47596 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 163 / Thursday, August 26, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

Judge Qualifications and Scoring 

Criteria 

(5) Comment: Six of the seven 

comments did not oppose the alignment 

of the qualifications for selection as a 

judge and the scoring criteria for the 

Contest with the removal of the 

permanent theme and requirement for 

inclusion of a mandatory waterfowl 

hunting accessory in Contest entries. 

One comment stated that given the 

change in the Contest rules, the Service 

should eliminate the qualification that a 

judge be familiar with the wildlife 

sporting world in which the Duck 

Stamp is used. Several comments 

addressed other changes to the judging 

panel and process that are beyond the 

scope of this rule. 

Service Response: The Service made 

no changes to the final rule in response 

to these comments. An understanding of 

the wildlife sporting world in which the 

Duck Stamp is used is only one of 

several qualifications that an individual 

may possess in order to qualify to be a 

judge. 

Amendments to Existing Regulations 

The Service made no changes to the 

final rule in response to the comments 

we received on the proposed rule. As 

we proposed on June 23, 2021, at 86 FR 

32878, this rule removes the permanent 

theme of ‘‘celebrating our waterfowl 

hunting heritage’’ and the mandatory 

inclusion of a waterfowl hunting-related 

scene or accessory in Contest entries 

and accordingly revises the 

qualifications for selection as a judge 

and the scoring criteria for the Contest, 

beginning with the 2022 Contest. 

Accordingly, this rule sets forth 

amended regulations for: 

• The Contest restrictions on subject 

matter for entries at 50 CFR 91.14. 

• Judge qualifications at 50 CFR 

91.21(b). 

• Scoring criteria at 50 CFR 91.23. 

These regulatory amendments allow 

artists more freedom of expression when 

designing their Contest entries and 

better engage the nonhunting audience 

in understanding that Duck Stamps are 

a vital tool available for all to contribute 

to habitat conservation. The Service 

acknowledges that waterfowl hunters 

remain the primary customers of Duck 

Stamps, as these hunters must carry an 

annual signed stamp as part of their 

licensing requirements, and rather than 

mandating a permanent theme for the 

Contest and the inclusion of a huntingrelated accessory in Contest entries, we 

will develop other methods to promote 

the wildlife and habitat conservation 

contributions by waterfowl hunters. 

Required Determinations 

For this final rule, we affirm the 

following required determinations 

provided in our June 23, 2021, proposed 

rule (86 FR 32878): • National Environmental Policy Act 

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 

1531 et seq.); • Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 

601 et seq.); • Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 

804(2)); • Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); • Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and • Executive Orders 12630, 12866, 

12988, 13132, 13175, 13211, and 13563. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 91 

Hunting, Wildlife. 

Regulation Promulgation 

Accordingly, we amend part 91, 

subchapter G of chapter I, title 50 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations, as follows: 

PART 91—MIGRATORY BIRD 

HUNTING AND CONSERVATION 

STAMP CONTEST 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 91 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 718j; 31 

U.S.C. 9701. 

■ 2. Revise § 91.14 to read as follows: 

§ 91.14 Restrictions on subject matter for 

entry. 

A live portrayal of any bird(s) of the 

five or fewer identified eligible 

waterfowl species must be the dominant 

feature of the design. The design may 

depict more than one of the eligible 

species. The judges’ overall mandate is 

to select the best design that will make 

an interesting, useful, and attractive 

duck stamp that will be accepted and 

prized by hunters, stamp collectors, 

conservationists, and others. The design 

must be the contestant’s original handdrawn creation. The entry design may 

not be copied or duplicated from 

previously published art, including 

photographs, or from images in any 

format published on the internet. 

Photographs, computer-generated art, or 

art produced from a computer printer or 

other computer/mechanical output 

device (airbrush method excepted) are 

not eligible to be entered into the 

contest and will be disqualified. An 

entry submitted in a prior contest that 

was not selected for a Federal or State 

stamp design may be submitted in the 

current contest if the entry meets the 

criteria set forth in this section. 

■ 3. Amend § 91.21 by revising 

paragraph (b) to read as follows: 

§ 91.21 Selection and qualification of 

contest judges. 

* * * * * 

(b) Qualifications. The panel of five 

judges will comprise individuals who 

have one or more of the following 

prerequisites: Recognized art 

credentials, knowledge of the 

anatomical makeup and the natural 

habitat of the eligible waterfowl species, 

an understanding of the wildlife 

sporting world in which the Duck 

Stamp is used, an awareness of philately 

and the role the Duck Stamp plays in 

stamp collecting, and demonstrated 

support for the conservation of 

waterfowl and wetlands through active 

involvement in the conservation 

community. 

* * * * * 

■ 4. Revise § 91.23 to read as follows: 

§ 91.23 Scoring criteria for contest. 

Entries will be judged on the basis of 

anatomical accuracy, artistic 

composition, and suitability for 

reduction in the production of a stamp. 

Shannon A. Estenoz, 

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and 

Parks. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18479 Filed 8–24–21; 11:15 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 665 

[RTID 0648–XB264] 

Pacific Island Fisheries; 2021 U.S. 

Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch 

Limits for the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Announcement of a valid 

specified fishing agreement. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid 

specified fishing agreement that 

allocates up to 1,500 metric tons (t) of 

the 2021 bigeye tuna limit for the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands (CNMI) to U.S. longline fishing 

vessels. The agreement supports the 

long-term sustainability of fishery 

resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and 

fisheries development in the CNMI. 

DATES: The specified fishing agreement 

was valid as of July 15, 2021. The start 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 163 / Thursday, August 26, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 47597 

date for attributing 2021 bigeye tuna 

catch to the CNMI is August 30, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: The Fishery Ecosystem Plan 

for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 

Pacific (FEP) describes specified fishing 

agreements and is available from the 

Western Pacific Fishery Management 

Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., 

Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel. 

808–522–8220, fax 808–522–8226, or 

http://www.wpcouncil.org. 

NMFS prepared environmental 

analyses that describe the potential 

impacts on the human environment that 

would result from the action. The 

analyses, identified by NOAA–NMFS– 

2020–0010, are available from https://

www.regulations.gov/search/ 

docket?filter=NOAA-NMFS-2020-0010, 

or from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional 

Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands 

Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 

176, Honolulu, HI 96818. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lynn Rassel, NMFS PIRO Sustainable 

Fisheries, 808–725–5184. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final 

rule published on January 12, 2021, 

NMFS specified a 2021 limit of 2,000 t 

of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each 

of the U.S. Pacific Island territories of 

American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI 

(86 FR 2297). NMFS allows each 

territory to allocate up to 1,500 t of the 

2,000 t limit to U.S. longline fishing 

vessels identified in a valid specified 

fishing agreement, but the total 

allocation among all territories may not 

exceed 3,000 t. 

On June 25, 2021, NMFS received 

from the Council a specified fishing 

agreement between the CNMI and the 

Hawaii Longline Association. The 

Council’s Executive Director advised 

that the agreement is consistent with the 

FEP and its implementing regulations. 

On July 15, 2021, NMFS reviewed the 

agreement and determined that it is 

consistent with the FEP, implementing 

regulations, the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, and other applicable laws. 

In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d) 

and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), vessels in the 

agreement may retain and land bigeye 

tuna in the western and central Pacific 

Ocean under the CNMI attribution 

specified in the fishing agreement. On 

August 30, 2021, NMFS began 

attributing bigeye tuna caught by vessels 

in the agreement to the CNMI. If NMFS 

determines that the fishery will reach 

the 1,500 t allocation specified in the 

CNMI agreement, we will restrict the 

retention of bigeye tuna caught by 

vessels in the agreement, unless the 

vessels are included in a subsequent 

specified fishing agreement with 

another U.S. territory. 

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

Dated: August 20, 2021. 

Kelly Denit, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18365 Filed 8–25–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 210210–0018; RTID 0648– 

XB337] 

Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive 

Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fishery 

by Non-Rockfish Program Catcher 

Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the 

Western and Central Regulatory Area 

of the Gulf of Alaska 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of 

closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for groundfish, other than 

pollock, by non-Rockfish Program 

catcher vessels using trawl gear in the 

Western and Central Regulatory Areas of 

the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 

necessary to fully use the 2021 

groundfish total allowable catch 

available for non-Rockfish Program 

catcher vessels directed fishing for 

groundfish, other than pollock, using 

trawl gear in the Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), August 24, 2021, 

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

2021. Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., September 7, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on this document, identified by NOAA– 

NMFS–2020–0140, by any of the 

following methods: 

• Electronic Submission: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and enter 

NOAA–NMFS–2020–0140 in the Search 

box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: 

Records Office. Mail comments to P.O. 

Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: Comments sent by any 

other method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the end of 

the comment period, may not be 

considered by NMFS. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and NMFS will post the comments for 

public viewing on www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender will 

be publicly accessible. NMFS will 

accept anonymous comments (enter 

‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish 

to remain anonymous). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

GOA exclusive economic zone 

according to the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 

Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North 

Pacific Fishery Management Council 

under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act. 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. 

NMFS prohibited directed fishing for 

groundfish, other than pollock, by nonRockfish Program catcher vessels using 

trawl gear in the Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas of the GOA, effective 

1200 hours, A.l.t., March 26, 2021 (86 

FR 16677, March 31, 2021) under 

§ 679.21(i)(8)(ii). 

On August 20, 2021, NMFS published 

an inseason adjustment (86 FR 46792, 

August 20, 2021) that reapportioned 

1,350 Chinook salmon prohibited 

species catch limit to the non-Rockfish 

Program catcher vessel sector 

participating in the directed fishery for 

groundfish, other than pollock, in the 

Western and Central Regulatory Areas of 

the GOA that is available from August 

18, 2021 until December 31, 2021 

(§ 679.21(h)(5)(iii)). Therefore, in 

accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(i)), 

(a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully 

utilize the 2021 groundfish total 

allowable catch available for nonRockfish Program catcher vessels 

directed fishing for groundfish, other 

than pollock, using trawl gear in the 

Western and Central Regulatory Areas of 

the GOA, NMFS is terminating the 

previous closure and is opening 

directed fishing for non-Rockfish 

Program catcher vessels directed fishing 

for groundfish, other than pollock, using 


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