67010 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 23, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

comments on that final rule. EPA will

address the comments received in a

subsequent final action in the near

future. EPA will not institute a second

comment period on this document.

DATES: The direct final rule published at

62 FR 59813 is withdrawn as of

December 19, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brenda Millar, Emissions, Monitoring,

and Analysis Division (MD–14), Office

of Air Quality Planning and Standards,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711,

Telephone: (919)541–4036, e-mail:

millar.brenda@emai.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the

information provided in the direct final

rule located in the final rules section of

the November 5, 1997 Federal Register

and in the informational document

located in the proposed rule section of

the November 5, 1997 Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 58

Environmental protection, Air

pollution control, Intergovernmental

relations, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Quality assurance

requirements, Ambient air quality

monitoring network.

Dated: December 18, 1997.

Robert Brenner,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and

Radiation.

[FR Doc. 97–33452 Filed 12–18–97; 4:30 pm]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 940246–4137; I.D. 121697D]

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of

Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Fishery off the Southern

Atlantic States; Snowy Grouper;

Commercial Trip Limit Reduction

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Trip limit reduction.

SUMMARY: NMFS reduces the

commercial trip limit for snowy grouper

in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

off the southern Atlantic states to 300 lb

(136 kg). This trip limit reduction is

necessary to protect the snowy grouper

resource.

DATES: Effective 12:01 a.m., local time,

December 20, 1997, through December

31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter Eldridge, 813–570–5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

snapper-grouper fishery off the southern

Atlantic states is managed under the

Fishery Management Plan for the

Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South

Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was

prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery

Management Council and is

implemented under the authority of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act by

regulations at 50 CFR part 622.

The commercial quota for snowy

grouper, one of the species in the

snapper-grouper complex, is 344,508 lb

(156,266 kg), gutted weight, each fishing

year. The fishing year is January 1

through December 31. In accordance

with 50 CFR 622.44(c)(2), a commercial

trip limit of 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) applies

until the quota is reached. When the

quota is reached, or is projected to be

reached, NMFS is required to reduce the

commercial trip limit to 300 lb (136 kg),

through the end of the fishing year.

Based on current statistics, NMFS has

projected that the commercial quota for

snowy grouper will be reached on

December 19, 1997. Accordingly, the

commercial trip limit for snowy grouper

in or from the EEZ off the southern

Atlantic states is reduced to 300 lb (136

kg) effective 12:01 a.m., local time,

December 20, 1997, through December

31, 1997. During this period, no more

than 300 lb (136 kg), round weight or

gutted weight, of snowy grouper may be

possessed on board or landed,

purchased, or sold from a vessel that has

a valid commercial permit for snappergrouper per day. The possession of a

valid commercial permit

notwithstanding, the bag and possession

limits apply when a vessel is operating

as a charter vessel or headboat.

Classification

This action is taken under 50 CFR

622.43(a) and 622.44(c) and is exempt

from review under Executive Order

12866.

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

Dated: December 16, 1997.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–33385 Filed 12–18–97; 11:43

am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F