[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12605-12606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5232]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 0907271173-1137-04]
RIN 0648-AY11
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment
17B; Correction
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Correcting amendments.
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SUMMARY: This document contains corrections to the final rule that
implemented Amendment 17B to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 17B),
which was published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2010.
DATES: This correction is effective March 8, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anik Clemens, 727-824-5305; e-mail:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 30, 2010, a final rule was published to implement
Amendment 17B (75 FR 82280). That final rule established annual catch
limits and accountability measures for nine snapper-grouper species in
the South Atlantic region. One of these accountability measures
prohibits the possession of deep-water snapper-grouper species in or
from the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone in depths greater than
240 ft (73 m). After the regulations implementing Amendment 17B became
effective on January 31, 2011, it was determined that two of the
waypoints defining the 240-ft (73-m) depth contour were in State
waters.
Need for Correction
As published, the final rule contains errors in a table of
coordinates in the regulatory text. In Sec. 622.35, paragraph (o)
contains a table of coordinates for the depth closure implemented in
Amendment 17B for deep-water snapper-grouper. Within this table, an
incorrect longitudinal coordinate was implemented for point K, and the
coordinates for points O and U are within State boundaries. Through
this
[[Page 12606]]
correcting amendment, the longitudinal coordinate for point K will be
corrected and the coordinates for points O and U, as published in the
final rule implementing Amendment 17B, will be removed and replaced
with new boundary coordinates to reflect the State/Federal boundary.
These new coordinates and State/Federal boundary lines will be included
in the revised depth closure table of coordinates. All other
information remains unchanged and will not be repeated in this
correction.
Classification
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive prior notice and opportunity
for additional public comment for this action because any delay of this
action would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. This
correcting amendment includes minor, non-substantive changes to
regulatory text to clarify the boundaries of the snapper-grouper depth
closure contained in the final rule for Amendment 17B to the FMP. These
amendments do not modify, add or remove any rights, privileges or
obligations of any individuals. Rather, one of the longitudinal
coordinates published in the final rule was incorrect and two of the
coordinates published in the final rule occurred in State waters. The
new coordinates and State/Federal boundary lines published in this
correcting amendment will alleviate unnecessary confusion for South
Atlantic snapper-grouper fishermen. There will be no adverse affect on
fishing stocks as a result of this amendment. However, by immediately
implementing this correcting amendment, fishermen will better be able
to plan their fishing trips by incorporating the correct boundary
coordinates into their business plans. Because this is a minor
technical amendment that will benefit the affected entities, public
comment is both unnecessary and contrary to the public interest.
For the reasons stated above, the Assistant Administrator also
finds good cause, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d), to waive the 30-day
delay in effective date for this correction amendment. These revisions
are minor, non-substantive changes and do not change operating
practices in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery. The immediate
publication of the correct coordinates will provide fishermen the
information they need to plan their fishing trips and alleviate
confusion.
Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601
et seq., are inapplicable.
This correcting amendment is exempt from review under Executive
Order 12866.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622
Fisheries, Fishing, Puerto Rico, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Virgin Islands.
Dated: March 2, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
Accordingly, 50 CFR part 622 is corrected by making the following
correcting amendments:
PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF, AND SOUTH ATLANTIC
0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In Sec. 622.35, the table in paragraph (o) is revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 622.35 Atlantic EEZ seasonal and/or area closures.
* * * * *
(o) * * *
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Point North lat. 10 West long. 10
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A................................ 36[deg]31'01'' 74[deg]48'10''
B................................ 35[deg]57'29'' 74[deg]55'49''
C................................ 35[deg]30'49'' 74[deg]49'17''
D................................ 34[deg]19'41'' 76[deg]00'21''
E................................ 33[deg]13'31'' 77[deg]17'50''
F................................ 33[deg]05'13'' 77[deg]49'24''
G................................ 32[deg]24'03'' 78[deg]57'03''
H................................ 31[deg]39'04'' 79[deg]38'46''
I................................ 30[deg]27'33'' 80[deg]11'39''
J................................ 29[deg]53'21'' 80[deg]16'01''
K................................ 29[deg]24'03'' 80[deg]13'28''
L................................ 28[deg]19'29'' 80[deg]00'27''
M................................ 27[deg]32'05'' 79[deg]58'49''
N................................ 26[deg]50'29'' 79[deg]59'05''
From point N follow the State/
Federal boundary to point O.
O................................ 25[deg]43'57'' 80[deg]04'46''
P................................ 25[deg]31'03'' 80[deg]04'55''
Q................................ 25[deg]13'44'' 80[deg]09'40''
R................................ 24[deg]59'09'' 80[deg]19'51''
S................................ 24[deg]42'06'' 80[deg]46'38''
T................................ 24[deg]33'53'' 81[deg]10'23''
U................................ 24[deg]29'10'' 81[deg]32'27''
From point U follow the State/
Federal boundary to point V.
V................................ 24[deg]26'28'' 81[deg]45'06''
W................................ 24[deg]25'53'' 81[deg]47'53''
From point W follow the State/
Federal boundary to point X.
X................................ 24[deg]25'32'' 81[deg]58'38''
Y................................ 24[deg]25'49'' 82[deg]11'17''
Z................................ 24[deg]21'35'' 82[deg]22'32''
AA............................... 24[deg]21'29'' 82[deg]42'33''
BB............................... 24[deg]25'37'' 83[deg]00'00''
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[FR Doc. 2011-5232 Filed 3-7-11; 8:45 am]
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