Categorical Exclusion for a Proposed Rule to Amend Eligibility Criteria for Participation in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island Management Area Pacific Cod Hook-and-Line and Pot Gear Fisheries

In October 2002, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) provided NOAA Fisheries with further interpretation of Amendment 67 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Strait Aleutian Islands (BSAI). The Council recommended a regulatory amendment to the eligibility criteria for a License Limitation Program groundfish license with a Pacific cod endorsement.

After reviewing the proposed action in relation to NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6, we have concluded that the proposed action would not have a significant effect on the human environment. Based on the nature of the proposed action and the previous environmental analysis, we have concluded that the proposed action is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, in accordance with Section 5.05b of NAO 216-6.

The factors contributing to the conclusion that a categorical exclusion is appropriate for this proposed action are:

1. The principal effect of the action is to allow approximately six additional vessels to be eligible for participation in the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line and pot gear fisheries. The potential five to six percent increase in the number of vessels in the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line and pot gear fisheries is not anticipated to have significant impacts on the human environment (NAO 216-6, Sections 6.01 and 6.02).
2. The impacts of this proposed action were previously analyzed in a NEPA analysis with a finding of no significant impacts on the human environment.