The Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, proposes to adopt a regulation change in Title 20, Chapter 05 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with miscellaneous regulations including the following:
The Commission proposes to:
1. Amend 20 AAC 05.220 to establish gear codes based on vessel length for trawl and longline gear for the miscellaneous saltwater finfish fishery and for scallop dredge gear for the statewide scallop fishery;
2. Amend 20 AAC 05.230 to establish an administrative area and letter codes for an Aleutian Islands Adak community crab allocation fishery and an administrative area for the Chignik Tanner crab fishery;
3. Amend 20 AAC 05.245(a) to allow the commission to use gross earnings to calculate the annual permit renewal fee for permits in limited fisheries where a permit sale has not been recorded in recent years; to establish fee criteria for halibut and sablefish interim-use permits; to establish new fee classes and corresponding annual base fees; to clarify the terms used to describe the nonresident annual surcharge; to establish that nonresidents who qualify for a reduced fee shall also pay the full annual nonresident surcharge; and to update the references to the federal guidelines and the application form used to determine eligibility for reduced permit fees;
4. Amend 20 AAC 05.250(b) to update the references to the federal guidelines used to determine eligibility for reduced permit application fees;
5. Amend 20 AAC 05.320(e) to change the maximum number for the Southern Southeast Inside sablefish longline fishery to reflect the highest number of units of gear fished in a single year during the four years before the qualification date;
6. Amend 20 AAC 05.831(a)(3) to allow a Kodiak bairdi Tanner crab applicant to use the overall length of a replacement vessel to establish the vessel length category for an entry permit in situations where the original vessel was sold and the replacement vessel was acquired before September 18, 2002; and
7. Amend 20 AAC 05.1910 to establish a fee for the original issuance of a metal ADF&G number plate; to amend the fee charged for a duplicate metal ADF&G number plate; and to update the references to the federal guidelines used to determine eligibility for reduced transfer fees.
You may comment on the proposed regulations, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Susan Haymes at Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, 8800 Glacier Highway, Suite 109, Juneau, AK 99801-8079 or by email: susan_haymes@cfec.state.ak.us. The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2005.
Oral or written comments may also be submitted at hearings to be held on August 9 and August 17, 2005in the Conference Room of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, 8800 Glacier Highway, Suite 109 Juneau, Alaska. The August 9 hearing will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 3:00 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment; and the August 17 hearing will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 11:00 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Interested persons can also participate in the hearings by teleconference by calling, 1-800-315-6338, followed by CFEC(2332)#.
If you are a person with a disability who may need a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Susan Haymes at (907) 789-6160 no later than August 3, 2005, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Susan Haymes, Law Specialist, Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, 8800 Glacier Highway, Suite 109, Juneau, AK 99801-8079, (907) 789-6160, Fax: (907) 789-6170, Email: susan_haymes@cfec.state.ak.us or go to http://www.cfec.state.ak.us.
After the public comment period ends, the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject without further notice, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Statutory Authority: AS 16.43.100; AS 16.43.110(a)
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.43.100; AS 16.43.140; AS 16.43.150; AS 16.43.160; AS 16.43.200; AS 16.43.240; AS 16.43.270; AS 16.43.290; AS 16.43.990.
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
Under the Open Meetings Act (AS 44.62.310), the Commission will conduct a public meeting in the Commission's Conference Room 8800 Glacier Highway, Suite 109, Juneau, Alaska, on September 8, 2005 at 3:30 p.m. to consider action upon the proposed regulation. You can contact Susan Haymes for a copy of the agenda on the Friday before the scheduled meeting. No public testimony will be accepted at this meeting.
By Direction of the
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission
Frank Homan, Chairman
Mary McDowell, Commissioner
Bruce Twomley, Commissioner
/s/ Frank Homan
May 19, 2005