[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12605-12606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5232]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 0907271173-1137-04]
RIN 0648-AY11


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 
17B; Correction

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

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: This document contains corrections to the final rule that 
implemented Amendment 17B to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 17B), 
which was published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2010.

DATES: This correction is effective March 8, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anik Clemens, 727-824-5305; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On December 30, 2010, a final rule was published to implement 
Amendment 17B (75 FR 82280). That final rule established annual catch 
limits and accountability measures for nine snapper-grouper species in 
the South Atlantic region. One of these accountability measures 
prohibits the possession of deep-water snapper-grouper species in or 
from the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone in depths greater than 
240 ft (73 m). After the regulations implementing Amendment 17B became 
effective on January 31, 2011, it was determined that two of the 
waypoints defining the 240-ft (73-m) depth contour were in State 
waters.

Need for Correction

    As published, the final rule contains errors in a table of 
coordinates in the regulatory text. In Sec.  622.35, paragraph (o) 
contains a table of coordinates for the depth closure implemented in 
Amendment 17B for deep-water snapper-grouper. Within this table, an 
incorrect longitudinal coordinate was implemented for point K, and the 
coordinates for points O and U are within State boundaries. Through 
this

[[Page 12606]]

correcting amendment, the longitudinal coordinate for point K will be 
corrected and the coordinates for points O and U, as published in the 
final rule implementing Amendment 17B, will be removed and replaced 
with new boundary coordinates to reflect the State/Federal boundary. 
These new coordinates and State/Federal boundary lines will be included 
in the revised depth closure table of coordinates. All other 
information remains unchanged and will not be repeated in this 
correction.

Classification

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive prior notice and opportunity 
for additional public comment for this action because any delay of this 
action would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. This 
correcting amendment includes minor, non-substantive changes to 
regulatory text to clarify the boundaries of the snapper-grouper depth 
closure contained in the final rule for Amendment 17B to the FMP. These 
amendments do not modify, add or remove any rights, privileges or 
obligations of any individuals. Rather, one of the longitudinal 
coordinates published in the final rule was incorrect and two of the 
coordinates published in the final rule occurred in State waters. The 
new coordinates and State/Federal boundary lines published in this 
correcting amendment will alleviate unnecessary confusion for South 
Atlantic snapper-grouper fishermen. There will be no adverse affect on 
fishing stocks as a result of this amendment. However, by immediately 
implementing this correcting amendment, fishermen will better be able 
to plan their fishing trips by incorporating the correct boundary 
coordinates into their business plans. Because this is a minor 
technical amendment that will benefit the affected entities, public 
comment is both unnecessary and contrary to the public interest.
    For the reasons stated above, the Assistant Administrator also 
finds good cause, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d), to waive the 30-day 
delay in effective date for this correction amendment. These revisions 
are minor, non-substantive changes and do not change operating 
practices in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery. The immediate 
publication of the correct coordinates will provide fishermen the 
information they need to plan their fishing trips and alleviate 
confusion.
    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., are inapplicable.
    This correcting amendment is exempt from review under Executive 
Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

    Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Virgin Islands.

    Dated: March 2, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    Accordingly, 50 CFR part 622 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendments:

PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC

0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  622.35, the table in paragraph (o) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec.  622.35  Atlantic EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.

* * * * *
    (o) * * *

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              Point                   North lat. 10      West long. 10
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A................................  36[deg]31'01''      74[deg]48'10''
B................................  35[deg]57'29''      74[deg]55'49''
C................................  35[deg]30'49''      74[deg]49'17''
D................................  34[deg]19'41''      76[deg]00'21''
E................................  33[deg]13'31''      77[deg]17'50''
F................................  33[deg]05'13''      77[deg]49'24''
G................................  32[deg]24'03''      78[deg]57'03''
H................................  31[deg]39'04''      79[deg]38'46''
I................................  30[deg]27'33''      80[deg]11'39''
J................................  29[deg]53'21''      80[deg]16'01''
K................................  29[deg]24'03''      80[deg]13'28''
L................................  28[deg]19'29''      80[deg]00'27''
M................................  27[deg]32'05''      79[deg]58'49''
N................................  26[deg]50'29''      79[deg]59'05''
From point N follow the State/
 Federal boundary to point O.
O................................  25[deg]43'57''      80[deg]04'46''
P................................  25[deg]31'03''      80[deg]04'55''
Q................................  25[deg]13'44''      80[deg]09'40''
R................................  24[deg]59'09''      80[deg]19'51''
S................................  24[deg]42'06''      80[deg]46'38''
T................................  24[deg]33'53''      81[deg]10'23''
U................................  24[deg]29'10''      81[deg]32'27''
From point U follow the State/
 Federal boundary to point V.
V................................  24[deg]26'28''      81[deg]45'06''
W................................  24[deg]25'53''      81[deg]47'53''
From point W follow the State/
 Federal boundary to point X.
X................................  24[deg]25'32''      81[deg]58'38''
Y................................  24[deg]25'49''      82[deg]11'17''
Z................................  24[deg]21'35''      82[deg]22'32''
AA...............................  24[deg]21'29''      82[deg]42'33''
BB...............................  24[deg]25'37''      83[deg]00'00''
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[FR Doc. 2011-5232 Filed 3-7-11; 8:45 am]
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