[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 84 (Friday, April 30, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23694-23696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9857]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 040115020-4124-02; I.D. 010204B]
RIN 0648-AR07


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Off the Coast of 
Alaska; Recordkeeping and Reporting

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to revise port codes (Tables 14a 
and 14b) used in data collection for the Federal groundfish fisheries 
in the EEZ off the coast of Alaska and the Pacific halibut Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. This action removes unnecessary or 
potentially conflicting regulations. This action is necessary to 
facilitate enforcement activities and standardize the collection of 
port-of-landing information, and is intended to meet the conservation 
and management requirements of the Northern Pacific

[[Page 23695]]

Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act) with respect to halibut and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) with respect to groundfish and to further the goals and 
objectives of the Alaska groundfish fishery management plans.

DATES: Effective June 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) prepared for 
this final regulatory action are available by writing to Sue Salveson, 
NMFS, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 1668, Attn: Lori 
Durall, or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS, at (907) 586-7228.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
final rule may be submitted to NMFS, Alaska Region at the address 
above, or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by e-mail 
[email protected], or fax (202) 395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries 
of the GOA in the EEZ off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the Fishery Management Plan for 
the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 
(FMPs). The FMPs were prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council and approved by the Secretary of Commerce under authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The FMPs are implemented by regulations at 50 
CFR part 679. NMFS manages the IFQ Program for Pacific halibut under 
the Halibut Act; implementing regulations are at 50 CFR 300.60 through 
300.66. General provisions governing fishing by U.S. vessels in 
accordance with the FMPs appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.
    This action revises the list of port codes in Tables 14a and 14b to 
50 CFR part 679. The numerical codes identify ports where IFQ landings 
are made and are entered by participants when filing an IFQ prior 
notice of landing (PNOL). The background regarding this action is 
detailed in the preamble to the proposed rule (69 FR 4285 January 29, 
2004). Public comments on the proposed rule were invited through March 
1, 2004. No public comments were received on the proposed rule.
    In brief, Tables 14a and 14b are revised as follows:
    1. Numerical codes that are no longer used for IFQ landings and 
that do not have a corresponding alphabetical code have been removed, 
and
    2. Numerical codes for ports that are geographically close enough 
to be reported as one port have been combined.

Changes from the Proposed Rule

    The numerical codes identify ports where IFQ landings are made. 
These port codes are entered by participants when filing an IFQ prior 
notice of landing (PNOL) and when electronically reporting an IFQ 
landing (see 50 CFR 679.5(l)). The alphabetical codes identify ports 
where groundfish landings are made. Alphabetical codes are entered by 
participants completing a State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game 
fish ticket and also are entered by shoreside processor participants 
entering data into the NMFS groundfish shoreside processor electronic 
logbook report (SPELR) (see 50 CFR 679.5(c)).
    In Table 14a to part 679 port code 102 (Akutan Bay) is combined 
into port code 101 (Akutan), because these two locations are 
geographically close.

Classification

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    This final rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with other 
Federal regulations.
    This action does not impose new reporting, recordkeeping or other 
compliance requirements on regulated small entities.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified that this final rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. No comments were received regarding the economic 
impact of this final rule. Therefore, no FRFA is required, and none has 
been prepared.
    This final rule contains two collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and which have been 
approved by the OMB. Under control number 0648-0272, public reporting 
burden for the Prior Notice of Landing is estimated to average 12 
minutes per response; for the IFQ landing report, 18 minutes per 
response is estimated. Under control number 0648-0401, public reporting 
burden for the Shoreside Processor Electronic Logbook Report is 
estimated at 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden 
estimate, or any other aspect of this data collection, including 
suggestions for reducing the burden, to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and by e-
mail to [email protected], or fax to (202) 395-7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: April 26, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

0
For reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is amended as 
follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

0
1. The authority citation for part 679 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 3631 et 
seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); Pub. L. 105 277, Title II of Division C; 
Pub. L. 106 31, Sec. 3027; and Pub. L. 106 554, Sec. 209.

0
2. Tables 14a and 14b to part 679 are revised to read as follows:

 Table 14a to Part 679.--Port of Landing Codes: \1\ Alaska (March 2004)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          NMFS    ADF&G
                       Port Name                          code     code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adak..................................................      186      ADA
Akutan, Akutan Bay....................................      101      AKU
Alitak................................................      103      ALI
Anchorage.............................................      105      ANC
Angoon................................................      106      ANG
Aniak.................................................  n[bdsol      ANI
                                                             ]a
Anvik.................................................  n[bdsol      ANV
                                                             ]a
Atka..................................................      107      ATK
Auke Bay..............................................      136      JNU
Beaver Inlet..........................................      119      DUT
Bethel................................................  n[bdsol      BET
                                                             ]a
Captains Bay..........................................      119      DUT
Chefornak.............................................      189  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Chignik...............................................      113      CHG
Cordova...............................................      115      COR
Craig.................................................      116      CRG
Dillingham............................................      117      DIL
Douglas...............................................      136      JNU
Dutch Harbor/Unalaska.................................      119      DUT
Egegik................................................      122      EGE

[[Page 23696]]

