14698 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

common pool vessels to approach their 

pertinent common pool sub-ACLs. 

Therefore, the trip limit for GB cod is 

increased to 1,500 lb (608.4 kg) per 

DAS, up to 4,500 lb (2,041.1 kg) per trip; 

and the trip limit for SNE/MA 

yellowtail flounder is increased to 1,500 

lb (608.4 kg) per DAS, up to 4,500 lb 

(2,041.8 kg) per trip, for Category A DAS 

vessels, effective March 8, 2012, through 

April 30, 2012. In addition, the trip 

limit for GB cod is increased to 75 lb 

(34.0 kg) per trip for open access 

Handgear B vessels effective March 8, 

2012, through April 30, 2012. This 

action does not change the current cod 

trip limit for vessels with a limited 

access Handgear A permit (300 lb 

(136.1. kg) per trip) or Small Vessel 

Category permit (300 lb (136.1 kg) of 

cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder 

combined). Catch will continue to be 

monitored through dealer-reported 

landings, VMS catch reports, and other 

available information, and if necessary, 

additional adjustments to common pool 

management measures may be made. 

Classification 

This action is authorized by 50 CFR 

part 648 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Order 12866. 

The Assistant Administrator for 

Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds good cause 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) to 

waive prior notice and the opportunity 

for public comment for this inseason 

adjustment because notice and comment 

would be impracticable and contrary to 

the public interest. The regulations at 

§ 648.86(o) grant the RA authority to 

adjust the NE multispecies trip limits 

for common pool vessels in order to 

prevent the overharvest or underharvest 

of the pertinent common pool subACLs. The information informing this 

action only very recently became 

available. Give this fact, this action 

increases the trip limits for GB cod and 

SNE/MA yellowtail flounder to reduce 

the probability of underharvesting the 

common pool sub-ACLs. The 

information informing this action only 

very recently became available. Given 

his fact, the time necessary to provide 

for prior notice and comment would 

prevent NMFS from implementing the 

necessary trip limit adjustments in a 

timely manner. A resulting delay in the 

liberalization of trip limits would 

unnecessarily restrain catch rates for GB 

cod and SNE/MA yellowtail flounder, 

thereby preventing the total catch of 

these stocks to further approach the 

pertinent common pool sub-ACL. 

Giving effect to this rule as soon as 

possible will prevent these unnecessary 

impacts. 

Further, the AA finds good cause 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive 

the 30-day delay in effectiveness for this 

action. This action increases the trip 

limits for GB cod and SNE/MA 

yellowtail flounder to reduce the 

probability of underharvesting the 

common pool sub-ACLs. A delay in the 

increase of these trip limits would 

prevent vessels from harvesting catch at 

higher rates and potentially prevent the 

total catch of these stocks to further 

approach the pertinent common pool 

sub-ACL. Giving effect to this rule as 

soon as possible will prevent these 

unnecessary impacts. 

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

Dated: March 8, 2012. 

Carrie Selberg, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6048 Filed 3–8–12; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 101126522–0640–02] 

RIN 0648–XB077 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 in 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 pollock in Statistical Area 

630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 

action is necessary to prevent exceeding 

the B season allowance of the 2012 total 

allowable catch of pollock for Statistical 

Area 630 in the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), March 10, 2012, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 25, 2012. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 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. 

The B season allowance of the 2012 

total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in 

Statistical Area 630 of the GOA is 2,589 

metric tons (mt) as established by the 

final 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications for groundfish of the GOA 

(76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011) and 

inseason adjustment (77 FR 438, January 

5, 2012). In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the Administrator, 

Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 

Administrator), hereby decreases the B 

season pollock allowance by 179 mt to 

reflect the total overharvest of the A 

seasonal apportionment in Statistical 

Area 630. Therefore, the revised B 

season allowance of the pollock TAC in 

Statistical Area 630 is 2,410 mt (2,589 

mt minus 179 mt) 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the B season allowance 

of the 2012 TAC of pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 of the GOA will soon be 

reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 2,200 mt and is 

setting aside the remaining 210 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 pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 of the GOA. 

After the effective date of this closure 

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 Acting 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 § 679.25(c)(1)(ii) 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 

closure of directed fishing for pollock in 

Statistical Area 630 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 March 7, 

2012. 

The AA also finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in the effective 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 14699 

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: March 8, 2012. 

Carrie Selberg, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6046 Filed 3–8–12; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES