Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone— Port of landing codes,

[Federal Register: April 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 84)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 23694-23696]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr30ap04-16]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 040115020-4124-02; I.D. 010204B]

RIN 0648-AR07

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Off the Coast of Alaska; Recordkeeping and Reporting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to revise port codes (Tables 14a and 14b) used in data collection for the Federal groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off the coast of Alaska and the Pacific halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. This action removes unnecessary or potentially conflicting regulations. This action is necessary to facilitate enforcement activities and standardize the collection of port-of-landing information, and is intended to meet the conservation and management requirements of the Northern Pacific

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Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act) with respect to halibut and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act) with respect to groundfish and to further the goals and objectives of the Alaska groundfish fishery management plans.

DATES: Effective June 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) prepared for this final regulatory action are available by writing to Sue Salveson, NMFS, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 1668, Attn: Lori Durall, or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS, at (907) 586-7228.

Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule may be submitted to NMFS, Alaska Region at the address above, or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by e-mail David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or fax (202) 395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or e- mail patsy.bearden@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries of the GOA in the EEZ off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMPs). The FMPs were prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and approved by the Secretary of Commerce under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The FMPs are implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 679. NMFS manages the IFQ Program for Pacific halibut under the Halibut Act; implementing regulations are at 50 CFR 300.60 through 300.66. General provisions governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMPs appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.

This action revises the list of port codes in Tables 14a and 14b to 50 CFR part 679. The numerical codes identify ports where IFQ landings are made and are entered by participants when filing an IFQ prior notice of landing (PNOL). The background regarding this action is detailed in the preamble to the proposed rule (69 FR 4285 January 29, 2004). Public comments on the proposed rule were invited through March 1, 2004. No public comments were received on the proposed rule.

In brief, Tables 14a and 14b are revised as follows:

  1. Numerical codes that are no longer used for IFQ landings and that do not have a corresponding alphabetical code have been removed, and

  2. Numerical codes for ports that are geographically close enough to be reported as one port have been combined.

Changes from the Proposed Rule

The numerical codes identify ports where IFQ landings are made. These port codes are entered by participants when filing an IFQ prior notice of landing (PNOL) and when electronically reporting an IFQ landing (see 50 CFR 679.5(l)). The alphabetical codes identify ports where groundfish landings are made. Alphabetical codes are entered by participants completing a State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game fish ticket and also are entered by shoreside processor participants entering data into the NMFS groundfish shoreside processor electronic logbook report (SPELR) (see 50 CFR 679.5(c)).

In Table 14a to part 679 port code 102 (Akutan Bay) is combined into port code 101 (Akutan), because these two locations are geographically close.

Classification

This final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

This final rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with other Federal regulations.

This action does not impose new reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements on regulated small entities.

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. No comments were received regarding the economic impact of this final rule. Therefore, no FRFA is required, and none has been prepared.

This final rule contains two collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and which have been approved by the OMB. Under control number 0648-0272, public reporting burden for the Prior Notice of Landing is estimated to average 12 minutes per response; for the IFQ landing report, 18 minutes per response is estimated. Under control number 0648-0401, public reporting burden for the Shoreside Processor Electronic Logbook Report is estimated at 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and by e- mail to David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or fax to (202) 395-7285.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Dated: April 26, 2004. Rebecca Lent, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.

0 For reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is amended as follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

0 1. The authority citation for part 679 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 3631 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); Pub. L. 105 277, Title II of Division C; Pub. L. 106 31, Sec. 3027; and Pub. L. 106 554, Sec. 209.

0 2. Tables 14a and 14b to part 679 are revised to read as follows:

Table 14a to Part 679.--Port of Landing Codes: \1\ Alaska (March 2004)

NMFS ADF&G Port Name

code code

Adak.................................................. 186 ADA Akutan, Akutan Bay.................................... 101 AKU Alitak................................................ 103 ALI Anchorage............................................. 105 ANC Angoon................................................ 106 ANG Aniak................................................. n[bdsol ANI ]a Anvik................................................. n[bdsol ANV ]a Atka.................................................. 107 ATK Auke Bay.............................................. 136 JNU Beaver Inlet.......................................... 119 DUT Bethel................................................ n[bdsol BET ]a Captains Bay.......................................... 119 DUT Chefornak............................................. 189 N[bdsol ]A Chignik............................................... 113 CHG Cordova............................................... 115 COR Craig................................................. 116 CRG Dillingham............................................ 117 DIL Douglas............................................... 136 JNU Dutch Harbor/Unalaska................................. 119 DUT Egegik................................................ 122 EGE

