[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 19004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7592]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB117


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Southeast Alaska Purse 
Seine Salmon Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of referendum voting period.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to inform interested persons of the 
voting period for the fishing capacity reduction program referendum for 
the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before 5 p.m. EST April 13, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments about this notice to Paul Marx, Chief, 
Financial Services Division, NMFS, Attn: SE Alaska Purse Seine Salmon 
Buyback, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael A. Sturtevant at (301) 427-
8799, fax (301) 713-1306, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Southeast Alaska purse seine salmon fishery is a commercial 
fishery in Alaska state waters and adjacent Federal waters. It 
encompasses the commercial taking of salmon with purse seine gear, and 
participation is limited to fishermen designated by the Alaska 
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC).
    NMFS published proposed program regulations on May 23, 2011 (76 FR 
29707), and final program regulations on October 6, 2011 (76 FR 61986), 
to implement the reduction program. NMFS published the list of eligible 
voters in on March 1, 2012 (77 FR 12568). Interested persons should 
review these for further program details. The final regulations require 
NMFS to publish this notice before conducting a referendum to determine 
the industry's willingness to repay a fishing capacity reduction loan 
to purchase the permits identified in the reduction submitted by the 
Southeast Revitalization Association and approved by NMFS.
    As of February 24, 2012, there are 379 permits in the fishery 
designated as S01A by CFEC. These permanent permit holders are eligible 
to vote in the referendum. NMFS has updated the list and will mail 
referendum ballots to each. Mailed ballots will be accompanied by NMFS' 
detailed voting guidance.
    The referendum voting period will start March 30, 2012 and end on 
April 30, 2012. Any votes not received by NMFS by 5 p.m. on April 30, 
2012, will not be counted.

    Dated: March 26, 2012.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-7592 Filed 3-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P