Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 46 / Friday, March 7, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 12297 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq. 

■ 2. In § 300.63, paragraph (c)(2)(v) is 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 300.63 Catch sharing plan and domestic 

management measures in Area 2A. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(v) Modification of subarea quotas. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 08–982 Filed 3–6–08; 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–XG12 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for 

Processing by the Offshore 

Component in the Western 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 cod by vessels 

catching Pacific cod for processing by 

the offshore component in the Western 

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the A season 

allocation of the 2008 total allowable 

catch (TAC) of Pacific cod apportioned 

to vessels catching Pacific cod for 

processing by the offshore component of 

the Western Regulatory Area of the 

GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), March 4, 2008, until 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. 

The A season allocation of the 2008 

TAC of Pacific cod apportioned to 

vessels catching Pacific cod for 

processing by the offshore component of 

the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA 

is 1,167 metric tons (mt) as established 

by the 2008 and 2009 harvest 

specifications for groundfish of the GOA 

(73 FR 10562, February 27, 2008). 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 

determined that the 2008 TAC of Pacific 

cod apportioned to vessels catching 

Pacific cod for processing by the 

offshore component of the Western 

Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon 

be reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 1,017 mt, and is 

setting aside the remaining 150 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 cod by 

vessels catching Pacific cod for 

processing by the offshore component in 

the Western 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 cod 

apportioned to vessels catching Pacific 

cod for processing by the offshore 

component of the Western 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 March 3, 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: March 3, 2008. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 08–981 Filed 3–4–08; 2:44 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–XG09 

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 B 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.), March 10, 2008, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 31, 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 B season allowance of the 2008 

TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 630 

of the GOA is 1,709 metric tons (mt) as 

established by the 2008 and 2009 

harvest specifications for groundfish of 

the GOA (73 FR 10562, February 27, 

2008). 

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

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that the B season allowance 

of the 2008 TAC of pollock in Statistical 


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