33780 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

727–570–5312, fax 727–570–5517, email Chuck.Oravetz@noaa.gov), or

Barbara A. Schroeder, (ph. 301–713–

1401, fax 301–713–0376, e-mail

Barbara.Schroeder@noaa.gov).

For assistance in modifying TED

escape openings to exclude leatherback

sea turtles, fishermen may contact gear

specialists at the NMFS, Pascagoula, MS

laboratory by phone (228) 762–4591 or

fax (228) 769–8699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Prohibitions to taking sea turtles are

governed by regulations implementing

the Endangered Species Act at 50 CFR

parts 222 and 223. The incidental take

of turtles during shrimp fishing in the

Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the

southeastern United States and in the

Gulf of Mexico is excepted from the

taking prohibition pursuant to sea turtle

conservation regulations at 50 CFR

223.206, which include a requirement

that shrimp trawlers have a NMFSapproved TED installed in each net

rigged for fishing. The use of TEDs

significantly reduces mortality of

loggerhead, green, Kemp’s ridley, and

hawksbill sea turtles. Because

leatherback turtles are larger than the

escape openings of most NMFSapproved TEDs, use of these TEDs is not

an effective means of protecting

leatherback turtles.

Through a final rule (60 FR 47713

September 14, 1995), NMFS established

regulations to provide protection for

leatherback turtles when they occur in

locally high densities during their

annual, spring northward migration

along the Atlantic seaboard. Within the

Leatherback Conservation Zone, NMFS

may close an area for 2 weeks when

leatherback sightings exceed 10 animals

per 50 nm (92.6 km) during repeated

aerial surveys pursuant to

§ 223.206(d)(2)(iv)(A) through (C).

An aerial survey conducted on May

12, 2000, along the South Carolina coast

documented 14 leatherback turtles over

a total survey trackline of approximately

39.7 nm (73.6 km). The survey trackline

was flown in a northeasterly direction

commencing approximately 1 nm (1.9

km) offshore of Bull’s Island (32°55′ N.

lat., 080°39′ W. long.) and terminating

approximately 1 nm (1.9 km) off of

Winyah Bay (33°13′ N. lat., 080°11′ W.

long.). A replicate survey conducted on

May 16, 2000 sighted 12 leatherbacks in

46 nm (85.2 km) of trackline. This

survey was flown in a northeasterly

direction commencing approximately 1

nm (1.9 km) offshore of Isle of Palms

(32°46′ N. lat., 080°46′ W. long.) and

terminating approximately 1 nm (1.9

km) offshore of North Island (33°15′ N.

lat., 080°11′ W. long.). Fishing effort

appeared heavy at the time of the

survey. One hundred and sixteen

vessels (77 underway shrimp trawlers)

were observed during the survey of the

South Carolina coast.

The Assistant Administrator for

Fisheries, NOAA (AA), has determined

that all inshore waters and offshore

waters within 10 nm (18.5 km) seaward

of the COLREGS demarcation line,

bounded by 32° N. lat. and 34° N. lat.,

within the Leatherback Conservation

Zone are closed to fishing by shrimp

trawlers required to have a TED

installed in each net that is rigged for

fishing, unless the TED installed has an

escape opening large enough to exclude

leatherback turtles, meeting the

specifications at 50 CFR

223.207(a)(7)(ii)(B) or

223.207(c)(1)(iv)(B). These regulations

specify modifications that can be made

to either single-grid hard TEDs or Parker

soft TEDs to allow leatherbacks to

escape.

The regulations at 50 CFR

223.206(d)(2)(iv) also state that

fishermen operating in the closed area

with TEDs modified to exclude

leatherback turtles must notify the

NMFS Southeast Regional

Administrator of their intentions to fish

in the closed area. This aspect of the

regulations does not have a current

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) control number, issued pursuant

to the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Consequently, fishermen are not

required to notify the Regional

Administrator prior to fishing in the

closed area, but they must still meet the

gear requirements.

Classification

This action has been determined to be

not significant for purposes of Executive

Order 12866.

