[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63719-63720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25567]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 902

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 120416007-2464-01]
RIN 0648-BB67


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Monitoring 
and Enforcement Requirements in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Freezer Longline Fleet; Correction

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 63720]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is correcting a final rule that published on September 
26, 2012, modifying equipment and operational requirements for freezer 
longliners (catcher/processors) named on License Limitation Program 
(LLP) licenses endorsed to catch and process Pacific cod at sea with 
hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management 
Area (BSAI). This final rule removes Western Alaska Community 
Development Quota (CDQ) collection-of-information requirements under 
OMB control number 0648-0269 for the alternative fishing plan and its 
public reporting burden per response of 4 hours, because the 
alternative fishing plan regulations are no longer necessary.

DATES: Effective October 17, 2012, and is applicable beginning October 
26, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Need for Correction

    In the final rule modifying equipment and operational requirements 
for freezer longliners published September 26, 2012, NMFS inadvertently 
omitted a paragraph in the classification section that addresses OMB 
Control Number 0648-0269 collection-of-information requirements 
associated with regulations removed by the final rule.
    The final rule removed the regulations at Sec.  679.32(e)(3) that 
allow CDQ groups to propose to NMFS an alternative fishing plan to use 
only one observer where two are required, to sort and weigh catch by 
species on processor vessels, or to use larger sample sizes than those 
that can be collected by one observer. The final rule standardized the 
observer coverage and catch monitoring options for longline catcher/
processors in both the CDQ and non-CDQ fisheries because the monitoring 
and enforcement challenges in these fisheries are similar. Because the 
final rule standardized observer coverage requirements between the CDQ 
and non-CDQ fisheries, the alternative fishing plan regulations were no 
longer necessary. All of the language in the regulatory text and 
preamble text was correct. However, the notice of the removal of the 
collection-of-information requirements under the Office of Management 
and Budget control number 0648-0269 was inadvertently omitted from the 
final rule. This notice corrects that omission.

Correction

    In rule document 2012-23721 published on September 26, 2012, (77 FR 
59053) make the following correction:
    1. On page 59059, in column 1, after heading OMB Control No. 0648-
0213 and following the paragraph, insert the following heading and 
text:

``OMB Control No. 0648-0269

    This final rule removes collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and which have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Control 
Number 0648-0269. The collection-of-information requirement, 
``alternative fishing plan'' and its public reporting burden per 
response of 4 hours, will be removed from the collection because the 
alternative fishing plan regulations are no longer necessary.''

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; 
Pub. L. 108-447; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

    Dated: October 11, 2012.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and 
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25567 Filed 10-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P