Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 8 / Friday, January 12, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 1463 

Flooding source(s) Location of referenced elevation 

*Elevation in feet 

(NGVD) 

+Elevation in feet 

(NAVD) 

# Depth in feet 

above ground 

Modified 

Communities affected 

At Southern point of Vinalhaven Island opposite Carvers Island.+18 

* National Geodetic Vertical Datum. 

# Depth in feet above ground. 

+ North American Vertical Datum. 

ADDRESSES 

Maps are available for inspection at the Town of Vinalhaven, Town Office, West Main, Vinalhaven, Maine 04863. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 

83.100, ‘‘Flood Insurance.’’) 

Dated: January 5, 2007. 

David I. Maurstad, 

Director, Mitigation Division, Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, Department 

of Homeland Security. 

[FR Doc. E7–340 Filed 1–11–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–12–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 060216045–6045–01; I.D. 

010807B] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment 

to the 2007 Aleutian Islands Atka 

Mackerel Total Allowable Catch 

Amounts 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason 

adjustment; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the annual 

total allowable catch amount (TAC) for 

the Central and Western Aleutian 

District Atka mackerel fisheries. This 

action is necessary because NMFS has 

determined these TACs are incorrectly 

specified. This action will ensure the A 

and B season harvests of Central and 

Western Aleutian District Atka mackerel 

do not exceed the appropriate amount 

based on the best available scientific 

information for Atka mackerel in the 

Aleutian Islands subarea. This action is 

consistent with the goals and objectives 

of the Fishery Management Plan for 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and 

Aleutian Islands Management Area 

(FMP). 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), January 12, 2007, through 

2400 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 2007, unless 

otherwise modified or superceded 

through publication of a notification in 

the Federal Register.Comments must be 

received at the following address no 

later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., January 29, 

2007. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue 

Salveson, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: 

Ellen Sebastian. Comments may be 

submitted by: 

• Mail to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 

99802; 

• Hand delivery to the Federal 

Building, 709 West 9th Street, Room 

420A, Juneau, Alaska; 

• FAX to 907–586–7557; 

• E-mail to AIATKAMACKTAC07@noaa.gov and include the 

subject line of the e-mail comment the 

document identifier: AIATKAMACKTAC07 (E-mail comments, with or 

without attachments, are limited to 5 

megabytes); or 

• Webform at the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal: http/ 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions at that site for submitting 

comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) 

according to the FMP prepared by the 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council (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 2007 TAC of Atka mackerel in the 

Central Aleutian District of the BSAI is 

38,000 metric tons (mt) as established 

by the 2006 and 2007 harvest 

specification for groundfish in the BSAI 

(71 FR 19894, March 3, 2006). In 

accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(ii), the 

2007 A and B season allowances of Atka 

mackerel in the Central Aleutian District 

of the BSAI are each 17,575 mt, and the 

2007 A and B season Harvest Limit Area 

(HLA) limits of Atka mackerel in the 

Central Aleutian District of the BSAI are 

each 10,545 mt. 

The 2007 TAC of Atka mackerel in the 

Western Aleutian District of the BSAI is 

17,500 mt as established by the 2006 

and 2007 harvest specification for 

groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 19894, 

March 3, 2006). In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii), the 2007 A and B 

season allowances of Atka mackerel in 

the Western Aleutian District of the 

BSAI are each 8,750 mt, and the 2007 

A and B season Harvest Limit Area 

(HLA) limits of Atka mackerel in the 

Western Aleutian District of the BSAI 

are each 5,250 mt. 

In December 2006, the Council 

recommended a 2007 Atka mackerel 

TAC of 29,600 mt for the Central 

Aleutian District and 9,600 mt for the 

Western Aleutian District. These 

amounts are less than the TACs as 

established by the 2006 and 2007 

harvest specification for groundfish in 

the BSAI (71 FR 19894, March 3, 2006). 