The AA is taking this action in

accordance with the requirements of 50

CFR 223.206(d)(2)(iv) to provide

protection for endangered leatherback

sea turtles from incidental capture and

drowning in shrimp trawls. Leatherback

sea turtles are occurring in high

concentrations in coastal waters in

shrimp fishery statistical zones 32 and

33. This action allows shrimp fishing to

continue in the affected area and

informs fishermen of the gear changes

that they can make to protect

leatherback sea turtles.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the AA

finds that there is good cause to waive

prior notice and opportunity to

comment on this action. It would be

contrary to the public interest to provide

prior notice and opportunity for

comment because providing notice and

comment would prevent the agency

from implementing the necessary action

in a timely manner to protect the

endangered leatherback. Notice and

opportunity to comment on the

leatherback closure procedures was

provided through the rulemaking

establishing the closure procedures (60

FR 25663, May 12, 1995).

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the AA

finds that there is good cause not to

delay the effective date of this rule for

30 days. It would be contrary to the

public interest to delay this action

because such delay would prevent the

agency from implementing the

necessary action in a timely manner to

protect the endangered leatherback.

Accordingly, the AA is making the rule

effective May 19, 2000 through June 2,

2000. This closure has been announced

on the NOAA weather channel, in

newspapers, and other media. Shrimp

trawlers may also call (727) 570–5312

for updated area closure information. As

prior notice and an opportunity for

public comment are not required to be

provided for this notification by 5

U.S.C. 553, or by any other law, the

analytical requirements of 5 U.S.C. 601

et. seq., are inapplicable.

The AA prepared an Environmental

Assessment (EA) for the final rule

requiring TED use in shrimp trawls and

the regulatory framework for the

Leatherback Conservation Zone (60 FR

47713, September 14, 1995). Copies of

the EA are available (see ADDRESSES).

Dated: May 19, 2000.

Penelope D. Dalton,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–13092 Filed 5–19–00; 4:55 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991108298–0145–02; I.D.

092199C]

RIN 0648–AL88

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic

Zone Off Alaska; At-Sea Scales;

Community Development Quota

Program

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: NMFS issues a final rule to

amend portions of the regulations

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 33781

implementing the equipment and

operational requirements in the

Community Development Quota (CDQ)

fisheries for catch weight measurement,

observer sampling stations, and observer

transmission of data. After the first year

of requiring scales and observer

sampling stations on specified vessels

participating in the CDQ fisheries,

NMFS has identified aspects of the

requirements that need further

refinement and correction for effective

implementation. This action is intended

to effect those refinements.

DATES: Effective June 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Regulatory

Impact Review/Final Regulatory

Flexibility Analysis (RIR/FRFA)

prepared for this action may be obtained

from the Sustainable Fisheries Division,

Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668,

Juneau, AK 99802–1668, Attn: Lori

Gravel, or by calling the Alaska Region,

NMFS, at 907–586–7228. A copy of the

September 9, 1997, environmental

assessment prepared for the

Multispecies Community Development

Quota (MS CDQ) Program can be

obtained from the same address.

Comments involving the reporting

burden estimates or any other aspects of

the collection of information

requirements contained in this final rule

should be sent to both Lori Gravel, at

the above address, and to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB), Washington, D.C. 20503 (ATTN:

NOAA Desk Officer). Comments sent by

e-mail or the Internet will not be

accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alan Kinsolving, 907–586–7228 or

alan.kinsolving@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

NMFS manages Fishing for

groundfish by U.S. vessels in the

exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of

Alaska and the Bering Sea and Aleutian

Islands Management Area according to

the Fishery Management Plan for

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the

Fishery Management Plan for the

Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea

and Aleutian Islands Area (FMPs). The

North Pacific Fishery Management

Council (Council) prepared the FMPs

under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens

Act). Regulations implementing the

FMPs at 50 CFR part 679 and subpart H

of 50 CFR part 600 govern fishing by

U.S. vessels. Equipment and operational

requirements for catch weight

measurement appear at 50 CFR 679.28

and equipment and operational

requirements for transmission of

observer data appear at 50 CFR 679.50.

This final rule makes numerous minor

revisions to §§ 679.28 and 679.32.

