Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 16 / Wednesday, January 24, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 3281 

(iii) Travel costs are exempt from clause 

552.238–74 Industrial Funding Fee and Sales 

Reporting. 

(End of Clause) 

[FR Doc. 2018–01232 Filed 1–23–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6820–61–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] 

RIN 0648–XF924 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Pot 

Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands Management Area 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/ 

processors using pot gear in the Bering 

Sea and Aleutian Islands management 

area (BSAI). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the A season 

apportionment of the 2018 Pacific cod 

total allowable catch allocated to 

catcher/processors using pot gear in the 

BSAI. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2018, 

through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 

2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

BSAI exclusive economic zone 

according to the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands Management Area 

(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council under 

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act. Regulations governing fishing by 

U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP 

appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 

and 50 CFR part 679. 

The A season apportionment of the 

2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch 

(TAC) allocated to catcher/processors 

using pot gear in the BSAI is 1,387 

metric tons (mt) as established by the 

final 2017 and 2018 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) 

and inseason adjustment (82 FR 60329, 

December 20, 2017). 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 

determined that the A season 

apportionment of the 2018 Pacific cod 

TAC allocated as a directed fishing 

allowance to catcher/processors using 

pot gear in the BSAI will soon be 

reached. Consequently, NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific 

cod by pot catcher/processors in the 

BSAI. 

After the effective date of this closure 

the maximum retainable amounts at 

§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time 

during a trip. 

Classification 

This action responds to the best 

available information recently obtained 

from the fishery. The Assistant 

Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA 

(AA), finds good cause to waive the 

requirement to provide prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment 

pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest. This requirement is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest as it would prevent NMFS from 

responding to the most recent fisheries 

data in a timely fashion and would 

delay the closure of directed fishing for 

Pacific cod by pot catcher/processors in 

the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish 

a notice providing time for public 

comment because the most recent, 

relevant data only became available as 

of January 18, 2018. 

The AA also finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in the effective 

date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 

553(d)(3). This finding is based upon 

the reasons provided above for waiver of 

prior notice and opportunity for public 

comment. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: January 18, 2018. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–01223 Filed 1–19–18; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] 

RIN 0648–XF925 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal 

to 60 Feet Length Overall Using Pot 

Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands Management Area 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 

greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 

meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using 

pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands management area (BSAI). This 

action is necessary to prevent exceeding 

the A season apportionment of the 2018 

Pacific cod total allowable catch 

allocated to catcher vessels greater than 

or equal to 60 feet (18.3m) LOA using 

pot gear in the BSAI. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), January 19, 2018, 

through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 

2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

BSAI exclusive economic zone 

according to the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands Management Area 

(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council under 

authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act. Regulations governing fishing by 

U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP 

appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 

and 50 CFR part 679. 

The A season apportionment of the 

2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch 

(TAC) allocated to catcher vessels 

greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3m) 

LOA using pot gear in the BSAI is 7,770 

metric tons (mt) as established by the 

final 2017 and 2018 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 2017) 

and inseason adjustment (82 FR 60329, 

December 20, 2017). 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 


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