Finding of No Significant Impact, including the Environmental Assessment, on Final Rule to Modify the Management of "Other Species" Community Development Quota Reserve in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

This final rule would modify the management of the "other species" Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve by eliminating specific allocations of "other species" CDQ to individual CDQ managing organizations (CDQ groups). Instead, NOAA Fisheries would be allowed to manage the "other species" CDQ reserve with the general limitations used to manage the catch of non-CDQ groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action would eliminate the CDQ non-specific reserve. It also makes other changes to improve the clarity and consistency of CDQ Program regulations. This action is necessary to improve NOAA Fisheries' ability to effectively administer the CDQ Program.

The environmental review process led us to conclude that this action will not have a significant impact on the  environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement was not prepared.