NMFS published a proposed rule to

implement these revisions in the

Federal Register on December 2, 1999

(64 FR 67555). The preamble to the

proposed rule contains a full

description of the revisions and their

justification, which is not repeated here.

The proposed rule also provided the

public with a 30-day review and

comment period. NMFS received no

comments on the proposed rule.

Although some editorial changes were

made to the regulatory text in this final

rule, no substantive changes were made

from the proposed regulatory text.

Though this action results in some

substantive regulatory revisions, most

changes are technical edits needed to

clarify existing regulations. The

substantive changes that alter existing

regulations will:

1. Explicitly allow NMFS staff to

inspect and approve scales for use atsea;

2. Allow the use of scale approval

stickers or seals in lieu of maintaining

a scale inspection report on board the

vessel;

3. Relax the annual certification

requirements for the test weights that

must accompany an approved observer

platform scale;

4. Allow scale manufacturers to use a

computer-generated check number

instead of a physical seal to protect

adjustable scale components from

fraudulent tampering;

5. Relax the requirements for the daily

printout of haul information for a vessel

that must weigh all catch;

6. Modify the requirements for

visibility of the display on a total-catch

weighing scale;

7. Require operators of trawl catcher/

processors to ensure that no removal of

fish can take place between the bin and

observer sampling station without the

removal being visible to the observer;

8. Define ‘‘tally area’’ and ‘‘collection

point’’ for longline catcher/processors

and specify requirements for their

dimensions, location, and construction;

9. Define the phrase ‘‘clear and

unobstructed passage,’’ as used in the

current regulations;

10. Make the minimum work space

requirements for the observer sampling

station more flexible by giving a

minimum area criterion in lieu of

specific minimum station length and

width requirements;

11. Require that observer sampling

station scales be mounted with the

platform (i.e., the weighing surface) no

more than 0.7 meter above the floor;

12. Require that trawl catcher/

processors provide at least 1 meter of

belt space downstream from the totalcatch weighing scale for the observer’s

use when processing samples; and

13. Require that catcher/processors

and motherships obtain, install, and

maintain NMFS-provided data-entry

software if participating in CDQ

fisheries.

Compliance Guide for Small Entities

The Small Business Regulatory

Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

requires that NMFS prepare a

compliance guide that explains how

small entities must comply with the

regulations implemented in this final

rule. This action revises the

requirements for observer sampling

stations, at-sea scales, and transmission

of observer data. This action affects all

small entities that are required to install

and maintain NMFS-approved scales or

observer sampling stations. Affected

entities must comply with the

regulations concerning at-sea scales and

observer sampling stations at § 679.28

and the regulations concerning the

transmission of observer data in the

CDQ program at § 679.32.

Because this rule makes changes to

the at-sea scales and observer sampling

station programs, it is possible that a

sampling station or scale that was

acceptable when inspected in 1999 will

not be acceptable now. NMFS

recommends that small entities required

to provide NMFS-approved scales or

observer sampling stations contact Alan

Kinsolving (see ADDRESSES) prior to

their next required scale or observer

sampling station inspection to ensure

that necessary modifications are made.

Classification

The Administrator, Alaska Region,

NMFS (Regional Administrator),

determined that this final rule is

necessary for the conservation and

management of the groundfish fisheries

off Alaska.

Notwithstanding any other provision

of the law, no person is required to

respond to, nor shall any person be

subject to a penalty for failure to comply

with, a collection of information subject

to the requirements of the Paperwork

Reduction Act (PRA), unless that

collection of information displays a

currently valid OMB control number.

This final rule contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the

PRA that have been approved by OMB.

The OMB control numbers and

estimated response times for these

requirements are: the submission of

33782 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

scale inspection reports is approved

under 0648–0330 at 15 minutes per

response; the retention of scale weight

reports is approved under 0648–0330 at

3 minutes per response; the inspection

of an observer sampling station is

approved under 0648–0269 at 2 hours

per response; and the electronic

transmittal of observer data is approved

under 0648–0307 at 10 minutes per

response.

The estimates of response times given

here include the time for reviewing

instructions, searching existing data

sources, gathering and maintaining the

data needed, and completing and

reviewing the collection of information.

