AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Final rule; correcting amendments.

SUMMARY:

This action contains corrections to the final rules related to 2019-2020 Biennial Harvest Specifications and Management Measures for groundfish harvested in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California published on December 12, 2018, and May 10, 2019. These corrections are necessary so the regulations accurately implement the Pacific Fishery Management Council's intent.

DATES:

This correction is effective September 24, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian Hooper, phone: 206-526-6117 or email: brian.hooper@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NMFS published a final rule on December 12, 2018, (83 FR 63970), that implemented the 2019-2020 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish harvested in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. That final rule was effective January 1, 2019. After publication of the final rule, the need for four corrections was noted by NMFS.

This action corrects: (1) The definition of groundfish for nearshore rockfish south of 40°10′ N latitude; (2) the depth restrictions in the Cowcod Conservation Area; (3) language describing the use of small footrope gear inside the Columbia and Klamath River Salmon Conservation Zones; and (4) the 2019 yellowtail rockfish allocations north of 40°10′ N latitude.

Corrections

The final rule for the 2019-2020 groundfish harvest specifications and management measures (83 FR 63970; December 12, 2018) contained an error in the amendatory instructions for the definition of “Groundfish” in 50 CFR 660.11. In adding new subparagraphs to describe stock complex changes, the portion of the definition for nearshore rockfish south of 40°10′ N latitude was inadvertently deleted. This rule restores the deleted text. The substance of the text is unchanged from what was previously in the regulations.

The final rule contained a revision to the depth boundary within which commercial fixed gear and recreational gear is allowed to operate in the Western Cowcod Conservation Area. Fishing was permitted shoreward of the 20 fathom (fm) (36.6 m) depth contour prior to the 2019-2020 biennial harvest specifications final rule. The final rule revised the depth boundary to allow fishing shoreward of the 40 fm (73 m) depth contour. In the regulations for this change at §§ 660.230(d)(10)(ii) and 660.330(d)(11)(ii), NMFS did not explicitly describe how the 40 fm (73 m) depth contour is delineated, or cross reference the depth contour definition in existing regulations. This rule corrects these regulations to note that a coordinate list describing the 40 fm (73 m) depth contour can be found in § 660.71.

The final rule also contained an error at § 660.130(c)(2)(iii) when describing use of small footrope gear inside the Columbia and Klamath River Salmon Conservation Zones. In the rule, NMFS inadvertently substituted the word “required” for “prohibited” when describing the use of selective flatfish trawl (SFFT), a type of small footrope trawl gear, in the area. The final rule for a separate action, revising Federal regulations that restricted the use and configuration of bottom and midwater trawl gear for vessels fishing under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery's Trawl Rationalization Program (83 FR 62269; December 3, 2018), also erroneously used the word “required” rather than “prohibited.” Language describing the use of small footrope trawl gear, inside the Columbia and Klamath River Salmon Conservation Zones is being corrected to state that small footrope trawl gears other than SFFT are “prohibited,” consistent with the Pacific Fishery Management Council's intent for regulations in this area.

The final rule for Annual Specifications and Management Measures for the 2019 Tribal and Non-Tribal Fisheries for Pacific Whiting (84 FR 20578; May 10, 2019) inadvertently changed the yellowtail rockfish allocation north of 40°10′ N latitude at Table 1b to Part 600, Subpart C. The Pacific Whiting specifications final rule incorrectly stated the yellowtail rockfish fishery harvest guideline (HG) as 4,951.9 metric tons (mt), as well as the trawl and non-trawl allocations as 4,357.7 mt and 594.2 mt respectively. To be consistent with the yellowtail rockfish allocations established in the final rule for the 2019-2020 groundfish harvest specifications and management measures (83 FR 63970), this rule corrects the fishery HG to 5,233.9 mt, as well as the trawl and non-trawl allocations to 4,605.8 mt and 678.1 mt respectively.

All of these corrections are consistent with the Pacific Fishery Management Council action for the 2019-2020 groundfish harvest specifications and are minor corrections to correctly implement the Council's intent in their final action taken in June 2018.

Classification

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA) finds there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment would be unnecessary and contrary to public interest. Notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because this action corrects inadvertent errors related to the December 12, 2018, final rule. Immediate correction of the errors is necessary to prevent confusion among participants in the fishery that could result in issues with enforcement of area management. To effectively correct the errors, the changes in this action must be effective upon publication as the fishery has already begun. Thus, there is not sufficient time for notice and comment. In addition, notice and comment is unnecessary because this notice makes only minor changes to correct inadvertent errors related to the December 12, 2018, final rule. These corrections will not affect the results of analyses conducted to support management decisions in the Pacific coast groundfish fishery. These corrections are consistent with the Pacific Fishery Management Council's intent for regulations and the public expects the regulations to be written as in the correction. No change in operating practices in the fishery is required.

For the same reasons stated above, the AA has determined good cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d). This notice makes only minor corrections to the final rule which was effective January 1, 2019. Delaying effectiveness of these corrections would result in conflicts in the regulations and confusion among fishery participants. Because prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required to be provided 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 not applicable. Accordingly, no Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is required for this rule and none has been prepared.

This final rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

• Fisheries
• Fishing, and Indian Fisheries

For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is corrected by making the following correcting amendments:

PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 660 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

2. In § 660.11, in the definition for “Groundfish”, add paragraph (7)(i)(D) to read as follows:

3. Revise Table 1b to part 660, subpart C, to read as follows:

4. In § 660.130, revise paragraph (c)(2)(iii) to read as follows:

5. In § 660.230, revise paragraph (d)(10)(ii) to read as follows:

6. In § 660.330, revise paragraph (d)(11)(ii) to read as follows: