[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 206 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60586-60587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5292]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 070213032-7032-01]
RIN 0648-XD59


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Trawl Gear 
in the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 1200 hrs, 
Alaska local time, October 22, 2007. This action is necessary to fully 
use the 2007 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit 
specified for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 22, 
2007, through

[[Page 60587]]

2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007. Comments must be received at the 
following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., November 6, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XD59, by any one 
of the following methods:
    <bullet> Mail to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
    <bullet> Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska;
    <bullet> Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov
    <bullet> FAX to 907-586-7557, Attn: Ellen Sebastian
    <bullet> Mail to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Room 
420A, Juneau, Alaska
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic 
comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or 
Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 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 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 2007 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for trawl gear 
in the GOA is 2,000 metric tons (mt) as established by the 2007 and 
2008 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA (72 FR 9676, 
March 5, 2007, as corrected by 72 FR 13217, March 21, 2007).
    NMFS closed directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using trawl 
gear in the GOA under Sec.  679.21(d)(7)(i) on October 15, 2007 (72 FR 
59038, October 18, 2007). As of October 19, 2007, NMFS has determined 
that 59 metric tons of the 2007 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance for 
the fishery remains. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and (a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 
2007 Pacific halibut PSC limit specified for vessels using trawl gear 
in the GOA, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, 
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 22, 2007.
    After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable 
amounts at Sec.  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 opening of the groundfish fishery by vessels using 
trawl gear in the GOA. Immediate notification is necessary to allow for 
the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, to allow 
the industry to plan for the fishing season, and to avoid potential 
disruption to the fishing fleet and processors. NMFS was unable to 
publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most 
recent, relevant data only became available as of October 19, 2007.
    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.
    Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS could not allow the fishery 
for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA to be harvested 
in an expedient manner and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. 
Under Sec.  679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments on this action to the above address until November 6, 
2007.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.25 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: October 22, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 07-5292 Filed 10-22-07; 2:45 pm]
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