3902 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

Jet Route J–179 extends between the 

Middleton Island, AK, Very High 

Frequency Omnidirectional Range/ 

Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/ 

DME) and the Emmonak, AK, VOR/ 

DME. The decommissioning of the 

Aniak and St Marys NDBs will leave 

portions of J–179 unusable. To mitigate 

the loss of J–179, the FAA is proposing 

to amend RNAV route Q–10. The 

proposed amendment to Q–10 would 

extend the route along essentially the 

same track as the current J–179. The 

only difference between the current J– 

179 and the proposed Q–10 is that the 

proposed track for Q–10 would not 

include the St Marys NDB. Instead, Q– 

10 would extend directly between the 

Emmonak NDB and the Aniak NDB. 

The Proposal 

The FAA is proposing an amendment 

to 14 CFR part 71 to revoke Jet Route J– 

179 in its entirety and amend United 

States Area Navigation Route Q–10 in 

the vicinity of Emmonak, AK. 

J–179: J–179 extends between the 

Middleton Island, AK, VOR/DME and 

the Emmonak, AK, VOR/DME. The FAA 

is proposing to revoke J–179 in its 

entirety. 

Q–10: Q–10 extends between the 

Kukuliak, AK, VOR/DME and the 

Emmonak, AK, VOR/DME. As amended, 

Q–10 would extend between the 

Kukuliak, AK, VOR/DME and the 

Middleton Island, AK, VOR/DME. 

Regulatory Notices and Analyses 

The FAA has determined that this 

proposed regulation only involves an 

established body of technical 

regulations for which frequent and 

routine amendments are necessary to 

keep them operationally current. It, 

therefore: (1) is not a ‘‘significant 

regulatory action’’ under Executive 

Order 12866; (2) is not a ‘‘significant 

rule’’ under Department of 

Transportation (DOT) Regulatory 

Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; 

February 26, 1979); and (3) does not 

warrant preparation of a regulatory 

evaluation as the anticipated impact is 

so minimal. Since this is a routine 

matter that will only affect air traffic 

procedures and air navigation, it is 

certified that this proposed rule, when 

promulgated, will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities under the 

criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 

Environmental Review 

This proposal will be subject to an 

environmental analysis in accordance 

with FAA Order 1050.1F, 

‘‘Environmental Impacts: Policies and 

Procedures’’ prior to any FAA final 

regulatory action. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71 

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, 

Navigation (air). 

The Proposed Amendment 

In consideration of the foregoing, the 

Federal Aviation Administration 

proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as 

follows: 

PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, 

B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 

TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND 

REPORTING POINTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 

part 71 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103, 

40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 

1959–1963 Comp., p. 389. 

§ 71.1 [Amended] 

■ 2. The incorporation by reference in 

14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11H, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, dated August 11, 2023, and 

effective September 15, 2023, is 

amended as follows: 

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes. 

* * * * * 

J–179 [Removed] 

* * * * * 

Paragraph 2006 United States Area 

Navigation Routes. 

* * * * * 

Q–10 Kukuliak, AK (ULL) to Middleton Island, AK (MDO) [Amended] 

Kukuliak, AK (ULL) VOR/DME (Lat. 63°41′32.39′′ N, long. 170°28′11.65′′ W) 

Emmonak, AK (ENM) VOR/DME (Lat. 62°47′04.52′′ N, long. 164°29′15.12′′ W) 

ANIAK, AK FIX (Lat. 61°37′02.22′′ N, long. 159°37′52.61′′ W) 

Sparrevohn, AK (SQA) VOR/DME (Lat. 61°05′54.89′′ N, long. 155°38′04.49′′ W) 

Kenai, AK (ENA) VOR/DME (Lat. 60°36′52.93′′ N, long. 151°11′42.87′′ W) 

Middleton Island, AK 

(MDO) 

VOR/DME (Lat. 59°25′18.50′′ N, long. 146°21′00.05′′ W) 

* * * * * 

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 11, 

2024. 

Frank Lias, 

Manager, Rules and Regulations Group. 

