[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 62 (Tuesday, March 31, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06455]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 253

[Docket No. 180220192-8192-01]
RIN 0648-BH82


Shipping Act, Merchant Marine, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) Provisions; 
Fishing Vessel, Fishing Facility and Individual Fishing Quota Lending 
Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdraws a 
proposed rule proposing to implement Fisheries Finance Program (FFP) 
financing of the cost of constructing new fishing vessels. NMFS 
published the proposed rule in the Federal Register on November 2, 
2018. After careful consideration, NMFS has decided that the proposed 
changes discussed in the proposed rule are not warranted at this time.

DATES: The proposed rule published on November 2, 2018 (83 FR 55137), 
is withdrawn as of March 31, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine Saiz, NMFS, (301) 427-8752, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2016, Congress passed section 302 of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, which included specific 
authority for the FFP to finance the construction of fishing vessels in 
a fishery that is managed under a limited access system. The proposed 
regulations provided guidance to implement this financing while also 
protecting fish resources.
    NMFS published a proposed rule to implement the financing in the 
Federal Register on November 2, 2018, (83 FR 55137).
    Following public comment and consultations with the President's 
Office of Management and Budget, NMFS again analyzed the effects of the 
proposed rule and decided that the changes covered in the proposed rule 
are not warranted at this time. Therefore, NMFS is withdrawing the 
proposed rule published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2018 (83 
FR 55137).

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 23, 2020.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-06455 Filed 3-30-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P