Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus and Polar Bears, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska, 67782-67784 [2015-27978]

Download as PDF 67782 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 212 / Tuesday, November 3, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R2–ES–2015–N193; FXES11120200000–167–FF02ENEH00] Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Applications for Participation in the Oil and Gas Industry Conservation Plan for the American Burying Beetle in Oklahoma Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comments. AGENCY: Under the Endangered Species Act, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on incidental take permit applications for take of the federally listed American burying beetle resulting from activities associated with the geophysical exploration (seismic) and construction, maintenance, operation, repair, and decommissioning of oil and gas well field infrastructure within Oklahoma. If approved, the permits would be issued under the approved Oil and Gas Industry Conservation Plan Associated with Issuance of Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permits for the American Burying Beetle in Oklahoma (ICP). DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received on or before December 3, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of all documents and submit comments on the applicant’s ITP application by one of the following methods. Please refer to the permit number when requesting documents or submitting comments. Æ U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species—HCP Permits, P.O. Box 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Æ Electronically: fw2_hcp_permits@ fws.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty Tuegel, Branch Chief, by U.S. mail at Environmental Review, P.O. Box 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or by telephone at 505–248– 6651. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Introduction Under the Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on incidental take permit (ITP) applications for take of the federally listed American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) resulting from activities VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:04 Nov 02, 2015 Jkt 238001 associated with geophysical exploration (seismic) and construction, maintenance, operation, repair, and decommissioning of oil and gas well field infrastructure within Oklahoma. If approved, the permit would be issued to the applicant under the Oil and Gas Industry Conservation Plan Associated with Issuance of Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permits for the American Burying Beetle in Oklahoma (ICP). The ICP was made available for comment on April 16, 2014 (79 FR 21480), and approved on May 21, 2014 (publication of the FONSI notice was on July 25, 2014; 79 FR 43504). The ICP and the associated environmental assessment/finding of no significant impact are available on the Web site at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ oklahoma/ABBICP. However, we are no longer taking comments on these documents. Applications Available for Review and Comment We invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, and the public to comment on the following application under the ICP, for incidental take of the federally listed ABB. Please refer to the appropriate permit number (TE–123456) when requesting application documents and when submitting comments. Documents and other information the applicants have submitted with this application are available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). Permit TE–78498B Applicant: Grand Mesa Pipeline, LLC, Edmond, OK. Applicant requests a new permit for gas upstream and midstream production, including geophysical exploration (seismic) and construction, maintenance, operation, repair, and decommissioning of gas well field infrastructure, as well as construction, maintenance, operation, repair, decommissioning, and reclamation of gas gathering, transmission, and distribution pipeline infrastructure within Oklahoma. Permit TE–78500B Applicant: Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Oklahoma City, OK. Applicant requests a new permit for gas upstream and midstream production, including geophysical exploration (seismic) and construction, maintenance, operation, repair, and decommissioning of gas well field infrastructure, as well as construction, maintenance, operation, repair, decommissioning, and reclamation of PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 gas gathering, transmission, and distribution pipeline infrastructure within Oklahoma. Public Availability of Comments Written comments we receive become part of the public record associated with this action. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can request in your comment that we withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will not consider anonymous comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their entirety. Authority We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22) and the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Dated: October 21, 2015. Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2015–27973 Filed 11–2–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R7–ES–2015–N152; FF07CAMM00– FX–FR133707REG00] Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus and Polar Bears, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of issuance. AGENCY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has issued letters of authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walrus incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska and incidental to oil and gas SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 212 / Tuesday, November 3, 2015 / Notices industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and the adjacent western coast of Alaska. These letters of authorization stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific walrus from these activities. These letters of authorization are available electronically at the following location: https://www.fws.gov/ alaska/fisheries/mmm/itr.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hendrick at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341, Anchorage, AK 99503; (800) 362–5148 or (907) 786–3479. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 3, 2011, the Service published in the Federal Register a final rule (76 FR 47010) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus during year-round oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective through August 3, 2016. The rule prescribed a process under which we issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to applicants conducting activities as described under the provisions of the regulations. 67783 Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the activity and location. Holders of LOAs must use methods and conduct activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walrus and polar bears and their habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take are prohibited. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to each of the following companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska: BEAUFORT SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION Activity Project Date issued Alaska Development and Export Authority .... Alaska Development and Export Authority .... Development ...................... Development ...................... Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... Development ...................... Development ...................... Exploration ......................... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc ............................ Exploration & Development North Slope Liquefied Natural Gas Facility ... North Slope Liquefied Natural Gas Facility (amended). North Slope Geotechnical drilling .................. North Prudhoe Seismic Survey ..................... Winter Vibroseis Seismic Survey .................. Mustang Development Program .................... Nuna Development Activities ......................... Environmental Sampling and Well Plug Abandonment. North Slope activities ..................................... February 10, 2014. May 27, 2014. Alaska Gasline Development Corporation ..... BP Exploration, Inc ........................................ BP Exploration Alaska Inc ............................. Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation ........... Caelus Natural Resources Alaska, LLC ........ ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc ............................ ExxonMobil Development Company .............. Exploration ......................... ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC ........................ ExxonMobil Development Company .............. Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... ExxonMobil Development Company .............. Geokinetics .................................................... Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... Global Geophysical Services, Inc .................. Global Geophysical Services, Inc .................. Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ....................................... Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... Production .......................... Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ....................................... Exploration ......................... NordAq Energy, Inc ....................................... Exploration ......................... North Slope Borough ..................................... Olgoonik Specialty Contractors, LLC ............. Development ...................... Development ...................... Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC ............................ Olgoonik Specialty Contractors, LLC ............. Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska, Inc ......... Repsol E&P USA Inc ..................................... SAExploration, Inc ......................................... SAExploration, Inc ......................................... SAExploration, Inc ......................................... Exploration ......................... Development ...................... Development ...................... Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... Exploration ......................... Shell Exploration and Production Company .. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Company Production .......................... On June 12, 2013, we published in the Federal Register a final rule (78 FR 35364) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus during year-round oil and gas VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:04 Nov 02, 2015 Jkt 238001 Preliminary studies for development of Prudhoe Bay Gas Plant. Prudhoe Bay Unit Hydrology Studies ............ Prudhoe Bay Unit Field Studies .................... Exploration activities at Point Thomson ........ Caelus and Great Bear 3D Winter Seismic Surveys. Kad River 3D Winter Seismic Surveys .......... Schrader Bluff 3D Seismic Survey ................ Operations at the Milne Point, Endicott, and Northstar Facilities. Geotechnical Investigation, Sonar and Scour Survey. Tulimaniq Exploration Drilling Project ............ Pipeline upgrades near Barrow ..................... Point Lonely, Oliktok Point, and Bullen Point DEW Line Cleanup. Environmental Baseline Studies .................... Demolition and Remediation Projects ........... Nuna Development Project ............................ Drilling Program in the Colville River area .... North Slope Big Bend 3D Seismic Survey .... Colville River Delta Seismic Survey .............. Umingmak 2015 Program Horseshoe Winter Seismic Survey. Ice Overflight Surveys ................................... industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart I of 50 CFR part 18 and is effective until June 11, 2018. The process under which we issue LOAs to applicants and the requirements that the holders of LOAs PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 April 8, 2014. June 11, 2014. January 29, 2015. January 15, 2015. April 20, 2015. January 16, 2014. December 12, 2014. May 16, 2014. August 6, 2014. December 23, 2014. January 29, 2015. January 14, 2015. January 14, 2015. January 15, 2014. November 14, 2014. January 29, 2015. November 14, 2014. July 28, 2015. March 25, 2014. June 11, 2014. May 29, 2015. February 13, 2014. January 29, 2015. February 11, 2014. August 14, 2014. December 23, 2014. January 14, 2015. must follow is the same as described above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR 18, subpart J. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1 67784 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 212 / Tuesday, November 3, 2015 / Notices issued LOAs to the following companies in the Chukchi Sea: CHUKCHI SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION Company Activity Project Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC .................. Shell Exploration and Production Company. Shell Exploration and Production Company. Shell Exploration and Production Company. Shell Exploration and Production Company. TGS ...................................................... TGS ...................................................... Exploration .............. Exploration .............. Environmental Studies ........................................................ Ice observation overflights .................................................. July 23, 2014. January 14, 2015. Exploration .............. Ice observation overflights (amended) ............................... January 29, 2015. Exploration .............. Exploration Drilling Program in the Chukchi Sea ............... June 30, 2015. Exploration .............. Exploration Drilling Program in the Chukchi Sea (amended). Seismic Operations ............................................................. Seismic Operations (amended) .......................................... July 24, 2015. Exploration .............. Exploration .............. Dated: October 26, 2015. Peter J. Probasco, Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region. [FR Doc. 2015–27978 Filed 11–2–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R7–R–2015–N210; FF07RKDK00– FVRS80810700000–XXX] Proposed Information Collection; Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Bear Viewing Survey Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. We SUMMARY: may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: To ensure that we are able to consider your comments on this IC, we must receive them by January 4, 2016. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– 3803 (mail); or hope_grey@fws.gov (email). Please include ‘‘1018–Kodiak Bear Viewing’’ in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this IC, contact Hope Grey at hope_ grey@fws.gov (email) or 703–358–2482 (telephone). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge has partnered with Utah State University to conduct a public survey of visitors to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge who participate in bear viewing at structured and unstructured sites. Date issued Questions will address logistical aspects of bear viewing (including the amount of money visitors are willing to spend on viewing and amenities), satisfaction with current experiences (based on number of bears, density of other visitors, length of stay, and education received), and reported changes to attitudes and behavior related to bear conservation based on visitors’ experiences on the refuge. Survey results are crucial to understanding public demands for and expectations of bear viewing, so that the refuge can better facilitate bear viewing opportunities and better convey educational messages on bear management. II. Data OMB Control Number: 1018–XXXX. Title: Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Bear Viewing Survey. Service Form Number: None. Type of Request: Request for a new OMB Control Number. Description of Respondents: Visitors to Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge who come for the purpose of viewing bears. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Frequency of Collection: One time. Completion time per response (minutes) Number of responses Activity June 28, 2013. September 11, 2013. Total annual burden hours 1,800 600 2 15 60 150 Totals .................................................................................................................................... mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Initial Contact ............................................................................................................................... Online Survey .............................................................................................................................. 2,400 ........................ 210 • Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None III. Comments We invite comments concerning this information collection on: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:04 Nov 02, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; • Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 212 (Tuesday, November 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67782-67784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27978]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-ES-2015-N152; FF07CAMM00- FX-FR133707REG00]


Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus 
and Polar Bears, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of issuance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (MMPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has 
issued letters of authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears 
and Pacific walrus incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, 
development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the 
adjacent northern coast of Alaska and incidental to oil and gas

[[Page 67783]]

industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and the adjacent 
western coast of Alaska. These letters of authorization stipulate 
conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific 
walrus from these activities. These letters of authorization are 
available electronically at the following location: https://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/mmm/itr.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hendrick at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor 
Road, MS 341, Anchorage, AK 99503; (800) 362-5148 or (907) 786-3479.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 3, 2011, the Service published in 
the Federal Register a final rule (76 FR 47010) establishing 
regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, 
unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus 
during year-round oil and gas industry exploration, development, and 
production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast 
of Alaska. The rule established subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective through August 3, 
2016. The rule prescribed a process under which we issue Letters of 
Authorization (LOAs) to applicants conducting activities as described 
under the provisions of the regulations.
    Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the 
activity and location. Holders of LOAs must use methods and conduct 
activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent 
practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walrus and polar bears and their 
habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for 
subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take are 
prohibited.
    In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 
et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to 
each of the following companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent 
northern coast of Alaska:

                                      Beaufort Sea Letters of Authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Company                           Activity                    Project             Date issued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Development and Export   Development........................  North Slope       February 10, 2014.
 Authority.                                                           Liquefied
                                                                      Natural Gas
                                                                      Facility.
Alaska Development and Export   Development........................  North Slope       May 27, 2014.
 Authority.                                                           Liquefied
                                                                      Natural Gas
                                                                      Facility
                                                                      (amended).
Alaska Gasline Development      Exploration........................  North Slope       April 8, 2014.
 Corporation.                                                         Geotechnical
                                                                      drilling.
BP Exploration, Inc...........  Exploration........................  North Prudhoe     June 11, 2014.
                                                                      Seismic Survey.
BP Exploration Alaska Inc.....  Exploration........................  Winter Vibroseis  January 29, 2015.
                                                                      Seismic Survey.
Brooks Range Petroleum          Development........................  Mustang           January 15, 2015.
 Corporation.                                                         Development
                                                                      Program.
Caelus Natural Resources        Development........................  Nuna Development  April 20, 2015.
 Alaska, LLC.                                                         Activities.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc....  Exploration........................  Environmental     January 16, 2014.
                                                                      Sampling and
                                                                      Well Plug
                                                                      Abandonment.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc....  Exploration & Development..........  North Slope       December 12, 2014.
                                                                      activities.
ExxonMobil Development Company  Exploration........................  Preliminary       May 16, 2014.
                                                                      studies for
                                                                      development of
                                                                      Prudhoe Bay Gas
                                                                      Plant.
ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC.....  Exploration........................  Prudhoe Bay Unit  August 6, 2014.
                                                                      Hydrology
                                                                      Studies.
ExxonMobil Development Company  Exploration........................  Prudhoe Bay Unit  December 23, 2014.
                                                                      Field Studies.
ExxonMobil Development Company  Exploration........................  Exploration       January 29, 2015.
                                                                      activities at
                                                                      Point Thomson.
Geokinetics...................  Exploration........................  Caelus and Great  January 14, 2015.
                                                                      Bear 3D Winter
                                                                      Seismic Surveys.
Global Geophysical Services,    Exploration........................  Kad River 3D      January 14, 2015.
 Inc.                                                                 Winter Seismic
                                                                      Surveys.
Global Geophysical Services,    Exploration........................  Schrader Bluff    January 15, 2014.
 Inc.                                                                 3D Seismic
