Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 6, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 42047 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] 

RIN 0648–XF655 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel 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; closure. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central 

Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands management area 

(BSAI) by vessels participating in the 

BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This 

action is necessary to prevent exceeding 

the 2017 total allowable catch (TAC) of 

Atka mackerel in this area allocated to 

vessels participating in the BSAI trawl 

limited access fishery. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local 

time (A.l.t.), August 31, 2017, through 

2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the groundfish fishery in the 

BSAI exclusive economic zone 

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 2017 TAC of Atka mackerel, in 

the CAI, allocated to vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery was established as a 

directed fishing allowance of 1,600 

metric tons by the final 2017 and 2018 

harvest specifications for groundfish in 

the BSAI (82 FR 11826, February 27, 

2017). 

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 Atka 

mackerel in the CAI by vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery. 

After the effective dates 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 a 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 the Atka mackerel 

directed fishery in the CAI for vessels 

participating in the BSAI trawl limited 

access fishery. NMFS was unable to 

publish a notice providing time for 

public comment because the most 

recent, relevant data only became 

available as of August 30, 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. 

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 31, 2017. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–18830 Filed 8–31–17; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 161020985–7181–02] 

RIN 0648–XF675 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; 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; modification of 

a closure; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 

less than 6feet (18.3 meters) length 

overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or 

pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

Islands Management Area (BSAI). This 

action is necessary to fully use the 2017 

total allowable catch of Pacific cod 

allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 

feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot 

gear in the BSAI. 

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska 

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

through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 

2017. Comments must be received at the 

following address no later than 4:30 

p.m., A.l.t., September 21, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by NOAA–NMFS–2016–0140, 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

www.regulations.gov/ 

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

0140, 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 

BSAI exclusive economic zone 

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. 


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