[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 7448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3755]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 021212306-2306-01; I.D. 020703C]


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.

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

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 2003 interim total allowable catch of 
pollock specific for this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 13, 
2003, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 14, 2003.

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 amount of the 2003 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 of the 
GOA was established as 1,222 metric tons by the interim 2003 harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the GOA (67 FR 78733, December 26, 
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, 2003 (68 FR 
2921, January 22, 2003).
    NMFS has determined that approximately 587 mt 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., February 14, 2003.

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 2003 interim 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 
2003 interim 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: February 10, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-3755 Filed 2-11-03; 3:00 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S