[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4677-4678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2402]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 012402B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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

[[Page 4678]]

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical 
Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 24 hours. This action is 
necessary to fully use the first seasonal apportionment of the total 
allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 29, 
2002, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 30, 2002.

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 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The ``A'' season allowance of the 2002 pollock TAC in Statistical 
Area 630 of the GOA was established as 1,122 metric tons by an 
emergency rule implementing 2002 harvest specifications and associated 
management measures for the groundfish fisheries off Alaska (67 FR 956, 
January 8, 2002).
    NMFS closed the directed fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 
630 of the GOA under Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 21, 2002 (67 FR 
3126, January 23, 2002).
    NMFS has determined that approximately 522 mt currently remain in 
the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the 
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed 
fishing allowance will be reached after 24 hours. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the 
GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 30, 2002.

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 the amount of the 2002 A season pollock TAC specified for 
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA 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 the amount of the 2002 A 
season pollock TAC specified for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA 
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: January 25, 2002.
Jonathan M. Kurland,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-2402 Filed 1-29-02; 9:18 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S