49962 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 165 / Monday, August 25, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

carrying out its responsibilities under 

the Act, GSA is required to—

(a) Promulgate standards, procedures, 

and guidelines; 

(b) Conduct research to improve 

practices and programs; 

(c) Collect and disseminate 

information on training programs, 

technological developments, etc.; 

(d) Establish an interagency 

committee (i.e., the Interagency Mail 

Policy Council) to provide an exchange 

of information among Federal agencies; 

(e) Conduct studies, inspections, or 

surveys; 

(f) Promote economy and efficiency in 

the selection and utilization of space, 

staff, equipment, and supplies; and 

(g) In the event of an emergency, 

communicate with agencies. 

§ 102–192.175 What types of support does 

GSA offer to Federal agency mail 

management programs? 

GSA supports Federal agency mail 

management programs by—

(a) Assisting in the development of 

agency policy and guidance in mail 

management and mail operations; 

(b) Identifying better business 

practices and sharing them with Federal 

agencies; 

(c) Developing and providing access 

to a Governmentwide management 

information system for mail; 

(d) Helping agencies develop 

performance measures and management 

information systems for mail; 

(e) Maintaining a current list of 

agency mail managers; 

(f) Establishing, developing and 

maintaining interagency mail 

committees; 

(g) Maintaining liaison with the USPS 

and other service providers at the 

national level; 

(h) Maintaining a web site for mail 

communications policy; and 

(i) Serving as a point of contact for 

mail issues. 

Note to § 102–192.180: You may contact 

GSA at: General Services Administration, 

Office of Governmentwide Policy, Mail 

Management Policy Division (MTT), 1800 F 

Street, NW., STE 1221, Washington, DC 

20405; or e-mail: federal.mail@gsa.gov. 

[FR Doc. E8–19506 Filed 8–22–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6820–14–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 071106673–8011–02] 

RIN 0648–XJ94 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of 

Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and 

Aleutian Islands Management Area 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; reallocation. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the 

projected unused amount of Pacific cod 

from catcher vessels greater than or 

equal to 60 feet (≥ 18.3 meters (m)) 

length overall (LOA) using hook-andline gear to the B season allocation for 

vessels using jig gear in the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands management area 

(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow 

the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) of 

Pacific cod to be harvested. 

DATES: Effective August 19, 2008, 

through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time 

(A.l.t.), December 31, 2008. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228. 

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 2008 Pacific cod TAC specified 

for catcher vessels greater than or equal 

to 60 feet (≥ 18.3 m) LOA using hookand-line gear in the BSAI is 303 metric 

tons (mt) as established by the final 

2008 and 2009 harvest specifications for 

groundfish in the BSAI (73 FR 10160, 

February 26, 2008). 

The Acting Administrator, Alaska 

Region, NMFS, has determined that 

catcher vessels greater than or equal to 

60 feet (≥ 18.3 m) length LOA using 

hook-and-line gear will not be able to 

harvest 150 mt of the 2008 Pacific cod 

TAC allocated to those vessels under 

§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A)(3). Therefore, in 

accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A), 

NMFS allocates 150 mt of Pacific cod 

from the catcher vessels greater than or 

equal to 60 feet (≥ 18.3 m) length LOA 

using hook-and-line gear allocation to 

the B season allocation for vessels using 

jig gear. 

The harvest specifications for Pacific 

cod included in the harvest 

specifications for groundfish in the 

BSAI (73 FR 10160, February 26, 2008) 

are revised as follows: 177 mt to the B 

season allocation for vessels using jig 

gear and 153 mt to catcher vessels ≥ 60 

feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line 

gear. 

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 reallocation of Pacific cod 

from catcher vessels ≥ 60 feet (18.3 m) 

LOA using hook-and-line gear to the B 

season allocation for vessels using jig 

gear. Since the fishery is currently open, 

it is important to immediately inform 

the industry as to the revised 

allocations. Immediate notification is 

necessary to allow for the orderly 

conduct and efficient operation of this 

fishery, to allow the industry to plan for 

the fishing season, and to avoid 

potential disruption to the fishing fleet 

as well as processors. NMFS was unable 

to publish a notice providing time for 

public comment because the most 

recent, relevant data only became 

available as of August 18, 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: August 19, 2008. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–19578 Filed 8–19–08; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 


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