1832 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Office of the Secretary 

13 CFR Ch. III 

15 CFR Subtitle A; Subtitle B, Chs. I, 

II, III, VII, VIII, IX, and XI 

19 CFR Ch. III 

37 CFR Chs. I, IV, and V 

48 CFR Ch. 13 

50 CFR Chs. II, III, IV, and VI 

Fall 2017 Semiannual Agenda of 

Regulations 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with Executive 

Order 12866, entitled ‘‘Regulatory 

Planning and Review,’’ and the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, 

the Department of Commerce 

(Commerce), in the spring and fall of 

each year, publishes in the Federal 

Register an agenda of regulations under 

development or review over the next 12 

months. Rulemaking actions are 

grouped according to prerulemaking, 

proposed rules, final rules, long-term 

actions, and rulemaking actions 

completed since the spring 2017 agenda. 

The purpose of the agenda is to provide 

information to the public on regulations 

that are currently under review, being 

proposed, or issued by Commerce. The 

agenda is intended to facilitate 

comments and views by interested 

members of the public. 

Commerce’s fall 2017 regulatory 

agenda includes regulatory activities 

that are expected to be conducted 

during the period November 1, 2017, 

through October 31, 2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Specific: For additional information 

about specific regulatory actions listed 

in the agenda, contact the individual 

identified as the contact person. 

General: Comments or inquiries of a 

general nature about the agenda should 

be directed to Asha Mathew, Chief 

Counsel for Regulation, Office of the 

Assistant General Counsel for 

Legislation, Regulation, and Oversight, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 

Washington, DC 20230, telephone: 202– 

482–3151. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commerce 

hereby publishes its fall 2017 Unified 

Agenda of Federal Regulatory and 

Deregulatory Actions pursuant to 

Executive Order 12866 and the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 

et seq. Executive Order 12866 requires 

agencies to publish an agenda of those 

regulations that are under consideration 

pursuant to this order. By memorandum 

of August 18, 2017, the Office of 

Management and Budget issued 

guidelines and procedures for the 

preparation and publication of the fall 

2017 Unified Agenda. The Regulatory 

Flexibility Act requires agencies to 

publish, in the spring and fall of each 

year, a regulatory flexibility agenda that 

contains a brief description of the 

subject of any rule likely to have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

In this edition of Commerce’s 

regulatory agenda, a list of the most 

important significant regulatory and 

deregulatory actions and a Statement of 

Regulatory Priorities are included in the 

Regulatory Plan, which appears in both 

the online Unified Agenda and in part 

II of the issue of the Federal Register 

that includes the Unified Agenda. 

In addition, beginning with the fall 

2007 edition, the internet became the 

basic means for disseminating the 

Unified Agenda. The complete Unified 

Agenda is available online at 

www.reginfo.gov, in a format that offers 

users a greatly enhanced ability to 

obtain information from the Agenda 

database. 

Because publication in the Federal 

Register is mandated for the regulatory 

flexibility agendas required by the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act, Commerce’s 

printed agenda entries include only: 

(1) Rules that are in the Agency’s 

regulatory flexibility agenda, in 

accordance with the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act, because they are likely 

to have a significant economic impact 

on a substantial number of small 

entities; and 

(2) Rules that the Agency has 

identified for periodic review under 

section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act. 

Printing of these entries is limited to 

fields that contain information required 

by the Regulatory Flexibility Act’s 

Agenda requirements. Additional 

information on these entries is available 

in the Unified Agenda published on the 

internet. In addition, for fall editions of 

the Agenda, Commerce’s entire 

Regulatory Plan will continue to be 

printed in the Federal Register. 

Within Commerce, the Office of the 

Secretary and various operating units 

may issue regulations. Among these 

operating units, the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA), the Bureau of Industry and 

Security, and the Patent and Trademark 

Office, issue the greatest share of 

Commerce’s regulations. 

A large number of regulatory actions 

reported in the Agenda deal with fishery 

management programs of NOAA’s 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS). To avoid repetition of 

programs and definitions, as well as to 

provide some understanding of the 

technical and institutional elements of 

NMFS’ programs, an ‘‘Explanation of 

Information Contained in NMFS 

Regulatory Entries’’ is provided below. 

Explanation of Information Contained 

in NMFS Regulatory Entries 

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act (16 

U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (the Act) governs 

the management of fisheries within the 

Exclusive Economic Zone of the United 

States (EEZ). The EEZ refers to those 

waters from the outer edge of the State 

boundaries, generally 3 nautical miles, 

to a distance of 200 nautical miles. For 

fisheries that require conservation and 

management measures, eight Regional 

Fishery Management Councils 

(Councils) prepare Fishery Management 

Plans (FMPs) for the fisheries within 

their respective areas. Regulations 

implementing these FMPs regulate 

domestic fishing and foreign fishing 

where permitted. Foreign fishing may be 

conducted in a fishery in which there is 

no FMP only if a preliminary fishery 

management plan has been issued to 

govern that foreign fishing. In the 

development of FMPs, or amendments 

to FMPs, and their implementing 

regulations, the Councils are required by 

law to conduct public hearings on the 

draft plans and to consider the use of 

alternative means of regulating. 

The Council process for developing 

FMPs and amendments makes it 

difficult for NMFS to determine the 

significance and timing of some 

regulatory actions under consideration 

by the Councils at the time the 

semiannual regulatory agenda is 

published. 

Commerce’s fall 2017 regulatory 

agenda follows. 

Peter B. Davidson, 

General Counsel. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 1833 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION—PROPOSED RULE STAGE

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

158 .................... Covered Merchandise Referrals From the Customs Service .......................................................................... 0625–AB10 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION—PROPOSED RULE STAGE

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

159 .................... Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for Puerto Rico ........................................................................... 0648–BD32 

160 .................... Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for St. Croix ................................................................................ 0648–BD33 

161 .................... Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for St. Thomas/St. John ............................................................. 0648–BD34 

162 .................... International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Treatment of 

U.S. Purse Seine Fishing With Respect to U.S. Territories.

0648–BF41 

163 .................... Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 ............................................................................................... 0648–BF82 

164 .................... Framework Adjustment 2 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan .............................................................. 0648–BF85 

165 .................... International Fisheries; South Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Implementation of Amendments to the South Pacific

Tuna Treaty.

0648–BG04 

166 .................... Voting Criteria for a Referendum on a Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Catch Share Program for For-Hire Vessels With Landings Histories.0648–BG36 

167 .................... Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Authorization of an Oregon Recreational Fishery for Midwater Groundfish Species.0648–BG40 

168 .................... Commerce Trusted Trader Program (Reg Plan Seq No. 12) ......................................................................... 0648–BG51 

169 .................... International Fisheries; Fishing Limits in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2017, Transshipment Prohibition, and 

Requirements to Safeguard Fishery Observers.

0648–BG66 

170 .................... Rule to Implement the For-Hire Reporting Amendments ................................................................................ 0648–BG75 

171 .................... Amendment 41 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 

Region.

0648–BG77 

172 .................... Amendment 36A to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico ....... 0648–BG83 

173 .................... Rule to Modify the Number of Unrigged Hooks Carried Onboard Bottom Longline Vessels in the Gulf of 

Mexico.

0648–BG92 

174 .................... Allow Halibut Individual Fishing Quota Leasing to Community Development Quota Groups ........................ 0648–BG94 

175 .................... Nontrawl Lead Level 2 Observers ................................................................................................................... 0648–BG96 

176 .................... Rule to Modify Mutton Snapper and Gag Management Measures in the Gulf of Mexico .............................. 0648–BG99 

177 .................... Amendment 116 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

Management Area.

0648–BH02 

178 .................... Amendment 47 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico ............... 0648–BH07 

179 .................... Management Measures for Tropical Tunas in the Eastern Pacific Ocean ..................................................... 0648–BH13 

180 .................... Rule to Modify Greater Amberjack Allowable Harvest and Rebuilding Plan in the Gulf of Mexico ................ 0648–BH14 

181 .................... Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Individual Bluefin Quota Program; Quarterly Accountability .................... 0648–BH17 

182 .................... Designate Critical Habitat for the Hawaiian Insular False Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment ........... 0648–BC45 

183 .................... Amendment and Updates to the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan ....................................................... 0648–BF90 

184 .................... Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical Habitat for Threatened Caribbean and IndoPacific Reef-Building Corals (Reg Plan Seq No. 11).0648–BG26 

185 .................... Regulatory Amendment to Authorize a Recreational Quota Entity ................................................................. 0648–BG57 

References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this issue of the Federal Register. 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION—FINAL RULE STAGE

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

186 .................... Modification of the Temperature-Dependent Component of the Pacific Sardine Harvest Guideline Control 

Rule to Incorporate New Scientific Information.

0648–BE77 

187 .................... Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishing Capacity Reduction Loan Refinance ......................................................... 0648–BE90 

188 .................... Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program; Widow Rockfish Reallocation in the Individual 

Fishing Quota Fishery.

0648–BF12 

189 .................... Regulatory Amendment to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan to Implement an Electronic Monitoring Program for the Pacific Whiting Fishery.0648–BF52 

190 .................... Blueline Tilefish Amendment to the Golden Tilefish Fishery Management Plan ............................................ 0648–BF86 

191 .................... Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 

Specifications and Management Measures and Fishery Management Plan Amendment 27.

0648–BG17 

192 .................... Amendment 46 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico to Establish a Gray Triggerfish Rebuilding Plan.0648–BG87 

193 .................... International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Fishing Limits 

in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2017.

0648–BG93 

194 .................... Regulation to Reduce Incidental Bycatch and Mortality of Sea Turtles in the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp 

Fisheries.

0648–BG45 

195 .................... Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary Designation ................................................................ 0648–BG01 

196 .................... Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary Designation ............................................................ 0648–BG02 


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1834 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

197 .................... Amendment 39 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico ......... 0648–BD25 

198 .................... Implementation of a Program for Transshipments by Large Scale Fishing Vessels in the Eastern Pacific 

Ocean.

0648–BD59 

199 .................... Reducing Disturbances to Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins From Human Interactions ......................................... 0648–AU02 

200 .................... Designation of Critical Habitat for the Arctic Ringed Seal ............................................................................... 0648–BC56 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION—COMPLETED ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

201 .................... Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan ..................................................... 0648–BF26 

202 .................... Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico and South Atlantic.

0648–BG03 

203 .................... Amendment 43 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico ......... 0648–BG18 

204 .................... Protected Species Hard Caps for the California/Oregon Large-Mesh Drift Gillnet Fishery ............................ 0648–BG23 

205 .................... Amendment 37 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 

Region.

0648–BG33 

206 .................... Unmanaged Forage Fish Omnibus Amendment ............................................................................................. 0648–BG42 

207 .................... Pacific Coast Groundfish; Establish an Interim 2017 Pacific Coast Tribal Pacific Whiting Allocation ............ 0648–BG47 

208 .................... Fishing Year 2017 Recreational Fishing Measures for Gulf of Maine Cod and Haddock .............................. 0648–BG52 

209 .................... Framework Adjustment 56 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan ................................... 0648–BG53 

210 .................... Amendment 114 for Groundfish of the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 

104 for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Electronic Monitoring.

0648–BG54 

211 .................... Revisions to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan, Codified Regulations, and Annual Management 

Measures for 2017 and Beyond.

0648–BG61 

212 .................... International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Fishing Restriction on Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific 

Ocean.

0648–BG67 

213 .................... 2017 Summer Flounder and Scup Recreational Harvest Measures ............................................................... 0648–BG68 

214 .................... Designation of Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, Chesapeake Bay, Carolina, and 

South Atlantic Distinct Population Segments of Atlantic Sturgeon.

0648–BF28 

PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE—FINAL RULE STAGE

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

215 .................... Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2017 .......................................................................... 0651–AD02 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) 

International Trade Administration 

(ITA) 

Proposed Rule Stage 

158. Covered Merchandise Referrals 

From the Customs Service 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Other. 

Legal Authority: Pub. L. 114–125, sec. 

421 

Abstract: The Department of 

Commerce (the Department) is 

proposing to amend its regulations to set 

forth procedures to address covered 

merchandise referrals from U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP or 

the Customs Service). 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Emily Beline, 

Department of Commerce, International 

Trade Administration, 1401 

Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 

DC 20230, Phone: 202 482–1096, Email: 

emily.beline@trade.gov. 

RIN: 0625–AB10 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) 

Proposed Rule Stage 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

159. Comprehensive Fishery 

Management Plan for Puerto Rico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This rule would implement 

a comprehensive Puerto Rico Fishery 

Management Plan. The Plan will 

incorporate, and modify as needed, 

Federal fisheries management measures 

presently included in each of the 

existing species-based U.S. Caribbean 

Fishery Management Plans (Spiny 

Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral, and Queen 

Conch Fishery Management Plans) as 

those measures pertain to Puerto Rico 

exclusive economic zone waters. The 

goal of this action is to create a Fishery 

Management Plan tailored to the 

specific fishery management needs of 

Puerto Rico. If approved, this new 

Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, 

in conjunction with similar 

comprehensive Fishery Management 

Plans being developed for St. Croix and 

St. Thomas/St. John, will replace the 

Spiny Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral and 

Queen Conch Fishery Management 

Plans presently governing the 

commercial and recreational harvest in 

U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone 

waters. 

Timetable: 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 1835 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 09/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BD32 

160. Comprehensive Fishery 

Management Plan for St. Croix 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant 

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

Abstract: This rule would implement 

a comprehensive St. Croix Fishery 

Management Plan. The Plan would 

incorporate, and modify as needed, 

Federal fisheries management measures 

presently included in each of the 

existing species-based U.S. Caribbean 

Fishery Management Plans (Spiny 

Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral, and Queen 

Conch Fishery Management Plans) as 

those measures pertain to St. Croix 

exclusive economic zone waters. The 

goal of this action is to create a Fishery 

Management Plan tailored to the 

specific fishery management needs of 

St. Croix. If approved, this new St. Croix 

Fishery Management Plan, in 

conjunction with similar comprehensive 

Fishery Management Plans being 

developed for Puerto Rico and St. 

Thomas/St. John, will replace the Spiny 

Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral and Queen 

Conch Fishery Management Plans 

presently governing the commercial and 

recreational harvest in U.S. Caribbean 

exclusive economic zone waters. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 09/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BD33 

161. Comprehensive Fishery 

Management Plan for St. Thomas/St. 

John 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This rule would implement 

a comprehensive St. Thomas/St. John 

Fishery Management Plan. The Plan 

would incorporate, and modify as 

needed, Federal fisheries management 

measures presently included in each of 

the existing species-based U.S. 

Caribbean Fishery Management Plans 

(Spiny Lobster, Reef Fish, Coral, and 

Queen Conch Fishery Management 

Plans) as those measures pertain to St. 

Thomas/St. John exclusive economic 

zone waters. The goal of this action is 

to create a Fishery Management Plan 

tailored to the specific fishery 

management needs of St. Thomas/St. 

John. If approved, this new St. Thomas/ 

St. John Fishery Management Plan, in 

conjunction with similar comprehensive 

Fishery Management Plans being 

developed for St. Croix and Puerto Rico, 

will replace the Spiny Lobster, Reef 

Fish, Coral and Queen Conch Fishery 

Management Plans presently governing 

the commercial and recreational harvest 

in U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic 

zone waters. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 09/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BD34 

162. International Fisheries; Western 

and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly 

Migratory Species; Treatment of U.S. 

Purse Seine Fishing With Respect to 

U.S. Territories 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. 

Abstract: This action would establish 

rules and/or procedures to address the 

treatment of U.S.-flagged purse seine 

vessels and their fishing activities in 

regulations issued by the National 

Marine Fisheries Service that 

implement decisions of the Commission 

for the Conservation and Management of 

Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 

Western and Central Pacific Ocean 

(Commission), of which the United 

States is a member. Under the Western 

and Central Pacific Fisheries 

Convention Implementation Act, the 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

exercises broad discretion when 

determining how it implements 

Commission decisions, such as purse 

seine fishing restrictions. The National 

Marine Fisheries Service intends to 

examine the potential impacts of the 

domestic implementation of 

Commission decisions, such as purse 

seine fishing restrictions, on the 

economies of the U.S. territories that 

participate in the Commission, and 

examine the connectivity between the 

activities of U.S.-flagged purse seine 

fishing vessels and the economies of the 

territories. Based on that and other 

information, the National Marine 

Fisheries Service might propose 

regulations that mitigate adverse 

economic impacts of purse seine fishing 

restrictions on the U.S. territories and/ 

or that, in the context of the Convention 

on the Conservation and Management of 

Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 

Western and Central Pacific Ocean 

(Convention), recognize that one or 

more of the U.S. territories have their 

own purse seine fisheries that are 

distinct from the purse seine fishery of 

the United States and that are 

consequently subject to special 

provisions of the Convention and of 

Commission decisions. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

ANPRM ............... 10/23/15 80 FR 64382 

ANPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/23/15 

NPRM .................. 05/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michael Tosatto, 

Regional Administrator, Pacific Islands 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, 

Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, 

Phone: 808 725–5000, Email: 

michael.tosatto@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BF41 

163. Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat 

Amendment 2 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Other. 

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

Abstract: The New England Fishery 

Management Council voted to issue this 

updated rulemaking that would revise 

the essential fish habitat and habitat 

areas of particular concern designation 

based on recent groundfish data. This 

rule would update groundfish seasonal 

spawning closures and identify Habitat 

Research Areas. The proposed revisions 

include adding a habitat management 

area in the eastern Gulf of Maine and 

modifying the existing habitat 

management areas in the central and 


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1836 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

western Gulf of Maine, while 

maintaining additional protections for 

large-mesh groundfish, including cod. 

In addition, the amendment would 

allow for the potential for development 

of a scallop access area within Georges 

Bank. A habitat management area would 

be established on Georges Shoal, with 

allowances for the clam dredge fishery. 

In Southern New England, a habitat 

management area in the Great South 

Channel would replace the current 

habitat protections further west. These 

revisions are intended to comply with 

the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirement 

to minimize to the extent practicable the 

adverse effects of fishing on essential 

fish habitat. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BF82 

164. Framework Adjustment 2 to the 

Tilefish Fishery Management Plan 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council has developed a 

framework adjustment to its Tilefish 

Fishery Management Plan, which would 

modify management measures for the 

tilefish fishery to improve the 

management of the species. The 

proposed measures would: eliminate the 

current call-in reporting requirement; 

prohibit a vessel from fishing for more 

than one Individual Fishing Quota 

allocation at the same time; require 

tilefish to be landed with the head 

attached; clarify what fishing gears are 

allowed in the recreational fishery; and 

make an administrative change to how 

assumed discards are accounted for in 

the specifications setting process. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BF85 

165. International Fisheries; South 

Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Implementation 

of Amendments to the South Pacific 

Tuna Treaty 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 973 et seq. 

Abstract: Under authority of the 

South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, this 

rule would implement recent 

amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries 

between the Governments of Certain 

Pacific Island States and the 

Government of the United States of 

America (also known as the South 

Pacific Tuna Treaty). The rule would 

include modification to the procedures 

used to request licenses for U.S. vessels 

in the western and central Pacific Ocean 

purse seine fishery, including changing 

the annual licensing period from Juneto-June to the calendar year, and 

modifications to existing reporting 

requirements for purse seine vessels 

fishing in the western and central 

Pacific Ocean. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 05/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michael Tosatto, 

Regional Administrator, Pacific Islands 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, 

Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, 

Phone: 808 725–5000, Email: 

michael.tosatto@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG04 

166. Voting Criteria for a Referendum 

on a Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Catch 

Share Program for For-Hire Vessels 

With Landings Histories 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: Amendment 42 to the 

Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish 

Resources in the Gulf of Mexico 

(Amendment 42) proposes to establish a 

catch share program for up to five 

species of reef fish for headboats with 

landings history in the Southeast Region 

Headboat Survey. This rule would 

inform the public of the procedures, 

schedule, and eligibility requirements 

that NOAA Fisheries would use in 

conducting the referendum that is 

required before the Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council (Council) 

can submit Amendment 42 for 

Secretarial review. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 02/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG36 

167. Fisheries Off West Coast States; 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 

Authorization of an Oregon 

Recreational Fishery for Midwater 

Groundfish Species 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory. 

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

Abstract: This rule would authorize 

the use of midwater long-leader gear for 

recreational fishing in waters seaward of 

a line approximating 40 fathoms (73 m) 

off the coast of Oregon. Midwater longleader gear would be allowed for both 

charter and private vessels seaward of 

the 40 fathom seasonal depth closure 

and monitored with the existing Oregon 

Ocean Recreational Boat Sampling 

program. The season would be limited 

and occur between the months of April 

and September, months currently 

subject to depth restrictions. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG40 

168. Commerce Trusted Trader 

Program 

Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. 

No. 12 in part II of this issue of the 

Federal Register. 

RIN: 0648–BG51 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 1837 

169. International Fisheries; Fishing 

Limits in Purse Seine Fisheries for 

2017, Transshipment Prohibition, and 

Requirements To Safeguard Fishery 

Observers 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. 

Abstract: This rule would establish a 

limit on fishing effort by U.S. purse 

seine fishing vessels in 2017; prohibit 

U.S. vessels used to fish for highly 

migratory species from transshipping 

catch in a particular area of high seas 

and remove certain reporting 

requirements applicable to such vessels 

in that area; and establish requirements 

to enhance the safety of fishery 

observers on highly migratory species 

fishing vessels. This rule would be 

issued under the authority of the 

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 

Convention Implementation Act, and 

pursuant to decisions made by the 

Commission for the Conservation and 

Management of Highly Migratory Fish 

Stocks in the Western and Central 

Pacific Ocean. This action is necessary 

for the United States to satisfy its 

obligations under the Convention on the 

Conservation and Management of 

Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 

Western and Central Pacific Ocean, to 

which it is a Contracting Party. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michael Tosatto, 

Regional Administrator, Pacific Islands 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, 

Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, 

Phone: 808 725–5000, Email: 

michael.tosatto@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG66 

170. Rule To Implement the For-Hire 

Reporting Amendments 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This rule proposes to 

implement Amendment 39 for the 

Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South 

Atlantic Region, Amendment 9 for the 

Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the 

Atlantic, and Amendment 27 to the 

Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery of 

the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Regions 

(For-Hire Reporting Amendments). The 

For-Hire Reporting Amendments rule 

proposes mandatory weekly electronic 

reporting for charter vessel operators 

with a Federal for-hire permit in the 

snapper-grouper, dolphin wahoo, or 

coastal migratory pelagics fisheries; 

reduces the time allowed for headboat 

operators to complete their electronic 

reports; and requires location reporting 

by charter vessels with the same level of 

detail currently required for headboat 

vessels. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 05/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG75 

171. Amendment 41 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 

Region 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: NMFS proposes regulations 

to implement Amendment 41. This 

amendment would update biological 

benchmarks, modify allowable fishing 

levels, and revise management measures 

for mutton snapper based on the latest 

stock assessment. Revisions to 

management measures include 

designation of ‘‘spawning months,’’ 

during which stricter regulations may 

apply, as well as modifications to the 

minimum size limit, recreational bag 

limit, and commercial trip limit. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.09/26/17 82 FR 44756 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG77 

172. • Amendment 36A to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the Reef Fish 

Resources of the Gulf of Mexico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action implements 

Amendment 36A to the Fishery 

Management Plan for reef fish resources 

in the Gulf of Mexico by considering 

modifications to improve compliance 

and increase management flexibility in 

the red snapper and grouper-tilefish 

commercial individual fishing quota 

programs in the Gulf of Mexico. In 

accordance with Amendment 36A, this 

action proposes to improve compliance 

with the individual fishing quota 

program by requiring all commercial 

reef fish permit holders to hail-in at 

least 3 hours, but no more than 24 

hours, in advance of landing. It also 

proposes to address non-activated 

individual fishing quota accounts and 

provide the regional administrator with 

authority to retain annual allocation if a 

quota reduction is expected to occur. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG83 

173. • Rule To Modify the Number of 

Unrigged Hooks Carried Onboard 

Bottom Longline Vessels in the Gulf of 

Mexico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory. 

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

Abstract: This rule would modify the 

number of hooks a bottom longline 

vessel could carry on board in the Gulf 

of Mexico. Amendment 31 to the 

Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish 

Resources in the Gulf of Mexico, 

originally implemented in February 

2010, limited the number of hooks a 

bottom longline vessel could carry to 

1,000 hooks of which no more than 750 

could be fished or rigged to fish at any 

one time. Industry representatives have 

indicated that hook loss due to shark 

bites has increased over time observer 

data has also shown an increase in the 

number of hooks lost per trip since 

2010. As recommended recently by the 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
1838 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

Council, this rule would remove the cap 

on the number of hooks per vessel while 

retaining the limit of 750 hooks that 

could be fished or rigged to fish. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG92 

174. • Allow Halibut Individual Fishing 

Quota Leasing to Community 

Development Quota Groups 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1861 et 

seq.; 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq. 

Abstract: This action would allow 

Western Alaska Community 

Development Quota groups to lease 

halibut individual fishing quota in the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands in years 

of low halibut catch limits. The 

Community Development Quota 

Program is an economic development 

program that provides eligible western 

Alaska villages with the opportunity to 

participate and invest in fisheries. The 

Community Development Quota 

Program receives annual allocations of 

total allowable catches for a variety of 

commercially valuable species. In recent 

years, low halibut catch limits have 

hindered most Community 

Development Quota groups’ ability to 

create a viable halibut fishing 

opportunity for their residents. This 

proposed rule would authorize 

Community Development Quota groups 

to obtain additional halibut quota from 

commercial fishery participants to 

provide Community Development 

Quota community residents more 

fishing opportunities in years when the 

halibut Community Development Quota 

allocation may not be large enough to 

present a viable fishery for participants. 

This proposed rule is intended to 

alleviate the adverse economic, social, 

and cultural impacts of decreasing 

available halibut resource on Western 

Alaskan communities. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 12/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: James Balsiger, 

Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, 

Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 586– 

7221, Fax: 907 586–7465, Email: 

jim.balsiger@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG94 

175. • Nontrawl Lead Level 2 Observers 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action would modify 

regulations pertaining to the nontrawl 

lead level 2 observer deployment 

endorsement and require vessels to 

participate in a pre-cruise meeting when 

necessary. An observer deployed on a 

catcher/processor that participates in 

the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery or on 

a catcher/processor using pot gear to 

harvest groundfish in the Western 

Alaska Community Development Quota 

fisheries is required to have a nontrawl 

lead level 2 deployment endorsement. 

Since 2014, vessel owners and observer 

provider firms have reported an ongoing 

shortage of nontrawl lead level 2 

endorsed observers that has delayed 

fishing trips and increased operational 

costs. This action would increase the 

pool of observers that could obtain the 

nontrawl lead level 2 endorsement by 

allowing sampling experience on trawl 

catcher/processors to count toward the 

minimum experience necessary to 

obtain a nontrawl lead level 2 

deployment endorsement. The action 

would benefit the owners and operators 

of catcher/processor vessels required to 

carry an observer with a nontrawl lead 

level 2 endorsement, observer provider 

firms, and individuals serving as 

certified observers. This action also 

includes a revision to the observer 

coverage requirement for motherships 

receiving unsorted codends from 

catcher vessels groundfish Community 

Development Quota fishing and 

numerous housekeeping measures and 

technical corrections. These additional 

updates and corrections are necessary to 

improve terminology consistency 

throughout the regulations and, for 

operational consistency, to align 

mothership observer coverage 

requirements with Amendment 80 

vessels consistent with the regulation of 

harvest provisions of the MagnusonStevens Act. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: James Balsiger, 

Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, 

Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 586– 

7221, Fax: 907 586–7465, Email: 

jim.balsiger@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG96 

176. • Rule To Modify Mutton Snapper 

and Gag Management Measures in the 

Gulf of Mexico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This rule would establish 

annual catch limits from 2017 through 

2020 for the Gulf of Mexico 

apportionment of mutton snapper and 

remove the annual catch target because 

this target is not currently used for 

management purposes. This rule would 

also establish a recreational bag limit for 

mutton snapper, modify the minimum 

size limit for commercial and 

recreational mutton snapper, and 

modify the commercial minimum size 

limit for gag. The majority of mutton 

snapper and gag landings are from 

waters adjacent to Florida, and the 

changes in bag and size limits would 

make these management measures 

consistent with those established for 

Florida state waters and in the case of 

gag, with South Atlantic Federal 

regulations. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG99 

177. • Amendment 116 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Groundfish of the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

Management Area 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action would further 

limit access to the Bering Sea and 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 1839 

Aleutian Islands yellowfin sole Trawl 

Limited Access fishery by catcher 

vessels delivering to offshore 

motherships or catcher/processors. In 

recent years, an unexpected increase in 

participation in the offshore sector of 

this fishery by catcher vessels allowed 

under current regulations has resulted 

in an increased yellowfin sole catch rate 

and a shorter fishing season. The North 

Pacific Fishery Management Council 

recently determined that limiting the 

number of eligible licenses assigned to 

catcher vessels in this fishery could 

stabilize the fishing season duration, 

provide better opportunity to increase 

production efficiency, and help reduce 

bycatch of Pacific halibut. This action 

would modify the License Limitation 

Program by establishing eligibility 

criteria for licenses assigned to catcher 

vessels to participate in this fishery 

based on historic participation. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: James Balsiger, 

Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, 

Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 586– 

7221, Fax: 907 586–7465, Email: 

jim.balsiger@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BH02 

178. • Amendment 47 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Reef Fish 

Resources of the Gulf of Mexico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action would revise the 

maximum sustainable yield proxy and 

adjust the annual catch limit for the 

vermilion snapper stock within the 

Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish 

Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council (Council) approved this action 

at their June 2017 meeting in response 

to a 2016 stock assessment for vermilion 

snapper. The estimate of maximum 

sustainable yield is dependent upon the 

spawner-recruit relationship. For 

vermilion snapper, there is a high 

degree of variability in the data used 

and the Council’s Scientific and 

Statistical Committee had little 

confidence in the resulting estimate of 

maximum sustainable yield. Instead, the 

SSC recommended the use of a 

maximum sustainable yield proxy. This 

action is necessary to establish: a 

maximum sustainable yield proxy and 

associated status determination criteria 

that are consistent with the best 

scientific information available, and an 

annual catch limit that does not exceed 

the acceptable biological catch yields 

from the 2016 stock. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BH07 

179. • Management Measures for 

Tropical Tunas in the Eastern Pacific 

Ocean 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq. 

Abstract: This proposed rule would 

implement the Inter-American Tropical 

Tuna Commission’s Resolution C–17– 

02, which contains provisions intended 

to prevent the overfishing of tropical 

tuna (bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack) in 

the eastern Pacific Ocean for fishing 

years 2018 to 2020. In addition to 

rolling over measures from the 2017 

resolution, this resolution includes 

additional management measures 

related to fish aggregating devices, 

makes minor revisions to the definition 

of force majeure, includes provisions 

related to transferring longline catch 

limits for bigeye tuna between InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission 

members, and increases the bigeye tuna 

catch limit U.S. longline vessels greater 

than 24 meters in overall length that fish 

in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 

Commission Convention Area. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BH13 

180. • Rule To Modify Greater 

Amberjack Allowable Harvest and 

Rebuilding Plan in the Gulf of Mexico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This rule would adjust the 

Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack 

rebuilding plan, modify through 2020— 

based on information from the 2017 

stock assessment that indicated that the 

stock is not making adequate progress 

towards rebuilding—greater amberjack 

annual catch limits and annual catch 

targets (which equal the quotas) for both 

the commercial and recreational 

fisheries. The modifications are 

projected to rebuild the stock by 2027. 

In addition, the rule would change the 

recreational seasonal closure from June 

through July each year to January 1 

through June 30 each year. This change 

would protect the stock during peak 

spawning and extend the season later in 

the fishing year, leading to a more 

reliable open season. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BH14 

181. • Atlantic Highly Migratory 

Species; Individual Bluefin Quota 

Program; Quarterly Accountability 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory. 

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

seq.; 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. 

Abstract: This action would consider 

modifying the Atlantic highly migratory 

species regulations to require vessels in 

the pelagic longline fishery to account 

for bycatch of bluefin tuna using 

Individual Bluefin Quota on a quarterly 

basis instead of before commencing any 

fishing trip while in quota debt or with 

less than the minimum required 

Individual Bluefin Quota balance. 

Current regulations require permitted 

Atlantic Tunas Longline vessels to 

possess a minimum amount of 

Individual Bluefin Quota to depart on a 

fishing trip with pelagic longline gear 

onboard and account for bluefin tuna 

catch (fish retained or discarded dead) 

using Individual Bluefin Quota. At the 

end of a trip on which bluefin tuna are 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
1840 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

caught, a vessel’s Individual Bluefin 

Quota balance is reduced by the amount 

caught. If the trip catch exceeds the 

vessel’s available quota, the vessel will 

incur quota debt (i.e., exceeding its 

available Individual Bluefin Quota 

balance). In this case, the regulations 

currently require the vessel to obtain 

additional Individual Bluefin Quota 

through leasing to resolve that quota 

debt and to acquire the minimum 

Individual Bluefin Quota amount, 

before departing on a subsequent trip 

using pelagic longline gear. This action 

would implement accountability on a 

quarterly basis instead of after each trip 

to minimize constraints on fishing for 

target species and support business 

planning while accounting for all 

bluefin tuna catch and maintaining 

incentives to avoid bluefin catch. 

Quarterly accountability would require 

vessel owners to resolve quota debt and 

obtain the minimum amount of 

Individual Bluefin Tuna prior to fishing 

for the first time during each new 

calendar quarter. The annual U.S. 

