[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 87022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28900]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF015


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crab Fisheries

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 
Aleutian Island Golden (Brown) King crab (a/k/a WAG and EAG) sub-loan 
in the fishing capacity reduction program for the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crab Fisheries has been repaid. 
Therefore, buyback fee collections on Aleutian Island Golden (Brown) 
King crab will cease for all landings after October 31, 2016.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before 5 p.m. EST December 19, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Send comments about this notice to Paul Marx, Chief, 
Financial Services Division, NMFS, Attn: Aleutian Island Golden (Brown) 
King 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 July 28, 2005, 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 September 16, 2005 (70 FR 54652) and fee collection began on 
October 17, 2005. Interested persons should review these for further 
program details.
    The Aleutian Island Golden (Brown) King crab sub-loan of the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crab Capacity Reduction 
(Buyback) loan in the amount of $6,380,837.19 will be repaid in full 
upon receipt of buyback fees on landings through October 31, 2016. NMFS 
has received $10,004,785.86 to repay the principal and interest on this 
sub-loan since fee collection began October 17, 2005. Based on buyback 
fees received to date, landings after October 31, 2016, will not be 
subject to the buyback fee. Therefore, buyback loan fees will no longer 
be collected in the Aleutian Island Golden (Brown) King crab fishery on 
future landings.
    Buyback fees not yet forwarded to NMFS for Aleutian Island Golden 
(Brown) King crab landings through October 31, 2016, 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 October 31, 2016. 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.

    Dated: November 28, 2016.
Brian Pawlak,
Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28900 Filed 12-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P