[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2027-2028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-531]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 101006495-0498-01]
RIN 0648-BA31


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Steller Sea 
Lion Protection Measures for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska

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

ACTION: Interim final rule, extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS published an interim final rule on December 13, 2010, to 
implement Steller sea lion protection measures to ensure that the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area groundfish fisheries 
off Alaska are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the 
western distinct population segment of Steller sea lions or adversely 
modify its designated critical habitat. A notice correcting errors 
identified in the preamble to the interim final rule and in the 
regulatory text was published on December 29, 2010. The public comment 
period for the interim final rule ends on January 12, 2011. NMFS has 
decided to extend the public comment period for an additional 45 days, 
to February 28, 2011, to provide adequate time for various stakeholders 
and other members of the public to submit comments.

DATES: The public comment period for this action has been extended for 
an additional 45 days, to February 28, 2011. Comments must be received 
no later than February 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Dr. James W. Balsiger, Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, 
identified by RIN 0648-BA31, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal 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. No comments 
will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for

[[Page 2028]]

public viewing until after the comment period has closed. Comments will 
generally be posted without change. All Personal Identifying 
Information (for example, name, address) 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). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
action rule may be submitted to NMFS, e-mailed to [email protected], or faxed to 202-395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Brown, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An interim final rule was published in the 
Federal Register on December 13, 2010 (75 FR 77535), to implement 
Steller sea lion protection measures to ensure that the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area groundfish fisheries off Alaska are 
not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the western 
distinct population segment of Steller sea lions or adversely modify 
its designated critical habitat. A notice correcting one error in the 
preamble and one typographical error and content within the regulatory 
tables was published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2010 (75 
FR 53272).
    The public comment period for the interim final rule ends on 
January 12, 2011. The comment period occurred over the Christmas and 
New Year holidays, limiting the number of work days available to the 
public for developing a response to this action. Due to the public 
concern regarding this action, NMFS extends the public comment period 
for an additional 45 days, to end on February 28, 2011. The extension 
of the comment period ensures that NMFS provides adequate time for 
various stakeholders and other members of the public to comment on the 
interim final rule for the revised Steller sea lion protection 
measures.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; 
Pub. L. 108-447.

    Dated: January 7, 2011.
Eric C. Schwaab,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-531 Filed 1-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P