Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations 55507

[Add new section 11.0, Premium Data SUMMARY: NMFS closes the Atlantic periods. To date for 2019, NMFS has Retention and Retrieval Service, to read bluefin tuna (BFT) General category taken seven actions that resulted in as follows:] fishery for the October through adjustments to the Reserve category, November subquota period until the leaving 65.3 mt of quota currently 11.0 Premium Data Retention and General category reopens on December available (84 FR 3724, February 13, Retrieval Service 1, 2019. The intent of this closure is to 2019; 84 FR 6701, February 28, 2019; 84 Premium Data Retention and Retrieval prevent overharvest of the adjusted FR 35340, July 23, 2019; 84 FR 47440, service allows a customer to request that October through November subquota. September 10, 2019; 84 FR 48566, the Postal Service retain: (1) Scan data DATES: Effective 11:30 p.m., local time, September 16, 2019; and 84 FR 52806, or (2) scan and signature data for the October 13, 2019, through November 30, October 3, 2019). customer’s packages beyond the Postal 2019. Closure of the October Through Service’s standard data retention period, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: November 2019 General Category for up to ten years. Premium Data Sarah McLaughlin or Nicholas Fishery Retention and Retrieval service is Velseboer, 978–281–9260, or Larry NMFS previously adjusted the available for commercial packages Redd, 301–427–8503. shipped via Priority Mail Express, subquota for the October through SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Priority Mail, First-Class Package November time period to 172.2 mt (84 Regulations implemented under the Service, Parcel Select, and commercial FR 52806, October 3, 2019). Based on authority of the Atlantic Tunas packages with Adult Signature Services. the best available bluefin tuna General Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et For Scan and Signature Retention on category landings information (i.e., seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery products other than Priority Mail 147.5 mt landed as of October 10, 2019) Conservation and Management Act Express, the customer must have as well as average catch rates and (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 purchased an underlying signature anticipated fishing conditions, NMFS et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by service, such as Signature Confirmation projects that the adjusted General persons and vessels subject to U.S. service (see Notice 123—Price List). category October through November jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part Customers can request Premium Data subquota will be reached by October 13, 635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S. Retention and Retrieval service online at 2019, and that the fishery should be BFT quota recommended by the USPS.com or through a Shipping closed. Through this action, we are International Commission for the Services File. closing the General category bluefin Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) tuna fishery effective 11:30 p.m., * * * * * among the various domestic fishing October 13, 2019, through November 30, Notice 123 (Price List) categories, per the allocations 2019. Therefore, retaining, possessing, established in the 2006 Consolidated or landing large medium or giant BFT [Revise competitive prices as Highly Migratory Species Fishery by persons aboard vessels permitted in applicable.] Management Plan (2006 Consolidated the Atlantic tunas General and HMS * * * * * HMS FMP) (71 FR 58058, October 2, Charter/Headboat categories must cease Quick Service Guides (QSGs) 2006) and amendments. at 11:30 p.m. local time on October 13, NMFS is required, under regulations 2019. The General category will reopen [Revise Quick Service Guides as at § 635.28(a)(1), to file a closure notice automatically on December 1, 2019, for applicable.] for publication with the Office of the the December 2019 subquota period. * * * * * Federal Register when a BFT quota (or This action applies to those vessels We will publish an appropriate subquota) is reached or is projected to permitted in the General category, as amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect be reached. On and after the effective well as to those HMS Charter/Headboat these changes. date and time of such notification, for permitted vessels with a commercial the remainder of the fishing year or for Joshua J. Hofer, sale endorsement when fishing a specified period as indicated in the commercially for BFT. For information Attorney, Federal Compliance. notification, retaining, possessing, or regarding the HMS Charter/Headboat [FR Doc. 2019–22640 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] landing BFT under that quota category commercial sale endorsement, see 82 FR BILLING CODE 7710–12–P is prohibited until the opening of the 57543, December 6, 2017. The intent of subsequent quota period or until such this closure is to prevent overharvest of date as specified in the notice. the available General category October DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE The current baseline General category through November BFT subquota. quota is 555.7 mt. See § 635.27(a). Each Fishermen may catch and release (or National Oceanic and Atmospheric of the General category time periods tag and release) BFT of all sizes, subject Administration (January, June through August, to the requirements of the catch-and- September, October through November, release and tag-and-release programs at 50 CFR Part 635 and December) is allocated a § 635.26. All BFT that are released must [Docket No. 180117042–8884–02] ‘‘subquota’’ or portion of the annual be handled in a manner that will General category quota. The baseline maximize their survival, and without RIN 0648–XT026 subquotas for each time period are as removing the fish from the water, follows: 29.5 mt for January; 277.9 mt consistent with requirements at Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; for June through August; 147.3 mt for § 635.21(a)(1). For additional Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries September; 72.2 mt for October through information on safe handling, see the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries November; and 28.9 mt for December. ‘‘Careful Catch and Release’’ brochure Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Any unused General category quota available at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/ Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rolls forward within the fishing year, hms/. Commerce. which coincides with the calendar year, Although NMFS previously adjusted from one time period to the next, and the quota for the December 2019 ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. is available for use in subsequent time subquota period to 9.4 mt in an inseason