Send comments regarding this burden

estimate or any other aspect of this

collection of information, including

suggestions for reducing this burden, to

NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and to OMB (see

ADDRESSES).

NMFS prepared an FRFA for this final

rule that describes the impact this

action will have on small entities. A

copy of this analysis is available from

NMFS. No comments were received on

the initial regulatory flexibility analysis

prepared for this action. The Summary

and Conclusions section of the FRFA

states:

This action revises and clarifies the

equipment and technical requirements for atsea scales, observer sampling stations, and

observer transmission of data by making

numerous, minor revisions to the regulations

implementing these programs. The action is

necessary to ensure NMFS’ ability to

effectively manage these programs; to

improve the clarity and consistency of the

implementing regulations; and to reduce

unnecessary regulatory burdens. It is being

promulgated under the authority of the

Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action will

directly affect the 13 freezer longliners

currently equipped with scales or observer

sampling stations that may be small entities.

The ownership characteristics of vessels that

would be impacted by this action have not

been analyzed to determine if they are

independently owned and operated or

affiliated with a larger parent company. This

action will impose no new reporting or

recordkeeping requirements nor will it

duplicate, overlap, or conflict with existing

Federal rules. NMFS estimates that this

action will cost the owners of directly

affected freezer longliners less than $8,500

distributed among the 13 vessels and in no

case cost any one vessel more than $1,700.

This represents less than .06 percent of the

average per-vessel gross revenues for the

affected vessels. In addition to the preferred

alternative, the analysis considered two other

alternatives: a ‘‘no action’’ alternative that

would not revise the existing regulations; and

a ‘‘partial implementation’’ alternative that

would implement some of the proposed

revisions. These alternatives were rejected

because they would fail to make the changes

necessary for successful management of these

programs. NMFS cannot quantify measures to

minimize economic impacts on small entities

with this type of rulemaking, which is being

implemented to ensure that the NMFScertified observer on board a vessel is able to

collect data in a reliable and unbiased

manner within a safe working environment.

However, the preferred alternatives selected

were crafted to minimize costs to the

industry and still achieve safety goals.

A copy of the RIR/FRFA can be

obtained from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

This rule has been determined to be

not significant for purposes of E.O.

12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and

reporting requirements.

Dated: May 19, 2000.

Penelope D. Dalton,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is amended

as follows:

PART 679—FISHERIES OF THE

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF

ALASKA

1. The authority citation for part 679

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et

seq. and 3631 et seq.

2. In § 679.28, the section heading is

revised; introductory text to paragraphs

(b)(2)(iii), (b)(3), (b)(3)(ii)(B), (b)(5), and

(d)(8), is revised; and paragraphs

(b)(2)(vii), (b)(3)(ii)(A), (b)(5)(i), (b)(6),

(d)(2), (d)(3), (d)(5) through (d)(7), and

(d)(8)(i)(G) are revised to read as

follows:

§ 679.28 Equipment and operational

requirements.

* * * * *

(b) * * *

(2) * * *

(iii) Who may perform scale

inspections? Scales must be inspected

by either a NMFS staff scale inspector

or a scale inspector employed by a

weights and measures agency

designated by NMFS to perform scale

inspections on its behalf. A list of

authorized scale inspectors is available

from the Regional Administrator upon

request. Scale inspections are paid for

by NMFS.

* * * * *

(vii) Scale inspection report. (A) A

scale is approved for use when the scale

inspector completes and signs a scale

inspection report verifying that the scale

meets all of the requirements specified

in this paragraph (b)(2) and appendix A

to this part.

(B) The scale inspector must provide

the original inspection report to the

vessel owner and a copy to NMFS.

(C) The vessel owner must either:

(1) Maintain a copy of the report on

board when use of the scale is required

and make the report available to the

observer, NMFS personnel, or an

authorized officer, upon request, or;

(2) Display a valid NMFS-sticker on

each approved scale.

(D) When in use, an approved scale

must also meet the requirements

described in paragraphs (b)(3) through

(b)(6) of this section.

