4494 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 17 / Friday, January 25, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the A season allowance 

of the 2008 TAC of pollock in Statistical 

Area 610 of the GOA will soon be 

reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 3,307 mt, and is 

setting aside the remaining 15 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 pollock in Statistical 

Area 610 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 pollock in 

Statistical Area 610 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 January 17, 

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 is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: January 18, 2008. 

Emily H. Menashes 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 08–295 Filed 1–22–08; 1:24 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 070213032–7032–01] 

RIN 0648–XF21 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 in 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 pollock in Statistical Area 

630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 

action is necessary to prevent exceeding 

the A season allowance of the 2008 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for 

Statistical Area 630 in the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), January 22, 2008, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 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. 

The A season allowance of the 2008 

TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630 

in the GOA is 3,069 metric tons (mt) as 

established by the 2007 and 2008 

harvest specifications for groundfish of 

the GOA (72 FR 9676, March 5, 2007) 

and inseason adjustment (73 FR 1831, 

January 10, 2008). 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the A season allowance 

of the 2008 TAC of pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 in the GOA will soon be 

reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 2,769 mt, and is 

setting aside the remaining 300 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 pollock in Statistical 

Area 630 in 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 pollock in 

Statistical Area 630 in 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 January 17, 

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 is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: January 18, 2008. 

Emily H. Menashes 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 08–294 Filed 1–22–08; 1:26 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 070213033–7033–01] 

RIN 0648–XD68 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

Management Area 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 


pwalker on PROD1PC69 with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 17 / Friday, January 25, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 4495 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closures and 

openings. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern 

Aleutian District and the Bering Sea 

subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands management area (BSAI) for 

vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 

limited access fishery. This action is 

necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 

A season total allowable catch (TAC) of 

Atka mackerel in these areas for vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery. NMFS is also 

announcing the opening and closing 

dates of the first and second directed 

fisheries within the harvest limit area 

(HLA) in Statistical Areas 542 and 543. 

These actions are necessary to conduct 

directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 

HLA in areas 542 and 543. 

DATES: The effective dates are provided 

in Table 1 under the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section of this temporary 

action. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Hogan, 908–586–7228. 

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 2008 A season TAC of Atka 

mackerel for vessels participating in the 

BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the 

Eastern Aleutian District (Statistical 

Area 541) and the Bering Sea subarea 

was established as 142 metric tons (mt) 

by the 2007 and 2008 final harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) and 

revision (72 FR 71802, December 19, 

2007). See § 679.20(a)(8)(ii) and 

(c)(3)(iii). 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i) 

and (d)(1)(ii)(B), the Administrator, 

Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 

Administrator), has determined that 142 

mt of the 2008 A season Atka mackerel 

TAC for vessels participating in the 

BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the 

Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering 

Sea subarea will be necessary as 

incidental catch to support other 

anticipated groundfish fisheries. 

Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 

establishing a directed fishing 

allowance of 0 mt. 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 Atka mackerel in the 

Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering 

Sea subarea for vessels participating in 

the A season BSAI trawl limited access 

fishery. 

In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(C), the Regional 

Administrator is opening the first 

directed fisheries for Atka mackerel 

within the HLA in areas 542 and 543, 

48 hours after prohibiting directed 

fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern 

Aleutian Island District and the Bering 

Sea subarea. The Regional 

Administrator has established the 

opening date for the second HLA 

directed fisheries as 48 hours after the 

last closure of the first HLA fisheries in 

either are 542 or 543. Consequently, 

NMFS is opening and closing directed 

fishing for Atka mackerel in the HLA of 

areas 542 and 543 in accordance with 

the periods listed under Table 1 of this 

notice. 

TABLE 1.—EFFECTIVE DATES AND TIMES

Action Area 

Effective date1

From To 

Closing Atka Mackerel for vessels participating 

in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

Eastern Aleutian District (541) 

and the Bering Sea subarea.

1200 hrs, January 20, 2008 .. 1200 hrs, September 1, 2008. 

Opening the first and second directed fishery in 

the HLA for the Amendment 80 cooperative.

542 ......................................... 1200 hrs, January 22, 2008 .. 1200 hrs, February 5, 2008. 

543 ......................................... 1200 hrs, February 7, 2008 ... 1200 hrs, February 21, 2008. 

Opening the first and second directed fishery in 

the HLA for vessels participating in the 

Amendment 80 limited access sector.

542 and 543 ........................... 1200 hrs, January 22, 2008 .. 1200 hrs, February 5, 2008. 

542 and 543 ........................... 1200 hrs, February 7, 2008 ... 1200 hrs, February 21, 2008. 

1Alaska local time. 

In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(A) and 

§ 679.20(a)(iii)(B), vessels using trawl 

gear for directed fishing for Atka 

mackerel have previously registered 

with NMFS to fish in the HLA fisheries 

in areas 542 and 543. NMFS has 

randomly assigned each vessel to the 

directed fishery or fisheries for which 

they have registered. NMFS has notified 

each vessel owner as to which fishery 

each vessel has been assigned by NMFS 

(73 FR 3218, January 17, 2008). 

In accordance with the 2007 and 2008 

final harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the BSAI (72 FR 9451, 

March 2, 2007) and revision (72 FR 

71802, December 19, 2007), and 

§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the HLA limits of 

the A season allowance of the 2008 

TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 3,479 mt 

and 2,525 mt, respectively, for vessels 

participating in the Amendment 80 

limited access fishery. The HLA limits 

of the A season allowance of the 2008 

TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 2,294 mt 

and 1,571 mt, respectively, for 

Amendment 80 cooperatives. In 

accordance with § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(E), 

the Regional Administrator has 

established the closure dates of the Atka 

mackerel directed fisheries in the HLA 

for areas 542 and 543 based on the 

amount of the harvest limit and the 

estimated fishing capacity of the vessels 

assigned to the respective fisheries. 

Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 

directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 

HLA of areas 542 and 543 in accordance 

with the dates and times listed in Table 

1 of this notice. 

After the effective dates of the 

closures, 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 


pwalker on PROD1PC69 with RULES
4496 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 17 / Friday, January 25, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

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 a 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 the Atka mackerel 

fishery in the Eastern Aleutian District 

and the Bering Sea subarea for vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery and the opening and 

closing of the fisheries for the HLA 

limits established for area 542 and area 

543 pursuant to the 2008 Atka mackerel 

TAC. NMFS was unable to publish a 

notice providing time for public 

comment because the most recent, 

relevant data only became available as 

of January 11, 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 is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: January 18, 2008. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 08–272 Filed 1–18–08; 3:04 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–M 


pwalker on PROD1PC69 with RULES