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Ekuk.................................................. N[bdsol EKU ]A Elfin Cove............................................ 123 ELF Emmonak............................................... N[bdsol EMM ]A Excursion Inlet....................................... 124 XIP False Pass............................................ 125 FSP Fairbanks............................................. N[bdsol FBK ]A Galena................................................ N[bdsol GAL ]A Glacier Bay........................................... N[bdsol GLB ]A Glennallen............................................ N[bdsol GLN ]A Gustavus.............................................. 127 GUS Haines................................................ 128 HNS Halibut Cove.......................................... 130 N[bdsol ]A Homer................................................. 132 HOM Hoonah................................................ 133 HNH Hydaburg.............................................. N[bdsol HYD ]A Hyder................................................. 134 HDR Juneau................................................ 136 JNU Kake.................................................. 137 KAK Kaltag................................................ N[bdsol KAL ]A Kasilof............................................... 138 KAS Kenai................................................. 139 KEN Kenai River........................................... 139 KEN Ketchikan............................................. 141 KTN King Cove............................................. 142 KCO King Salmon........................................... 143 KNG Kipnuk................................................ 144 N[bdsol ]A Klawock............................................... 145 KLA Kodiak................................................ 146 KOD Kotzebue.............................................. N[bdsol KOT ]A La Conner............................................. N[bdsol LAC ]A Mekoryuk.............................................. 147 N[bdsol ]A Metlakatla............................................ 148 MET Moser Bay............................................. N[bdsol MOS ]A Naknek................................................ 149 NAK Nenana................................................ N[bdsol NEN ]A Nikiski (or Nikishka)................................. 150 NIK Ninilchik............................................. 151 NIN Nome.................................................. 152 NOM Nunivak Island........................................ N[bdsol NUN ]A Old Harbor............................................ 153 OLD Other Alaska\1\....................................... 499 UNK Pelican............................................... 155 PEL Petersburg............................................ 156 PBG Port Alexander........................................ 158 PAL Port Armstrong........................................ N[bdsol PTA ]A Port Bailey........................................... 159 PTB Port Graham........................................... 160 GRM Port Lions............................................ N[bdsol LIO ]A Port Moller........................................... N[bdsol MOL ]A Port Protection....................................... 161 N[bdsol ]A Quinhagak............................................. 187 N[bdsol ]A Sand Point............................................ 164 SPT Savoonga.............................................. 165 N[bdsol ]A Seldovia.............................................. 166 SEL Seward................................................ 167 SEW Sitka................................................. 168 SIT Skagway............................................... 169 SKG Soldotna.............................................. N[bdsol SOL ]A St. George............................................ 170 STG St. Mary.............................................. N[bdsol STM ]A St. Paul.............................................. 172 STP Tee Harbor............................................ 136 JNU Tenakee Springs....................................... 174 TEN Togiak................................................ 176 TOG Toksook Bay........................................... 177 N[bdsol ]A Tununak............................................... 178 N/A Ugashik............................................... N[bdsol UGA ]A Unalakleet............................................ N[bdsol UNA ]A Valdez................................................ 181 VAL Wasilla............................................... N[bdsol WAS ]A Whittier.............................................. 183 WHT Wrangell.............................................. 184 WRN Yakutat............................................... 185 YAK

\1\ To report a landing at a location not currently assigned a location code number: use the code for ``Other'' for the state or country at which the landing occurs and notify NMFS of the actual location so that the list may be updated. For example, to report a landing for Levelock, Alaska which currently has no code assigned, use code ``499'' for ``Other AK.''

Table 14b to Part 679--Port of Landing Codes: Non-Alaska (California, Canada, Oregon, Washington) (April 2004)

NMFS ADF&G Port Name

Code Code

CALIFORNIA

....... ....... Eureka............................................... 500 EUR Other California\1\.................................. 599 N/A CANADA

....... ....... Other Canada\1\...................................... 899 N/A Port Edward.......................................... 802 PRU Prince Rupert........................................ 802 PRU OREGON

....... ....... Astoria.............................................. 600 AST Newport.............................................. 603 NPT Olympia.............................................. N/A OLY Other Oregon\1\...................................... 699 N/A Portland............................................. N/A POR Warrenton............................................ 604 N/A WASHINGTON

....... ....... Anacortes............................................ 700 ANA Bellingham........................................... 702 N/A Blaine............................................... 717 BLA Everett.............................................. 704 N/A La Conner............................................ 708 LAC Other Washington\1\.................................. 799 N/A Seattle.............................................. 715 SEA Tacoma............................................... N/A TAC

\1\ To report a landing at a location not currently assigned a location code number: use the code for ``Other'' for the state or country at which the landing occurs and notify NMFS of the actual location so that the list may be updated. For example, to report a landing for Vancouver, which currently has no code assigned, use code ``899'' for ``Other Canada.''

[FR Doc. 04-9857 Filed 4-29-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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