(3) At-sea scale tests. To verify that

the scale meets the MPEs specified in

this paragraph (b)(3), the vessel operator

must test each scale or scale system

used to weigh total catch one time

during each 24-hour period when use of

the scale is required. The vessel owner

must ensure that these tests are

performed in an accurate and timely

manner.

* * * * *

(ii) * * * (A) The MPE for platform

and hanging scales is plus or minus 0.5

percent of the known weight of the test

material.

(B) Test weights. Each test weight

must have its weight stamped on or

otherwise permanently affixed to it. The

weight of each test weight must be

annually certified by a National Institute

of Standards and Technology approved

metrology laboratory or approved for

continued use by the NMFS authorized

inspector at the time of the annual scale

inspection. The amount of test weights

that must be provided by the vessel

owner is specified in paragraphs

(b)(3)(ii)(B)(1) and (b)(3)(ii)(B)(2) of this

section.

* * * * *

(5) Printed reports from the scale (not

applicable to observer sampling scales).

The vessel owner must ensure that the

printed reports are provided as required

by this paragraph. Printed reports from

the scale must be maintained on board

the vessel until the end of the year

during which the reports were made

and be made available to observers,

NMFS personnel, or an authorized

officer. In addition, printed reports must

be retained by the vessel owner for 3

years after the end of the year during

which the printouts were made.

(i) Reports of catch weight and

cumulative weight. Reports must be

printed at least once every 24 hours

when use of the scale is required.

Reports must also be printed before any

information stored in the scale

computer memory is replaced. Scale

weights must not be adjusted by the

scale operator to account for the

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 33783

perceived weight of water, mud, debris,

or other materials. Scale printouts must

show:

(A) The vessel name and Federal

fisheries or processor permit number;

(B) The haul or set number as

recorded in the processor’s DCPL (see

§ 679.5);

(C) The total weight of the haul or set;

(D) The total cumulative weight of all

fish or other material weighed on the

scale.

* * * * *

(6) Scale installation requirements.

The scale display must be readable from

where the observer collects unsorted

catch.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(2) Location—(i) Motherships and

catcher/processors or catcher vessels

using trawl gear. The observer sampling

station must be located within 4 m of

the location from which the observer

collects unsorted catch. Clear,

unobstructed passage must be provided

between the observer sampling station

and the location where the observer

collects unsorted catch. When standing

where unsorted catch is sampled, the

observer must be able to see that no fish

have been removed between the bin and

the scale used to weigh total catch.

(ii) Vessels using nontrawl gear. The

observer sampling station must be

located within 5 m of the collection

area, described at § 679.28(d)(7)(ii)(B),

unless any location within this distance

is unsafe for the observer. Clear,

unobstructed passage must be provided

between the observer sampling station

and the collection area. Access must be

provided to the tally station, described

at § 679.28(d)(7)(ii)(A). NMFS may

approve an alternative location if the

vessel owner submits a written proposal

describing the alternative location and

the reasons why a location within 5 m

of where fish are brought on board the

vessel is unsafe, and the proposed

observer sampling station meets all

other applicable requirements of this

section.

(iii) What is clear, unobstructed

passage? Where clear and unobstructed

passage is required, passageways must

be at least 65 cm wide at their narrowest

point, be free of tripping hazards, and be

at least 1.8 m high. Doorways or

companionways must be free of

obstacles.

(3) Minimum work space. The

observer must have a working area for

sampling of at least 4.5 square meters.

This working area includes the

observer’s sampling table. The observer

must be able to stand upright and have

a work area at least 0.9 m deep in the

area in front of the table and scale.

* * * * *

(5) Observer sampling scale. The

observer sampling station must include

a NMFS-approved platform scale with a

capacity of at least 50 kg located within

1 m of the observer’s sampling table.

The scale must be mounted so that the

weighing surface is no more than 0.7 m

above the floor. The scale must be

approved by NMFS under paragraph (b)

of this section and must meet the

maximum permissible error requirement

specified in paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) of

this section when tested by the observer.

(6) Other requirements. The sampling

station must include flooring that

prevents slipping and drains well

(grating or other material where

appropriate), adequate lighting, and a

hose that supplies fresh or sea water to

the observer.

