30544 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 117 / Monday, June 17, 1996 / Rules and Regulations

among all vessels. The cumulative trip

limit is the equivalent of a percentage

share the vessel owner is entitled to

harvest.

Gulf Council: Red snapper ITQ

amendment. While the amendment was

approved and final regulations

published in 1995, the ITQ system has

not yet been implemented. Section 210

prohibits any work on implementing the

system until the end of this fiscal year.

Mid-Atlantic Council: An ITQ system

for mahogany quahogs. Although this

provision is a modification of an

approved ITQ system under

Amendment 8 to the Surf Clam and

Ocean Quahog FMP, its characteristics

(e.g., the unit of allocation and the

period of landings on which it is

calculated) differ so substantively that it

must be viewed as a new ITQ system.

New England Council: Aspects of

proposed Amendment 6 to the Atlantic

Sea Scallop FMP relating to

transferability or consolidation of DAS,

and proposed Amendment 5 to the

American Lobster FMP relating to

transferable quotas and traps.

Classification

This final rule is issued under the

Magnuson Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

In that this rule merely interprets a

provision of Public Law 104–134

without creating any new rights or

duties, it is not subject to the

requirement to provide prior notice and

opportunity for public comment under

5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). Similarly, as an

interpretive rule, it is not subject to a

30-day delay in effective date pursuant

to authority set forth at 5 U.S.C.

553(d)(2).

This rule has been determined to be

not significant for the purposes of E.O.

12866.

Dated: June 11, 1996.

Gary Matlock,

Program Management Officer, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 96–15323 Filed 6–14–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019–6019–01; I.D.

061096A]

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and

Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific Cod by

Vessels Using Trawl Gear

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed

fishing for the Pacific cod fishery by

vessels using trawl gear in the Bering

Sea and Aleutian Islands management

area (BSAI). This action is necessary to

fully utilize the first seasonal bycatch

allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned

to the trawl Pacific cod fishery category

in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), June 14, 1996, until 12

noon, A.l.t., October 25, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew N. Smoker, 907–586–7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive

economic zone is managed by NMFS

according to the Fishery Management

Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific

Fishery Management Council under

authority of the Magnuson Fishery

Conservation and Management Act.

Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by

regulations implementing the FMP at 50

CFR parts 620 and 675.

Directed fishing for Pacific cod by

vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI was

prohibited on May 14, 1996, (61 FR

24730, May 16, 1996) to prevent

exceeding the first seasonal bycatch

allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned

to that fishery.

The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS,

has determined that as of May 25, 1996,

89 metric tons of halibut mortality

remain in the first seasonal bycatch

allowance. Therefore, NMFS is

terminating the previous closure and is

opening directed fishing for Pacific cod

by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.

All other closures remain in full force

and effect.

Classification

This action is taken under 50 CFR

675.20 and is exempt from review under

E.O. 12866.

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

Dated: June 11, 1996.

Richard H. Schaefer,

Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and

Management, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 96–15257 Filed 6–12–96; 10:44 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F