Rule published on Jan. 3 by Commerce Department

The US Commerce Department published a one page rule on Jan. 3, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

The rule is focused on Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of Specified Groundfish Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.

The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.

Notices are required documents detailing rules and regulations being proposed by each federal department. This allows the public to see what issues legislators and federal departments are focusing on.

Any person or organization can comment on the proposed rules. Departments and agencies must then address “significant issues raised in comments and discuss any changes made,” the Federal Register says.

Notices published by the Commerce Department on Jan. 3

Title
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of Specified Groundfish Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of Specified Groundfish Fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Interim 2000 Harvest Specifications
Fraser River Sockeye and Pink Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Orders
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Interim 2000 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Tuna Purse Seine Vessels in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP)
Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Bulk Aspirin From the People's Republic of China
International Whaling Commission; Meetings
Designated Critical Habitat: Reproposed Critical Habitat for Johnson's Seagrass; Extension of Public Comment Period
Limitation on Section 9 Protections Applicable to Salmon Listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), for Actions Under Tribal Resource Management Plans (Tribal Plans)
Endangered and Threatened Species; Proposed Rule Governing Take of Seven Threatened Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of West Coast Salmonids: Oregon Coast Coho; Puget Sound, Lower Columbia and Upper Willamette Chinook; Hood Canal Summer-run and Columbia River Chum; and Ozette Lake Sockeye