[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 150 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 46565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19102]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE029


Pacific Islands Pelagic Fisheries; American Samoa Longline 
Limited Entry Program

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

ACTION: Notice; availability of permits.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that 12 American Samoa pelagic longline limited 
entry permits in three vessel size classes are available for 2015. NMFS 
is accepting applications for these available permits.

DATES: NMFS must receive completed permit applications and payment by 
December 3, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Request a blank application form from the NMFS Pacific 
Islands Regional Office (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 
96818, or the PIR Web site http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/Library/SFD/Samoa_LE_App_Fillable_02Feb15.pdf. Mail your completed application and 
payment to: ASLE Permits, NOAA NMFS PIR, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, 
Honolulu, HI 96818.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Ikehara, Sustainable Fisheries, 
NMFS PIR, tel 808-725-5175, fax 808-725-5215, or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR 665.816 allow 
NMFS to issue new permits for the American Samoa pelagic longline 
limited entry program if the number of permits in a size class falls 
below the maximum allowed. At least 12 permits are available for 
issuance, as follows:
     Nine in Class A (vessels less than or equal to 40 ft in 
overall length);
     Two in Class B (over 40 ft to 50 ft); and
     One in Class D (over 70 ft).

Please note that the number of available permits may change before the 
application period closes.
    Each application must be complete for NMFS to consider it. An 
application must include the completed and signed application form, 
evidence of documented participation in the fishery, and non-refundable 
payment for the application-processing fee.
    If NMFS receives more completed applications than the available 
permits for a given permit class, NMFS will prioritize applicants using 
only the information in the applications and documentation provided by 
the applicants. If an applicant requests NMFS, in writing, that NMFS 
use NMFS longline logbook data as evidence of documented participation, 
the applicant must specify the qualifying vessel, official number, and 
month and year of the logbook records. NMFS will not conduct an 
unlimited search for records.
    Applicants with the earliest documented participation in the 
fishery on a Class A sized vessel will receive the highest priorities 
for obtaining permits in any size class, followed by applicants with 
the earliest documented participation in Classes B, C, and D, in that 
order. In the event of a tie in the priority ranking between two or 
more applicants, NMFS will rank higher in priority the applicant whose 
second documented participation is earlier. Detailed criteria for 
prioritization of eligible applicants are in the regulations at 50 CFR 
665.816(g).
    NMFS must receive applications by December 3, 2015 to be considered 
for a permit (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will not accept applications 
received after that date.

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

    Dated: July 30, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19102 Filed 8-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P