27518 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

delaying its effectiveness by at least 

several months, would be impracticable 

and contrary to the public interest. The 

good cause exception to the notice and 

comment procedures of the 

Administrative Procedures Act ‘‘excuses 

notice and comment in emergency 

situations, or where delay could result 

in serious harm.’’ 

20. Given the emergency situation and 

the devastation to communications 

networks caused by the hurricanes, the 

sooner providers receive additional 

funds, the sooner service can be restored 

to the people of Puerto Rico and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands. As noted above, 

Hurricane Maria was a once-in-acentury storm that caused devastating 

damage. Even after months of recovery 

efforts, ‘‘the majority of citizens in 

Puerto Rico lack access to continuous 

and reliable telecommunications 

services.’’ Similarly, ‘‘only a small 

percentage of Viya’s wireline customers 

have had their voice, broadband, and 

cable service restored, and there are still 

significant gaps in Viya’s USVI wireless 

coverage.’’ Voice and broadbandcapable networks, of course, serve 

important public safety goals (including 

allowing the public to quickly notify 

first responders of emergencies). And 

the next hurricane season commences 

on June 1, 2018. Delaying these funds 

could result in serious harm if carriers 

are not able to restore and fortify their 

service before the start of the next 

hurricane season. Such efforts will take 

significant time, and the Commission 

wishes to help the carriers proceed as 

rapidly as possible. 

21. The Commission is also concerned 

that some carriers might choose cheaper 

restoration plans that leave equipment 

vulnerable to another hurricane over 

more costly restoration plans that better 

protect against future natural disasters. 

Further, unlike other affected areas, 

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 

have struggled to restore electrical 

power. One provider explains that 

‘‘[t]he principal cause of 

communications outages and network 

unreliability in Puerto Rico 

undoubtedly has been the continued 

lack of commercial power and long-term 

reliance on backup generators.’’ Based 

on these unique circumstances, the 

Commission finds that the need for 

rapid action provides good cause for 

forgoing the usual administrative 

procedures in this unique situation. 

22. The Commission further finds 

good cause to make this relief effective 

immediately upon publication in the 

Federal Register. ‘‘In determining 

whether good cause exists, an agency 

should ‘balance the necessity for 

immediate implementation against 

principles of fundamental fairness 

which require that all affected persons 

be afforded a reasonable amount of time 

to prepare for the effective date of its 

ruling.’ ’’ This interim relief imposes no 

regulatory burden on any carrier but 

merely offers funds to help their 

restoration efforts. The Commission 

therefore does not believe it would 

violate fundamental fairness to make the 

action effective immediately, 

particularly given the substantial need 

for immediate implementation of the 

relief, which only exists during calendar 

year 2018. Indeed, waiting 30 days to 

make this relief available ‘‘would 

undermine the public interest by 

delaying’’ restoration of service in 

hurricane-ravaged areas. 

23. Finally, given the urgent need to 

bring service back to pre-hurricane 

levels as soon as possible, the 

Commission finds good cause to extend 

its previous waiver of § 54.313(c)(4) of 

the Commission’s rules, which requires 

carriers receiving frozen support to 

certify that all support is used ‘‘to build 

and operate broadband-capable 

networks used to offer the provider’s 

own retail broadband service in areas 

substantially unserved by an 

unsubsidized competitor.’’ 

IV. Procedural Matters 

A. Paperwork Reduction Act 

24. This document does not contain 

new information collection 

requirements subject to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public 

Law 104–13. In addition, therefore, it 

does not contain any new or 

information collection burden for small 

business concerns with fewer than 25 

employees, pursuant to the Small 

Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, 

Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(4). 

B. Congressional Review Act 

25. The Commission will send a copy 

of this Order to Congress and the 

Government Accountability Office 

pursuant to the Congressional Review 

Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A). 

26. Final Regulatory Flexibility 

Certification. Because the Order relies 

upon the good cause exception to notice 

and comment procedures, no final 

regulatory flexibility analysis is required 

under 5 U.S.C. 604. 

V. Ordering Clauses 

27. Accordingly, it is ordered, 

pursuant to the authority contained in 

sections 4(i), 214, 254, 303(r), and 403 

of the Communications Act of 1934, as 

amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 214, 254, 

303(r), and 403, and §§ 1.1, 1.3, and 

1.412 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 

1.1, 1.3, and 1.412, that this Order is 

adopted. The Order is effective upon 

publication in the Federal Register. 

28. It is further ordered that, pursuant 

to § 1.3 of the Commission’s rules, 47 

CFR 1.3, that § 54.313(c)(4) of the 

Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 

54.313(c)(4), is waived to the extent 

described in this document. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Marlene Dortch, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2018–12488 Filed 6–12–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02] 

RIN 0648–XG285 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Vessels Using Jig Gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using 

jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area 

of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action 

is necessary to prevent exceeding the 

2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch 

apportioned to vessels using jig gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), June 10, 2018, 

through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 

2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 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. 

Regulations governing sideboard 

protections for GOA groundfish 


amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 27519 

fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 

part 680. 

The 2018 Pacific cod total allowable 

catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels 

using jig gear in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA is 61 metric tons (mt), 

as established by the final 2018 and 

2019 harvest specifications for 

groundfish of the GOA (83 FR 8768, 

March 1, 2018). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), 

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator) has 

determined that the 2018 Pacific cod 

TAC apportioned to vessels using jig 

gear in the Central Regulatory Area of 

the GOA is necessary to account for the 

incidental catch in other anticipated 

fisheries. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 0 mt and is setting 

aside the remaining 61 mt as bycatch to 

support other anticipated groundfish 

fisheries. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 

Administrator finds that this directed 

fishing allowance has been reached. 

Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 

directed fishing for Pacific cod by 

vessels using jig gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. While this 

closure is effective 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 directed fishing closure of 

Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area 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 June 7, 

2018. 

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. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: June 8, 2018. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–12702 Filed 6–8–18; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES