2964 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2018 / Notices 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before this group for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Action will 

be restricted to those issues specifically 

identified in this notice and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the intent to take final action 

to address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

These meetings are physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for auxiliary aids should be 

directed to the council office (see 

ADDRESSES) at least 10 days prior to the 

meeting. 

Note: The times and sequence specified in 

this agenda are subject to change. 

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

Dated: January 17, 2018. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–01001 Filed 1–19–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XF878 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the 

Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska 

Rockfish Program 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notification of standard prices 

and fee percentage. 

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes the standard 

ex-vessel prices and fee percentage for 

cost recovery under the Central Gulf of 

Alaska Rockfish Program. This action is 

intended to provide participants in a 

rockfish cooperative with the standard 

prices and fee percentage for the 2017 

fishing year, which was authorized from 

May 1 through November 15. The fee 

percentage is 2.04 percent. The fee 

payments are due from each rockfish 

cooperative on or before February 15, 

2018. 

DATES: Valid on: January 22, 2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl 

Greene, 907–586–7105. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The rockfish fisheries are conducted 

in Federal waters near Kodiak, AK, by 

trawl and longline vessels. Regulations 

implementing the Central Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA) Rockfish Program (Rockfish 

Program) are set forth at 50 CFR part 

679. Exclusive harvesting privileges are 

allocated as quota share under the 

Rockfish Program for rockfish primary 

and secondary species. Each year, 

NMFS issues rockfish primary and 

secondary species cooperative quota 

(CQ) to rockfish quota share holders to 

authorize harvest of these species. The 

rockfish primary species are northern 

rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky 

rockfish. In 2012, dusky rockfish 

replaced the pelagic shelf rockfish 

species group in the GOA Groundfish 

Harvest Specifications (77 FR 15194, 

March 14, 2012). The rockfish 

secondary species include Pacific cod, 

rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, 

sablefish, and thornyhead rockfish. 

Rockfish cooperatives began fishing 

under the Rockfish Program on May 1, 

2012. 

The Rockfish Program is a limited 

access privilege program established 

under the provisions of section 303A of 

the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act). Sections 303A 

and 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 

require NMFS to collect fees to recover 

the actual costs directly related to the 

management, data collection and 

analysis, and enforcement of any 

limited access privilege program. 

Therefore, NMFS is required to collect 

fees for the Rockfish Program under 

sections 303A and 304(d)(2) of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act. Section 

304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 

also limits the cost recovery fee so that 

it may not exceed 3 percent of the exvessel value of the fish harvested under 

the Rockfish Program. 

Standard Prices 

NMFS calculates cost recovery fees 

based on standard ex-vessel value 

prices, rather than actual price data 

provided by each rockfish CQ holder. 

Use of standard ex-vessel prices is 

allowed under sections 303A and 

304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 

NMFS generates a standard ex-vessel 

price for each rockfish primary and 

secondary species on a monthly basis to 

determine the average price paid per 

pound for all shoreside processors 

receiving rockfish primary and 

secondary species CQ. 

Regulations at § 679.85(b)(2) require 

the Regional Administrator to publish 

rockfish standard ex-vessel values 

during the first quarter of each calendar 

year. The standard prices are described 

in U.S. dollars per pound for rockfish 

primary and secondary species CQ 

landings made during the previous year. 

Fee Percentage 

NMFS assesses a fee on the standard 

ex-vessel value of rockfish primary 

species and rockfish secondary species 

CQ harvested by rockfish cooperatives 

in the Central GOA and waters adjacent 

to the Central GOA when rockfish 

primary species caught by a cooperative 

are deducted from the Federal total 

allowable catch. The rockfish entry level 

longline fishery and trawl vessels that 

opt out of joining a cooperative are not 

subject to cost recovery fees because 

those participants do not receive 

rockfish CQ. Specific details on the 

Rockfish Program’s cost recovery 

provision may be found in the 

implementing regulations set forth at 

§ 679.85. 

NMFS informs—by letter—each 

rockfish cooperative of the fee 

percentage applied to the previous 

year’s landings and the total amount 

due. Fees are due on or before February 

15 of each year. Failure to pay on time 

will result in the permit holder’s 

rockfish quota share becoming nontransferable, and the person will be 

ineligible to receive any additional 

rockfish quota share by transfer. In 

addition, cooperative members will not 

receive any rockfish CQ the following 

year until full payment of the fee is 

received by NMFS. 

NMFS calculates and publishes in the 

Federal Register the fee percentage in 

the first quarter of each year according 

to the factors and methods described in 

Federal regulations at § 679.85(c)(2). 

NMFS determines the fee percentage 

that applies to landings made in the 

previous year by dividing the total 

Rockfish Program management, data 

collection and analysis, and 

enforcement costs (direct program costs) 

during the previous year by the total 

standard ex-vessel value of the rockfish 

primary species and rockfish secondary 

species for all rockfish CQ landings 

made during the previous year (fishery 

value). NMFS captures the direct 

program costs through an established 

accounting system that allows staff to 

track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and 

procurement. Fee collections in any 

given year may be less than, or greater 

than, the direct program costs and 

fishery value for that year, because, by 

regulation, the fee percentage is 

established in the first quarter of the 

calendar year based on the program 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2018 / Notices 2965 

costs and the fishery value of the 

previous calendar year. 

Using the fee percentage formula 

described above, the estimated 

percentage of program costs to value for 

the 2017 calendar year is 2.04 percent 

of the standard ex-vessel value. The fee 

percentage for 2017 is a decrease from 

the 2016 fee percentage of 2.54 percent 

(82 FR 5533, January 18, 2017). Program 

costs for 2017 were 46 percent lower 

than in 2016, with the majority of the 

reduction coming from personnel, 

overhead, and contracting costs. 

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY SPECIES FOR THE 2017 ROCKFISH PROGRAM SEASON IN KODIAK, ALASKA

Species Period ending 

Standard 

ex-vessel 

price per 

pound 

Dusky rockfish * ............................................................................................................ May 31 ...................................................... $0.16 

June 30 ..................................................... 0.16 

July 31 ...................................................... 0.16 

August 31 .................................................. 0.16 

September 30 ........................................... 0.16 

October 31 ................................................ 0.16 

November 30 ............................................ 0.16 

Northern rockfish .......................................................................................................... May 31 ...................................................... 0.15 

June 30 ..................................................... 0.14 

July 31 ...................................................... 0.15 

August 31 .................................................. 0.15 

September 30 ........................................... 0.15 

October 31 ................................................ 0.15 

November 30 ............................................ 0.15 

Pacific cod .................................................................................................................... May 31 ...................................................... 0.36 

June 30 ..................................................... 0.35 

July 31 ...................................................... 0.35 

August 31 .................................................. 0.35 

September 30 ........................................... 0.35 

October 31 ................................................ 0.35 

November 30 ............................................ 0.35 

Pacific ocean perch ...................................................................................................... May 31 ...................................................... 0.18 

June 30 ..................................................... 0.18 

July 31 ...................................................... 0.18 

August 31 .................................................. 0.18 

September 30 ........................................... 0.18 

October 31 ................................................ 0.18 

November 30 ............................................ 0.18 

Rougheye rockfish ........................................................................................................ May 31 ...................................................... 0.20 

June 30 ..................................................... 0.20 

July 31 ...................................................... 0.20 

August 31 .................................................. 0.20 

September 30 ........................................... 0.20 

October 31 ................................................ 0.20 

November 30 ............................................ 0.15 

Sablefish ....................................................................................................................... May 31 ...................................................... 3.80 

June 30 ..................................................... 3.27 

July 31 ...................................................... 3.37 

August 31 .................................................. 3.37 

September 30 ........................................... 3.61 

October 31 ................................................ 3.07 

November 30 ............................................ 3.12 

Shortraker rockfish ....................................................................................................... May 31 ...................................................... 0.21 

June 30 ..................................................... 0.21 

July 31 ...................................................... 0.21 

August 31 .................................................. 0.21 

September 30 ........................................... 0.21 

October 31 ................................................ 0.21 

November 30 ............................................ 0.21 

Thornyhead rockfish ..................................................................................................... May 31 ...................................................... 0.39 

June 30 ..................................................... 0.35 

July 31 ...................................................... 0.36 

August 31 .................................................. 0.36 

September 30 ........................................... 0.38 

October 31 ................................................ 0.37 

November 30 ............................................ 0.32 

* The pelagic shelf rockfish species group has been changed to ‘‘dusky rockfish.’’ 


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2966 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2018 / Notices 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et 

seq.; 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 108–447; Pub. L. 

111–281. 

Dated: January 17, 2018. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–01009 Filed 1–19–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Ocean Exploration Advisory Board 

(OEAB); the OEAB Meeting Is 

Scheduled for January 30–31, 2018 in 

Seattle, WA 

AGENCY: Office of Ocean Exploration 

and Research (OER), National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA), Department of Commerce 

(DOC). 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the 

schedule and proposed agenda of a 

forthcoming meeting of the Ocean 

Exploration Advisory Board (OEAB). 

OEAB members will discuss and 

provide advice on Federal ocean 

exploration programs, with a particular 

emphasis on National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

Office of Ocean Exploration and 

Research (OER) activities; discuss 

nontraditional ocean exploration 

platforms; discuss National Ocean 

Exploration Forums; and conduct its 

annual review of the OER federal 

funding opportunity process; and other 

matters as described in the agenda 

found on the OEAB website at http://

oeab.noaa.gov. 

DATES: The announced meeting is 

scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, 2018 

from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST and 

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 from 9:00 

to 5:00 p.m. PST. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at: 

School of Oceanography, University of 

Washington, 1503 NE Boat Street, 

Seattle, WA 98105. 

Status: The meeting will be open to 

the public with a 15-minute public 

comment period on Tuesday, January 

30, 2018 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

PST (please check the final agenda on 

the website to confirm the time). The 

public may listen to the meeting and 

provide comments during the public 

comment period via teleconference. 

Dial-in information may be found on the 

meeting agenda posted to the OEAB 

website. 

The OEAB expects that public 

statements at its meetings will not be 

repetitive of previously submitted 

verbal or written statements. In general, 

each individual or group making a 

verbal presentation will be limited to 

three minutes. The Designated Federal 

Officer must receive written comments 

by January 27, 2018 to provide sufficient 

time for OEAB review. Written 

comments received after January 27, 

2018 will be distributed to the OEAB 

but may not be reviewed prior to the 

meeting date. Seats will be available on 

a first-come, first-served basis. 

Special Accommodations: These 

meetings are physically accessible to 

people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to 

David McKinnie, Designated Federal 

Officer (see below) by January 27, 2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

David McKinnie, Designated Federal 

Officer, Ocean Exploration Advisory 

Board, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand 

Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98115, (206) 

526–6950. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA 

established the OEAB under the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and 

legislation that gives the agency 

statutory authority to operate an ocean 

exploration program and to coordinate a 

national program of ocean exploration. 

The OEAB advises NOAA leadership on 

strategic planning, exploration 

priorities, competitive ocean 

exploration grant programs and other 

matters as the NOAA Administrator 

requests. 

OEAB members represent government 

agencies, the private sector, academic 

institutions, and not-for-profit 

institutions involved in all facets of 

ocean exploration—from advanced 

technology to citizen exploration. 

In addition to advising NOAA 

leadership, NOAA expects the OEAB to 

help to define and develop a national 

program of ocean exploration—a 

network of stakeholders and 

partnerships advancing national 

priorities for ocean exploration. 

Dated: January 11, 2018. 

David Holst, 

Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2018–01040 Filed 1–19–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–KA–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

[Docket No.: ED–2017–ICCD–0137] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget for Review 

and Approval; Comment Request; 

Lender’s Application Process (LAP) 

AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), 

Department of Education (ED). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 

proposing an extension of an existing 

information collection. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before February 

21, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the 

documents related to the information 

collection listed in this notice, please 

use http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching the Docket ID number ED– 

2017–ICCD–0137. Comments submitted 

in response to this notice should be 

submitted electronically through the 

Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://

www.regulations.gov by selecting the 

Docket ID number or via postal mail, 

commercial delivery, or hand delivery. 

Please note that comments submitted by 

fax or email and those submitted after 

the comment period will not be 

accepted. Written requests for 

information or comments submitted by 

postal mail or delivery should be 

addressed to the Director of the 

Information Collection Clearance 

Division, U.S. Department of Education, 

400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room 

216–34, Washington, DC 20202–4537. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

specific questions related to collection 

activities, please contact Beth 

Grebeldinger, 202–377–4018. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Department of Education (ED), in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general 

public and Federal agencies with an 

opportunity to comment on proposed, 

revised, and continuing collections of 

information. This helps the Department 

assess the impact of its information 

collection requirements and minimize 

the public’s reporting burden. It also 

helps the public understand the 

Department’s information collection 

requirements and provide the requested 

data in the desired format. ED is 

soliciting comments on the proposed 

information collection request (ICR) that 

is described below. The Department of 

Education is especially interested in 

public comment addressing the 


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