[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5792-5793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3125]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[I.D. 020397B]
RIN 0648-AJ23


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Amendment 9

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management 
plan; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) has submitted Amendment 9 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery Management Plan for Secretarial review. Amendment 9 would 
require a sablefish endorsement on limited entry permits for permit 
holders to participate in the regular limited entry fixed gear 
sablefish fishery, north of 36 deg.N. latitude (the U.S.-Vancouver, 
Columbia, Eureka, and Monterey management areas).


[[Page 5793]]


DATES: Comments on Amendment 9 must be received on or before April 8, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendment 9 or supporting documents should be 
sent to Mr. William Stelle, Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, Sand 
Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or to Ms. Hilda 
Diaz-Soltero, Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.
    Copies of Amendment 9, the Environmental Assessment, the Regulatory 
Impact Review (RIR)/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and 
Fishing Impact Statement are available from Larry Six, Executive 
Director, Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2130 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 
224, Portland, OR 97201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson at 206-526-6140, 
Rodney McInnis at 310-980-4040, or the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council at 503-326-6352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional 
Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan (FMP) or 
plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, 
disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also 
requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately 
publish a notice that the FMP or amendment is available for public 
review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments received 
during the comment period in determining whether to approve the FMP or 
amendment.
    Amendment 9 would require a sablefish endorsement on limited entry 
permits for permit holders to participate in the regular, limited 
entry, nontrawl sablefish fishery north of 36 deg.N. latitude. The 
Council recommended that the qualifying criteria for a sablefish 
endorsement be at least 16,000 lb (7,257.5 kg) of sablefish catch in 
any one calendar year from 1984 through 1994 based on the catch history 
of the limited entry permit. Limited entry, fixed gear permit holders 
without sablefish endorsements will still be able to participate in the 
small, daily trip limit fishery.
    NMFS invites comments on proposed Amendment 9 through the end of 
the comment period. NMFS will consider the public comments received 
during the comment period in determining whether to approve the 
proposed amendment. A proposed rule to implement Amendment 9 has been 
submitted for Secretarial review and approval. NMFS expects to publish 
the proposed rule and request public comment on the proposed 
regulations to implement Amendment 9 in the near future. Public 
comments on the proposed rule must be received by April 8, 1997 to be 
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on Amendment 9. All 
comments received by April 8, 1997 whether specifically directed to 
Amendment 9 or the proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on Amendment 9.

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

    Dated: February 4, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3125 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F