Federal Register Highlights – 11/15/16

Unpublished, time-sensitive and proposed rules for November 15, 2016:

PROPSOED RULE: DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to clarify the guidance for sole-source 8(a) contract awards exceeding $22 million. Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat Division on or before January 17, 2017 to be considered in the formation of the final rule. (To submit comments, visit www.regulations.gov, reference FAR Case 2013–018.)

TEMPORARY RULE: NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for the gray triggerfish recreational sector in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2017 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that the 2016 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for Gulf gray triggerfish was exceeded; therefore, NMFS reduces the gray triggerfish recreational ACL and annual catch target (ACT) in 2017. As a result of the recreational ACL and ACT overages in 2016, the gray triggerfish 2017 recreational season in the Gulf EEZ will not open on January 1, 2017, and will remain closed for the entire 2017 fishing year. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf gray triggerfish resource. This rule is effective from 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2017, until 12:01 a.m., local time, January 1, 2018.

TEMPORARY RULE: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear and catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear to catcher processors (C/Ps) using hook-and-line gear and C/Ps using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2016 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested. Effective November 9, 2016, through 2400 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2016.