[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13101-13102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6856]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 031802A]


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

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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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 second seasonal apportionment of the total 
allowable catch of pollock specified for this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 19, 2002, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 20, 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.
    NMFS closed the directed fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 
630 of the GOA pursuant to Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on March 11, 2002 (67 
FR 10847, March 11, 2002). As of March 15, 2002, 532 metric tons (mt) 
of pollock remain in the second seasonal directed fishing allowance of 
the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. Therefore, NMFS is 
terminating the previous closure and is opening

[[Page 13102]]

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 the 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., March 
20, 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 of the amount of the 2002 B 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 of the amount of the 
2002 B 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: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 18, 2002.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6856 Filed 3-18-02; 2:13 pm]
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