Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 13, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 53971 

Dated: September 7, 2005. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18079 Filed 9–8–05; 12:18 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 041126333–5040–02; I.D. 

090605F] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of 

a closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 

630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 48 

hours. This action is necessary to fully 

use the C season allowance of the 2005 

total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock 

specified for Statistical Area 630. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), September 8, 2005, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 10, 2005. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 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 closed the directed fishery for 

pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the 

GOA under § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on August 

27, 2005 (70 FR 51300, August 30, 

2005). 

NMFS has determined that 

approximately 3,677 mt of pollock 

remain in the directed fishing 

allowance. Therefore, in accordance 

with 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and 

(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the C 

season allowance of the 2005 TAC of 

pollock in Statistical area 630, NMFS is 

terminating the previous closure and is 

reopening directed fishing for pollock in 

Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. In 

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

Regional Administrator finds that this 

directed fishing allowance will be 

reached after 48 hours. Consequently, 

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 

pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the 

GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 

September 10, 2005. 

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 opening of pollock in 

Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. NMFS 

was unable to publish an action 

providing time for public comment 

because the most recent, relevant data 

only became available as of September 

6, 2005. 

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 50 CFR 

679.20 and 679.25 and is exempt from 

review under Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: September 7, 2005. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–18078 Filed 9–8–05; 12:18 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 041126333–5040–02; I.D. 

090605E] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of 

a closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 

620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 96 

hours. This action is necessary to fully 

use the C season allowance of the 2005 

total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock 

specified for Statistical Area 620. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), September 8, 2005, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 12, 2005. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh 

Keaton, 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 closed the directed fishery for 

pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the 

GOA under § 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on August 

29, 2005 (70 FR 51300, August 30, 

2005). 

NMFS has determined that, 

approximately 3,039 mt of pollock 

remain in the directed fishing 

allowance. Therefore, in accordance 

with 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C) and 

(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully utilize the C 

season allowance of the 2005 TAC of 

pollock in Statistical area 620, NMFS is 

terminating the previous closure and is 

reopening directed fishing for pollock in 

Statistical Area 620 of the GOA. In 

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

Regional Administrator finds that this 

directed fishing allowance will be 

reached after 96 hours. Consequently, 

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 

pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the 

GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 

September 12, 2005. 

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