[FR Doc. 2024–00806 Filed 1–19–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

RIN 0648–BM40 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Amendment 126 to 

the Fishery Management Plans for 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea/Aleutian 

Islands Management Area and 

Amendment 114 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Groundfish of 

the Gulf of Alaska To Expand 

Electronic Monitoring to the Pollock 

Fisheries 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery 

management plan amendment; request 

for comments. 

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) 

submitted Amendment 126 to the 

Fishery Management Plans for 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea/Aleutian 

Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) 

and Amendment 114 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Groundfish of the 

Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). If approved, 

Amendments 126/114 would expand 

electronic monitoring (EM) to pelagic 

trawl pollock catcher vessels and 

tenders delivering to shoreside 

processors or stationary floating 

processors in the Bering Sea, Aleutian 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2024 / Proposed Rules 3903 

Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. 

Amendments 126/114 are intended to 

promote the goals and objectives of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act), the BSAI FMP, 

and the GOA FMP. 

DATES: Comments must be received no 

later than March 22, 2024. 

Public Meetings: 

1. February 28, 2024, 6 p.m. Alaska 

local time, Kodiak, AK. 

2. March 12, 2024, 6 p.m. Pacific time, 

Virtual (see ADDRESSES for link). 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on this document, identified by NOAA– 

NMFS–2023–0125, by any of the 

following methods: 

• Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and type 

NOAA–NMFS–2023–0125 in the Search 

box (note: copying and pasting the 

FDMS Docket Number directly from this 

document may not yield search results). 

Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, complete 

the required fields, and enter or attach 

your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Gretchen Harrington, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS. Mail 

comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 

AK 99802–1668. 

• Instructions: Comments sent by any 

other method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the end of 

the comment period, may not be 

considered by NMFS. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted for public 

viewing on https://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 will 

be publicly accessible. NMFS will 

accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ 

A’’ in the required fields if you wish to 

remain anonymous). 

Electronic copies of Amendment 126 

to the BSAI FMP and Amendment 114 

to the GOA FMP, the Environmental 

Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review 

prepared for this action (the Analysis), 

and the Finding of No Significant 

Impact prepared for this action may be 

obtained from https://

www.regulations.gov and the NMFS 

Alaska Region website at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska. 

Pursuant to section 313(c) of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS will hold 

public hearings to accept oral and 

written comments on the proposed rule 

during the public comment period. The 

first public hearing will be held at the 

Kodiak Fisheries Research Center, 301 

Research Court, Kodiak, Alaska 99615. 

The second public hearings will be held 

virtually, available at https://

meet.google.com/gcz-emgh-kkw. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel 

Kraski, joel.kraski@noaa.gov, (907) 586– 

7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that 

each regional fishery management 

council submit any FMP amendment it 

prepares to NMFS for review and 

approval, disapproval, or partial 

approval by the Secretary of Commerce. 

The Magnuson-Stevens Act also 

requires that NMFS, upon receiving an 

FMP amendment, immediately publish 

a notice in the Federal Register 

announcing that the amendment is 

available for public review and 

comment. This notice announces that 

proposed Amendment 126 to the BSAI 

FMP and Amendment 114 to the GOA 

FMP are available for public review and 

comment. 

The Council prepared, and the 

Secretary approved, the BSAI FMP and 

GOA FMP under the authority of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 

et seq.). The BSAI FMP and GOA FMP 

are implemented by regulations 

governing U.S. fisheries at 50 CFR parts 

600 and 679. 

Amendments 126/114 would amend 

the Council’s fisheries research plan 

prepared under the authority of section 

313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 

NMFS published regulations 

implementing the plan on November 21, 

2012 (77 FR 70062) and integrated EM 

into the plan on August 8, 2017 (82 FR 

36991). The Secretary implements the 

fisheries research plan through the 

North Pacific Observer Program 

(Observer Program). Its purpose is to 

collect data necessary for the 

conservation, management, and 

scientific understanding of the 

groundfish and halibut fisheries off 

Alaska. 