 
Ekuk..................................................  N[bdsol      EKU
                                                             ]A
Elfin Cove............................................      123      ELF
Emmonak...............................................  N[bdsol      EMM
                                                             ]A
Excursion Inlet.......................................      124      XIP
False Pass............................................      125      FSP
Fairbanks.............................................  N[bdsol      FBK
                                                             ]A
Galena................................................  N[bdsol      GAL
                                                             ]A
Glacier Bay...........................................  N[bdsol      GLB
                                                             ]A
Glennallen............................................  N[bdsol      GLN
                                                             ]A
Gustavus..............................................      127      GUS
Haines................................................      128      HNS
Halibut Cove..........................................      130  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Homer.................................................      132      HOM
Hoonah................................................      133      HNH
Hydaburg..............................................  N[bdsol      HYD
                                                             ]A
Hyder.................................................      134      HDR
Juneau................................................      136      JNU
Kake..................................................      137      KAK
Kaltag................................................  N[bdsol      KAL
                                                             ]A
Kasilof...............................................      138      KAS
Kenai.................................................      139      KEN
Kenai River...........................................      139      KEN
Ketchikan.............................................      141      KTN
King Cove.............................................      142      KCO
King Salmon...........................................      143      KNG
Kipnuk................................................      144  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Klawock...............................................      145      KLA
Kodiak................................................      146      KOD
Kotzebue..............................................  N[bdsol      KOT
                                                             ]A
La Conner.............................................  N[bdsol      LAC
                                                             ]A
Mekoryuk..............................................      147  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Metlakatla............................................      148      MET
Moser Bay.............................................  N[bdsol      MOS
                                                             ]A
Naknek................................................      149      NAK
Nenana................................................  N[bdsol      NEN
                                                             ]A
Nikiski (or Nikishka).................................      150      NIK
Ninilchik.............................................      151      NIN
Nome..................................................      152      NOM
Nunivak Island........................................  N[bdsol      NUN
                                                             ]A
Old Harbor............................................      153      OLD
Other Alaska\1\.......................................      499      UNK
Pelican...............................................      155      PEL
Petersburg............................................      156      PBG
Port Alexander........................................      158      PAL
Port Armstrong........................................  N[bdsol      PTA
                                                             ]A
Port Bailey...........................................      159      PTB
Port Graham...........................................      160      GRM
Port Lions............................................  N[bdsol      LIO
                                                             ]A
Port Moller...........................................  N[bdsol      MOL
                                                             ]A
Port Protection.......................................      161  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Quinhagak.............................................      187  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Sand Point............................................      164      SPT
Savoonga..............................................      165  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Seldovia..............................................      166      SEL
Seward................................................      167      SEW
Sitka.................................................      168      SIT
Skagway...............................................      169      SKG
Soldotna..............................................  N[bdsol      SOL
                                                             ]A
St. George............................................      170      STG
St. Mary..............................................  N[bdsol      STM
                                                             ]A
St. Paul..............................................      172      STP
Tee Harbor............................................      136      JNU
Tenakee Springs.......................................      174      TEN
Togiak................................................      176      TOG
Toksook Bay...........................................      177  N[bdsol
                                                                      ]A
Tununak...............................................      178      N/A
Ugashik...............................................  N[bdsol      UGA
                                                             ]A
Unalakleet............................................  N[bdsol      UNA
                                                             ]A
Valdez................................................      181      VAL
Wasilla...............................................  N[bdsol      WAS
                                                             ]A
Whittier..............................................      183      WHT
Wrangell..............................................      184      WRN
Yakutat...............................................      185      YAK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To report a landing at a location not currently assigned a location
  code number: use the code for ``Other'' for the state or country at
  which the landing occurs and notify NMFS of the actual location so
  that the list may be updated. For example, to report a landing for
  Levelock, Alaska which currently has no code assigned, use code
  ``499'' for ``Other AK.''


  Table 14b to Part 679--Port of Landing Codes: Non-Alaska (California,
                Canada, Oregon, Washington) (April 2004)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          NMFS    ADF&G
                       Port Name                          Code     Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALIFORNIA                                              .......  .......
 Eureka...............................................      500      EUR
 Other California\1\..................................      599      N/A
CANADA                                                  .......  .......
 Other Canada\1\......................................      899      N/A
 Port Edward..........................................      802      PRU
 Prince Rupert........................................      802      PRU
OREGON                                                  .......  .......
 Astoria..............................................      600      AST
 Newport..............................................      603      NPT
 Olympia..............................................      N/A      OLY
 Other Oregon\1\......................................      699      N/A
 Portland.............................................      N/A      POR
 Warrenton............................................      604      N/A
WASHINGTON                                              .......  .......
 Anacortes............................................      700      ANA
 Bellingham...........................................      702      N/A
 Blaine...............................................      717      BLA
 Everett..............................................      704      N/A
 La Conner............................................      708      LAC
 Other Washington\1\..................................      799      N/A
 Seattle..............................................      715      SEA
 Tacoma...............................................      N/A      TAC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ To report a landing at a location not currently assigned a location
  code number: use the code for ``Other'' for the state or country at
  which the landing occurs and notify NMFS of the actual location so
  that the list may be updated. For example, to report a landing for
  Vancouver, which currently has no code assigned, use code ``899'' for
  ``Other Canada.''

[FR Doc. 04-9857 Filed 4-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S