(7) Requirements for sampling catch—

(i) Motherships and catcher/processors

using trawl gear. The conveyor belt

conveying unsorted catch must have a

removable board to allow fish to be

diverted from the belt directly into the

observer’s sampling baskets. The

diverter board must be located

downstream of the scale used to weigh

total catch so that the observer can use

this scale to weigh large samples. At

least 1 m of accessible belt space,

located downstream of the scale used to

weigh total catch, must be available for

the observer’s use when sampling a

haul.

(ii) Catcher/processors using nontrawl gear. In addition to the sampling

station, vessels using non-trawl gear

must provide: (A) Tally station. A place

where the observer can see the gear as

it leaves the water and can count and

identify fish. It must be within 5 m of

where fish are brought aboard the vessel

and in a location where the observer is

not in danger of falling overboard or

being injured during gear retrieval.

Where exposed to wind or seas, it must

be equipped with a railing at least 1.0

m high, grating or other non-slip

material, and adequate lighting.

(B) Collection area. A collection area

is a place where the observer, or vessel

crew under the observer’s guidance,

collects fish as they come off the line or

are removed from pots. It must be

located where the observer can see the

gear when it leaves the water. Where

exposed to wind or seas, it must be

equipped with a railing at least 1.0 m

high and grating or other non-slip

material.

(8) Inspection of the observer

sampling station. Each observer

sampling station must be inspected and

approved by NMFS prior to its use for

the first time and then one time each

year within 12 months of the date of the

most recent inspection with the

following exceptions: If the observer

sampling station is moved or if the

space or equipment available to the

observer is reduced or removed when

use of the observer sampling station is

required, the observer sampling station

inspection report issued under this

section is no longer valid, and the

observer sampling station must be

reinspected and approved by NMFS.

Inspection of the observer sampling

station is in addition to inspection of

the at-sea scales by an authorized scale

inspector required at paragraph (b)(2) of

this section.

(i) * * *

(G) For catcher/processors using trawl

gear and motherships, a diagram drawn

to scale showing the location(s) where

all catch will be weighed, the location

where observers will sample unsorted

catch, and the location of the observer

sampling station as described at

paragraph (d) of this section.

* * * * *

3. In § 679.32, paragraphs (c)(4)(iii)

and (c)(4)(iv) are redesignated as

paragraphs (c)(4)(iv) and (c)(4)(v)

respectively, and a new paragraph

(c)(4)(iii) is added to read as follows:

§ 679.32 Groundfish and halibut CDQ

catch monitoring.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(4) * * *

(iii) Obtain the data entry software

provided by the Regional Administrator

(‘‘ATLAS software’’) for use by the

observer and ensure that observer data

can be transmitted from the vessel to

NMFS at any time while the vessel is

receiving, catching or processing CDQ

species.

* * * * *

4. In appendix A to part 679, in

section 2.3.1.8, paragraphs (a)(iv) and

(a)(v), in section 3.3.1.7, paragraphs

(a)(iv) and (a)(v), and in section 4.3.1.5,

paragraph (iv) are removed; in section

2.3.1.8, paragraphs (a)(vi) through

(a)(viii) are redesignated as paragraphs

(a)(iv) through (a)(vi) respectively; in

section 3.3.1.7, paragraphs (a)(vi)

through (a)(viii) are redesignated as

paragraphs (a)(iv) through (a)(vi)

respectively; in section 4.3.1.5,

paragraph (a)(v) is redesignated as

paragraph (a)(iv); and the definition of

‘‘security seals or means’’ in section 5.0

is revised to read as follows:

33784 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 102 / Thursday, May 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

APPENDIX A TO PART

679lPERFORMANCE AND

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR

SCALES USED TO WEIGH CATCH AT

SEA IN THE GROUNDFISH FISHERIES

OFF ALASKA

* * * * *

5. Definitions

* * * * *

Security seals or means—A physical

seal such as a lead and wire seal that

must be broken in order to change the

operating or performance characteristics

of the scale, or a number generated by

the scale whenever a change is made to

an adjustable component. The number

must be sequential and it must not be

possible for the scale operator to alter it.

The number must be displayed

whenever the scale is turned on.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 00–13185 Filed 5–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F