[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 130 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44251-44257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15912]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No.: 160225146-6146-01]
RIN 0648-BF80


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Observer 
Coverage Requirements for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management 
Area Trawl Catcher Vessels

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is proposing regulations to modify observer coverage 
requirements for catcher vessels participating in the trawl limited 
access fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). If approved, this proposed rule would allow the owner of a 
trawl catcher vessel to request, on an annual basis, that NMFS place 
the vessel in the full observer coverage category for all directed 
fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in the BSAI in the following 
calendar year. This action is necessary to relieve vessel owners who 
request full observer coverage of the reporting requirements and 
observer fee liability associated with the partial observer coverage 
category. In addition, this proposed rule makes minor technical 
corrections to observer program regulations. This proposed rule is 
intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP), and other applicable laws.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-

[[Page 44252]]

NMFS-2016-0020, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0020, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Regulatory Impact Review/Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (Analysis) and the Categorical 
Exclusion prepared for this action are available from http://www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
rule may be submitted to NMFS at the above address; by email to 
[email protected]; or by fax to 202-395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia M Miller, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for Action

    NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries of the BSAI under the BSAI 
FMP. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared 
the BSAI FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801, et 
seq.). Regulations implementing the BSAI FMP appear at 50 CFR part 679.
    This proposed rule is consistent with Section 3.2.4.1 of the BSAI 
FMP. Section 3.2.4.1 requires observer coverage for trawl catcher 
vessels in the BSAI groundfish fisheries and describes which vessels 
and processors are in the full observer coverage category and which are 
in the partial observer coverage category. Section 3.2.4.1 also 
authorizes that exceptions to these classifications may be implemented 
through regulations. The Council recommended and NMFS concurs that this 
proposed rule would authorize an exception to allow the owner of a 
trawl catcher vessel in the partial observer coverage category to 
request placement in the full observer coverage category, and that this 
exception could be implemented through a regulatory amendment without 
the need to amend the BSAI FMP.

Background

    If approved, this proposed rule would amend North Pacific 
Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program (Observer Program) regulations 
to allow the owner of a trawl catcher vessel to request, on an annual 
basis, that NMFS place the vessel in the full observer coverage 
category for all directed fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in 
the BSAI in the following calendar year. This proposed rule would 
relieve trawl catcher vessel owners who request full observer coverage 
of the observer fee liability and reporting requirements associated 
with the partial observer coverage category. This proposed rule would 
establish a regulatory process to allow a trawl catcher vessel owner, 
on an annual basis, to request that NMFS place the vessel in the full 
observer coverage category for all directed fishing for groundfish 
using trawl gear in the BSAI in the following calendar year. This 
proposed rule is intended to provide flexibility to the owner of a 
trawl catcher vessel by allowing a vessel owner to request, on an 
annual basis, placement in the full observer coverage category; doing 
so would provide additional observer data. Implementation of this 
proposed rule would benefit the owners and operators of trawl catcher 
vessels that participate in the BSAI limited access fisheries while 
continuing to allow NMFS to collect the data necessary to conserve and 
manage the BSAI groundfish fisheries.
    The following sections describe (1) the Observer Program, (2) the 
need for the proposed action, and (3) this proposed rule.

The Observer Program

    Regulations implementing the Observer Program require observer 
coverage on fishing vessels and at processing plants to allow NMFS-
certified observers (observers) to obtain information necessary for the 
conservation and management of the BSAI and Gulf of Alaska groundfish 
and halibut fisheries. Observers collect biological samples and 
fishery-dependent information on total catch and fishing vessel 
interactions with protected species. Managers use data collected by 
observers to monitor quotas, manage groundfish catch and bycatch, and 
document and reduce fishery interactions with protected resources. 
Scientists use observer-collected data for stock assessments and marine 
ecosystem research.
    The Observer Program was implemented in 1990 (55 FR 4839, February 
12, 1990). In 2013, NMFS restructured the funding and deployment 
systems of the Observer Program (77 FR 70062, November 21, 2012). Under 
the restructured Observer Program, all vessels and processors in the 
groundfish and halibut fisheries off Alaska are placed into one of two 
categories: (1) The full observer coverage category, where vessels and 
processors obtain observer coverage by contracting directly with 
observer providers; and (2) the partial observer coverage category, 
where NMFS has the flexibility to deploy observers when and where they 
are needed, as described in the annual deployment plan that is 
developed by NMFS in consultation with the Council. As explained below, 
the deployment of observers in the partial observer coverage category 
is funded through a fee.
    NMFS funds observer deployment in the partial observer coverage 
category by assessing a 1.25 percent fee on the ex-vessel value of 
retained groundfish and halibut from vessels that are not in the full 
observer coverage category. This observer fee is based on the total ex-
vessel value of landed catch and calculated using a standardized price 
from the prior year's landings. NMFS intends that the fee be split 
equally between the processor receiving landed catch and the vessel 
harvesting the catch. The processor collects the vessel owner's portion 
of the observer fee and submits full payment to NMFS after the end of 
the year. More information about the observer fee for the partial 
observer coverage category is provided in the most recent annual notice 
of the standard ex-vessel prices for the observer fee (80 FR 77606; 
December 15, 2015), and in the final rule implementing the restructured 
observer program (77 FR 70062, November 21, 2012).
    When the Observer Program was restructured, the Council and NMFS 
decided, based on data needs and costs, which vessels and processors to 
place in the full and partial observer coverage categories. Regulations 
implementing

[[Page 44253]]

the restructured observer program in 2013 placed all trawl catcher 
vessels in the full observer coverage category when participating in a 
catch share program with transferable prohibited species catch (PSC) 
limits (77 FR 70062, November 21, 2012). For trawl catcher vessels in 
the BSAI, the catch share programs with transferable PSC limits are the 
American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock fisheries in the Bering Sea and 
the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groundfish 
fisheries. All other trawl catcher vessels subject to observer coverage 
requirements in the BSAI are in the partial observer coverage category 
and participate in the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries.
    Throughout this proposed rule, the trawl fisheries in the BSAI that 
are not part of a catch share program mentioned in the previous 
paragraph are referred to collectively as ``the BSAI trawl limited 
access fisheries''. Vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited 
access fisheries primarily target Pacific cod or yellowfin sole. NMFS 
does not allocate transferable PSC limits to trawl catcher vessels in 
the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries; therefore, trawl catcher 
vessels are placed in the partial observer coverage category when 
participating in these fisheries. The BSAI trawl limited access 
fisheries are managed with halibut and crab PSC limits that apply to 
the directed fishery as a whole or to operational category and gear 
type. Section 3.5 in the Analysis provides additional information about 
the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries, the Observer Program, and 
observer coverage categories.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The Council initiated this proposed action in response to comments 
on the proposed rule to restructure the Observer Program (77 FR 23326, 
April 18, 2012), and testimony to the Council. As detailed in the final 
rule for the restructured program, (77 FR 70062, November 21, 2012), 
some participants in the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries commented 
that their catcher vessels needed full (100 percent) observer coverage 
while directed fishing for Pacific cod. Full observer coverage, 
according to the participants, was necessary to comply with private 
contractual arrangements contained in their voluntary AFA agreements to 
manage halibut PSC at the vessel and cooperative level. Specifically, 
trawl catcher vessel owners expressed concern that if their vessels 
were placed in the partial observer coverage category and not randomly 
selected for observer coverage, a vessel owner would have to use 
halibut PSC rates extrapolated from other observed vessels for its 
halibut PSC accounting within the cooperative. Some vessel owners 
wanted the option to carry an observer on all fishing trips (i.e., full 
observer coverage) so that observer data from the vessel could be used 
to provide vessel-specific halibut PSC accounting.
    Participants in the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries also 
testified that allowing trawl catcher vessels to continue to carry an 
observer on all trips, as they had prior to Observer Program 
restructuring in 2013, would allow them to shift seamlessly between the 
AFA pollock trawl fishery where full observer coverage is required and 
other fisheries such as the BSAI Pacific cod limited access trawl 
fishery where only partial observer coverage is required. Participants 
in the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries testified that under the 
full observer coverage category requirements, a trawl catcher vessel 
owner could contract with the same observer provider in both the AFA 
pollock trawl and other BSAI trawl limited access fisheries. This 
operational efficiency would allow vessel owners and operators to 
coordinate with a single observer provider when moving between the AFA 
pollock fishery and the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries.
    In a response to these comments on the restructured program, NMFS 
stated that neither the Council's motion nor the proposed rule for 
restructuring the Observer Program addressed an allowance for voluntary 
participation in the full observer coverage category (77 FR 70062, 
November 21, 2012). Therefore, this type of change could not be made in 
the final rule for the Observer Program restructuring. NMFS described 
that further analysis and a subsequent rulemaking would be needed to 
revise regulations to authorize vessel owners to request placement in 
the full observer coverage category and to relieve these vessel owners 
and associated processors from the observer fee liability for landings 
by trawl catcher vessels in the partial observer coverage category. 
NMFS highlighted the need to analyze the placement of vessels in a 
particular coverage category not only in terms of the economic impacts 
on a vessel owner, but also in terms of impacts on the fee base for the 
partial observer coverage category.
    Since 2013, and with the concurrence of the Council, NMFS has 
allowed the owner of a BSAI trawl catcher vessels to request, on an 
annual basis, full observer coverage by submitting a letter of request 
to NMFS. Under this interim policy, a vessel owner could request, by 
December 1, to have a trawl catcher vessel comply with full observer 
coverage requirements in the following calendar year. Vessel owners 
then contract with a full coverage observer provider for all directed 
fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in the BSAI in the following 
year.
    By regulation, catcher vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 
limited access fisheries are in the partial observer coverage category, 
and those landings are subject to the partial observer coverage fee 
liability as well as the requirement to log fishing trips in the 
Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS). ODDS is the internet-based 
communication platform that NMFS uses to receive information about 
fishing plans by vessels in the partial observer coverage category and 
to notify vessel owners if a fishing trip has been randomly selected 
for observer coverage. The owner and operator of a catcher vessel 
placed in the full observer coverage category are not required to log 
fishing trips in ODDS.
    Under the interim policy, the owner of a trawl catcher vessel 
complies with full observer coverage requirements, but is not placed in 
the full observer coverage category by regulation and therefore, is 
required to comply with the partial observer coverage category 
reporting requirements and associated observer fee liability. This 
results in duplicative observer coverage costs and additional reporting 
requirements for those vessel owners that requested full observer 
coverage under the interim policy.
    In February 2016, the Council unanimously recommended that NMFS 
revise regulations to allow the owner of a BSAI trawl catcher vessel in 
the partial observer coverage category to request, on an annual basis, 
that NMFS place the catcher vessel in the full observer coverage 
category for all directed fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in 
the BSAI for the following year. Any trawl catcher vessel that NMFS did 
not place in the full observer coverage category would remain in the 
partial observer coverage category under existing regulations at 
Sec. Sec.  679.50 and 679.51. Once NMFS notifies a catcher vessel owner 
that the catcher vessel has been placed in the full observer coverage 
category, the catcher vessel operator would then be subject to full 
observer coverage requirements described at Sec.  679.51(a)(2) for all 
directed fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in the BSAI in the 
following year.
    The rationale for the two major provisions of the proposed rule 
follows below. Alternatives, options, and

[[Page 44254]]

suboptions considered but not selected by the Council are explained in 
more detail in the ``Classification'' section of this preamble.

1. Annual Request for Full Observer Coverage

    This proposed rule would allow the owner of a trawl catcher vessel 
to annually request full observer coverage in lieu of partial observer 
coverage for directed fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in the 
BSAI in the following year. This closely aligns with the interim 
policy, in place since 2013, under which NMFS allows the owner of a 
BSAI trawl catcher vessel to annually request full observer coverage 
for all directed fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in the BSAI in 
the following year. This proposed rule would establish a regulatory 
process to allow the owner of a trawl catcher vessel to submit a 
request for full observer coverage to NMFS by October 15 of the year 
prior to the year in which the catcher vessel would be placed in the 
full observer coverage category. NMFS would then place the vessel in 
the full observer coverage category for all directed fishing for 
groundfish using trawl gear in the following year. This annual request 
is consistent with the Council's and NMFS' previous decision to require 
full observer coverage on catcher vessels only in fisheries with 
transferable PSC limits. The owner of a trawl catcher vessel could 
request the appropriate observer coverage category that would meet 
their private contractual agreements.
    This proposed rule would not restrict which trawl catcher vessel 
owners could request full observer coverage, allowing the owner of any 
trawl catcher vessel to request full observer coverage for all directed 
fishing for groundfish using trawl gear in the BSAI in the following 
year. The Council considered restricting the option to AFA trawl 
catcher vessels because those are the vessels that have, thus far, 
requested full observer coverage under the interim policy. However, the 
Analysis did not identify any reason to restrict which BSAI trawl 
catcher vessel owners may request to increase their observer coverage 
requirements (see Section 3.7.3 and Section 3.7.4 of the Analysis for 
additional detail).
    Section 3.7 of the Analysis describes the potential impact of the 
proposed rule on the costs of observer coverage, fee receipts, and 
observer deployment rates in the partial observer coverage category if 
NMFS approves trawl catcher vessel owners' requests and places the 
vessels in the full observer coverage category. Section 3.7 of the 
Analysis describes that this proposed rule could result in some cost 
savings and reduced administrative burden for trawl catcher vessel 
owners and operators, some slightly reduced fee receipts for the 
partial observer coverage category, and some potential for a limited 
decrease in observer deployment rates in the partial observer coverage 
category relative to current management. Observer deployment for 
vessels and processors in the partial observer coverage category will 
continue to be analyzed and evaluated in the Observer Program annual 
deployment plan and the Observer Program Annual Report.
    This proposed rule would not alter existing observer coverage 
requirements for trawl catcher vessels delivering unsorted codends to a 
mothership in the BSAI. A trawl catcher vessel delivering unsorted 
codends to a mothership is not required to carry an observer because 
the catch is not brought onboard the catcher vessel, but is sorted 
aboard the mothership with full observer coverage.

2. Annual Deadline

    This proposed rule would establish an annual deadline of October 15 
for a trawl catcher vessel owner to request placement in the full 
observer coverage category for the following year. This deadline is 
earlier than the current deadline of December 1 under the interim 
policy. The October 15 deadline is necessary to balance the need to 
improve information available to analysts during the final preparations 
of the partial observer coverage annual deployment plan with the need 
to allow vessel owners the time to make business decisions for the 
following year. The October 15 deadline also provides full coverage 
observer providers adequate time to coordinate observer availability 
for the following year. Sections 3.6 and 3.7.1.2 of the Analysis 
provide additional detail on the rationale for the October 15 deadline 
and describe alternative deadlines that were considered but not 
proposed.

