44172 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 147 / Wednesday, July 30, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

amendatory instructions for the final 

rule implementing Amendment 9 

contained an error. Instead of revising 

the introductory text for the regulations 

describing squid and butterfish 

moratorium permits, the amendatory 

instructions for the final rule 

inadvertently revised the entire section. 

This document corrects this error. 

Correction 

Accordingly, the final rule, published 

on July 1, 2008, at 73 FR 37382, to be 

effective July 31, 2008, is corrected as 

follows: 

1. On page 37388, in column 1, 

correct the second amendatory 

instruction to read: ‘‘2. In § 648.4, the 

introductory text for paragraph (a)(5)(i) 

is revised to read as follows:’’

Dated: July 25, 2008. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–17468 Filed 7–29–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 071106671–8010–02] 

RIN 0648–XJ35 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch 

for Trawl Catcher Vessels Participating 

in the Rockfish Entry Level Fishery in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf 

of Alaska 

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 ocean perch by trawl 

catcher vessels participating in the 

rockfish entry level fishery in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 

Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary 

to prevent exceeding the 2008 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean 

perch allocated to trawl catcher vessels 

participating in the rockfish entry level 

fishery in the Central Regulatory Area of 

the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), July 27, 2008, through 1200 

hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2008. 

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 (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. 

In accordance with § 679.83(a)(1)(i), 

allocations of entry level rockfish to 

trawl catcher vessels participating in the 

rockfish entry level fishery in the 

Central Regulatory Area are first made 

from the Pacific ocean perch TAC. 

NMFS has determined that the 2008 

TAC of Pacific ocean perch allocated to 

the entry level fishery meets or exceeds 

the total allocation of rockfish allowable 

for the trawl catcher vessels. Therefore, 

the 2008 TAC of Pacific ocean perch 

allocated to trawl catcher vessels 

participating in the entry level rockfish 

fishery in the Central Regulatory Area is 

345 mt as established by the 2008 and 

2009 final harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the GOA (73 FR 10562, 

February 27, 2008), and as posted as the 

2008 Rockfish Program Allocations at 

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ 

sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm. 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 

determined that the 2008 TAC of Pacific 

ocean perch allocated to trawl catcher 

vessels participating in the entry level 

rockfish fishery in the Central 

Regulatory Area will soon be reached. 

Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 

establishing a directed fishing 

allowance of 345 mt, and is setting aside 

the remaining 0 mt as bycatch to 

support other anticipated groundfish 

fisheries. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 

Administrator finds that this directed 

fishing allowance has been reached. 

Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 

directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch 

allocated to trawl catcher vessels 

participating in the entry level rockfish 

fishery in the Central Regulatory Area of 

the GOA. 

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 Pacific ocean perch 

by trawl catcher vessels participating in 

the rockfish entry level fishery in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

NMFS was unable to publish a notice 

providing time for public comment 

because the most recent, relevant data 

only became available as of July 24, 

2008. 

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 § 679.83 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: July 25, 2008. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 08–1474 Filed 7–25–08; 2:33 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 071106671–8010–02] 

RIN 0648–XJ36 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish for 

Catcher Processors Participating in 

the Rockfish Limited Access Fishery in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf 

of Alaska 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for northern rockfish by catcher 

processors participating in the rockfish 

limited access fishery in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the 2008 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of northern 


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