[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27196-27198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10937]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 130808694-4378-03]
RIN 0648-BD37


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Commercial Groundfish Fishery 
Management Measures; Rockfish Conservation Area Boundaries for Vessels 
Using Bottom Trawl Gear; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: This action contains coordinate corrections to the Rockfish

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Conservation Area (RCA) boundary regulations that published in the 
Federal Register on April 17, 2014. This document corrects 2014 
groundfish bottom trawl Rockfish Conservation Area boundary coordinates 
described in table 1 (North) that were inadvertently misreported in 
Rockfish Conservation Area Boundaries for Vessels Using Bottom Trawl 
Gear final rule.

DATES: This correcting amendment is effective May 13, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Brady, 206-526-6117; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The 2013-2014 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures rule 
established the 2013-2014 harvest specifications and management 
measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off 
the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California consistent with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP) (78 FR 580, 
January 3, 2013). Since 2002 NMFS has used large-scale, depth-based 
closures to reduce catch of overfished groundfish, while still allowing 
the harvest of healthy stocks to the extent possible. RCAs are gear 
specific closures, and apply to vessels that take and retain groundfish 
species. Regarding RCA coordinates, there was an error in the 2014 
Limited Entry Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Landing Allowances 
table 1 (North) coordinates published in the Federal Register (79 FR 
21639). Three intended references to 45[deg]46' N. lat. as published in 
lines 2, 3, and 4 of table 1 (North) were not correctly specified. As 
published, Line 2 incorrectly specified 45[deg]16' N. lat., instead of 
the correct reference, 45[deg]46' N. lat.; and lines 3 and 4 
incorrectly specified 45[deg]10' N. lat., instead of the correct 
reference, 45[deg]46' N. lat. As published, line 3 described the 
shoreward line, and line 4 described the seaward lines. This rule will 
delete line 4 and describe the range of shoreward and seaward boundary 
lines within line 3, consistent with the format of the rest of the 
table. This action is to correct the 2014 Limited Entry Trawl Rockfish 
Conservation Areas and Landing Allowances Table 1 (North) to part 660, 
subpart D as published, in order to properly reflect the trip limit 
table coordinates as intended by the Agency in the Trawl RCA final rule 
(79 FR 21639).

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator (AA) for Fisheries, NOAA, finds that 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C.553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice 
and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
This notice corrects coordinates in the 2014 Limited Entry Trawl 
Rockfish Conservation Areas and Landing Allowances Table 1 (North) to 
part 660, subpart D that were inadvertently misreported in the Rockfish 
Conservation Area Boundaries for Vessels Using Bottom Trawl Gear final 
rule. This correction must be implemented in a timely manner to avoid 
confusion to the public likely to be caused by the errors in the table 
and avoid the potential for fishing in an area that was intended to be 
closed for conservation purposes. It would be contrary to the public 
interest to delay implementation of these changes until after public 
notice and comment, because making this regulatory change by May 13, 
2014, corrects the errors and avoids confusion created by the above-
referenced table and the potential for fishing in an area intended to 
be closed for conservation purposes. For the reasons above, the AA 
finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness and makes this rule effective immediately upon 
publication.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian fisheries.

    Dated: May 7, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is 
corrected by making the following correcting amendments:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.


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2. Table 1 (North) to part 660, subpart D, is revised to read as 
follows:
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[FR Doc. 2014-10937 Filed 5-12-14; 8:45 am]
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