[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 230 (Friday, November 30, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67668-67672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23268]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 071002553-7554-01]
RIN 0648-AW14


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Correction

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

ACTION: Correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this correcting amendment to the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) to correct typographical errors and update cross 
references in three sections of the Pacific halibut fishery 
regulations; definitions, catch sharing plan and domestic management 
measures in waters in and off Alaska, and prohibitions. This correcting 
amendment improves the accuracy of Pacific halibut fisheries 
regulations, makes minor, non-substantive changes, and does not change 
operating practices in halibut fisheries or the rights and obligations 
of fishermen managed under the halibut regulations.

[[Page 67669]]


DATES: November 30, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Peggy Murphy, NMFS, 907-586-7228 or 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The International Pacific Halibut Commission (Commission) and NMFS 
manage fishing for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) through 
regulations established under the authority of the Northern Pacific 
Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). The Commission promulgates 
regulations governing the Pacific halibut fishery between the United 
States and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the 
North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention), signed in Ottawa, 
Ontario, on March 2, 1953, and by Protocol Amending the Convention 
signed at Washington, D.C., on March 29, 1979. The Commission's 
regulations are subject to approval by the Secretary of State with 
concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). Approved 
regulations developed by the Commission are published as annual 
management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62. The North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council) may also recommend regulations 
that comply with approved Commission regulations and are implemented by 
the Secretary through NMFS. Federal regulations for Pacific halibut 
fisheries in Alaska are codified at 50 CFR part 300. On occasion, new 
and revised regulations are published in the CFR with minor technical 
mistakes, such as spelling errors or no space between two words. These 
unintended errors are fixed through a correcting amendment.
    The Council implemented guideline harvest levels (GHL) in 
Commission regulatory areas 2C and 3A on August 8, 2003, to more 
comprehensively manage the charter vessel fishery for Pacific halibut 
stocks in waters in and off Alaska (68 FR 47256). The final rule added 
a text table at Sec.  300.65(c)(1) with typographical errors in the 
column headings.
    Also, the estimated charter vessel harvest of halibut in Commission 
regulatory area 2C in 2006 exceeded the GHL specified for that area. 
This triggered issuance of a regulation to restrict the size of fish 
harvested in the 2007 fishing season and reduce the charter vessel 
harvest of halibut in Area 2C. A final rule implementing this 
regulation was effective June 1, 2007 (June 4, 72 FR 30714). If the 
final rule were not effective by this date, the conservation and 
management objective of the action would have been jeopardized because 
the estimated reduction in weight of halibut caught in the Area 2C 
charter vessel fishery was based on an assumption that the final rule 
would be effective for the full charter fishing season of June, July 
and August. Effort was escalated to complete the proposed and final 
rule making process and good cause was found by the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of the action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). The final rule 
did not change the existing daily bag limit of two halibut, but 
required that one of the two fish retained by persons sport fishing on 
a charter vessel operating in Area 2C be no more than 32 inches (81.3 
cm) in length. The rule added a new paragraph, (d), to Sec.  300.65 
incrementing the alphabetic reference to existing paragraphs (d) 
through (k) to (e) through (l), respectively. However, in our haste, 
NMFS did not update the cross references to paragraphs that had changed 
after the new paragraph (d) was added. Only the first level paragraph 
designations were changed, subparagraphs designations erroneously 
remained unchanged.

Need for Correction

    This correcting amendment is necessary to correct the typographical 
errors in the column headings to the GHL table at Sec.  300.65(c)(1) 
and update cross references to paragraphs in the CFR at Sec.  300.61, 
300.65, and 300.66. Minor errors in spacing between words are also 
corrected at Sec.  300.65(c)(2) and Sec.  300.65(k) and an indefinite 
article is corrected at Sec.  300.65(k)(2)(i)(D). These changes are 
needed to provide consistent reference, and make the regulations more 
understandable and effective.
    The GHL table is structured conditionally, so if specified criteria 
are met, then a particular action or outcome is defined to occur. In 
this case, when the annual total constant exploitation yield for 
halibut in Area 2C (or 3A) is more than one of the poundages (tonnages) 
listed, then the annual GHL is set to the corresponding poundage 
(tonnage) specified for that area (2C or 3A). Currently, the column 
headings read ``than'' instead of ``then,'' so the intended functional 
comparison using ``If/Then'' statements need to be corrected to make 
sense.
    Current paragraph lettering at Sec. Sec.  300.61, 300.65, and 
300.66 is correct but cross references to paragraphs are incorrect and 
need to updated.
    The text of each change is set forth in sequential order in the 
add/remove table of this correcting amendment. NMFS chose to display 
these changes in a table because simple changes are more efficiently 
shown in an add/remove table than by reprinting the full regulatory 
text.

Classification

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 
the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries finds good cause to waive the 
requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment 
on this correcting amendment to the Pacific halibut fisheries 
regulations. Notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the 
public interest because this action makes only minor, non-substantive 
changes to correct typographical errors in a table's column headings, 
and updates paragraph and section cross references. Minimizing the 
duration of time the errors are published will reduce reader confusion. 
Timely correction of the rule will improve public understanding of the 
regulations. The rule does not make any substantive change in the 
rights and obligations of halibut fishermen. No change in operating 
practices in the fisheries is required. Because this action makes only 
the minor, non-substantive change to Sec.  300.61, 300.65, and 300.66 
described above, this rule is not subject to the 30-day delay in 
effective date requirement of 5 U.S.C. 553(d).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

    Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: November 26, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistent Administrator For Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

0
Accordingly, 50 CFR part 300 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendment:

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

Subpart E Pacific Halibut Fisheries

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart E, continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.
Sec. Sec.  300.61, 300.65, and 300.66 [Amended]

0
2. At each of the locations shown in the ``Location'' column, remove 
the phrase indicated in the ``Remove'' column and replace it with the 
phrase indicated in the ``Add'' column for the number of times 
indicated in the ``Frequency'' column.

[[Page 67670]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Location                Remove          Add        Frequency
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.61 definition of    Sec.           Sec.          1
 ``Alaska Native tribe''        300.65(f)(2)   300.65(g)(2
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.61 definition of    Sec.           Sec.          1
 ``Rural''                      300.65(f)(1)   300.65(g)(1
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.61 definition of    Sec.           Sec.          2
 Rural resident                 300.65(f)(1)   300.65(g)(1
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(c)(1)            Than the GHL   Then the GHL  1
The table title heading in      for Area 2C    for Area 2C
 column 2.                      will be:       will be:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(c)(1)            Than the GHL   Then the GHL  1
The table title heading in      for Area 3A    for Area 3A
 column 4.                      will be:       will be:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(c)(2)             NMFS will     NMFS will     1
                                publish a      publish a
                                notice in      notice in
                                theFederal     the Federal
                                Register on    Register on
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(1)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (d)(2)         (e)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(1)(ii)         paragraphs    paragraphs    1
                                (d)(3) and     (e)(3) and
                                (d)(4)         (e)(4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(2)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (d)(1)(i)      (e)(1)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(3)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (d)(1)(ii)     (e)(1)(ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(3)(ii)        paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (d)(1)(ii)     (e)(1)(ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(4)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (d)(1)(ii)     (e)(1)(ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(4)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (d)(1)(ii)     (e)(1)(ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(4)(ii)        paragraphs     paragraphs    1
                                (d)(4) and     (e)(4) and
                                (d)(4)(i)      (e)(4)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(e)(4)(ii)        paragraph      paragraph     2
                                (d)(1)(ii)     (e)(1)(ii)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(f)               paragraph (e)  paragraph     1
                                               (f)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(g)               paragraphs     paragraphs    1
                                (f)(1) or      (g)(1) or
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)               paragraph (f)  paragraph     1
                                               (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)               paragraph (h)  paragraph     1
                                               (i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(1)(i)         paragraph (h)  paragraph     1
                                               (i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(1)(i)(C)      paragraph (j)  paragraph     1
                                               (k)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(2)            paragraph (g)  paragraph     1
                                               (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(2)(ii)        paragraph (i)  paragraph     1
                                               (j)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(2)(iii)       paragraph (j)  paragraph     1
                                               (k)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(4)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (g)(3)         (h)(3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(4)            paragraph (h)  paragraph     1
                                               (i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(h)(4)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.  300.65(h)(4)(ii)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(1)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (h)(2)         (i)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(1)            paragraph (f)  paragraph     2
                                               (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(2)(i)         50 CFR         50 CFR        1
                                300.65(f)(1)   300.65(g)(1
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(2)(ii)        50 CFR         50 CFR        1
                                300.65(f)(2)   300.65(g)(2
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(3)            paragraph (f)  paragraph     1
                                               (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(3)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (h)(2)         (i)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(3)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(1)         (g)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(i)(3)(ii)        paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 67671]]

 
Sec.   300.65(j)               paragraphs     paragraphs    1
                                (f)(1) and     (g)(1) and
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(1)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (i)(2)         (j)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(1)(i)         paragraph (f)  paragraph     1
                                               (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(1)(ii)(A)     paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(1)         (g)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(1)(ii)(B)     paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(1)(iii)       paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(2)(ii)        paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(1)         (g)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(2)(ii)        paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(3)(i)(A)      paragraph (d)  paragraph     1
                                               (e)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(3)(i)(B)      paragraph (g)  paragraph     1
                                               (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(3)(ii)        paragraph (h)  paragraph     1
                                               (i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(3)(iv)        paragraph (g)  paragraph     1
                                               (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(4)            paragraph (f)  paragraph     2
                                               (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(4)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (i)(2)         (j)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(j)(6)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (i)(2)         (j)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)               paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)               Sec.  679.4(a  Sec.  679.4(  1
                                )of            a) of
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(1)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (j)(2)         (k)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(1)(i)         paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(2)(i)(D)      for a          for an        1
                                Educational    Educational
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(3)(i)         paragraph (g)  paragraph     1
                                               (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(3)(ii)        paragraph (g)  paragraph     1
                                               (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(3)(v)         paragraph (h)  paragraph     1
                                               (i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(3)(vi)        paragraph (g)  paragraph     1
                                               (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(4)            paragraph      paragraph     2
                                (f)(2)         (g)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.65(k)(6)            paragraph      paragraph     1
                                (j)(2)         (k)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(c)               300.65 (d)     300.65 (e)    1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(d)               300.65 (e)     300.65 (f)    1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(e)               Sec.   300.65  Sec.          1
                                (f)            300.65(g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(e)               Sec.   300.65  Sec.          1
                                (h)            300.65(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(e)               Sec.   300.65  Sec.          1
                                (j)            300.65(k)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(f)               50 CFR         50 CFR        1
                                300.65(g)(1)   300.65(h)(1
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(f)               50 CFR         50 CFR        1
                                300.65(g)(2)   300.65(h)(2
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(g)               50 CFR         50 CFR        1
                                300.65(g)(3)   300.65(h)(3
                                               )
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(h)               Sec.           Sec.          1
                                300.61(b)      300.61
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(h)               Sec.           Sec.          1
                                300.65(f)      300.65(g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(j)               50 CFR         50 CFR        1
                                300.65(f)      300.65(g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   300.66(j)               50 CFR         50 CFR        1
                                300.65(h)      300.65(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 67672]]

[FR Doc. E7-23268 Filed 11-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S