Central Title and Lien Registry for Limited Access Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 970213030-7030-01; I.D. 020597B]

RIN: 0648-AJ77

Central Title and Lien Registry for Limited Access Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment

period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS extends for 3 months the comment period for an advance

notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) about a central title and lien

registry for limited access fishing permits. Parties responding to the

ANPR's original comment period requested a 6-month extension.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by August 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Michael L. Grable, Chief, Financial

Services Division, NMFS, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael L. Grable at

(301) 713-2390.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation

and Management Act requires a title and lien registry for limited

access fishing permits. The registry will be the exclusive means of

perfecting title to these permits. It will also be the exclusive means

of perfecting security interests in, assignments of, and liens and

other encumbrances against these permits.

NMFS wanted the public's guidance before proposing regulations. We

published the ANPR in the March 6, 1997, Federal Register (62 FR

10249). The ANPR's comment period ended on April 7, 1997.

We received five comments. One was from a law firm representing a

coalition

[[Page 24898]]

of fisheries lenders. One was from another law firm representing a

group of fisheries investors. One was from a company representing a

fisheries trade association. Two were from individual citizens.

Both law firms requested, on behalf of their clients, a 6-month

extension of the ANPR's comment period in which to submit more detailed

comments. There was a substantial lack of consensus on many aspects of

the ANPR.

We recognize the importance of a collaborative and deliberative

process. We value consensus. Some of the issues are complex.

Nevertheless, we believe three months should be a sufficient comment-

period extension. Accordingly, we extend the ANPR's comment period for

three months.

We welcome all comments on any Registry aspect.

This notice's comment-period extension has been determined to be

not significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

Dated: May 1, 1997.

Nancy Foster,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 97-11836 Filed 5-6-97; 8:45 am]

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