Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 26, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 54603 

Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge 

* * * * * 

D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on the 

refuge in accordance with State regulations 

and subject to the following conditions: 

1. We allow bank fishing year-round. We 

only allow vehicle access (see § 27.31 of this 

chapter) to shoreline fishing areas on 

designated routes. 

2. We allow ice fishing in accordance with 

State regulations. We prohibit motor vehicles 

(see § 27.31 of this chapter) on the ice. 

3. We restrict boat fishing to designated 

areas as specified below: 

i. On Lake Walcott, we allow boats from 

April 1 through September 30 within the area 

marked by buoys and posted signs. 

ii. On Gifford Springs, we allow boats 

within the area marked by posted signs 

during the open sport fishing season. 

iii. On Smith Springs, we allow boats 

within the area marked by posted signs 

during the open sport fishing season. 

4. We allow use of float tubes at all times 

and locations except south of the southern 

buoy line on Lake Walcott. 

[FR Doc. 07–55512 Filed 9–25–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 1505–01–D 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 070213032–7032–01] 

RIN 0648–XC88 

Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive 

Zone Off Alaska; Shallow-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; inseason 

adjustment; modification to a closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for species that comprise the 

shallow-water species fishery by vessels 

using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA) for 48 hours, effective 1200 hrs, 

Alaska local time, September 21, 2007. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), September 21, 2007, 

through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 23, 

2007. Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., October 9, 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 inseason-fakr@noaa.gov 

and include in the subject line of the email the document identifier: 

goaswx4s12b (E-mail comments, with or 

without attachments, are limited to 5 

megabytes). 

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. 

The fourth seasonal apportionment of 

the 2007 Pacific halibut bycatch 

allowance specified for the shallowwater species fishery in the GOA is 150 

metric tons (mt) as established by the 

2007 and 2008 harvest specifications for 

groundfish of the GOA (72 FR 9676, 

March 5, 2007 and revised by 72 FR 

13217m March 21, 2007), for the period 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2007, 

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

2007. 

NMFS closed directed fishing for 

species that comprise the shallow-water 

species fishery by vessels using trawl 

gear in the GOA under § 679.21(d)(7)(i) 

on September 1, 2007 (72 FR 49229, 

August 28, 2007). NMFS reopened 

directed fishing for species that 

comprise the shallow-water species 

fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the 

GOA for 12 hours under § 679.25(a) on 

September 6, 2006 (72 FR 51717, 

September 11, 2007) and on September 

11, 2006 (72 FR 52491, September 14, 

2007). 

As of September 17, 2007, NMFS has 

determined that 100 mt of the fourth 

seasonal apportionment of the 2007 

Pacific halibut bycatch allowance for 

the fishery remains. Therefore, in 

accordance with §§ 679.25(a)(1)(i) and 

679.25(a)(2)(i)(C), NMFS is opening 

directed fishing for the trawl shallowwater species fishery in the GOA, 

effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 21, 

2007. In accordance with 

§ 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, 

Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined 

that the fourth seasonal apportionment 

of the 2007 Pacific halibut bycatch 

allowance specified for the trawl 

shallow-water species fishery in the 

GOA will be reached after 48 hours. 

Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 

directed fishing for the shallow-water 

species fishery by vessels using trawl 

gear in the GOA, effective 1200 hrs, 

A.l.t., September 23, 2007. 

The species and species groups that 

comprise the shallow-water species 

fishery are pollock, Pacific cod, shallowwater flatfish, flathead sole, Atka 

mackerel, skates and ‘‘other species.’’

This inseason adjustment does not 

apply to fishing for pollock by vessels 

using pelagic trawl gear in those 

portions of the GOA open to directed 

fishing for pollock. This inseason 

adjustment does not apply to vessels 

fishing under a cooperative quota 

permit in the cooperative fishery in the 

Rockfish Pilot Program for the Central 

GOA. 

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 the shallow-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 September 17, 2007. 

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. 

Without this inseason adjustment, 

NMFS could not allow the fishery for 

the shallow-water species fishery in the 

GOA to be harvested in an expedient 

manner and in accordance with the 

regulatory schedule. Under 

§ 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments on 

this action to the above address until 

October 9, 2007. 


rmajette on PROD1PC64 with RULES
54604 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 26, 2007 / Rules and Regulations 

This action is required by § 679.21 

and § 679.25 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: September 20, 2007. 

Alan D. Risenhoover 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 07–4728 Filed 9–21–07; 1:52 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 070213032–7032–01] 

RIN 0648–XC89 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 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 

630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 

action is necessary to fully use the C 

season allowance of the 2007 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of pollock 

specified for Statistical Area 630 of the 

GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), September 21, 2007, 

through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 23, 

2007. Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., October 9, 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 inseason-fakr@noaa.gov 

and include in the subject line and body 

of the e-mail the document identifier: 

g63plkro4 (E-mail comments, with or 

without attachments, are limited to 5 

megabytes). 

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 prohibited directed fishing for 

pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the 

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

28, 2007 (72 FR 48946, August 27, 

2007). NMFS reopened the directed 

fishery for pollock under 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii) for 72 hours on 

September 15, 2007. The fishery closed 

again on September 18, 2007 (72 FR 

53169, September 18, 2007). 

NMFS has determined that 

approximately 2,750 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 pollock in 

Statistical Area 630, NMFS is 

terminating the previous closure and is 

reopening directed fishing for pollock in 

Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. In 

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

Regional Administrator finds that this 

directed fishing allowance will be 

reached after 48 hours. Consequently, 

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 

pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the 

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

September 23, 2007. 

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 630 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 September 

18, 2007. 

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. 

Without this inseason adjustment, 

NMFS could not allow the pollock in 

Statistical Area 630 of the GOA to be 

harvested in an expedient manner and 

in accordance with the regulatory 

schedule. Under § 679.25(c)(2), 

interested persons are invited to submit 

written comments on this action to the 

above address until October 9, 2007. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and § 679.25 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: September 20, 2007. 

Alan D. Risenhoover 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 07–4729 Filed 9–21–07; 1:52 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 070213032–7032–01] 

RIN 0648–XC90 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 620 in 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 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 

action is necessary to fully use the C 

season allowance of the 2007 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in 

Statistical Area 620 in the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), September 21, 2007, 

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

2007. Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., October 9, 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; 


rmajette on PROD1PC64 with RULES