Bluefin tuna quota would remain 

unaffected by this measure, as it results 

from International Commission for the 

Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 

recommendations. Through the 

proposed rule, NMFS would consider 

the potential impacts of this approach 

on the Individual Bluefin Tuna 

Program. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Alan Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, Room 13362, 1315 

East–West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 

20910, Phone: 301 713–2334, Fax: 301 

713–0596, Email: alan.risenhoover@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BH17 

182. Designate Critical Habitat for the 

Hawaiian Insular False Killer Whale 

Distinct Population Segment 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

Abstract: In 2012, NMFS listed as 

endangered the main Hawaiian Islands 

(MHI) insular false killer whale 

(Pseudorca crassidens) Distinct 

Population Segment (DPS). The 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires 

NMFS to designate critical habitat to 

support the conservation and recovery 

of newly listed species. Accordingly, 

this proposed rule would designate 

critical habitat for the MHI insular false 

killer whale DPS in waters around the 

MHI. NMFS will consider the economic, 

national security, or other relevant 

impacts of the proposed designation, 

and would consider excluding areas 

where such negative impacts would 

outweigh the benefits of critical habitat 

designation. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, 1315 East–West 

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 

Phone: 301 427–8400. 

RIN: 0648–BC45 

183. Amendment and Updates to the 

Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. 

Abstract: Serious injury and mortality 

of the Western North Atlantic shortfinned pilot whale stock incidental to 

the Category I Atlantic pelagic longline 

fishery continues at levels exceeding 

their Potential Biological Removal. This 

proposed action will examine a number 

of management measures to amend the 

Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan to 

reduce the incidental mortality and 

serious injury of short-finned pilot 

whales taken in the Atlantic Pelagic 

Longline fishery to below Potential 

Biological Removal. Potential 

management measures may include 

changes to the current limitations on 

mainline length, new requirements to 

use weak hooks (hooks with reduced 

breaking strength), and non-regulatory 

measures related to determining the best 

procedures for safe handling and release 

of marine mammals. The need for the 

proposed action is to ensure the Pelagic 

Longline Take Reduction Plan meets its 

Marine Mammal Protection Act 

mandated short- and long-term goals. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 05/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, 1315 East–West 

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 

Phone: 301 427–8400. 

RIN: 0648–BF90 

184. Endangered and Threatened 

Species; Designation of Critical Habitat 

for Threatened Caribbean and IndoPacific Reef-Building Corals 

Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. 

No. 11 in part II of this issue of the 

Federal Register. 

RIN: 0648–BG26 

185. Regulatory Amendment To 

Authorize a Recreational Quota Entity 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 to 773k 

Abstract: The proposed action would 

authorize a recreational quota entity in 

International Pacific Halibut 

Commission Regulatory Areas 2C and 

3A in the Gulf of Alaska to purchase a 

limited amount of commercial halibut 

quota share for use in the charter halibut 

fishery. The recreational quota entity 

would provide a mechanism for a 

compensated reallocation of a portion of 

commercial halibut quota share from the 

Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual 

Fishing Quota Program to the charter 

halibut fishery in order to promote longterm planning and greater stability in 

the charter halibut fishery. Any halibut 

quota share from Area 2C or Area 3A 

purchased by the recreational quota 

entity would augment the amount of 

halibut available for harvest in the 

charter halibut fishery in that area. 

Underlying allocations to the charter 

and commercial halibut sectors would 

not change. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: James Balsiger, 

Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, 

Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 586– 

7221, Fax: 907 586–7465, Email: 

jim.balsiger@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG57 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 1841 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) 

Final Rule Stage 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

186. Modification of the TemperatureDependent Component of the Pacific 

Sardine Harvest Guideline Control Rule 

To Incorporate New Scientific 

Information 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: Pursuant to a 

recommendation of the Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) under 

the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the National 

Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to 

use a new temperature index to 

calculate the temperature parameter of 

the Pacific sardine harvest guideline 

control rule under the Fishery 

Management Plan. The harvest 

guideline control rule, in conjunction 

with the overfishing limit and 

acceptable biological catch control 

rules, is used to set annual harvest 

levels for Pacific sardine. The 

temperature parameter is calculated 

annually. The National Marine Fisheries 

Service determined that a new 

temperature index is more statistically 

sound and this action will adopt that 

index. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 08/23/17 82 FR 39977 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/22/17 

Final Action ......... 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BE77 

187. Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishing 

Capacity Reduction Loan Refinance 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.; 5 U.S.C. 561 

et seq. 

Abstract: Congress enacted the 2015 

National Defense Authorization Act to 

refinance the existing debt obligation 

funding the fishing capacity reduction 

program for the Pacific Coast 

Groundfish fishery implemented under 

section 212. Pending appropriation of 

funds to effect the refinance, the 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

issued proposed regulations to seek 

comment on the refinancing and to 

prepare for an industry referendum and 

final rule. However, a subsequent 

appropriation to fund the refinancing 

was never enacted. As a result, the 

National Marine Fisheries Service has 

no funds with which to proceed, and 

the refinancing authority cannot be 

implemented. The National Marine 

Fisheries Service is therefore 

withdrawing this proposed rule. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 08/06/15 80 FR 46941 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/08/15 

Withdrawal .......... 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Brian Pawlak, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1315 East–West 

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 

Phone: 301 427–8621, Email: 

brian.t.pawlak@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BE90 

188. Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl 

Rationalization Program; Widow 

Rockfish Reallocation in the Individual 

Fishing Quota Fishery 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: In January 2011, the 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

implemented the groundfish trawl 

rationalization program (a catch share 

program) for the Pacific coast 

groundfish limited entry trawl fishery. 

The program was implemented through 

Amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific 

Coast Groundfish Fishery Management 

Plan and the corresponding 

implementing regulations. Amendment 

20 established the trawl rationalization 

program, which includes an Individual 

Fishing Quota program for limited entry 

trawl participants, and Amendment 21 

established fixed allocations for limited 

entry trawl participants. During 

implementation of the trawl individual 

fishing quota program, widow rockfish 

was overfished and the initial 

allocations were based on its overfished 

status and management as a non-target 

species. The National Marine Fisheries 

Service declared the widow rockfish 

rebuilt in 2011 and, accordingly, the 

Pacific Fishery Management Council 

has now recommended actions to 

manage the increased abundance of 

widow rockfish. The action would 

reallocate individual fishing quota 

widow rockfish quota share to facilitate 

directed harvest and would lift the 

moratorium on widow rockfish quota 

share trading. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/29/16 81 FR 42295 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/29/16 

Final Action ......... 12/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BF12 

189. Regulatory Amendment to the 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 

Management Plan To Implement an 

Electronic Monitoring Program for the 

Pacific Whiting Fishery 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action would 

implement a regulatory amendment to 

the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 

Management Plan to allow Pacific 

whiting vessels the option to use 

electronic monitoring (video cameras 

and associated sensors) in place of 

observers to meet requirements for 100- 

percent observer coverage. Vessels 

participating in the catch share program 

are required to carry an observer on all 

trips to ensure total accountability for 

at-sea discards. For some vessels, 

electronic monitoring may have lower 

costs than observers and a reduced 

logistical burden. By allowing vessels 

the option to use electronic monitoring 

to meet monitoring requirements, this 

action is intended to increase 

operational flexibility and reduce 

monitoring costs for the Pacific whiting 

fleet. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 09/06/16 81 FR 61161 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

10/06/16 

Final Action ......... 12/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 


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Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BF52 

190. Blueline Tilefish Amendment to 

the Golden Tilefish Fishery 

Management Plan 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council has developed an 

amendment to its Golden Tilefish 

Fishery Management Plan, which would 

implement management measures for 

the blueline tilefish fishery north of the 

Virginia/North Carolina border. This 

proposed action would establish the 

management framework for this fishery, 

including: Permitting, recordkeeping, 

and reporting requirements; trip limits 

for both the commercial and 

recreational sectors of the fishery; and 

the process for setting specifications and 

annual catch limits. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.06/14/17 82 FR 27223 

NPRM .................. 06/28/17 82 FR 29263 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/28/17 

Final Action ......... 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BF86 

191. Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific 

Coast Groundfish Fishery; 

Specifications and Management 

Measures and Fishery Management 

Plan Amendment 27 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This final rule established 

the 2017–2018 harvest specifications 

and management measures for 

groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive 

economic zone off the coasts of 

Washington, Oregon, and California, 

consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act and the Pacific Coast Groundfish 

Fishery Management Plan (Fishery 

Management Plan), including harvest 

specifications consistent with default 

harvest control rules in the Fishery 

Management Plan. This action also 

included regulations to implement 

Amendment 27 to the Fishery 

Management Plan, which adds deacon 

rockfish to the Fishery Management 

Plan, reclassifies big skate as an actively 

managed stock, adds a new inseason 

management process for commercial 

and recreational groundfish fisheries in 

California, and makes several 

clarifications to existing regulations. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.09/30/16 81 FR 67287 

NPRM .................. 10/28/16 81 FR 75266 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/28/16 

Final Rule ............ 02/07/17 82 FR 9634 

Final Rule Effective.02/07/17 

Correcting 

Amendment.

11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG17 

192. • Amendment 46 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Reef Fish 

Resources of the Gulf of Mexico To 

Establish a Gray Triggerfish Rebuilding 

Plan 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: Following a 2015 NMFS 

determination of the lack of adequate 

progress in rebuilding the Gulf gray 

triggerfish stock, the Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council had two 

years under the Magnuson Stevens Act 

to develop actions to rebuild the 

affected stock. The Council has now 

proposed to amend the Fishery 

Management Plan to focus on the stock’s 

rebuilding. This proposed action would 

implement that amendment. The 

proposed action would establish a 9- 

year rebuilding time period; retain the 

current gray triggerfish annual catch 

limits and annual catch targets for the 

recreational and commercial sectors; 

modify the recreational fixed closed 

season; reduce the recreational bag 

limit; increase the recreational size 

limit; and modify the commercial trip 

limit. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.08/30/17 82 FR 41205 

NPRM .................. 09/25/17 82 FR 44551 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

10/25/17 

Final Action ......... 12/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG87 

193. • International Fisheries; Western 

and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly 

Migratory Species; Fishing Limits in 

Purse Seine Fisheries for 2017 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. 

Abstract: As authorized under the 

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 

Convention Implementation Act, this 

rule would enable NOAA Fisheries to 

implement a recent decision of the 

Commission for the Conservation and 

Management of Highly Migratory Fish 

Stocks in the Western and Central 

Pacific Ocean (Commission). The rule 

would establish a limit for calendar year 

2017 on fishing effort by U.S. purse 

seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive 

economic zone and on the high seas 

between the latitudes of 20 degrees N. 

and 20 degrees S. in the area of 

application of the Convention on the 

Conservation and Management of 

Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 

Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The 

limit is 1,828 fishing days. The rule also 

would make corrections to outdated 

cross-references in existing regulatory 

text. This action is necessary to satisfy 

the obligations of the United States 

under the Convention on the 

Conservation and Management of 

Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 

Western and Central Pacific Ocean 

(Convention), to which it is a 

Contracting Party. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 09/20/17 82 FR 43926 


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Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

10/05/17 

Final Action ......... 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michael Tosatto, 

Regional Administrator, Pacific Islands 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, 

Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, 

Phone: 808 725–5000, Email: 

michael.tosatto@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG93 

194. Regulation To Reduce Incidental 

Bycatch and Mortality of Sea Turtles in 

the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Fisheries 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

Abstract: The purpose of the proposed 

action is to aid in the protection and 

recovery of listed sea turtle populations 

by reducing incidental bycatch and 

mortality of small sea turtles in the 

Southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries. As a 

result of new information on sea turtle 

bycatch in shrimp trawls and turtle 

excluder device testing, NMFS 

conducted an evaluation of the 

Southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries that 

resulted in a draft environmental impact 

statement. This rule proposes to 

withdraw the alternative tow time 

restriction, which would require all 

vessels using skimmer trawls, pusherhead trawls, and wing nets (butterfly 

trawls), with the exception of vessels 

participating in the Biscayne Bay wing 

net fishery in Miami-Dade County, 

Florida, to use turtle excluder devices 

designed to exclude small sea turtles. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 12/16/16 81 FR 91097 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/14/17 

Final Action ......... 11/00/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG45 

NOS/ONMS 

195. Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National 

Marine Sanctuary Designation 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Other. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. 

Abstract: On December 2, 2014, 

pursuant to section 304 of the National 

Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and the 

Sanctuary Nomination Process (79 FR 

33851), a coalition of community groups 

submitted a nomination asking NOAA 

to designate an area of Wisconsin’s Lake 

Michigan waters as a national marine 

sanctuary. The area being considered for 

designation as a national marine 

sanctuary is a region that includes 875 

square miles of Lake Michigan waters 

and bottomlands adjacent to 

Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee 

counties and the cities of Port 

Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, 

and Two Rivers. It includes 80 miles of 

shoreline and extends 9 to 14 miles 

from the shoreline. The area contains an 

extraordinary collection of submerged 

maritime heritage resources 

(shipwrecks) as demonstrated by the 

listing of 15 shipwrecks on the National 

Register of Historic Places. The area 

includes 39 known shipwrecks, 123 

reported vessel losses, numerous other 

historic maritime-related features, and is 

adjacent to communities that have 

embraced their centuries-long 

relationship with Lake Michigan. NOAA 

completed its review of the nomination 

in accordance with the Sanctuary 

Nomination Process and on February 5, 

2015, added the area to the inventory of 

nominations that are eligible for 

designation. On October 7, 2015, NOAA 

issued a notice of intent to begin the 

designation process and asked for 

public comment on making this area a 

national marine sanctuary. Designation 

under the NMSA would allow NOAA to 

supplement and complement work by 

the State of Wisconsin and other Federal 

agencies to protect this collection of 

nationally significant shipwrecks. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/09/17 82 FR 2269 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/31/17 

Final Rule ............ 03/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Vicki Wedell, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1305 East-West 

Highway (N/ORM6), Silver Spring, MD 

20910, Phone: 301 713–7237, Fax: 301 

713–0404, Email: vicki.wedell@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG01 

196. Mallows Bay-Potomac River 

National Marine Sanctuary Designation 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Other. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. 

Abstract: On September 16, 2014, 

pursuant to section 304 of the National 

Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and the 

Sanctuary Nomination Process (79 FR 

33851), a coalition of community groups 

submitted a nomination asking NOAA 

to designate Mallows Bay-Potomac 

River as a national marine sanctuary. 

The Mallows Bay area of the tidal 

Potomac River being considered for 

designation as a national marine 

sanctuary is an area 40 miles south of 

Washington, DC, off the Nanjemoy 

Peninsula of Charles County, MD. The 

designation of a national marine 

sanctuary would focus on conserving 

the collection of maritime heritage 

resources (shipwrecks) in the area as 

well as expand the opportunities for 

public access, recreation, tourism, 

research, and education. NOAA 

completed its review of the nomination 

in accordance with the Sanctuary 

Nomination Process and on January 12, 

2015, added the area to the inventory of 

nominations that are eligible for 

designation. On October 7, 2015, NOAA 

issued a notice of intent to begin the 

designation process and asked for 

public comment on making this area a 

national marine sanctuary. Designation 

under the NMSA would allow NOAA to 

supplement and complement work by 

the State of Maryland and other federal 

agencies to protect this collection of 

nationally significant shipwrecks. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/09/17 82 FR 2254 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/31/17 

Final Rule ............ 03/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Vicki Wedell, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1305 East-West 

Highway (N/ORM6), Silver Spring, MD 

20910, Phone: 301 713–7237, Fax: 301 

713–0404, Email: vicki.wedell@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG02 


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1844 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) 

Long-Term Actions 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

197. Amendment 39 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the Reef Fish 

Resources of the Gulf of Mexico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: The purpose of this action is 

to facilitate management of the 

recreational red snapper component in 

the reef fish fishery by reorganizing the 

Federal fishery management strategy to 

better account for biological, social, and 

economic differences among the regions 

of the Gulf of Mexico. Regional 

management would enable regions and 

their associated communities to specify 

the optimal management parameters 

that best meet the needs of their local 

constituents, thereby addressing 

regional socio-economic concerns. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice .................. 05/13/13 78 FR 27956 

Next Stage Undetermined.To Be Determined 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Phone: 727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824– 

5308, Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BD25 

198. Implementation of a Program for 

Transshipments by Large Scale Fishing 

Vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.; 

16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. 

Abstract: This rule would implement 

the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 

Commission program to monitor 

transshipments by large-scale tuna 

fishing vessels, and would govern 

transshipments by U.S. large-scale tuna 

fishing vessels and carrier, or receiving, 

vessels. The rule would establish: 

criteria for transshipping in port; criteria 

for transshipping at sea by longline 

vessels to an authorized carrier vessel 

with an Inter-American Tropical Tuna 

Commission observer onboard and an 

operational vessel monitoring system; 

and require the Pacific Transshipment 

Declaration Form, which must be used 

to report transshipments in the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission 

Convention Area. This rule is necessary 

for the United States to satisfy its 

international obligations under the 1949 

Convention for the Establishment of an 

Inter-American Tropical Tuna, to which 

it is a Contracting Party. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 12/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, Phone: 

503 231–6266, Email: barry.thom@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BD59 

199. Reducing Disturbances to 

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins From 

Human Interactions 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. 

