52500 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 6, 2006 / Rules and Regulations 

calendar day. The directed fishery will 

reopen effective 0001 hours, October 1, 

2006, when the Quarter IV quota 

becomes available. 

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: August 29, 2006. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 06–7427 Filed 8–30–06; 3:25 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 060216044–6044–01; I.D. 

082906D] 

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: Temporary rule; modification of 

a closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 

610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 72 

hours. This action is necessary to fully 

use the C season allowance of the 2006 

total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock 

specified for Statistical Area 610 of the 

GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), August 31, 2006, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 3, 2006. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Hogan, 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. 

NMFS closed the directed fishery for 

pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the 

GOA under § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on August 

28, 2006 (71 FR 51532, August 30, 

2006). 

NMFS has determined that 

approximately 6,500 mt of pollock 

remain in the directed fishing 

allowance. Therefore, in accordance 

with § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and 

(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the C 

season allowance of the 2006 TAC of 

pollock in Statistical Area 610, NMFS is 

terminating the previous closure and is 

reopening directed fishing for pollock in 

Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. In 

accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the 

Regional Administrator finds that this 

directed fishing allowance will be 

reached after 72 hours. Consequently, 

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 

pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the 

GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 

September 3, 2006. After the effective 

date of this closure, the maximum 

retainable amounts at § 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 opening of pollock in 

Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. NMFS 

was unable to publish a notice 

providing time for public comment 

because the most recent, relevant data 

only became available as of August 28, 

2006. 

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 § 679.25 

and § 679.20 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: August 30, 2006. 

James P. Burgess, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 06–7425 Filed 8–30–06; 3:25 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 060216044–6044–01; I.D. 

082906C] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of 

a closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 

620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 72 

hours. This action is necessary to fully 

use the C season allowance of the 2006 

total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock 

specified for Statistical Area 620 of the 

GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), August 31, 2006, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 3, 2006. 

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. 

NMFS closed the directed fishery for 

pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the 

GOA under § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on August 

28, 2006, it will publish August 31, 

2006. 

NMFS has determined that 

approximately 2,900 mt of pollock 

remain in the directed fishing 

allowance. Therefore, in accordance 

with § 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and 

(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the C 

season allowance of the 2006 TAC of 

pollock in Statistical Area 620, NMFS is 

terminating the previous closure and is 

reopening directed fishing for pollock in 

Statistical Area 620 of the GOA. In 

accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the 

Regional Administrator finds that this 

directed fishing allowance will be 

reached after 72 hours. Consequently, 

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 

pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the 


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