[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45786-45787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21949]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-06; I.D. 082301C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Chiniak 
Gully Research Area for Vessels Using Trawl Gear

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is rescinding the trawl closure in the Chiniak Gully 
Research Area. This action is necessary to allow vessels using trawl 
gear to participate in directed fishing for groundfish in the Chiniak 
Gully Research Area after the completion of NMFS research on August 31, 
2001.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 
2001 through December 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 679.
    The Chiniak Gully Research Area was closed to vessels using trawl 
gear from August 1 to a date no later than September 20, 2001, under 
the Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures and 2001 Harvest 
Specifications and Associated Management Measures for the Groundfish 
Fisheries Off Alaska (66 FR 37167, July 17, 2001).
    This closure was in support of a research project to evaluate the 
effect of commercial fishing activity on the prey availability of 
pollock to Steller sea lions.
    NMFS has determined that as of August 31, 2001, the pollock 
research will be completed in the Chiniak Gully Research Area. 
Therefore, NMFS is rescinding the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the 
Chiniak Gully Research Area pursuant to 50 CFR 679.22(b)(6)(ii)(B).

[[Page 45787]]

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. 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 in order to allow the 
participation of vessels using trawl gear in the Chiniak Gully Research 
Area 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 in 
order to allow the participation of vessels using trawl gear in the 
Chiniak Gully Research Area constitutes good cause to find that the 
effective date of this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. 
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: August 24, 2001.
Dean Swanson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21949 Filed 8-29-01; 8:45 am]
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