61426 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 201 / Wednesday, October 18, 2006 / Rules and Regulations 

Federal Communications Commission. 

John A. Karousos, 

Assistant Chief, Audio Division, Media 

Bureau. 

[FR Doc. E6–17346 Filed 10–17–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 060216045–6045–01; I.D. 

101206F] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher Processor Vessels Using Pot 

Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands Management Area 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher 

processor vessels using pot gear in the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

management area (BSAI). This action is 

necessary to prevent exceeding the 2006 

directed fishing allowance (DFA) of 

Pacific cod specified for catcher 

processor vessels using pot gear in the 

BSAI. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), October 15, 2006, until 

2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2006. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Hogan, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

BSAI according to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Groundfish of the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

Management Area (FMP) prepared by 

the North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council under authority of the 

Magnuson-Stevens 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 cod DFA specified 

for catcher processor vessels using pot 

gear in the BSAI is 2,913 metric tons as 

established by the 2006 and 2007 final 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006) 

and the adjustment on March 14, 2006 

(71 FR 13777, March 17, 2006). 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS, has determined that the 2006 

Pacific cod DFA specified for catcher 

processor vessels using pot gear in the 

BSAI has been reached. Therefore, the 

Regional Administrator is prohibiting 

directed fishing for Pacific cod by 

catcher processor vessels using pot gear 

in the BSAI. 

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 Pacific cod by 

catcher processor vessels using pot gear 

in the BSAI. NMFS was unable to 

publish a notice providing time for 

public comment because the most 

recent, relevant data only became 

available as of October 12, 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 § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: October 12, 2006. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 06–8747 Filed 10–13–06; 2:36 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 


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