[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 31587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12969]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC048


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of loan repayment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to inform interested parties that the 
Oregon Pink Shrimp sub-loan in the fishing capacity reduction program 
for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery has been repaid. Therefore, 
buyback fee collections on Oregon pink shrimp will cease.

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

ADDRESSES: Send comments about this notice to Paul Marx, Chief, 
Financial Services Division, NMFS, Attn: Oregon Pink Shrimp 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: On November 16, 2004, NMFS published a 
Federal Register document (69 FR 67100) proposing regulations to 
implement an industry fee system for repaying the reduction loan. The 
final rule was published July 13, 2005 (70 FR 40225) and fee collection 
began on September 8, 2005. Interested persons should review these for 
further program details.
    The Oregon pink shrimp sub-loan of the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Capacity Reduction (Buyback) loan in the amount of $2,228,844.53 has 
now been repaid in full. NMFS has received $3,253,336.34 to repay the 
principal and interest on this sub-loan since fee collection began 
September 8, 2005. Landings in the Oregon pink shrimp fishery increased 
in recent seasons, particularly in the 2011 season, which resulted in 
this sub-loan being repaid on or about May 17, 2012. As a result, 
buyback loan fees will no longer be collected in the Oregon pink shrimp 
fishery.
    Based upon the best available data from the Oregon Department of 
Fish and Wildlife, landings after April 19, 2012, will not be subject 
to the buyback fee. Any funds submitted to NMFS for landings after this 
date will be refunded on a pro-rata basis to the fish buyers/
processors. The fish buyers/processors should return excess fees 
collected to the harvesters, including buyback fees collected but not 
yet remitted to NMFS.

    Dated: May 23, 2012.
Cherish Johnson,
Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12969 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P