This Proposed Rule

    This proposed rule would revise regulations at 50 CFR part 679 to 
establish a process to allow the owner of a trawl catcher vessel to 
request, on an annual basis, that NMFS place the vessel in the full 
observer coverage category for all directed fishing for groundfish 
using trawl gear in the BSAI in the following calendar year. This 
proposed rule would add a paragraph at Sec.  679.51(a)(2)(i)(C)(4) 
describing a new vessel type under the list of catcher vessels in the 
full observer coverage category to allow this annual request for 
placement in the full observer coverage category for one year. This 
proposed rule adds a new paragraph at Sec.  679.51(a)(4) to describe 
the requirements for this annual process.
    The owner of a trawl catcher vessel that requests full observer 
coverage in lieu of partial observer coverage for all directed fishing 
for groundfish in the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries in the 
following year would submit a request to NMFS using ODDS, which is 
described at Sec.  679.51(a)(1)(ii). Once a request is received, NMFS 
would consider the request and would notify the vessel owner whether 
the request has been approved or denied. This notification would occur 
through ODDS. Once NMFS has notified the vessel owner that a request to 
be placed in the full observer coverage category for the following year 
has been approved, the owner and operator of the trawl catcher vessel 
would be subject to full observer coverage requirements as described at 
Sec.  679.51(a)(2) for all directed fishing for groundfish using trawl 
gear in the BSAI in the following year. Once approved by NMFS for 
placement in the full observer coverage category, a trawl catcher 
vessel could not be placed in the partial observer coverage category 
until the next year. Until NMFS provides notification of approval, a 
catcher vessel would remain in the partial observer coverage category 
as described at Sec.  679.51(a)(1)(i).
    The owner of a trawl catcher vessel placed in the full observer 
coverage category would contract directly with a permitted full 
coverage observer provider to procure observer services as described at 
Sec.  679.51(d). The owner of a trawl catcher vessel in the full 
observer coverage category would not be required to log fishing trips 
in ODDS under Sec.  679.51(a)(1), and landings made by a vessel in the 
full observer coverage category would not be subject to the 1.25 
percent partial observer coverage fee under Sec.  679.55.
    This proposed rule would establish an annual deadline of October 15 
for a trawl catcher vessel owner to request that a trawl catcher vessel 
operating in the BSAI be placed in the full observer coverage category 
for the following year as described in proposed regulations at Sec.  
679.51(a)(4)(iii). A vessel owner would be required to submit a request 
for full observer coverage by the October 15 annual deadline. NMFS 
would approve all requests that contained the information required by 
ODDS and were submitted on or before October 15. If NMFS disapproves a 
request to place a catcher vessel in the full observer coverage 
category, the catcher vessel would remain in the partial observer

[[Page 44255]]

