[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 168 (Tuesday, September 1, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45131-45132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21074]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

RIN 0648-XL60


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Loan Program 
for Crab Quota Share; Amendment 33

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

ACTION: Final rule: agency decision.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the approval of Amendment 33 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs 
(FMP). Amendment 33 amends the FMP to allow NMFS to reduce the amount 
of fees collected under the Crab Rationalization Program to the amount 
needed to finance the Federal loan program for quota share purchase. 
The amendment provides NMFS with the flexibility to reserve only the 
amount of fees necessary to support the loan program, including no fees 
if none are needed. This FMP amendment does not require modifications 
to Federal regulations.

DATES: This agency decision is effective on August 24, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Amendment 33 and the Categorical 
Exclusion for this action may be obtained from the NMFS Alaska Region 
website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Hartman, 907-586-7442.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each regional 
fishery management council submit any fishery management plan amendment 
it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial 
approval by the Secretary of Commerce. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also 
requires that NMFS, upon receiving a fisheries management plan 
amendment, immediately publish a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing that the amendment is available for public review and 
comment.
    In April 2008, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) unanimously recommended Amendment 33, and on May 19, 2009, 
submitted Amendment 33 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/

[[Page 45132]]

Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP) to NMFS. The notice of 
availability (NOA) for Amendment 33 was published in the Federal 
Register on June 1, 2009 (74 FR 26183). The public comment period 
closed on July 31, 2009. NMFS received no comments on the proposed 
amendment.
    Amendment 33 allows NMFS to reduce the amount of fees collected 
under the Crab Rationalization Program to the amount needed to finance 
the Federal loan program for quota share purchase. This action allows 
NMFS to reserve only the amount of fees necessary to support the loan 
program, including no fees if none are needed. This action is necessary 
to ensure that fishery participants do not pay fees for loan program 
financing in excess of the fees needed to support the loan program. For 
more information on Amendment 33 a detailed description is available in 
the NOA.
    A Categorical Exclusion was prepared for Amendment 33 concluding 
that the amendment will not result individually or cumulatively in 
significant impacts on the quality of the human environment (see 
ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: August 24, 2009.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-21074 Filed 8-31-09; 8:45 am]
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