The Council’s intent in 

recommending Amendments 126/114 is 

to improve salmon accounting, reduce 

monitoring costs, improve the quality of 

monitoring data, and modify current 

retention and/or discard requirements 

as necessary to achieve these objectives 

in association with catcher vessels using 

trawl gear in the BS, AI, and GOA 

Pollock fisheries along with associated 

tender vessels and processors. 

Amendment 126 would add to section 

3.9.2 of the BSAI FMP and Amendment 

114 would add to section 3.9.2 of the 

GOA FMP to allow the use of EM 

systems to meet fisheries monitoring 

requirements under the Observer 

Program. 

Amendments 126/114 would create 

an EM option—the trawl EM category— 

for pelagic trawl pollock catcher vessels 

and tender vessels delivering to a 

shoreside processor or stationary 

floating processor in the Bering Sea, 

Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. 

The BSAI and GOA FMPs currently 

authorize the use of EM in the partial 

coverage category, but not the full 

observer coverage category of the 

Observer Program. Under this voluntary 

program, eligible catcher vessels and 

tender vessels would apply annually for 

entry into the trawl EM category. 

Shoreside processors and stationary 

floating processors would indicate that 

they intend to receive trawl EM category 

deliveries during their annual Catch 

Monitoring Control Plan process. 

Amendments 126/114 would allow 

for monitoring to be conducted by an 

EM system on board both full and 

partial coverage trawl catcher vessels 

combined with sampling by observers 

stationed at shoreside or stationary 

floating processors. For fishing trips in 

the trawl EM category, the 

responsibilities normally conducted by 

at-sea observers would be completed by 

observers stationed at the shoreside or 

stationary floating processor plant. All 

fishing trips would operate under 

improved retention (i.e., minimize 

discards to the greatest extent 

practicable) and be recorded by EM as 

a compliance tool; all video is reviewed 

and verified using logbook entries to 

ensure the program elements are 

followed. 

The use of EM and maximized 

retention on vessels would allow for 

observers to collect unbiased data at the 

shoreside or stationary floating 

processors. Shoreside and stationary 

floating processors would indicate their 

intent to receive EM deliveries during 

Catch Monitoring Control Plan approval 

process to join the trawl EM program 

annually. Shoreside and stationary 

floating processors would also indicate 

whether they expect to use tender 

vessels. 

NMFS is soliciting public comments 

on proposed Amendments 126/114 

through the end of the comment period 

(see DATES). NMFS intends to publish in 

the Federal Register and seek public 

comment on a proposed rule that would 

implement Amendments 126/114 

following NMFS’s evaluation of the 

proposed rule under the MagnusonStevens Act. 

Section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act requires NMFS to provide a 60-day 

public comment period on the proposed 

rule and conduct a public hearing in 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
3904 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

each state represented on the Council 

for the purpose of receiving public 

comment on the proposed regulations. 

The states represented on the Council 

are Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. 

NMFS will conduct a public hearing at 

a physical location in Alaska, and hold 

a virtual public hearing for Washington 

and Oregon (see DATES). 

People wanting to make an oral 

statement for the record at the a public 

hearing are encouraged to submit a 

written copy of their statement to NMFS 

using one of the methods identified 

under ADDRESSES. If attendance at the 

public hearing is large, the time allotted 

for individual oral statements may be 

limited. Oral and written statements 

receive equal consideration. There are 

no limits on the length of written 

comments submitted to NMFS. 

Respondents do not need to submit the 

same comments on Amendments 126/ 

114 and the proposed rule. All relevant 

written comments received by the end 

of the applicable comment period, 

whether specifically directed to the 

FMP amendments or this proposed rule, 

will be considered by NMFS in the 

approval/disapproval decision for 

Amendments 126/114 and addressed in 

the response to comments in the final 

decision. Comments received after the 

end of the comment period may not be 

considered in the approval/disapproval 

decision on Amendment 126/114. To be 

certain of consideration, comments 

would need to be received, not just 

postmarked or otherwise transmitted, by 

the last day of the comment period (see 

DATES). 

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

Dated: January 17, 2024. 

Everett Wayne Baxter, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–01120 Filed 1–19–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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