[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28169-28170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12977]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170817779-8161-02]
RIN 0648-XF292


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Alaska 
Plaice in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the 
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
(BSAI) Alaska plaice. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries 
to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and 
objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.

DATES: Effective June 15, 2018, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, 
December 31, 2018. Comments must be received at the following address 
no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, June 30, 2018.

[[Page 28170]]


ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0108, by 
either of the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0108, click the ``Comment 
Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your 
comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
(BSAI) exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area 
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 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 2018 ITAC of BSAI Alaska plaice was established as 13,685 
metric tons (mt) by the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). In accordance 
with Sec.  679.20(a)(3) the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, 
NMFS, has reviewed the most current available data and finds that the 
ITAC for BSAI Alaska plaice needs to be supplemented from the non-
specified reserve to promote efficiency in the utilization of fishery 
resources in the BSAI and allow fishing operations to continue.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(b)(3), NMFS apportions 
from the non-specified reserve of groundfish 2,415 mt to the BSAI 
Alaska plaice ITAC in the BSAI management area. This apportionment is 
consistent with Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(i) and does not result in 
overfishing of this target species because the revised ITAC is equal to 
or less than the specifications of the acceptable biological catch in 
the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications for groundfish in the 
BSAI (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018).
    The harvest specification for the 2018 ITAC included in the harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the BSAI are revised as 16,100 mt for 
Alaska plaice.

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) and Sec.  679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A) as such a 
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 apportionment of the non-specified 
reserves of groundfish to Alaska plaice in the BSAI. Immediate 
notification is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and 
efficient operation of this fishery, to allow the industry to plan for 
the fishing season, and to avoid potential disruption to the fishing 
fleet and processors. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing 
time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only 
became available as of June 12, 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.
    Under Sec.  679.20(b)(3)(iii), interested persons are invited to 
submit written comments on this action (see ADDRESSES) until June 30, 
2018.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: June 13, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-12977 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P