52754 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 173 / Thursday, September 7, 2006 / Rules and Regulations 

(13) Section 4147 relating to 

emergency conditions requiring 

immediate response; 

(14) Section 4213 relating to the 

establishment of a working group for the 

development of practices and 

procedures to enhance Federal-State 

relations; 

(15) Section 4214 relating to 

consumer complaint information; 

(16) Section 5503 relating to the motor 

carrier efficiency study; and 

(17) Section 5513(a), under the 

condition of section (m), relating to the 

research grant for a thermal imaging 

inspection system demonstration 

project. 

■ 8. Amend § 1.74 introductory text and 

paragraph (a) to read as follows: 

§ 1.74 Delegations to the Under Secretary 

for Transportation Policy. 

The Under Secretary for 

Transportation Policy is delegated 

authority to: 

(a) Lead the development of 

transportation policy and serve as the 

principal adviser to the Secretary on all 

transportation policy matters. 

* * * * * 

Issued this 24th day of August 2006, at 

Washington, DC. 

Maria Cino, 

Acting Secretary of Transportation. 

[FR Doc. E6–14802 Filed 9–6–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 060216044–6044–01; I.D. 

090106A] 

Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive 

Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species 

Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 

the Gulf of Alaska 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for species that comprise the 

deep-water species fishery by vessels 

using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the 2006 Pacific 

halibut bycatch allowance specified for 

the deep-water species fishery in the 

GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), September 5, 2006, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 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. 

The 2006 Pacific halibut bycatch 

allowance specified for the deep-water 

species fishery in the GOA is 800 metric 

tons as established by the 2006 and 

2007 harvest specifications for 

groundfish of the GOA (71 FR 10870, 

March 3, 2006). 

In accordance with § 679.21(d)(7)(i), 

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS, has determined that the 2006 

Pacific halibut bycatch allowance 

specified for the trawl deep-water 

species fishery in the GOA has been 

reached. Consequently, NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for the 

deep-water species fishery by vessels 

using trawl gear in the GOA. 

The species and species groups that 

comprise the deep-water species fishery 

are all rockfish of the genera Sebastes 

and Sebastolobus, deep-water flatfish, 

rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, and 

sablefish. 

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 closure of the deep-water 

species fishery by vessels using trawl 

gear in 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 31, 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 § 679.21 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: September 1, 2006. 

James P. Burgess, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 06–7491 Filed 9–1–06; 1:10 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 


ycherry on PROD1PC64 with RULES