View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings

Printer-Friendly Version Download RIN Data in XML

DOC/NOAA

RIN: 0648-AQ68

Publication ID: Fall 2003

Title: Amendment 17 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
Abstract: Since 1990, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has annually developed its recommendations for specifications and management measures in a two-meeting process (usually its September and November meetings) followed by a NMFS final action published in the Federal Register and made available for public comment and correction after the effective date of the action. In 2001, NMFS was challenged on this process in Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. Evans, 2001 168 F.Supp. 2d 1149 (N.D. Cal. 2001) and the court ordered NMFS to provide prior public notice and allow public comment on the annual specifications. Amendment 17 would respond to the court's order by revising the FMP's framework for developing specifications and management measures to incorporate NMFS publication of a proposed rule for the specifications and management measures, followed by a public comment period and a final rule. Amendment 17 would also respond to NMFS regulatory streamlining initiatives by implementing a biennial specifications and management measures process for Pacific Coast groundfish. Finally, it allows additional time for Council development of the management measures.
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 660
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq

Legal Deadline:

Action	Source	Description	Date
NPRM	Statutory		02/00/2003

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	06/13/2003	68 FR 35354
NPRM Comment Period End	07/28/2003
Final Action	09/04/2003	68 FR 52519

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
Agency Contact: Barry Thom Regional Administrator, West Coast Region Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232 Phone:503 231-6266 Email: barry.thom@noaa.gov