[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45106-45107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21448]
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[[Page 45107]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 625
[Docket No. 950206038-5038; I.D. 082395B]
Summer Flounder Fishery; Commercial Quota Transfer
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Commercial quota transfer.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is
transferring 7,229 lb (3,279 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to
the State of New Jersey. NMFS adjusted the quotas and announces the
revised commercial quota for each state involved.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 24, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina L. Spallone, 508-281-9221.
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,
North Carolina was allocated a quota of 4,031,905 lb (1,828,841 kg),
and New Jersey was allocated a quota of 2,456,969 lb (1,114,462 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.
North Carolina has agreed to transfer 7,229 lb (3,279 kg) of
commercial quota to New Jersey. The Regional Director has determined
that the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20(f) have been met, and
publishes this notification of quota transfers. The revised quotas for
the calendar year 1995 are: North Carolina, 4,024,676 lb (1,825,562
kg); and New Jersey, 2,464,198 lb (1,117,741 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: August 24, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-21448 Filed 8-24-95; 4:55 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