coverage category as described at Sec.  679.51(a)(1)(i).
    The proposed rule specifies at proposed Sec.  679.51(a)(4)(v) that 
if NMFS denies a request for placement in the full observer coverage 
category, NMFS would issue an Initial Administrative Determination, 
which would explain in writing the reasons for the denial. Under 
proposed Sec.  679.51(a)(3)(vi), the vessel owner could appeal a denial 
to the National Appeals Office according to the procedures in 15 CFR 
part 906.
    This proposed rule would make minor technical corrections to 
Observer Program regulations. This proposed rule would correct 
inaccurate cross references in Sec. Sec.  679.84 and 679.93 to observer 
coverage requirements in Sec.  679.51. This proposed rule would also 
standardize references to the observer sampling station and the 
Observer Sampling Manual throughout part 679, and update check-in/
check-out report submission methods by removing a discontinued email 
address in Sec.  679.5.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) and 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed 
rule is consistent with the BSAI FMP, other provisions of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further consideration 
after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was prepared, as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The 
IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, 
would have on small entities. A further description of the action, why 
it is being considered, and the legal basis for this action are 
explained earlier in the preamble to this proposed rule. A copy of the 
IRFA is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the analysis 
follows.
    This proposed rule would directly regulate the owners of trawl 
catcher vessels that participate in the BSAI groundfish limited access 
fisheries. The Small Business Administration has established size 
standards for all major industry sectors in the United States.
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.
    This proposed rule would provide the owners of BSAI trawl catcher 
vessels that currently are placed in the partial observer coverage 
category the opportunity for placement in the full observer coverage 
category. One-hundred catcher vessels used trawl gear in the BSAI in 
2014. NMFS estimates that 13 of these trawl catcher vessels would be 
directly regulated small entities. The owners of three of these catcher 
vessels requested to be placed in the full observer coverage category 
for all their BSAI groundfish fishing during at least one year from 
2013 through 2015.
    This proposed rule proposes one new reporting requirement and 
eliminates one reporting requirement for a vessel owner who requests 
placement of their vessel in the full observer coverage category for a 
year. Any trawl catcher vessel owner who requests placement of their 
trawl catcher vessel in the full observer coverage category would be 
required to submit a request to NMFS. This request would be a new 
reporting requirement, and would only apply to those catcher vessel 
owners who request placement of their vessel in the full observer 
coverage category. The reporting requirement to log fishing trips in 
ODDS does not apply to vessels in the full observer coverage category; 
therefore, this proposed rule would remove a reporting requirement for 
these directly regulated small entities to log fishing trips in ODDS.
    The RFA requires identification of any significant alternatives to 
this proposed rule that accomplish the stated objectives, consistent 
with applicable statutes, and that would minimize any significant 
economic impact of this proposed rule on small entities. As noted in 
the IRFA, this proposed rule is expected to create a net benefit for 
the directly regulated small entities because it offers trawl catcher 
vessel owners an opportunity to change their observer coverage 
category. The benefits of this proposed rule to trawl catcher vessel 
owners are expected to outweigh the costs of paying for an observer to 
be on board the vessel during all groundfish fishing in the BSAI, and 
the cost of the annual request to NMFS. If the benefits to a catcher 
vessel owner do not outweigh the costs, a catcher vessel owner can 
choose not to request that their vessel be placed in the full observer 
coverage category, and so would not be impacted by this proposed rule.
    The Council considered the status quo (Alternative 1), and two 
action alternatives (Alternative 2 and Alternative 3). Alternative 3 
included one option and three suboptions. The preferred alternative 
(Alternative 3 with Suboption 3) described in this proposed rule would 
provide the owners of BSAI trawl catcher vessels an option of 
requesting, on an annual basis, placement in the full observer coverage 
category rather than remaining in the partial observer coverage 
category. No new requirements would be imposed under the preferred 
alternative unless the catcher vessel owner requested the full observer 
coverage category. Of the action alternatives analyzed, the preferred 
alternative provides the most flexibility for the owner of a trawl 
catcher vessel to request full observer coverage in lieu of partial 
observer coverage.
    Alternative 1 (status quo) would have continued to offer catcher 
vessel owners the option of carrying full observer coverage under the 
interim policy, but would not remove the requirement in regulations for 
continued payment of the partial observer coverage fee in addition to 
the cost of full observer coverage. Alternative 2 is more restrictive 
than the preferred alternative because it would have permanently placed 
AFA trawl catcher vessels in the full observer coverage category rather 
than offering the vessel owners an option to request full observer 
coverage on an annual basis. Alternative 3 Option 1 would have allowed 
only the owners of AFA trawl catcher vessels to request placement in 
the full observer coverage category, rather than providing the 
opportunity to the owners of all BSAI trawl catcher vessels. 
Alternative 3 Suboption 1 would have established an earlier deadline to 
submit the request for full observer coverage than under the preferred 
alternative. Directly regulated small entities opposed the earlier 
deadline because they wanted more time to make business decisions about 
observer coverage in the following year. Alternative 3 Suboption 2 
would have established a one-time request to be placed in the full 
observer coverage category rather than an annual request as is the case 
under the preferred alternative. In summary, the preferred alternative 
of Alternative 3, Suboption 3 (this proposed rule) offers the widest 
range of options to the widest range of directly regulated small 
entities, as compared to all other alternatives.

[[Page 44256]]

    No relevant Federal rules have been identified that would duplicate 
or overlap with the proposed action.

Collection-of-Information Requirements

    This proposed rule contains a collection-of-information requirement 
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This requirement has 
been submitted to OMB for approval under OMB Control No. 0648-0318. The 
public reporting burden for Request for Full Observer Coverage Category 
is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information.
    Public comment is sought regarding: Whether this proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments on 
these or any other aspects of the collection of information to NMFS at 
the ADDRESSES above, by email to [email protected], or fax to 
(202) 395-5806.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. All currently approved NOAA 
collections of information may be viewed at http://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prasubs.html.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: June 28, 2016.
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 679 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 679 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; 
Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 111-281.

