the fishery in state waters 
adjacent to this area of the exclusive economic zone in accordance with 
this Federal action. As provided by the inseason notice procedures of 
50 CFR 660.411, actual notice to fishermen of these actions was given 
prior to 2359 hours l.t. on July 9, 2001, by telephone hotline number 
206-526-6667 and 800-662-9825, and by U.S. Coast Guard Notice to 
Mariners broadcasts on Channel 16 VHF-FM and 2182 kHz.
    NMFS has determined that the need for immediate action to close the 
fishery upon achievement of the quota is good cause for this 
notification to be issued without affording a prior opportunity for 
public comment. Such notification would be unnecessary, impracticable, 
and contrary to the public interest. Moreover, because of the immediate 
need to close the fishery upon achievement of the quota, the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good cause, under 5 U.S.C. 
553 (d)(3), that delaying the effectiveness of this rule for 30 days is 
impracticable and contrary to public interest. This action does not 
apply to other fisheries that may be operating in other areas.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 660.409 and 660.411 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: July 19, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-18572 Filed 7-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S