Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 187 / Thursday, September 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 78825 

PART 9—911 REQUIREMENTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 9 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151–154, 152(a), 

155(c), 157, 160, 201, 202, 208, 210, 214, 218, 

219, 222, 225, 251(e), 255, 301, 302, 303, 307, 

308, 309, 310, 316, 319, 332, 403, 405, 605, 

610, 615, 615 note, 615a, 615b, 615c, 615a– 

1, 616, 620, 621, 623, 623 note, 721, and 

1471, and Section 902 of Title IX, Division 

FF, Pub. L. 116–260, 134 Stat. 1182, unless 

otherwise noted. 

§ 9.10 [Amended] 

■ 2. Amend § 9.10 by removing 

paragraph (s)(6). 

[FR Doc. 2024–21955 Filed 9–25–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 240227–0061; RTID 0648– 

XE217] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal 

to 50 Feet Length Overall Using Hookand-Line 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 catcher vessels 

greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 

meters (m)) length overall using hookand-line (HAL) gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the 2024 total 

allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to 

catcher vessels greater than or equal to 

50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using 

HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area 

of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), September 23, 2024, 

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

2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Abby Jahn, 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 (Magnuson-Stevens 

Act). Regulations governing fishing by 

U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP 

appear at subpart H of 50 CFR parts 600 

and 679. 

The 2024 Pacific cod TAC 

apportioned to catcher vessels greater 

than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length 

overall using HAL gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA is 1,015 

metric tons (mt) as established by the 

final 2024 and 2025 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the GOA 

(89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024). 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the 2024 Pacific cod 

TAC apportioned to catcher vessels 

greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) 

length overall using HAL gear in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will 

soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 1,015 mt is setting 

aside the remaining 0 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 catcher vessels 

greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) 

length overall using HAL 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 

NMFS issues this action pursuant to 

section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 

part 679, which was issued pursuant to 

section 304(b), and is exempt from 

review under Executive Order 12866. 

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there 

is good cause to waive prior notice and 

an opportunity for public comment on 

this action, as notice and comment 

would be 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 Pacific 

cod by catcher vessels greater than or 

equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall 

using HAL 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 September 20, 2024. 

The Assistant Administrator for 

Fisheries, NOAA 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. 

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

Dated: September 23, 2024. 

Karen H. Abrams, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–22112 Filed 9–23–24; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES