[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 59064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24274]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 654

[Docket No. 110707375-1578-02]
RIN 0648-BB07


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Removal of Regulations

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to repeal the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) and remove 
its implementing regulations, as requested by the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council (Council). The stone crab fishery takes 
place primarily in state waters off the coast of Florida, and the 
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is extending 
its management of the fishery into Federal waters. Repealing the 
Federal regulations will eliminate duplication of management efforts, 
reduce costs for the Federal government, and align with the President's 
Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' 
to ensure Federal regulations are more effective and less burdensome in 
achieving regulatory objectives. The intended effect of this action is 
to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of managing the stone crab 
fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf).

DATES: This rule is effective October 24, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of documents supporting this final rule, 
which include an environmental assessment, may be obtained from 
Southeast Regional Office Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/StoneCrab.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, telephone: 727-824-5305 
or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The stone crab fishery of the Gulf of Mexico 
(Gulf) is managed under the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the Council 
and implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 654 under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
    On July 20, 2011, NMFS published a proposed rule to repeal the 
Federal stone crab FMP and requested public comment (76 FR 43250). The 
proposed rule and the environmental assessment outline the rationale 
for the measures contained in this final rule. This final rule will 
repeal the Federal stone crab FMP and its implementing regulations. The 
FWC has already voted to extend its authority to regulate stone crab in 
Federal waters. The intended effect of this rule is to eliminate 
duplication of management efforts, reduce costs, and enhance regulatory 
efficiency of the stone crab resource.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received two comments on the proposed rule, one from a Federal 
agency that was non-substantive and one from an individual that 
expressed general support for the rule. Neither submission expressed 
substantive comments on the proposed rule and, therefore, are not 
repeated here.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined 
that this final rule is necessary to more efficiently manage the stone 
crab resource, and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
other applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the 
proposed rule is not repeated here. No comments were received regarding 
this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was 
not required and none was prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 654

    Fisheries, Fishing, Incorporation by reference.

    Dated: September 15, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, under the authority of 16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq., part 654 is removed.

PART 654--[REMOVED]

0
1. Remove part 654.
[FR Doc. 2011-24274 Filed 9-22-11; 8:45 am]
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