                                                                      Survey.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...........  Production.........................  Operations at     November 14, 2014.
                                                                      the Milne
                                                                      Point,
                                                                      Endicott, and
                                                                      Northstar
                                                                      Facilities.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...........  Exploration........................  Geotechnical      January 29, 2015.
                                                                      Investigation,
                                                                      Sonar and Scour
                                                                      Survey.
NordAq Energy, Inc............  Exploration........................  Tulimaniq         November 14, 2014.
                                                                      Exploration
                                                                      Drilling
                                                                      Project.
North Slope Borough...........  Development........................  Pipeline          July 28, 2015.
                                                                      upgrades near
                                                                      Barrow.
Olgoonik Specialty              Development........................  Point Lonely,     March 25, 2014.
 Contractors, LLC.                                                    Oliktok Point,
                                                                      and Bullen
                                                                      Point DEW Line
                                                                      Cleanup.
Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC.....  Exploration........................  Environmental     June 11, 2014.
                                                                      Baseline
                                                                      Studies.
Olgoonik Specialty              Development........................  Demolition and    May 29, 2015.
 Contractors, LLC.                                                    Remediation
                                                                      Projects.
Pioneer Natural Resources       Development........................  Nuna Development  February 13, 2014.
 Alaska, Inc.                                                         Project.
Repsol E&P USA Inc............  Exploration........................  Drilling Program  January 29, 2015.
                                                                      in the Colville
                                                                      River area.
SAExploration, Inc............  Exploration........................  North Slope Big   February 11, 2014.
                                                                      Bend 3D Seismic
                                                                      Survey.
SAExploration, Inc............  Exploration........................  Colville River    August 14, 2014.
                                                                      Delta Seismic
                                                                      Survey.
SAExploration, Inc............  Exploration........................  Umingmak 2015     December 23, 2014.
                                                                      Program
                                                                      Horseshoe
                                                                      Winter Seismic
                                                                      Survey.
Shell Exploration and           Production.........................  Ice Overflight    January 14, 2015.
 Production Company.                                                  Surveys.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On June 12, 2013, we published in the Federal Register a final rule 
(78 FR 35364) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the 
nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar 
bears and Pacific walrus during year-round oil and gas industry 
exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of 
Alaska. The rule established subpart I of 50 CFR part 18 and is 
effective until June 11, 2018. The process under which we issue LOAs to 
applicants and the requirements that the holders of LOAs must follow is 
the same as described above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR 18, subpart J.
    In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our 
regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we

[[Page 67784]]

issued LOAs to the following companies in the Chukchi Sea:

                                      Chukchi Sea Letters of Authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Company                         Activity                  Project               Date issued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC.......  Exploration..................  Environmental       July 23, 2014.
                                                                  Studies.
Shell Exploration and Production  Exploration..................  Ice observation     January 14, 2015.
 Company.                                                         overflights.
Shell Exploration and Production  Exploration..................  Ice observation     January 29, 2015.
 Company.                                                         overflights
                                                                  (amended).
Shell Exploration and Production  Exploration..................  Exploration         June 30, 2015.
 Company.                                                         Drilling Program
                                                                  in the Chukchi
                                                                  Sea.
Shell Exploration and Production  Exploration..................  Exploration         July 24, 2015.
 Company.                                                         Drilling Program
                                                                  in the Chukchi
                                                                  Sea (amended).
TGS.............................  Exploration..................  Seismic Operations  June 28, 2013.
TGS.............................  Exploration..................  Seismic Operations  September 11, 2013.
                                                                  (amended).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: October 26, 2015.
Peter J. Probasco,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-27978 Filed 11-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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