[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4884-4885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01724]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD724


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 coastal Dungeness crab sub-loan in the fishing capacity 
reduction program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery has been 
repaid. Therefore, buyback fee collections on Oregon coastal Dungeness 
crab will cease for all landings after December 31, 2014.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before 5 p.m. EST February 13, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Send comments about this notice to Paul Marx, Chief, 
Financial Services Division, NMFS, Attn: Oregon Coastal Dungeness Crab 
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 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 coastal Dungeness crab sub-loan of the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Capacity Reduction (Buyback) loan in the amount of 
$1,367,545.28 will be repaid in full upon receipt of buyback fees on 
landings through December 31, 2014. NMFS has received $2,117,701.75 to 
repay the principal and interest on this sub-loan since fee collection 
began September 8, 2005. Based on buyback fees received to date, 
landings after December 31, 2014 will not be subject to the buyback 
fee. Therefore, buyback loan fees will no longer be collected in the 
Oregon coastal Dungeness crab fishery on future landings.
    Buyback fees not yet forwarded to NMFS for Oregon coastal Dungeness 
crab landings through December 31, 2014 should be forwarded to NMFS 
immediately. Any overpayment of buyback fees submitted to NMFS will be 
refunded on a pro-rata basis to the fish buyers/processors based upon 
best available fish ticket landings data. The fish buyers/processors 
should return excess buyback fees collected to the harvesters, 
including buyback fees collected but not yet remitted to NMFS for 
landings after December 31, 2014. Any discrepancies in fees owed and 
fees paid must be resolved immediately. After the sub-loan is closed, 
no further adjustments to fees paid and fees received can be made.


[[Page 4885]]


    Dated: January 23, 2015.
Basil Brown,
Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-01724 Filed 1-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P