[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8810-8811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02055]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 902

50 CFR Parts 300 and 679

[Docket No. 151001910-6999-02]
RIN 0648-BF42


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Allow the 
Use of Longline Pot Gear in the Gulf of Alaska Sablefish Individual 
Fishing Quota Fishery; Amendment 101

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

ACTION: Stay of final rule.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from 
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled 
``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' published in the Federal Register 
on January 24, 2017 (the Memorandum), this action stays the final rule 
NMFS published on December 28, 2016, in order to delay its effective 
date.

DATES: Effective January 31, 2017, the final rule amending 15 CFR part 
902 and 50 CFR parts 300 and 679 that published on December 28, 2016, 
at 81 FR 95435, is stayed to March 12, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Baker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 28, 2016, NMFS published this 
final rule to implement Amendment 101 to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP) for the sablefish 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This final rule authorizes the use of longline pot gear in the GOA 
sablefish IFQ fishery. In addition, this final rule establishes 
management measures to minimize potential conflicts between hook-and-
line and longline pot gear used in the sablefish IFQ fisheries in the 
GOA. This final rule also includes regulations developed under the 
Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act) to authorize harvest 
of halibut IFQ caught incidentally in longline pot gear used in the GOA 
sablefish IFQ fishery. This final rule is necessary to improve 
efficiency and provide economic benefits for the sablefish IFQ fleet 
and minimize potential fishery interactions with whales and seabirds. 
This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Halibut 
Act, the GOA FMP, and other applicable laws.
    On January 20, 2017, the White House issued a memo instructing 
Federal agencies to temporarily postpone the effective date for 60 days 
after January 20, 2017, of any regulations or guidance documents that 
have published in the Federal Register but not yet taken effect, for 
the purpose of ``reviewing questions of fact, law, and policy they 
raise.'' Because its effective date has already passed, we are enacting 
this stay of the rule published on December 28, 2016, at 81 FR 95435 
(see DATES above) until March 12, 2017.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Part 902

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

50 CFR Part 300

    Administrative practice and procedure, Antarctica, Canada, Exports, 
Fish, Fisheries, Fishing, Imports, Indians, Labeling, Marine resources, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Russian Federation, 
Transportation, Treaties, Wildlife.

50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: January 26, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS amends 15 CFR part 
902, and 50 CFR parts 300 and 679 as follows:

Title 15--Commerce and Foreign Trade

PART 902--NOAA INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE 
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT: OMB CONTROL NUMBERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 902 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.


Sec.  902.1  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec.  902.1, in the table in paragraph (b), under the entry ``50 
CFR'', entries

[[Page 8811]]

for ``679.24(a)'', ``679.42(a) through (j)'', and ``679.24'', 
``679.42(b), (k)(2), and (l)'' are stayed until March 12, 2017.

Title 50--Wildlife and Fisheries

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

Subpart E--Pacific Halibut Fisheries

0
3. The authority citation for part 300, subpart E, continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.


Sec.  300.61  [Amended]

0
4. In Sec.  300.61, the definitions of ``Fishing'' and ``IFQ halibut'' 
are stayed until March 12, 2017.

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

0
5. The authority citation for 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.


Sec.  679.2  [Amended]

0
6. In Sec.  679.2, the definition of ``Authorized fishing gear,'' 
paragraphs (4)(i), (iii), and (iv), and the definition of ``IFQ 
halibut'' are stayed until March 12, 2017.


Sec.  679.5   [Amended]

0
7. In Sec.  679.5, paragraph (a)(4)(i), the note to the table at 
paragraph (c)(1)(vi)(B), paragraphs (c)(2)(iii)(A), (c)(3)(i)(B), 
(c)(3)(ii)(A)(1), (c)(3)(ii)(B)(1), (c)(3)(iv)(A)(2), (c)(3)(iv)(B)(2), 
(c)(3)(v)(G), (l)(1)(iii)(F) and (G), and (l)(1)(iii)(H) and (I) are 
stayed until March 12, 2017.


Sec.  679.7  [Amended]

0
8. In Sec.  679.7, paragraphs (a)(6) introductory text, (a)(6)(i), 
(a)(13) introductory text, (a)(13)(ii) introductory text, (a)(13)(iv), 
and (f)(17) through (25) are stayed until March 12, 2017.


Sec.  679.20  [Amended]

0
9. In Sec.  679.20, paragraph (a)(4)(i), the paragraph (a)(4)(ii) 
heading, and paragraph (a)(4)(ii)(A) are stayed until March 12, 2017.


Sec.  679.23  [Amended]

0
10. In Sec.  679.23, paragraph (g)(2) is stayed until March 12, 2017.


Sec.  679.24  [Amended]

0
11. In Sec.  679.24, paragraphs (a)(3), (b)(1)(iii), (c)(2)(i)(A) and 
(B), and (c)(3) are stayed until March 12, 2017.


Sec.  679.42  [Amended]

0
12. In Sec.  679.42, paragraphs (b)(1) and (2), (k)(1) and (2), and 
paragraph (l) are stayed until March 12, 2017.


Sec.  679.51  [Amended]

0
13. In Sec.  679.51, paragraphs (a)(1)(i) introductory text and 
(a)(1)(i)(B) are stayed until March 12, 2017.

Table 15 to Part 679--[Amended]

0
14. In Table 15 to part 679, entries for ``Pot'', ``Authorized gear for 
sablefish harvested from any GOA reporting area'', and ``Authorized 
gear for halibut harvested from any IFQ regulatory area'', and 
``Authorized gear for halibut harvested from any IFQ regulatory area in 
the BSAI'' are stayed until March 12, 2017.

[FR Doc. 2017-02055 Filed 1-30-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P