Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 171 / Thursday, September 4, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 46681

Conservation and Management Act.

Fishing for scallops is governed by

regulations appearing at subpart F of 50

CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.

In accordance with § 679.62(b) the

1997 C. bairdi CBL for Registration Area

O was established by the Final 1997–98

Harvest Specifications of Scallops (62

FR 34182, June 25, 1997) as 10,700

crabs.

The Administrator, Alaska Region,

NMFS, has determined, in accordance

with 679.62(c), that the C. bairdi CBL for

Registration Area O has been reached.

Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting the

taking and retention of scallops in

Registration Area O.

Classification

This action responds to the best

available information recently obtained

from the fishery. It must be

implemented immediately to prevent

overharvesting the 1997 C. bairdi CBL

specified for Registration Area O.

Providing prior notice and an

opportunity for public comment on this

action is impracticable and contrary to

public interest. The fleet has taken the

C. bairdi CBL for Registration Area O.

Further delay would only result in

overharvest of the CBL. NMFS finds for

good cause that the implementation of

this action cannot be delayed for 30

days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C.

553(d), a delay in the effective date is

hereby waived.

Classification

This action is required by § 679.62

and is exempt from review under E.O.

12866.

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

Dated: August 28, 1997.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–23408 Filed 8–29–97; 10:41 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 970613138–7138–01; I.D.

082897B]

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic

Zone Off Alaska; Scallop Fishery;

Closure in Registration Area H

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the scallop

fishery in Registration Area H (Cook

Inlet). This action is necessary to

prevent exceeding the scallop total

allowable catch (TAC) in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), August 29, until 2400 hrs,

A.l.t., June 30, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew Smoker, 907–586–7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

scallop fishery in the exclusive

economic zone off Alaska is managed by

NMFS according to the Fishery

Management Plan for the Scallop

Fishery off Alaska (FMP) prepared by

the North Pacific Fishery Management

Council under authority of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act.

Fishing for scallops is governed by

regulations appearing at subpart F of 50

CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. In

accordance with § 679.62(b) the 1997

scallop TAC for Registration Area H

(Cook Inlet) was established by the Final

1997–98 Harvest Specifications of

Scallops (62 FR 34182, June 25, 1997) as

28,000 lb (12,701 kg) shucked meat.

The Administrator, Alaska Region,

NMFS, has determined, in accordance

with 679.62(c), that the scallop TAC for

Registration Area H (Cook Inlet) has

been reached. Therefore, NMFS is

prohibiting the taking and retention of

scallops in Registration Area H (Cook

Inlet).

Classification

This action responds to the best

available information recently obtained

from the fishery. It must be

implemented immediately to prevent

overharvesting the 1997 TAC for

Registration Area H (Cook Inlet).

Providing prior notice and an

opportunity for public comment is

impracticable and contrary to public

interest. The fleet has taken the 1997

TAC for Registration Area H (Cook

Inlet). Further delay would only result

in overharvest of the 1997 TAC. NMFS

finds for good cause that the

implementation of this action cannot be

delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under

5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective

date is hereby waived.

This action is required by § 679.62

and is exempt from review under E.O.

12866.

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

Dated: August 28, 1997.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–23490 Filed 8–29–97; 3:41 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F