3874 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2010 / Rules and Regulations 

they have registered. NMFS has notified 

each vessel owner as to which fishery 

each vessel has been assigned by NMFS, 

per a notice filed with the Federal 

Register on January 19, 2010. 

In accordance with the final 2009 and 

2010 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the BSAI (74 FR 7359, 

February 17, 2009), and 

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

the A season allowance of the 2010 

TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 4,317 mt 

and 3,250 mt, respectively, for vessels 

participating in the Amendment 80 

limited access fishery. The HLA limits 

of the A season allowance of the 2010 

TACs in areas 542 and 543 are 2,854 mt 

and 2,022 mt, respectively, for 

Amendment 80 cooperatives. The HLA 

limit of the A season allowance of the 

2010 TAC in area 542 is 458 mt for the 

BSAI trawl limited access vessel. 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 these 

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 

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 2010 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 19, 2010. 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 20, 2010. 

James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of 

Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–1324 Filed 1–20–10; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 0810141351–9087–02] 

RIN 0648–XT95 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Vessels Participating in the 

Amendment 80 Limited Access Fishery 

in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

Management Area 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by vessels 

participating in the Amendment 80 

limited access fishery in the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands management area 

(BSAI). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the 2010 Pacific cod 

total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to 

vessels participating in the Amendment 

80 limited access fishery in the BSAI. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2010, through 

2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

BSAI 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 2010 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 

vessels participating in the Amendment 

80 limited access fishery in the BSAI is 

3,319 metric tons as established by the 

final 2009 and 2010 harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009 

and 74 FR 68717, December 29, 2010) 

and as posted as the 2010 Allocations at 

http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ 

sustainablefisheries/amds/80/ 

2010allocationtables.pdf. 

The Regional Administrator has 

determined that the 2010 Pacific cod 

TAC allocated to vessels participating in 

the Amendment 80 limited access 

fishery in the BSAI will be necessary to 

support other anticipated groundfish 

fisheries. Therefore, in accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a directed 

fishing allowance of 0 mt and is setting 

aside the remaining 3,319 mt as 

incidental catch to support other 

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 participating in the Amendment 

80 limited access fishery in the BSAI. 

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 directed fishing for 

Pacific cod by vessels participating in 

the Amendment 80 limited access 

fishery in the BSAI. NMFS was unable 

to publish a notice providing time for 

public comment because the most 

recent, relevant data only became 

available as of January 14, 2010. 

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 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2010 / Rules and Regulations 3875 

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 20, 2010. 

James P. Burgess, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–1328 Filed 1–20–10; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 09100091344–9056–02] 

RIN 0648–XT96 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by NonAmerican Fisheries Act Crab Vessels 

Catching Pacific Cod for Processing 

by the Inshore Component 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 cod by non-American 

Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels 

catching Pacific cod for processing by 

the inshore component in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA). This action is necessary to 

prevent exceeding the A season 

allowance of the 2010 Pacific cod 

sideboard limits apportioned to nonAFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod 

for processing by the inshore 

component in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), January 21, 2010, through 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2010. 

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. 

The A season allowance of the 2010 

Pacific cod sideboard limits apportioned 

to non-AFA crab vessels catching 

Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 

component in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA is 761 metric tons (mt), 

as established by the final 2009 and 

2010 harvest specifications for 

groundfish of the GOA (74 FR 7333, 

February 17, 2009) and inseason 

adjustment (74 FR 68713, December 29, 

2009). 

In accordance with § 680.22(e)(2)(i), 

the Regional Administrator, has 

determined that A season allowance of 

the 2010 Pacific cod sideboard limits 

apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels 

catching Pacific cod for processing by 

the inshore component in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA will soon 

be reached. Therefore, the Regional 

Administrator is establishing a 

sideboard directed fishing allowance for 

Pacific cod as five mt for the inshore 

component in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA. The remaining 756 mt 

for the inshore component in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will 

be set aside as bycatch to support other 

anticipated groundfish fisheries. In 

accordance with § 680.22(e)(3), the 

Regional Administrator finds that this 

sideboard directed fishing allowance 

has been reached. Consequently, NMFS 

is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific 

cod by non-AFA crab vessels catching 

Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 

component 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 sideboard directed fishing 

closure of Pacific cod apportioned to 

non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific 

cod for processing by the inshore 

component 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 January 19, 2010. 

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 § 680.22 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: January 20, 2010. 

James P. Burgess, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–1330 Filed 1–20–10; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with RULES