The TACs recommended by the Council 

are based on the Stock Assessment and 

Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE), dated 

November 2006, which NMFS has 

determined is the best available 

scientific information for this fishery. 

Steller sea lions occur in the same 

location as the Aleutian Islands Atka 

mackerel fishery and are listed as 

endangered under the Endangered 

Species Act (ESA). Atka mackerel is a 

principal prey species for Steller sea 

lions in the Aleutian Islands subarea. 

The seasonal apportionment of Atka 

mackerel harvest is necessary to ensure 

the groundfish fisheries are not likely to 

cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse 

modification of critical habitat for 

Steller sea lions. The regulations at 

§ 679.20(a)(ii)(8)(A) require the Atka 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES
1464 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 8 / Friday, January 12, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 

mackerel TAC specified for each 

subarea or district of the BSAI to be 

divided equally, after subtraction of the 

jig gear allocation and reserves, into two 

seasonal allowances corresponding to 

the A and B seasons defined at 

§ 679.23(e)(3). 

In accordance with 

§ 679.25(a)(2)(i)(B), the Administrator, 

Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 

Administrator), has determined that, 

based on the November 2006 SAFE 

report for this fishery, the current 

Central and Western Aleutian District 

Atka mackerel TACs are incorrectly 

specified. Consequently, the Regional 

Administrator is adjusting the 2007 

Atka mackerel TAC to 29,600 mt in the 

Central Aleutian District and 9,600 mt 

in the Western Aleutian District of the 

BSAI. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii) the 2007 A and B 

season apportionments for Atka 

mackerel after deducting the CDQ 

reserve are each adjusted to 13,690 mt 

in the Central Aleutian District and 

4,440 mt in the Western Aleutian 

District of the BSAI. Consequently, the 

2007 A and B season HLA limits are 

each adjusted to 8,214 mt for the Central 

Aleutian District and 2,664 mt for the 

Western Aleutian District of the BSAI. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8), Tables 4, 

12, and 14 of the 2006 and 2007 final 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

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

are revised for the 2007 Atka mackerel 

TACs consistent with this adjustment. 

TABLE 4—2006 AND 2007 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, AND CDQ RESERVE OF THE BSAI 

ATKA MACKEREL TAC1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Subarea and component 2006 TAC 2006 CDQ 

reserve 

2006 CDQ 

reserve HLA 

limit4

2006 ITAC 

2006 Seasonal allowances2

A season3 B season3

Total HLA limit4 Total HLA limit4

Western AI District 15,500 1,163 698 14,338 7,169 4,301 7,169 4,301 

Central AI District 40,000 3,000 1,800 37,000 18,500 11,100 18,500 11,100 

EAI/BS subarea5 7,500 563 n/a 6,938 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jig (1%)6 n/a n/a n/a 69 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Other gear 

(99%) 

n/a n/a n/a 6,868 3,434 n/a 3,434 n/a 

Total 63,000 n/a n/a n/a 29,103 n/a 29,103 n/a 

Western AI District 9,600 720 432 8,880 4,440 2,664 4,440 2,664 

Central AI District 29,600 2,220 1,332 27,380 13,690 8,214 13,690 8,214 

EAI/BS subarea5 7,500 563 n/a 6,938 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jig (1%)6 n/a n/a n/a 69 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Other gear (99%) n/a n/a n/a 6,868 3,434 n/a 3,434 n/a 

Total 46,700 n/a n/a n/a 21,564 10,878 21,564 10,878 

1 Regulations at §§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 2 The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 3 The A season is January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15 and the B season is September 1 to November 1. 4 Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see § 679.2). In 

2006 and 2007, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. 5 Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea. 6 Regulations at § 679.20 (a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea ITAC be allocated 

to jig gear. The amount of this allocation is 1 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. 

