[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 292-293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31579]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 625

[I.D. 122895A]


Summer Flounder Fishery; Commercial Quota Transfer

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

ACTION: Notification of commercial quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring 
138,000 lb (62,596 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. NMFS adjusted the quotas and announces 
the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina L. Spallone, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, (508) 281-9221.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing Amendment 2 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder Fishery are found at 50 
CFR part 625. The regulations require annual specification of a 
commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from 
North Carolina through Maine. The process to set the annual commercial 
quota and the percent allocated to each state is described in 
Sec. 625.20.
    The commercial quota for summer flounder for the 1995 calendar year 
was set equal to 14,690,407 lb (6,663,569 kg), and the allocations to 
each state were published February 16, 1995 (60 FR 8958). At that time, 
New Jersey was 

[[Page 293]]
allocated a quota of 2,456,969 lb (1,114,462 kg), and Massachusetts was 
allocated a quota of 1,001,953 lb (454,478 kg). The 1995 quotas for 
several states were adjusted for overages occurring in 1994, as 
required under Sec. 625.20(d)(2), on May 26, 1994 (60 FR 27906). The 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts' quota after the adjustment for overages 
was 984,246 lb (446,446 kg). Since New Jersey's quota was not exceeded 
in 1994, its 1995 quota was unaffected by this adjustment.
    On August 30, 1995, the State of North Carolina transferred 7,229 
lb (3,279 kg) of commercial quota to the State of New Jersey (60 FR 
45107). As a result of that transfer, the revised quota for New Jersey 
was 2,464,198 lb (1,117,741 kg). On December 26, 1995, New Jersey 
transferred 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of its commercial quota to the State 
of New York. As a result of that transfer, the revised quota for New 
Jersey was 2,444,198 lb (1,108,670 kg).
    The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the FMP was published 
December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), and allows two or more states, under 
mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the Director, Northeast 
Region, NMFS (Regional Director) to transfer or combine summer flounder 
commercial quota. The Regional Director is required to consider the 
criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f)(1), in the evaluation of requests 
for quota transfers or combinations.
    New Jersey has agreed to transfer 138,000 lb (62,596 kg) of its 
commercial quota to Massachusetts. The Regional Director has determined 
that the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f)(1) have been met, and 
publishes this notification of quota transfer. The revised quotas for 
the calendar year 1995 are: New Jersey, 2,306,198 lb (1,046,074 kg); 
and Massachusetts, 1,122,246 lb (509,042 kg).
    This action does not alter any of the conclusions reached in the 
environmental impact statement prepared for Amendment 2 to the FMP 
regarding the effects of summer flounder fishing activity on the human 
environment. Amendment 2 established procedures for setting an annual 
coastwide commercial quota for summer flounder and a formula for 
determining commercial quotas for each state. The quota transfer 
provision was established by Amendment 5 to the FMP and the 
environmental assessment prepared for Amendment 5 found that the action 
had no significant impact on the environment. Under section 
6.02b.3(b)(i)(aa) of NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, this action is 
categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare additional 
environmental analyses. This is a routine administrative action that 
reallocates commercial quota within the scope of previously published 
environmental analyses.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR part 625 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: December 28, 1995.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-31579 Filed 12-29-95; 11:10 am] 
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