[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 57687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23310]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 300, 600, and 679

[Docket No.: 190925-0042]
RIN 0648-BI65


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Authorize 
the Retention of Halibut in Pot Gear in the BSAI; Amendment 118; 
Correction

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments; correction.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is correcting the proposed rule that published on October 
3, 2019, to implement Amendment 118 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI 
FMP) and a regulatory amendment to revise regulations on Vessel 
Monitoring System (VMS) requirements in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The proposed rule incorrectly 
stated the date of publication and the end of the comment period on the 
Notice of Availability, and this action corrects this error.

DATES: The proposed rule published on October 3, 2019 at 84 FR 52852 is 
corrected as of October 25, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Warpinski, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 3, 2019, NMFS published a 
proposed rule to implement Amendment 118 to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 
(BSAI FMP) and a regulatory amendment to revise regulations on Vessel 
Monitoring System (VMS) requirements in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) (84 FR 52852). The proposed 
rule is necessary to improve efficiency and provide economic benefits 
for the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota 
(CDQ) fleets, minimize whale depredation and seabird interactions in 
the IFQ and CDQ fisheries, and reduce the risk of exceeding an 
overfishing limit for any species.

Need for Correction

    The Notice of Availability (NOA) for Amendment 118 to the BSAI FMP 
published on August 21, 2019, with a 60-day comment period through 
October 21, 2019 (84 FR 43570), as required under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1854(a)). The 
proposed rule published on October 3, 2019, with public comment invited 
through November 4, 2019 (84 FR 52852). The proposed rule incorrectly 
identified the date the NOA for Amendment 118 published in the Federal 
Register and the end of the NOA comment period. NMFS is now correcting 
the proposed rule to reflect the correct dates for the NOA. NMFS is not 
changing the publication date or comment period date for the NOA, and 
NMFS provided a 60-day comment period on the NOA for Amendment 118 to 
the BSAI FMP. NMFS is not changing the comment period for the proposed 
rule, and all comments received by November 4, 2019, will be addressed 
in the response to comments in the final rule.

Correction

    In the proposed rule, published October 3, 2019 (84 FR 52852) in 
the third column on page 52853, the paragraph before the Background 
heading is corrected to read as follows:
    A notice of availability (NOA) for Amendment 118 was published in 
the Federal Register on August 21, 2019 (84 FR 43570) with comments 
invited through October 21, 2019. Comments submitted on this proposed 
rule by the end of the comment period (See DATES) will be considered by 
NMFS and addressed in the response to comments in the final rule. 
Comments submitted on this proposed rule may address Amendment 118 or 
this proposed rule. However, all comments addressing Amendment 118 must 
be received by October 21, 2019, to be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on Amendment 118. Commenters do not need to submit 
the same comments on both the NOA and this proposed rule. All relevant 
written comments received by October 21, 2019, whether specifically 
directed to the FMP amendment, this proposed rule, or both, will be 
considered by NMFS in the approval/disapproval decision for Amendment 
118, and all relevant written comments received by November 4, 2019, 
will be addressed in the response to comments in the final rule.

    Dated: October 21, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-23310 Filed 10-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P