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:10 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\17OCR1.SGM 17OCR1 55508 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations

quota transfer to the January 2019 impracticable and contrary to the public GOA exclusive economic zone subquota period, NMFS would consider interest as such a delay would likely according to the Fishery Management a potential quota transfer from the result in exceedance of the General Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Reserve to the General category for the category October through November Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North December subquota period, prior to fishery subquota or earlier closure of the Pacific Fishery Management Council December 1, after reviewing the best fishery while fish are available on the under authority of the Magnuson- available 2019 landings information to fishing grounds. Subquota exceedance Stevens Fishery Conservation and date. may result in the need to reduce quota Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance Monitoring and Reporting for the General category later in the year and thus could affect later fishing with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 NMFS will continue to monitor the opportunities. Therefore, the AA finds CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. BFT fishery closely. Dealers are required good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to Regulations governing sideboard to submit landing reports within 24 waive prior notice and the opportunity protections for GOA groundfish hours of a dealer receiving BFT. Late for public comment. For all of the above fisheries appear at subpart B of 50 CFR reporting by dealers compromises reasons, there also is good cause under part 680. NMFS’ ability to timely implement 5 U.S.C. 553(d) to waive the 30-day The 2019 Pacific cod total allowable actions such as quota and retention delay in effectiveness. catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels limit adjustment, as well as closures, This action is being taken under using pot gear in the Central Regulatory and may result in enforcement actions. §§ 635.27(a)(9) and 635.28(a)(1), and is Area of the GOA is 1,583 metric tons Additionally, and separate from the exempt from review under Executive (mt), as established by the final 2019 dealer reporting requirement, General Order 12866. and 2020 harvest specifications for and HMS Charter/Headboat category groundfish of the GOA (84 FR 9416, vessel owners are required to report the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 March 14, 2019). catch of all BFT retained or discarded et seq. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), dead within 24 hours of the landing(s) Dated: October 10, 2019. the Administrator, Alaska Region, or end of each trip, by accessing Jennifer M. Wallace, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has hmspermits.noaa.gov, using the HMS Acting Director, Office of Sustainable determined that the 2019 Pacific cod Catch Reporting app, or calling (888) Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. TAC apportioned to vessels using pot 872–8862 (Monday through Friday from [FR Doc. 2019–22601 Filed 10–11–19; 4:15 pm] gear in the Central Regulatory Area of 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.). BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the GOA will soon be reached. Depending on the level of fishing Therefore, the Regional Administrator is effort and catch rates of BFT, NMFS establishing a directed fishing may determine that additional action DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE allowance of 1,573 mt and is setting (e.g., quota adjustment, daily retention aside the remaining 10 mt as bycatch to limit adjustment, or closure) is National Oceanic and Atmospheric support other anticipated groundfish necessary to ensure available subquotas Administration fisheries. In accordance with are not exceeded or to enhance § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional scientific data collection from, and 50 CFR Part 679 Administrator finds that this directed fishing opportunities in, all geographic [Docket No. 180831813–9170–02] fishing allowance has been reached. areas. If needed, subsequent Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting adjustments will be published in the RIN 0648–XY022 directed fishing for Pacific cod by Federal Register. In addition, fishermen vessels using pot gear in the Central may call the Atlantic Tunas Information Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Regulatory Area of the GOA. While this Line at (978) 281–9260, or access Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by closure is effective the maximum hmspermits.noaa.gov, for updates on Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) quota monitoring and inseason Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska apply at any time during a trip. adjustments. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Classification Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Classification This action responds to the best Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), available information recently obtained The Assistant Administrator for Commerce. NMFS (AA) finds that it is impracticable from the fishery. The Assistant and contrary to the public interest to ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA provide prior notice of, and an SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed (AA), finds good cause to waive the opportunity for public comment on, this fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using requirement to provide prior notice and action for the following reasons: pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area opportunity for public comment The regulations implementing the of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and is necessary to prevent exceeding the U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is amendments provide for inseason quota 2019 Pacific cod total allowable catch impracticable and contrary to the public transfers and fishery closures to respond apportioned to vessels using pot gear in interest. This requirement is to the unpredictable nature of BFT the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. impracticable and contrary to the public availability on the fishing grounds, the interest as it would prevent NMFS from migratory nature of this species, and the DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska responding to the most recent fisheries regional variations in the BFT fishery. local time (A.l.t.), October 12, 2019, data in a timely fashion and would These fisheries are currently underway through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, delay the directed fishing closure of and the currently available quota for the 2019. Pacific cod by vessels using pot gear in subcategory is projected to be reached FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. shortly. Affording prior notice and Keaton, 907–586–7228. NMFS was unable to publish a notice opportunity for public comment to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS providing time for public comment implement the quota transfer is manages the groundfish fishery in the because the most recent, relevant data

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:10 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\17OCR1.SGM 17OCR1