Abstract: This action would 

implement regulatory measures under 

the Marine Mammal Protection Act to 

protect Hawaiian spinner dolphins that 

are resting in protected bays from take 

due to close approach interactions with 

humans. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

ANPRM ............... 12/12/05 70 FR 73426 

ANPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/11/06 

NPRM .................. 08/24/16 81 FR 57854 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

10/23/16 

NPRM Comment 

Period Reopened.

11/16/16 81 FR 80629 

NPRM Comment 

Period Reopened End.

12/01/16 

Final Action ......... To Be Determined 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, 

Phone: 301 427–8400. 

RIN: 0648–AU02 

200. Designation of Critical Habitat for 

the Arctic Ringed Seal 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Regulatory. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

Abstract: The National Marine 

Fisheries Service published a final rule 

to list the Arctic ringed seal as a 

threatened species under the 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 

December 2012. The ESA requires 

designation of critical habitat at the time 

a species is listed as threatened or 

endangered, or within one year of listing 

if critical habitat is not then 

determinable. This rulemaking would 

designate critical habitat for the Arctic 

ringed seal. The critical habitat 

designation would be in the northern 

Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas 

within the current range of the species. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 12/03/14 79 FR 71714 

Proposed Rule .... 12/09/14 79 FR 73010 

Notice of Public 

Hearings.

01/13/15 80 FR 1618 

Comment Period 

Extended.

02/02/15 80 FR 5498 

To Be Determined To Be Determined 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, 

Phone: 301 427–8400. 

RIN: 0648–BC56 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) 

Completed Actions 

201. Amendment 18 to the Northeast 

Multispecies Fishery Management Plan 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: Amendment 18 to the 

Northeast Multispecies Fishery 

Management Plan made necessary 

minor administrative adjustments to 

several groundfish sectors, as well as 

minor adjustments to fishing activity 

designed to protect fishery resources 

while maximizing flexibility and 

efficiency. Specifically, it included the 

following management measures: 

Created an accumulation limit for either 

the holdings of Potential Sector 

Contribution or of Northeast 

multispecies permits; created a subannual catch limit that Handgear A 

permits could enroll in and other 

measures pertaining to fishing with 

Handgear A permits; adjusted what 

fishery data are considered confidential, 

specifically the price of annual catch 

entitlement transferred within a sector 

or leased between sectors; established 

an inshore/offshore boundary within the 

Gulf of Maine with associated measures, 

including creation of a Gulf of Maine 

cod sub-annual catch limit; adjusted the 

Gulf of Maine Gear Restricted Area 

boundary to align with the inshore/ 

offshore boundary; created declaration 

time periods for fishing in the inshore 

or offshore areas; and established a 

Redfish Exemption Area, in which 

vessels could fish with a smaller mesh 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
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net than the standard mesh size, 

targeting redfish. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.12/06/16 81 FR 87862 

NPRM .................. 12/20/16 81 FR 92761 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/03/17 

Final Action ......... 04/21/17 82 FR 18706 

Correction ............ 04/28/17 82 FR 19630 

Final Action Effective.05/22/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BF26 

202. Amendment 26 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Coastal Migratory 

Pelagic Resources of the Gulf Of Mexico 

and South Atlantic 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: As per Amendment 26, this 

rule modified the management/stock 

boundary for Gulf and Atlantic 

migratory groups of king mackerel; 

updated the biological reference points 

and revised the acceptable biological 

catch, optimum yield, annual catch 

limits, and annual catch targets for Gulf 

and Atlantic migratory group king 

mackerel; created an incidental catch 

allowance of Atlantic migratory group 

king mackerel caught in the shark 

gillnet fishery; established split season 

commercial quotas and a trip limit 

system for the Atlantic Southern Zone; 

revised the commercial quotas for Gulf 

zones; and modified the recreational bag 

limit for Gulf migratory group king 

mackerel. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.12/14/16 81 FR 90314 

NPRM .................. 12/29/16 81 FR 95941 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/30/17 

Final Action ......... 04/11/17 82 FR 17387 

Final Action Effective.05/11/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG03 

203. Amendment 43 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the Reef Fish 

Resources of the Gulf of Mexico 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: Based on a recent stock 

assessment and per the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act, action was needed to 

adjust management measures for the 

Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) hogfish stock to 

prevent overfishing and achieve 

optimum yield. Consistent with the 

stock assessment, this action redefined 

the geographic range of the Gulf hogfish 

stock, set the status determination 

criteria, and set the annual catch limits. 

This action also revised the hogfish 

minimum size limit to reduce the 

likelihood of a season closure due to the 

annual catch limit being reached and 

removed the provision in the 

regulations that exempts hogfish from 

the prohibition on the use of 

powerheads to take Gulf reef fish in the 

Gulf stressed area. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.11/04/16 81 FR 76908 

NPRM .................. 11/23/16 81 FR 84538 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

12/23/16 

Final Action ......... 07/25/17 82 FR 34574 

Final Action Effective.08/24/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG18 

204. Protected Species Hard Caps for 

the California/Oregon Large–Mesh Drift 

Gillnet Fishery 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Deregulatory. 

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

Abstract: The National Marine 

Fisheries Service withdrew a proposed 

rule to establish strict limits, termed 

‘‘hard caps,’’ for the California/Oregon 

large-mesh drift gillnet fishery on 

interactions with certain protected 

species under Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act authority. The National Marine 

Fisheries Service published the 

proposed rule in the Federal Register on 

October 13, 2016. After careful 

consideration, the National Marine 

Fisheries Service has decided that the 

changes discussed in the proposed rule 

are not warranted at this time. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 10/13/16 81 FR 70660 

NPRM Comment 

Period Extended.

11/23/16 81 FR 84546 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/28/16 

NPRM Comment 

Period Extended End.

12/28/16 

Withdrawn ........... 06/12/17 82 FR 26902 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG23 

205. Amendment 37 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 

Region 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: Amendment 37 responded 

to the latest stock assessment for 

hogfish, which identified two stocks of 

hogfish for the South Atlantic Region 

(managed by the South Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council) and one stock of 

hogfish for the Gulf of Mexico (managed 

by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council). The purpose of 

Amendment 37 was to use the best 

scientific information available to 

modify the management unit for hogfish 

in the South Atlantic Region and 

establish two management units (stocks) 

for hogfish; establish a rebuilding plan 

for the Florida Keys/East Florida stock; 

specify fishing levels and modify or 

establish management measures for the 

Georgia through North Carolina and 

Florida Keys/East Florida stocks of 

hogfish; while minimizing, to the extent 

practicable, adverse social and 

economic effects. 

Timetable: 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
1846 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.10/07/16 81 FR 69774 

NPRM .................. 12/16/16 81 FR 91104 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/17/17 

Final Action ......... 07/25/17 82 FR 34584 

Correction Final 

Rule.

08/24/17 82 FR 40075 

Final Action Effective.08/24/17 82 FR 34584 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roy E. Crabtree, 

Regional Administrator, Southeast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 263 13th Avenue 

South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 

727 824–5305, Fax: 727 824–5308, 

Email: roy.crabtree@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG33 

206. Unmanaged Forage Fish Omnibus 

Amendment 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This amendment was 

initiated to prohibit the development of 

new—and expansion of existing— 

commercial and recreational fisheries in 

mid-Atlantic Federal waters that would 

exploit unmanaged forage fish species. 

This action added unmanaged forage 

species as Ecosystem Component 

species to the relevant Mid-Atlantic 

Council fishery management plans. The 

Forage Amendment established: the list 

of forage species managed as Ecosystem 

Component species in the Mid-Atlantic 

region; Management measures for all 

forage Ecosystem Component species, 

except chub mackerel; Management 

measures for chub mackerel; a 

mechanism for establishing new 

fisheries or expansion of existing 

fisheries for Ecosystem Component 

species; and Administrative provisions 

for managing Ecosystem Component 

species (list of fisheries and fishing gear; 

permit requirement; monitoring; 

management unit; and framework 

measures). 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.03/28/17 82 FR 15311 

NPRM .................. 04/24/17 82 FR 18882 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/30/17 

Final Action ......... 08/28/17 82 FR 40721 

Final Action Effective.09/27/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG42 

207. Pacific Coast Groundfish; Establish 

an Interim 2017 Pacific Coast Tribal 

Pacific Whiting Allocation 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action established an 

interim 2017 tribal whiting allocation. 

NMFS developed this final rule after 

discussions with the affected tribes and 

the non-tribal fisheries interests. As in 

prior years, this allocation was an 

‘‘interim’’ allocation that was not 

intended to set precedent for future 

years. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 03/23/17 82 FR 14850 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/24/17 

Final Action ......... 05/08/17 82 FR 21317 

Final Action Effective.05/08/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG47 

208. Fishing Year 2017 Recreational 

Fishing Measures for Gulf of Maine Cod 

and Haddock 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action set recreational 

measures (open season, possession 

limit, minimum size) for the 

recreational fishery for cod and haddock 

in the Gulf of Maine for the 2017 fishing 

year (May 1, 2017, through April 30, 

2018). These were proactive 

accountability measures to prevent the 

annual catch limits from being 

exceeded, as authorized by the 

regulations implementing the Northeast 

Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. 

The measures were based on newlyavailable catch information and 

previously set quotas for fishing year 

2017. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 05/25/17 82 FR 24086 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

06/09/17 

Final Action Effective.07/27/17 

Final Action ......... 07/31/17 82 FR 35457 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG52 

209. Framework Adjustment 56 to the 

Northeast Multispecies Fishery 

Management Plan 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This action set 2017 

specifications for three U.S./Canada 

stocks (Eastern Georges Bank cod, 

Eastern Georges Bank haddock, and 

Georges Bank yellowtail flounder), as 

well as 2017–2018 specifications for 

witch flounder. This action established 

an allocation for northern windowpane 

flounder for the scallop fishery, revised 

catch thresholds for implementing the 

scallop fishery’s accountability 

measures for both its Georges Bank 

yellowtail flounder allocation and its 

new northern windowpane flounder 

allocation, and increased the Georges 

Bank haddock catch allocation for the 

midwater trawl fishery. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/22/17 82 FR 28447 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/07/17 

Final Rule ............ 08/01/17 82 FR 35660 

Final Rule Effective.08/01/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG53 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 1847 

210. Amendment 114 for Groundfish of 

the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 

Management Area and Amendment 104 

for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; 

Electronic Monitoring 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

Abstract: This regulation made 

substantive improvements to the North 

Pacific Observer Program by giving 

certain vessels a choice to use electronic 

monitoring instead of observers for 

collecting fishery data. The North 

Pacific Fishery Management Council 

amended its fisheries research plan for 

the fixed gear groundfish and halibut 

fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska and 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The 

Council’s fisheries research plan is 

implemented by the North Pacific 

Observer Program at the NMFS Alaska 

Fisheries Science Center, and its 

purpose is to collect data necessary for 

the conservation, management, and 

scientific understanding of the 

groundfish and halibut fisheries off 

Alaska. This action allowed an 

electronic monitoring system, which 

consists of a control center to manage 

the data collection, onboard vessels to 

monitor the harvest and discard of fish 

and other incidental catch at sea, as a 

supplement to existing human observer 

coverage. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Notice of Availability.03/10/17 82 FR 13302 

NPRM .................. 03/23/17 82 FR 14853 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/22/17 

Final Rule ............ 08/08/17 82 FR 36991 

Final Rule Effective.09/07/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: James Balsiger, 

Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 709 West Ninth Street, 

Juneau, AK 99801, Phone: 907 586– 

7221, Fax: 907 586–7465, Email: 

jim.balsiger@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG54 

211. Revisions to the Pacific Halibut 

Catch Sharing Plan, Codified 

Regulations, and Annual Management 

Measures for 2017 and Beyond 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

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

seq.; 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

951 et seq.; 18 U.S.C. 773 to 773k 

Abstract: This action was NMFS’ 

annual rulemaking regarding Pacific 

halibut fishing on the U.S. West Coast 

and implemented the Pacific Halibut 

Catch Sharing Plan (Plan). The Plan, in 

place since 1995, governs the allocation 

of the annual Pacific halibut total 

allowable catch to the domestic fisheries 

of the U.S. West Coast, including the 

Washington treaty tribes, directed and 

incidental commercial fisheries and 

sport fisheries in each of the three West 

Coast states. The total allowable catch is 

set by the International Pacific Halibut 

Commission and approved by the 

Secretary of State. Based on public 

comment, the Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) 

recommends any revisions necessary to 

the Plan to achieve management 

objectives for any of the West Coast 

halibut fisheries to NMFS for 

implementation through annual 

management measures. This action thus 

implemented the Council’s 

recommended 2017 revisions, which 

comprised minor changes to the portion 

of the Plan covering sport fishery 

monitoring, seasons, and retention 

rules. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 02/23/17 82 FR 11419 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/15/17 

Final Rule ............ 04/20/17 82 FR 18581 

Final Rule Effective.04/20/17 

Final Rule Correction.06/20/17 82 FR 28012 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG61 

212. International Fisheries; Pacific 

Tuna Fisheries; Fishing Restriction on 

Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific 

Ocean 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 973 et seq. 

Abstract: This action implemented 

domestically a resolution (C–17–01, 

Conservation of Tuna in the Eastern 

Pacific Ocean During 2017) adopted at 

the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 

Commission by the United States and 

other member nations. Domestic 

implementation of the resolution 

through NMFS rulemaking action is 

required under the Tuna Conventions 

Act in order for the United States to 

fulfill its international obligations as 

member nation of the Inter-American 

Tropical Tuna Commission 

(Commission). In implementing 

Resolution C–17–01, this action set 2017 

total allowable catch limits for yellowfin 

and bigeye tuna harvested in purse 

seine sets on floating objects and in sets 

involving chase and encirclement of 

dolphins. The action also carried over 

management measures that were 

previously in place for 2016, including 

catch limits or prohibitions for certain 

large vessels, time-area closures, and 

retention requirements. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Final Action ......... 04/11/17 82 FR 17382 

Final Action Effective.05/11/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Barry Thom, 

Regional Administrator, West Coast 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd 

Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 

97232, Phone: 503 231–6266, Email: 

barry.thom@noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG67 

213. 2017 Summer Flounder and Scup 

Recreational Harvest Measures 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Not subject 

to, not significant 

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

Abstract: This rule finalized 

management measures—such as 

recreational possession limits, 

minimum fish sizes, and seasonal 

closures—to achieve recreational 

harvest limits for the 2017 summer 

flounder and scup recreational fisheries. 

Specifically, this action established 

conservation equivalency in Federal 

waters for the 2017 recreational summer 

flounder fishery. Conservation 

equivalency means that management 

would defer to state management 

measures. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/19/17 82 FR 18411 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/04/17 

Final Action ......... 07/07/17 82 FR 31491 

Final Action Effective.07/07/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4
1848 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / Unified Agenda 

Agency Contact: John K. Bullard, 

Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 

Region, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Phone: 

978 281–9287, Email: john.bullard@

noaa.gov. 

RIN: 0648–BG68 

214. Designation of Critical Habitat for 

the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, 

Chesapeake Bay, Carolina, and South 

Atlantic Distinct Population Segments 

of Atlantic Sturgeon 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Fully or 

Partially Exempt. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

Abstract: The National Marine 

Fisheries Service listed four distinct 

population segments of Atlantic 

sturgeon as endangered—and one 

distinct population of Atlantic sturgeon 

as threatened—under the Endangered 

Species Act on February 6, 2012. This 

rule designated critical habitat for the 

Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, 

Chesapeake Bay, Carolina, and South 

Atlantic Distinct Population Segments 

of Atlantic sturgeon. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/03/16 81 FR 35701 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/01/16 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM Comment 

Period Reopened.

09/29/16 81 FR 66911 

NPRM Comment 

Period Reopened End.

10/14/16 

Final Action ......... 08/17/17 82 FR 39160 

Final Action Effective.09/18/17 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Donna Wieting, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

Department of Commerce, National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 

Phone: 301 427–8400. 

RIN: 0648–BF28 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) 

Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) 

Final Rule Stage 

215. Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees 

During Fiscal Year 2017 

E.O. 13771 Designation: Fully or 

Partially Exempt. 

Legal Authority: Pub. L. 112–29 

Abstract: The United States Patent 

and Trademark Office (Office) takes this 

action to set and adjust Patent fee 

amounts to provide the Office with a 

sufficient amount of aggregate revenue 

to recover its aggregate cost of 

operations while helping the Office 

maintain a sustainable funding model, 

reduce the current patent application 

backlog, decrease patent pendency, 

improve quality, and upgrade the 

Office’s business information 

technology capability and 

infrastructure. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 10/03/16 81 FR 68150 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

12/02/16 

Final Rule ............ 11/00/17 

Final Rule Effective.01/00/18 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Brendan Hourigan, 

Director, Office of Planning and Budget, 

Department of Commerce, Patent and 

Trademark Office, P. O. Box 1450, 

Alexandria, VA 22313–1450, Phone: 571 

272–8966, Fax: 571 273–8966, Email: 

brendan.hourigan@uspto.gov. 

RIN: 0651–AD02 

[FR Doc. 2017–28208 Filed 1–11–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–12–P 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS4