[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 24 (Friday, February 6, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2587]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 253 and 600

[Docket No. 080228332-81199-01]
RIN 0648-AW38


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Interjurisdictional Fisheries 
Act; Disaster Assistance Programs; Fisheries Assistance Programs

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS extends the public comment period on the proposed rule to 
govern the requests for determinations of fishery resource disasters as 
a basis for acquiring potential disaster assistance. NMFS has received 
requests to extend the comment period for the proposed rule beyond its 
current 30-day comment period. The extension of the comment period for 
another 2 months is intended to ensure that NMFS provides adequate time 
for various stakeholders and other members of the public to comment on 
the proposed regulations to govern initiating and responding to 
requests for fisheries disaster assistance. The comment period of the 
January 15, 2009 (74 FR 2467) rule is extended from February 17, 2009, 
to April 20, 2009.

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing on or before April 20, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-AW38, by any one 
of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov;
     Fax: 301-713-1193, Attn: Robert Gorrell;
     Mail: Alan Risenhoover, Director, NMFS Office of 
Sustainable Fisheries, Attn: Disaster Assistance Program Guidance and 
Procedures, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to Alan Risenhoover at the above address 
and by email to [email protected], or by fax to (202) 395-
7285.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic 
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or 
Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Gorrell, at 301-713-2341 or via 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule that sets forth NMFS' 
proposed regulations to govern requests for determinations of fishery 
resource disaster assistance was published in the Federal Register on 
January 15, 2009 (74 FR 2467), with a comment period ending date of 
February 17, 2009. The regulations would establish definitions, and 
characteristics of commercial fishery failures, fishery resource 
disasters, serious disruptions affecting future production, and harm 
incurred by fishermen, as well as requirements for initiating a review 
by NMFS, and the administrative process it will follow in processing 
such applications. The intended result of these procedures and 
requirements is to clarify and interpret the fishery disaster 
assistance provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act and the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act through 
rulemaking and thereby ensure consistency and facilitate the processing 
of requests.
    After receiving requests to extend the comment period, NMFS has 
decided to extend it for another 62 days through April 20, 2009. This 
action extends the comment period for a proposed rule that the Office 
of Management and Budget determined to be significant under Executive 
Order 12866.

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 1271-1279 and 16 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.

    Dated: February 3, 2009.
James W. Balsiger
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2587 Filed 2-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S