42046 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 6, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

landing transactions and dealer reports 

using the paper forms. 

For the aforementioned reasons, the 

AA also finds good cause to waive the 

30-day delay in the effectiveness of this 

action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). 

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

Dated: September 1, 2017. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–18963 Filed 9–1–17; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 160920866–7167–02] 

RIN 0648–XF653 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by 

Catcher/Processors Using Trawl Gear 

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; modification of 

a closure; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/ 

processors using trawl gear in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 

Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary 

to fully use the 2017 total allowable 

catch apportioned to catcher/processors 

using trawl gear in the Central 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2017, 

through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1, 

2017. Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., September 15, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by NOAA–NMFS–2016–0127, 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov/ 

#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016- 

0127, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: 

Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. 

Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: NMFS may not consider 

comments if they are sent by any other 

method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the 

comment period ends. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and NMFS will post the comments for 

public viewing on www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

information (e.g., name, address), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender is 

publicly accessible. NMFS will accept 

anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in 

the required fields if you wish to remain 

anonymous). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 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. 

Regulations governing sideboard 

protections for GOA groundfish 

fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR 

part 680. 

NMFS closed directed fishing for 

Pacific cod by catcher/processors using 

trawl gear in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA under 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 1, 2017, 

pursuant to the final 2017 and 2018 

harvest specifications for groundfish of 

the Gulf of Alaska (82 FR 12032, 

February 27, 2017). 

NMFS has determined that as of 

August 29, 2017, approximately 970 

metric tons of Pacific cod remain in the 

2017 Pacific cod apportionment for 

catcher/processors using trawl gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

Therefore, in accordance with 

§ 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), and 

(a)(2)(iii)(D), and to fully use the 2017 

total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 

cod in the Central Regulatory Area of 

the GOA, NMFS is terminating the 

previous closure and is opening 

directed fishing for Pacific cod by 

catcher/processors using trawl gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

The Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS, (Regional Administrator) 

considered the following factors in 

reaching this decision: (1) The current 

catch of Pacific cod by catcher/ 

processors using trawl gear in the 

Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 

and, (2) the harvest capacity and stated 

intent on future harvesting patterns of 

vessels in participating in this fishery. 

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 opening of directed fishing for 

Pacific cod by catcher/processors using 

trawl gear 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 August 29, 2017. 

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. 

Without this inseason adjustment, 

NMFS could not allow the fishery for 

Pacific cod by catcher/processors using 

trawl gear in the Central Regulatory 

Area of the GOA to be harvested in an 

expedient manner and in accordance 

with the regulatory schedule. Under 

§ 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments on 

this action to the above address until 

September 15, 2017. 

This action is required by § 679.25 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: August 30, 2017. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–18818 Filed 8–31–17; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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