44670 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 148 / Thursday, July 31, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 071106671–8010–02] 

RIN 0648–XJ38 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pelagic Shelf 

Rockfish for Catcher Processors 

Participating in the Rockfish Limited 

Access Fishery 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 pelagic shelf rockfish by 

catcher processors participating in the 

rockfish limited access fishery in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 

Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary 

to prevent exceeding the 2008 total 

allowable catch (TAC) of pelagic shelf 

rockfish allocated to catcher processors 

participating in the rockfish limited 

access fishery in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), July 28, 2008, through 2400 

hrs, A.l.t., December 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 2008 TAC of pelagic shelf 

rockfish allocated to catcher processors 

participating in the rockfish limited 

access fishery in the Central GOA is 

1,194 metric tons (mt) as established by 

the 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications 

for groundfish of the GOA (73 FR 10562, 

February 27, 2008), and as posted as the 

2008 Rockfish Program Allocations at 

http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ 

sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm. 

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

the Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 

determined that the 2008 TAC of pelagic 

shelf rockfish allocated to catcher 

processors participating in the rockfish 

limited access fishery in the Central 

GOA will soon be reached. Therefore, 

the Regional Administrator is 

establishing a directed fishing 

allowance of 1,194 mt, and is setting 

aside the remaining 0 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 pelagic shelf 

rockfish by catcher processors 

participating in the rockfish limited 

access fishery in the Central 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 pelagic shelf 

rockfish by catcher processors 

participating in the rockfish limited 

access fishery in the Central GOA. 

NMFS was unable to publish a notice 

providing time for public comment 

because the most recent, relevant data 

only became available as of July 25, 

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: July 28, 2008. 

Alan D. Risenhoover 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–17567 Filed 7–28–08; 4:20 pm] 

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