0
2. In Sec.  679.51:
0
a. Revise paragraphs (a)(2)(i)(C)(2) and (3); and
0
b. Add paragraphs (a)(2)(i)(C)(4) and (a)(4).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  679.51  Observer requirements for vessels and plants.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (C) * * *
    (2) Using trawl gear or hook-and-line gear while groundfish CDQ 
fishing (see Sec.  679.2), except for catcher vessels less than or 
equal to 46 ft LOA using hook-and-line gear while groundfish CDQ 
fishing under Sec.  679.32(c)(3)(iii);
    (3) Participating in the Rockfish Program; or
    (4) Using trawl gear in the BSAI if the vessel has been placed in 
the full observer coverage category under paragraph (a)(4) of this 
section.
* * * * *
    (4) BSAI trawl catcher vessel placement in the full observer 
coverage category for one year--(i) Applicability. The owner of a 
catcher vessel in the partial observer coverage category under 
paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section may request to be placed in the 
full observer coverage category for all directed fishing for groundfish 
using trawl gear in the BSAI for a calendar year.
    (ii) How to request full observer coverage for one year. A trawl 
catcher vessel owner must complete a full observer coverage request and 
submit it to NMFS using ODDS. ODDS is described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) 
of this section.
    (iii) Deadline. A full observer coverage request must be submitted 
by October 15 of the year prior to the calendar year in which the 
catcher vessel would be placed in the full observer coverage category.
    (iv) Notification. NMFS will notify the vessel owner through ODDS 
of approval or denial to place a trawl catcher vessel in the full 
observer coverage category. Unless otherwise specified in paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section, a trawl catcher vessel remains in the partial 
observer coverage category under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section 
until a request to place a trawl catcher vessel in the full observer 
coverage category has been approved by NMFS. Once placement in the full 
observer coverage category is approved by NMFS, a trawl catcher vessel 
cannot be placed in the partial observer coverage category until the 
following year.
    (v) Initial Administrative Determination (IAD). If NMFS denies a 
request to place a trawl catcher vessel in the full observer coverage 
category, NMFS will provide an IAD, which will explain the basis for 
the denial.
    (vi) Appeal. If the owner of a trawl catcher vessel wishes to 
appeal NMFS' denial of a request to place a trawl catcher vessel in the 
full observer coverage category, the owner may appeal the determination 
under the appeals procedure set out at 15 CFR part 906.
* * * * *


Sec. Sec.  679.5, 679.21, 679.28, 679.52, 679.53, 679.84, and 
679.93  [Amended]

0
3. At each of the locations shown in the ``Location'' column, remove 
the phrase indicated in the ``Remove'' column and add in its place the 
phrase indicated in the ``Add'' column.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Location                    Remove                Add
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   679.5(h)(1)..............  , or by e-mail to   .
                                   [email protected]
                                   ..
Sec.   679.21(c)(2)(i)(D).......  observer sample     observer sampling
                                   station.            station
Sec.   679.28(d)(9)(ii).........  observer sample     observer sampling
                                   station.            station
Sec.   679.52(b)(1)(iii)(B)(2)..  observer manual...  Observer Sampling
                                                       Manual
Sec.   679.52(b)(2)(i)..........  Observer Manual...  Observer Sampling
                                                       Manual
Sec.   679.52(b)(11)(x)(A)(4)...  observer manual...  Observer Sampling
                                                       Manual
Sec.   679.53(b)(2)(i)..........  Observer Manual...  Observer Sampling
                                                       Manual
Sec.   679.84(c)(3).............  Sec.                Sec.
                                   679.50(c)(7)(i).    679.51(a)(2)
Sec.   679.84(e)................  Sec.                Sec.
                                   679.50(c)(7)(ii).   679.51(a)(2)
Sec.   679.84(f)(1).............  Sec.                Sec.
                                   679.50(c)(7)(ii).   679.51(a)(2)

[[Page 44257]]

 
Sec.   679.84(f)(2).............  Sec.                Sec.
                                   679.50(c)(7)(ii).   679.51(a)(2)
Sec.   679.93(c)(3).............  Sec.                Sec.
                                   679.50(c)(6).       679.51(a)(2)
Sec.   679.93(c)(6).............  observer sample     observer sampling
                                   station.            station
Sec.   679.93(d)(2).............  Sec.                Sec.
                                   679.50(c)(6)(ii).   679.51(a)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2016-15912 Filed 7-6-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P