41016 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 128 / Monday, July 3, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

this rule was proposed that it would not

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities.

No comments were received regarding

this certification. As a result, a

regulatory flexibility analysis was not

prepared.

The President has directed Federal

agencies to use plain language in their

communications with the public,

including regulations. To comply with

this directive, we seek public comment

on any ambiguity or unnecessary

complexity arising from the language

used in this final rule. Comments

should be sent to the Southeast Regional

Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center

Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Virgin Islands.

Dated: June 27, 2000.

Andrew A. Rosenberg,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended

as follows:

PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE

CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH

ATLANTIC

1. The authority citation for part 622

continues to read as follows:

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

2. In § 622.39, paragraph (c)(1)(iii) is

revised to read as follows:

§ 622.39 Bag and possession limits.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(1) * * *

(iii) Atlantic migratory group Spanish

mackerel—15.

* * * * *

3. In § 622.42, paragraphs (c)(1)(ii)

and (c)(2)(ii) are revised to read as

follows:

§ 622.42 Quotas.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(1) * * *

(ii) Atlantic migratory group. The

quota for the Atlantic migratory group of

king mackerel is 3.71 million lb (1.68

million kg). No more than 0.40 million

lb (0.18 million kg) may be harvested by

purse seines.

* * * * *

(2) * * *

(ii) Atlantic migratory group. The

quota for the Atlantic migratory group of

Spanish mackerel is 3.87 million lb

(1.76 million kg).

* * * * *

4. In § 622.44, paragraph (a)(1)(iii),

paragraphs (b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B), and the

first sentence of paragraph (b)(2) are

revised to read as follows:

§ 622.44 Commercial trip limits.

* * * * *

(a) * * *

(1) * * *

(iii) In the area between 28°47.8′ N.

lat. and 25°20.47′ N. lat., which is a line

directly east from the Miami-Dade/

Monroe County, FL, boundary, king

mackerel in or from the EEZ may not be

possessed on board or landed from a

vessel in a day in amounts exceeding 75

fish from April 1 through October 31.

* * * * *

(b) * * *

(1) * * *

(ii) * * *

(A) From April 1 through November

30, in amounts exceeding 3,500 lb

(1,588 kg).

(B) From December 1 until 75 percent

of the adjusted quota is taken, in

amounts as follows:

(1) Mondays through Fridays—

unlimited.

(2) Saturdays and Sundays—not

exceeding 1,500 lb (680 kg).

* * * * *

(2) For the purpose of paragraph

(b)(1)(ii) of this section, the adjusted

quota is 3.62 million lb (1.64 million

kg). * * *

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 00–16774 Filed 6–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 000229053–0190–02; I.D.

120699A]

RIN 0648–AK96

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico;

Amendment 17

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to

implement Amendment 17 to the

Fishery Management Plan for the Reef

Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

(FMP). Amendment 17 and this final

rule extend the current commercial reef

fish vessel permit moratorium, which is

effective through December 31, 2000, for

5 years through December 31, 2005. The

purpose of the moratorium is to provide

a stable environment in the fishery

necessary for evaluation and

development of a more comprehensive

controlled access system for the entire

commercial reef fish fishery.

DATES: This rule is effective August 2,

2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Barnette, 727–570–5305; fax:

727–570–5583; e-mail:

Michael.Barnette@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The reef

fish fishery is managed under the FMP

as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico

Fishery Management Council (Council)

and approved and implemented by

NMFS, under the authority of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act

(Magnuson-Stevens Act), by regulations

at 50 CFR part 622.

On December 17, 1999, NMFS

announced the availability of

Amendment 17 and requested

comments on the amendment (64 FR

70678). NMFS approved Amendment 17

on March 16, 2000, and published a

proposed rule to implement the 5-year

extension of the current commercial reef

fish vessel permit moratorium, which

would otherwise expire on January 1,

2001, in Amendment 17 and requested

comments on it (65 FR 14518, March 17,

2000). The background and rationale for

the measure in the amendment and

proposed rule are contained in the

preamble to the proposed rule and are

not repeated here.

Comments and Responses

One comment from the Department of

the Interior (DOI) was received on

Amendment 17. The DOI requested an

extension of the comment period due to

the inability to respond with comments

in the allotted time. However, the 60-

day comment period for the amendment

is set by section 304 of the MagnusonStevens Act and cannot be extended.

No comments were received on the

proposed rule.

Classification

The Administrator, Southeast Region,

NMFS, determined that Amendment 17

is necessary for the conservation and

management of the reef fish fishery and

that it is consistent with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 128 / Monday, July 3, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 41017

This final rule has been determined to

be not significant for purposes of E.O.

12866.

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of

the Department of Commerce certified

to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the

Small Business Administration when

this rule was proposed that it would not

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities.

No comments were received regarding

this certification. As a result, a

regulatory flexibility analysis was not

prepared.

The President has directed Federal

agencies to use plain language in their

communications with the public,

including regulations. To comply with

this directive, we seek public comment

on any ambiguity or unnecessary

complexity arising from the language

used in this final rule. Comments

should be sent to the Southeast Regional

Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center

Drive N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622

Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Virgin Islands.

Dated: June 27, 2000.

Andrew A. Rosenberg,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, 50 CFR part 622 is amended

as follows:

PART 622—FISHERIES OF THE

CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH

ATLANTIC

1. The authority citation for part 622

continues to read as follows:

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

2. In § 622.4, paragraph (m)

introductory text is revised to read as

follows:

§ 622.4 Permits and fees.

* * * * *

(m) Moratorium on commercial vessel

permits for Gulf reef fish. The

provisions of this paragraph (m) are

applicable through December 31, 2005.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 00–16771 Filed 6–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 000119014–0137–02; I.D. No.

112399C]

RIN 0648–AM48

Fisheries of the Northeastern United

States; Summer Flounder, Scup, and

Black Sea Bass Fisheries; 2000

Specifications; Correction

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Correction.

SUMMARY: This document contains

corrections to the DATES section of the

2000 specifications that was published

on May 24, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Regina L. Spallone, Fisheries Policy

Analyst, (978) 281–9221.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In the final rule implementing the

2000 annual specifications for summer

flounder, scup, and black sea bass, the

regulations were inadvertently made

effective for the same time frame as the

quotas (i.e., for the calendar year). The

regulations were meant to remain

effective until revised. This correction

clarifies that the regulations are final,

not temporary, regulations.

Correction

In FR Doc. 00–12993, published in the

Federal Register issue of May 24, 2000,

on page 33486, in column 2, correct the

DATES caption to read as follows:

DATES: Effective 0001 hours, May 24,

2000, except that the quotas identified

in the preamble are effective 0001

hours, May 24, 2000, through 2400

hours, December 31, 2000.

Classification

This action is required by 50 CFR part

648 and is exempt from review under

E.O. 12866.

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

Dated: June 27, 2000.

Andrew A. Rosenberg,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–16772 Filed 6–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F