[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 67339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31516]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 625
[I.D. 122695B]
Summer Flounder Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of commercial quota transfer.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring
20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to the State
of New York. NMFS adjusted the quotas and announces the revised
commercial quota for each state involved.
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 26, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Helvenston, 508-281-9347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing Amendment 2 to the
Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder Fishery (FMP) are found
at 50 CFR part 625. The regulations require annual specification of a
commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from
North Carolina through Maine. The process to set the annual commercial
quota and the percent allocated to each state is described in
Sec. 625.20.
The commercial quota for summer flounder for the 1995 calendar year
was set equal to 14,690,407 lb (6,663,569 kg), and the allocations to
each state were published February 16, 1995 (60 FR 8958). At that time,
New Jersey was allocated a quota of 2,456,969 (1,114,462 kg) and New
York was allocated a quota of 1,123,374 lb (509,554 kg). On August 30,
1995, the State of North Carolina transferred 7,229 lb (3,279 kg) to
the State of New Jersey, and the revised quota for New Jersey was set
equal to 2,464,198 lb (1,117,741 kg) (60 FR 45107). On November 17,
1995, the State of Maryland transferred 50,000 lb of its commercial
quota to the State of New York, and the revised quota for New York was
set equal to 1,173,374 lb (532,233 kg) (60 FR 57685). On December 15,
1995, the State of Maryland made two further transfers to the State of
New York that were published as one notification (60 FR 64349). The
first transfer was for 20,000 lb (9,072 kg), and the second was for
30,000 lb (13,608 kg), and the revised quota for New York was set equal
to 1,223,374 lb (554,913 kg).
The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the FMP was published
December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), and allows two or more states, under
mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the Director, Northeast
Region, NMFS (Regional Director) to transfer or combine summer flounder
commercial quota. The Regional Director is required to consider the
criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f)(1), in the evaluation of requests
for quota transfers or combinations.
New Jersey has agreed to transfer 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of
commercial quota to New York. The Regional Director has determined that
the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f)(1) have been met, and
publishes this notification of quota transfers. The revised quotas for
the calendar year 1995 are: New Jersey, 2,444,198 lb (1,108,670 kg);
and New York, 1,243,374 lb (563,985 kg).
This action does not alter any of the conclusions reached in the
environmental impact statement prepared for Amendment 2 to the FMP
regarding the effects of summer flounder fishing activity on the human
environment. Amendment 2 established procedures for setting an annual
coastwide commercial quota for summer flounder and a formula for
determining commercial quotas for each state. The quota transfer
provision was established by Amendment 5 to the FMP and the
environmental assessment prepared for Amendment 5 found that the action
had no significant impact on the environment. Under section
6.02b.3(b)(I)(aa) of NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, this action is
categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare additional
environmental analyses. This is a routine administrative action that
reallocates commercial quota within the scope of previously published
environmental analyses.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR part 625 and is exempt from
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 26, 1995.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-31516 Filed 12-26-95; 4:12 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
