[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 198 (Thursday, October 15, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52912-52913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24824]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0810141351-9087-02]
RIN 0648-XS34


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to fully use the 2009 total allowable catch (TAC) of northern 
rockfish in the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 11, 
2009, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2009. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., 
October 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by 0648-
XS34, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
     Fax: (907) 586-7557.
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
    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 portable document file (pdf) file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patty Britza, 907-586-7376.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations 
governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at 
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    NMFS closed the directed fishery for northern rockfish in the BSAI 
under Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 1, 2009 (74 FR 7359, February 
17, 2009).
    As of October 7, 2009, NMFS has determined that approximately 4,794 
metric tons of northern rockfish remain unharvested in the BSAI. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and 
(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the 2009 TAC of northern rockfish 
in the BSAI, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for northern rockfish in the BSAI. This will enhance 
the socioeconomic well-being of harvesters in this area. The 
Administrator, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) considered the 
following factors in reaching this decision: (1) the current catch of 
northern rockfish in the BSAI and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated 
intent on future harvesting patterns of vessels in participating in 
this fishery.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 679.25(c)(1)(ii) as such requirement is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent 
NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely 
fashion and would delay the opening of northern rockfish in the BSAI. 
NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment 
because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of 
October 7, 2009.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery 
for northern rockfish in the BSAI to be harvested in an expedient 
manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under Sec.  
679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
on this action to the above address until October 26, 2009.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and Sec.  679.25 and is 
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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


[[Page 52913]]


    Dated: October 9, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-24824 Filed 10-9-09; 8:45 am]
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