[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 170 (Friday, September 1, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 52051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14558]



[[Page 52051]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[I.D. 082806B]
RIN 0648-AU57


Fisheries Off West Coast States; Notice of Availability for 
Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Availability of an amendment to a fishery management plan; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) has submitted Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review. Amendment 16-4 
would modify the FMP to implement revised rebuilding plans for seven 
overfished species: bocaccio, canary rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched 
rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish. 
Amendment 16-4 is intended to respond to 9th Circuit Court of Appeals 
orders to establish rebuilding plans that rebuild overfished stocks as 
soon as possible, taking into account the status and biology of the 
stocks, the needs of fishing communities, and the interaction of the 
overfished stocks within the marine environment.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 16-4 must be received on or before October 
31, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by [insert I.D number] 
by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include the I.D. 
number in the subject line of the message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Yvonne deReynier.
     Mail: D. Robert Lohn, Administrator, Northwest Region,
    NMFS, Attn: Yvonne deReynier, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 
98115-0070.
    Amendment 16-4 and its associated draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS), regulatory impact review, and initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis (IRFA) are available for public review during 
business hours at the office of the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council), at 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Portland, OR 97220, phone: 503-
820-2280. Copies of additional reports referred to in this document may 
also be obtained from the Council. These documents are also available 
online at: http://www.pcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne deReynier (Northwest Region, 
NMFS), phone: 206-526-6129; fax: 206-526-6736; and e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    This Federal Register document is also accessible via the internet 
at the Web site of the Office of the Federal Register: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su-docs/aces/aces140.html.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each regional fishery management 
council submit any FMP or plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for review 
and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens 
Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, 
immediately publish a notice that the FMP or amendment is available for 
public review and comment. NMFS will consider public comments received 
during the comment period described above in determining whether to 
approve Amendment 16-4 to the FMP.
    Amendment 16-4 would modify the FMP to implement revised rebuilding 
plans for the FMP's seven overfished species: bocaccio, canary 
rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, widow 
rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish. The Council developed Amendment 16-4 
in concert with the 2007-2008 biennial groundfish harvest 
specifications and management measures, with the intent that management 
measures for all groundfish species would constrain the fisheries to 
within optimum yield levels. Amendment 16-4 is intended to respond to 
court orders in Natural Resources Defense Council v. NMFS, 421 F.3d 872 
(9th Cir. 2005) to rebuild overfished species as quickly as possible, 
taking into account the status and biology of the stocks, the needs of 
fishing communities, and the interaction of overfished stocks with the 
marine environment. Regulations to implement Amendment 16-4, as 
separate from those to implement the 2007-2008 groundfish harvest 
specifications and management measures, would revise 50 CFR 660.365 to 
provide new target rebuilding years and harvest control rules for the 
seven species managed under rebuilding plans.
    NMFS welcomes comments on the proposed FMP amendment through the 
end of the comment period. A proposed rule to implement Amendment 16-4 
has been submitted for Secretarial review and approval. NMFS expects to 
publish and request public review and comment on proposed regulations 
to implement Amendment 16-4 in the near future. Public comments on the 
proposed rule must be received by the end of the comment period on the 
amendment to be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the 
amendment. All comments received by the end of the comment period for 
the amendment, whether specifically directed to the amendment or the 
proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 28, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-14558 Filed 8-31-06; 8:45 am]
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