TABLE 12—2006 AND 2007 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD

LIMITS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Target species Area 

1995 - 1997 

2006 ITAC 

available to 

trawl C/Ps 

2006 C/P 

sideboard 

limit 

2007 ITAC 

available to 

trawl C/Ps 

2007 C/P 

sideboard 

limit Retained 

catch Total catch 

Ratio of retained catch 

to total 

catch 

Pacific cod trawl BSAI 12,424 48,177 0.258 42,171 10,880 32,171 8,300 

Sablefish trawl BS 8 497 0.016 1,199 19 1,148 18 

AI 0 145 0.000 638 0 582 0 

Atka mackerel Central AI n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

A season1 n/a n/a 0.115 18,500 2,128 13,690 1,574 

HLA limit2 n/a n/a n/a 11,100 1,277 8,214 945 

B season1 n/a n/a 0.115 18,500 2,128 13,690 1,574 

HLA limit2 n/a n/a n/a 11,100 1,277 8,214 945 

Western AI n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

A season1 n/a n/a 0.200 7,169 1,434 4,440 888 

HLA limit2 n/a n/a n/a 4,301 860 2,664 533 

B season1 n/a n/a 0.200 7,169 1,434 4,440 888 

HLA limit2 n/a n/a n/a 4,301 860 2,664 533 

Yellowfin sole BSAI 100,192 435,788 0.230 81,346 18,710 91,495 21,044 

Rock sole BSAI 6,317 169,362 0.037 35,275 1,305 37,400 1,384 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 8 / Friday, January 12, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 1465 

TABLE 12—2006 AND 2007 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD

LIMITS—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Target species Area 

1995 - 1997 

2006 ITAC 

available to 

trawl C/Ps 

2006 C/P 

sideboard 

limit 

2007 ITAC 

available to 

trawl C/Ps 

2007 C/P 

sideboard 

limit Retained 

catch Total catch 

Ratio of retained catch 

to total 

catch 

Greenland turbot BS 121 17,305 0.007 1,607 11 1,543 11 

AI 23 4,987 0.005 723 4 693 3 

Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 76 33,987 0.002 11,050 22 15,300 31 

Flathead sole BSAI 1,925 52,755 0.036 16,575 597 18,700 673 

Alaska plaice BSAI 14 9,438 0.001 6,800 7 12,750 13 

Other flatfish BSAI 3,058 52,298 0.058 2,975 173 4,250 247 

Pacific ocean perch BS 12 4,879 0.002 1,190 2 2,516 5 

Eastern AI 125 6,179 0.020 2,849 57 3,012 60 

Central AI 3 5,698 0.001 2,808 3 2,971 3 

Western AI 54 13,598 0.004 4,703 19 4,969 20 

Northern rockfish BSAI 91 13,040 0.007 4,163 29 4,625 32 

Shortraker rockfish BSAI 50 2,811 0.018 537 10 537 10 

Rougheye rockfish BSAI 50 2,811 0.018 207 4 207 4 

Other rockfish BS 18 621 0.029 426 12 750 22 

AI 22 806 0.027 502 14 502 14 

Squid BSAI 73 3,328 0.022 1,084 24 1,084 24 

Other species BSAI 553 68,672 0.008 24,650 197 22,950 184 

1 The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of 

the annual ITAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District. 2 Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see § 679.2). In 

2006 and 2007, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. 

TABLE 14—2006 AND 2007 BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD LIMITS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Fishery by area/season/ 

processor/gear 

Ratio of 1995- 

1997 AFA CV 

catch to 1995 

1997 TAC 

2006 initial 

TAC 

2006 Catcher 

vessel 

sideboard limits 

2007 initial 

TAC 

2007 Catcher 

vessel 

sideboard limits 

Pacific cod BSAI n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jig gear 0.0000 3,589 0 2,738 0 

Hook-and-line CV n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jan 1 - Jun 10 0.0006 164 0 125 0 

Jun 10 - Dec 31 0.0006 109 0 83 0 

Pot gear CV n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jan 1 - Jun 10 0.0006 8,192 5 6,239 4 

