60566 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 12, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

For 2004, the Winter II quota is 

1,967,825 lb (892,600 kg), and the best 

available landings information indicates 

that 2,249,527 lb (1,020,379 kg) remain 

of the Winter I quota of 5,568,920 lb 

(2,526,046 kg). Consistent with the 

intent of Framework 3, the full amount 

of unused 2004 Winter I quota is 

transferred to Winter II, resulting in a 

revised 2004 Winter II quota of 

4,217,352 lb (1,912,978 kg). In addition 

to the quota transfer, the 2004 Winter II 

possession limit is increased, consistent 

with the rollover specifications 

established in the 2004 final rule (69 FR 

2074), to 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) per trip to 

provide an appropriate opportunity for 

fishing vessels to obtain the increased 

Winter II quota. 

Classification 

This action is required by 50 CFR part 

648 and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866.

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

Dated: October 5, 2004.

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 04–22839 Filed 10–6–04; 2:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 031125292–4061–02; I.D. 

100504B] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 

610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 

action is necessary to prevent exceeding 

the 2004 pollock total allowable catch 

(TAC) for Statistical Area 610 of the 

GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), October 6, 2004, through 

2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 907–586–7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

GOA exclusive economic zone 

according to the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 

Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 

Pacific Fishery Management Council 

under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act. Regulations governing 

fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance 

with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 

CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. 

The 2004 allowance of the pollock 

TAC in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA 

is 22,930 metric tons (mt) as established 

by the final 2004 harvest specifications 

for groundfish of the GOA (69 FR 9261, 

February 27, 2004). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), 

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS, has determined that the 2004 

allowance of the pollock TAC in 

Statistical Area 610 will soon be 

reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 22,850 mt, and is 

setting aside the remaining 80 mt as 

bycatch to support other anticipated 

groundfish fisheries. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 

Administrator finds that this directed 

fishing allowance has been reached. 

Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 

directed fishing for pollock in Statistical 

Area 610 of the GOA. 

After the effective date of this closure 

the maximum retainable amounts at 50 

CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time 

during a trip. 

Classification 

This action responds to the best 

available information recently obtained 

from the fishery. The Assistant 

Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, 

(AA), finds good cause to waive the 

requirement to provide prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment 

pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest. This requirement is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest as it would prevent NMFS from 

responding to the most recent fisheries 

data in a timely fashion and would 

delay the closure of the 2004 pollock 

TAC in Statistical Area 610. 

The AA also finds good cause to 

waive the 30–day delay in the effective 

date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 

553(d)(3). This finding is based upon 

the reasons provided above for waiver of 

prior notice and opportunity for public 

comment. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866.

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

Dated: October 6, 2004. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 04–22840 Filed 10–6–04; 2:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S