Rules and Regulations. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
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BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 060320078-6078-01; I.D. 031506B ] RIN 0648-AU40 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Notice of a Control Date for the Purpose of Limiting Entry to the Charter and Party Fishery; Northeast
(NE)Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
(FMP)AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. SUMMARY: NMFS announces that it is considering, and is seeking public comment on, proposed rulemaking to control future access to the open access charter and party boat (charter/party) fishery in the NE multispecies fishery if a management regime is developed and implemented under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to limit the number of participants in this sector of the NE multispecies fishery. This sector of the fishery includes vessels with open access charter/party permits, as well as limited access NE multispecies permits, while not on a NE multispecies day-at-sea (DAS). This announcement is intended, in part, to promote awareness of potential eligibility criteria for future access so as to discourage speculative entry into the fishery while the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) considers whether and how access to the charter/party fishery should be controlled. DATES: The date of publication of this document, March 30, 2006, shall be known as the “control date” and may be used for establishing eligibility criteria for determining levels of future access to the charter/party fishery subject to Federal authority. Written comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., local time, May 1, 2006. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Written comments (paper, disk, or CD-ROM) should be sent to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Mark the outside of the envelope, “Comments on Charter/Party Multispecies Control Date.” • Comments also may be sent via facsimile
(fax)to
(978)465-3116. • E-mail: *MUL_Charter_Party_Control_Date@Noaa.gov* . Include in the subject line the following “Comments on Charter/Party Multispecies Control Date.” Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov* . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira C. Kelly, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9218; fax 978-281-9135; e-mail: *moira.kelly@noaa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The recreational fishery historically has landed a significant percentage of the cod caught in the GOM. As a result of the overfished condition of both Georges Bank
(GB)and Gulf of Maine
(GOM)stocks of Atlantic cod ( *Gadus morhua* ), the Council has implemented measures to regulate recreational cod fishing since 1994. These measures include minimum fish sizes, limits on the number of hooks per line, and restrictions on the number of cod permitted to be landed (bag limits). More recently, Framework Adjustment 42 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which, if approved, is expected to be effective during the summer of 2006, would prohibit the possession of Atlantic cod in the recreational fishery from November 1 through March 31, and increase the minimum size for recreationally caught cod from 22 inches (55.88 cm) to 24 inches (60.96 cm). These measures would apply to both charter/party and private recreational vessels and would reduce fishing mortality on GOM cod by approximately 32 percent in order to help achieve the necessary fishing mortality reduction levels required by the FMP. A Secretarial proposed emergency rule was published on March 3, 2006 (71 FR 11060), that would implement these measures at the start of the fishing year, May 1, 2006. In addition to cod, the following NE multispecies are also commonly caught by the charter/party industry: Pollock ( *Pollachius virens* ); haddock ( *Melanogrammus aeglefinus* ); and winter flounder ( *Pleuronectes americanus* ); and, to a lesser extent, white hake ( *Urophycis tenuis* ), and non-regulated species such as cusk ( *Brosme brosme* ) and wolffish ( *Anarhichas lupus* ). In light of these new proposed restrictions and their impacts, members of the charter/party industry and the Council's Recreational Advisory Panel recommended that the Council restrict new entrants to the charter/party fishery to reduce the need for further restrictions on the recreational catch of cod and other groundfish. Based on information developed by the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistical Survey (MRFSS) and the Council's Groundfish Plan Development Team, while the number of charter/party open access permits in 2005 (approximately 673) was 5 percent below that in 2002, the highest number of charter/party permits issued in 1 year, the number of charter/party trips landing GOM cod remained relatively constant from 1990 through 2001. However, despite the fact that the number of trips has remained constant, the recreational catch of GOM cod has declined since 1982. The percent decrease in the amount of GOM cod caught by the recreational fishery is similar to the percent change in GOM cod caught by the commercial fishery throughout much of the same time period. The control date is intended to discourage speculative entry into the charter/party NE multispecies fishery while controlled access restrictions are considered by the Council. The control date will help to distinguish established participants from speculative entrants to the fishery. Although entering the fishery after the control date will not ensure fishing vessels of future access to the NE multispecies resource on the grounds of previous participation, additional and/or other qualifying criteria may be applied. The Council may choose different and variably weighted measures to qualify participants based on the type and length of participation in the charter/party NE multispecies fishery. This notification establishes March 30, 2006 as the control date for potential use in determining historical or traditional participation in the NE multispecies charter/party fishery. Consideration of a control date does not commit the Council or NMFS to develop any particular management system or criteria for participation in this fishery. The Council may choose a different control date, or may choose a management program that does not make use of such a date. Fishers are not guaranteed future participation in the fishery, regardless of their entry dates or level of participation in this fishery before or after the control date. The Council may choose to give variably weighted consideration to fishers active in the fishery before and after the control date. The Council may also choose to take no further action to control entry or access to the fishery, in which case the control date may be rescinded. Any action by the Council will be taken pursuant to the requirements for the development of FMP amendments established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This notification also gives the public notice that interested participants should locate and preserve records that substantiate and verify their participation in the NE multispecies charter/party fishery in Federal waters. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.* Dated: March 24, 2006. John Oliver, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E6-4665 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P 71 61 Thursday, March 30, 2006 Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request March 24, 2006. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding
(a)Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected;
(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), *OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV* or fax
(202)395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling
(202)720-8958. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Food and Nutrition Service *Title:* Disaster Food Stamp Program. *OMB Control Number:* 0584-0336. *Summary of Collection:* Section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 and the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish temporary emergency standards of eligibility for victims of a disaster if the commercial channels of food distribution have been disrupted, and if such channels of food distribution have been restored. Section 11(e)(14) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, authorizes the Secretary to require State agencies to develop a plan of operation that includes, but is not limited to, procedures for informing the public about the Disaster Food Stamp Program
(DFSP)and how to apply for its benefits, coordination with Federal and private disaster relief agencies and local government officials, application procedures to reduce hardship and inconvenience and deter fraud, and instruct caseworkers in procedures for implementing and operating the DFSP. *Need and Use of the Information:* This information collection concerns information obtain from State welfare agencies seeking to operate DFSP's. A State agency's request to operate a DFSP must contain the following information: Procedures for prompt assessment of the geographical limits of the areas in need of disaster food stamp assistance; household responsibilities; a description of post-disaster reviews; procedures to inform both the general public and households already certified under the disaster program if the operation of the DFSP is extended; procedures to issue food stamps during a disaster; and procedures to coordinate with other State agencies to obtain additional workers and other personnel if needed to supplement the State agency's regular staff. *Description of Respondents:* State, Local, or Tribal Government; Individuals or households. *Number of Respondents:* 8. *Frequency of Responses:* Reporting: On occasion. *Total Burden Hours:* 80. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E6-4615 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request March 27, 2006. The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding
(a)Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected;
(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), *OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV* or fax
(202)395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling
(202)720-8958. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Food and Nutrition Service *Title:* Status of Claims Against Households. *OMB Control Number:* 0584-0069. *Summary of Collection:* Section 11, 13, and 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended (the Act) and appropriate Food Stamp Program Regulation are the bases for the information collected on FNS-209. Regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(m)(5) requires State agencies to submit at the end of every quarter the completed FNS-209, Status of Claims Against Households. The information required for the FNS-209 report is obtained from a State accountable system responsible for establishing claims, sending demand letters, collecting claims, and managing other claim activity. *Need and Use of the Information:* The Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS)will collect information on the outstanding aggregate claim balance; claims established; collections; any balance and collection adjustments; and the amount to be retained for collecting non-agency error claims. The information will be used by State agencies to ascertain aggregate claim balance and collections for determining overall performance, the collection amounts to return to FNS, and claim retention amounts. FNS will receive collections and report collection activity to Treasury. *Description of Respondents:* State, Local or Tribal Government. *Number of Respondents:* 53. *Frequency of Responses:* Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly. *Total Burden Hours:* 742. Ruth Brown, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E6-4637 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Lincoln County Resource Advisory Committee Meeting AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) the Kootenai National Forest's Lincoln County Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday April 12, 2006 at 6 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor's Office in Libby, Montana for a business meeting. The meeting is open to the public. DATES: April 12, 2006. ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor's Office, 1101 US Hwy 2 West, Libby, Montana. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Edgmon, Committee Coordinator, Kootenai National Forest at
(406)283-7764, or e-mail *bedgmon@fs.fed.us.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda topics include report on the National Forest Counties & Rural Schools Coalition Meeting, receiving proposals for 2007, and receiving public comment. If the meeting date or location is changed, notice will be posted in the local newspapers, including the Daily Interlake based in Kalispell, Montana. Dated: March 22, 2006. Cami Winslow, Acting Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 06-3071 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am]
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U.S. Code
5 references not yet in our index
- 50 CFR 648
- Pub. L. 104-13
- 7 CFR 273.18(m)(5)
- Pub. L. 92-463
- Pub. L. 106-393
Citation graph
cites case law
Rules and Regulations
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Cite50 CFR 648
Pub. L.Pub. L. 104-13
Cite7 CFR 273.18(m)(5)
Pub. L.Pub. L. 92-463
Pub. L.Pub. L. 106-393
Cites 6Cited by 0 across 0 sources