Sept 10 - Dec 31 0.0006 5,461 3 4,159 2 

CV < 60 feet LOA 

using hook-and-line or 

pot gear 

0.0006 1,274 1 970 1 

Trawl gear CV n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jan 20 - Apr 1 0.8609 29,520 25,414 22,520 19,387 

Apr 1 - Jun 10 0.8609 4,217 3,630 3,217 2,770 

Jun 10 - Nov 1 0.8609 8,434 7,261 6,434 5,539 

Sablefish BS trawl gear 0.0906 1,199 109 1,148 104 

AI trawl gear 0.0645 638 41 582 38 

Atka mackerel Eastern AI/BS n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jig gear 0.0031 69 0 69 0 

Other gear n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jan 1 - Apr 15 0.0032 3,434 11 3,434 11 

Sept 1 - Nov 1 0.0032 3,434 11 3,434 11 

Central AI n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jan - Apr 15 0.0001 18,500 2 13,690 1 

HLA limit 0.0001 11,100 1 8,214 1 

Sept 1 - Nov 1 0.0001 18,500 2 13,690 1 

HLA limit 0.0001 11,100 1 8,214 1 

Western AI n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Jan - Apr 15 0.0000 7,169 0 4,440 0 

HLA limit n/a 4,301 0 2,664 0 

Sept 1 - Nov 1 0.0000 7,169 0 4,440 0 

HLA limit n/a 4,301 0 2,664 0 

Yellowfin sole BSAI 0.0647 81,346 5,263 91,495 5,920 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES
1466 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 8 / Friday, January 12, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 14—2006 AND 2007 BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD LIMITS—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Fishery by area/season/ 

processor/gear 

Ratio of 1995- 

1997 AFA CV 

catch to 1995 

1997 TAC 

2006 initial 

TAC 

2006 Catcher 

vessel 

sideboard limits 

2007 initial 

TAC 

2007 Catcher 

vessel 

sideboard limits 

Rock sole BSAI 0.0341 35,275 1,203 37,400 1,275 

Greenland Turbot BS 0.0645 1,607 104 1,543 100 

AI 0.0205 723 15 693 14 

Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 0.0690 11,050 762 15,300 1,056 

Alaska plaice BSAI 0.0441 6,800 300 12,750 562 

Other flatfish BSAI 0.0441 2,975 131 4,250 187 

Pacific ocean perch BS 0.1000 1,190 119 2,516 252 

Eastern AI 0.0077 2,849 22 3,012 23 

Central AI 0.0025 2,808 7 2,971 7 

Western AI 0.0000 4,703 0 4,969 0 

Northern rockfish BSAI 0.0084 4,163 35 4,625 39 

Shortraker rockfish BSAI 0.0037 537 2 537 2 

Rougheye rockfish BSAI 0.0037 207 1 207 1 

Other rockfish BS 0.0048 426 2 750 4 

AI 0.0095 502 5 502 5 

Squid BSAI 0.3827 1,084 415 1,084 415 

Other species BSAI 0.0541 24,650 1,334 22,950 1,242 

Flathead Sole BS trawl gear 0.0505 16,575 837 18,700 944 

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) and 679.25(c)(2) 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 allow for 

harvests that exceed the appropriate A 

and B season apportionments for Atka 

mackerel based on the best scientific 

information available. The Atka 

mackerel fishery is harvested rapidly 

and completely in the early part of the 

A season. NMFS was unable to publish 

a notice providing time for public 

comment because the most recent, 

relevant data only became available as 

of December 13, 2006, and additional 

time for prior public comment would 

result in conservation concerns for the 

ESA-listed Steller sea lions. 

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. 

Under § 679.25(c)(2), interested 

persons are invited to submit written 

comments on this action to the above 

address until January 29, 2007. 

This action is required by § 679.22 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: January 8, 2007. 

James P. Burgess, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 07–107 Filed 1–9–07; 2:49 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES