[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33871-33872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15387]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF549


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 2017. NMFS 
is accepting applications for these available permits.

DATES: NMFS must receive completed permit applications and payment by 
November 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Request a blank application from the NMFS Pacific Islands 
Regional Office (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, 
or the PIR Web site www.fpir.noaa.gov/Library/SFD/Samoa_LE_App_Fillable_03Jun16.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:
     Ten in Class A (vessels less than or equal to 40 ft in 
overall length);
     One in Class B (over 40 ft to 50 ft); and
     One in Class C (over 50 to 70 ft).

Please note that the number of available permits may change before the 
application period closes.
    NMFS will only consider complete applications, which 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 number of 
available permits for a given permit class, NMFS will prioritize 
applicants using the information in the

[[Page 33872]]

applications and documentation provided by the applicants. If an 
applicant requests NMFS, in writing, to 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 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 November 20, 2017 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 18, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-15387 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P