[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 191 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58727-58728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25222]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000627195-0195-01; I.D. 060500C]
RIN 0648-AN94


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Seasonal 
Adjustment of Closure Areas to Trawl Gear in the Central Regulatory 
Area of the Gulf of Alaska; Withdrawal of Proposed Rule

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: NMFS withdraws the July 3, 2000, proposed regulatory amendment 
that would implement a seasonal closure of a portion of the Central 
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) to vessels using trawl gear 
and that would implement an inseason action to open directed fishing 
for pollock within 10 nautical miles of the Steller sea lion haulouts 
located at Gull Point and Cape Barnabas for research purposes. The 
proposed rule is withdrawn because of current litigation on the 
existing Steller sea lion protection measures.

DATES: This proposed rule is withdrawn on October 2, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson (907) 481-1780, fax 
(907) 481-1781.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  A proposed rule was published on July 3, 
2000 (65 FR 41044), that would impose a ban on all trawl fishing in the 
Chiniak Gully region on the east side of Kodiak Island and would 
authorize a temporary reopening of the 10-nm zones around Gull Point 
and Cape Barnabas to

[[Page 58728]]

directed fishing for pollock. These management measures would have been 
in effect annually during the period of August 1st to no later than 
September 20 in the years 2000-2003. Rationale for the proposed actions 
was provided in the preamble to the proposed rule and is not repeated 
here.
    On July 19, 2000, the United States District Court for the Western 
District of Washington issued an order that granted a motion for a 
partial injunction of the North Pacific groundfish fisheries. 
Greenpeace v. NMFS, No. C98-4922. This motion, filed by Greenpeace, 
American Oceans Campaign, and the Sierra Club requested injunctive 
relief until NMFS issues a legally adequate biological opinion 
addressing the combined, overall effects of the North Pacific 
groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lions and their critical habitat 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The comprehensive 
biological opinion on the impacts of the groundfish fisheries of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska on listed 
species (including the western population of Steller sea lions) under 
the ESA will not be released until October 31, 2000. Therefore, NMFS is 
hereby withdrawing the proposed rule to allow time for a thorough 
review of the new biological opinion, when it becomes available, before 
reinitiating rulemaking for the pollock fishery in order to protect 
Steller sea lions and their habitat.

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

    Dated: September 26, 2000.
William T. Hogarth,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25222 Filed 9-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S