Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Construction and Operation of Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, 38065-38067 [E7-13556]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 133 / Thursday, July 12, 2007 / Notices
approximately 5–lb (2.27 kg) net
explosive weight charges to occur in
approximately 60–foot (18 m) deep
water from one to three nm off shore,
will result in the Level B harassment of
a few Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and
Atlantic spotted dolphins and;
therefore, would have a negligible
impact on these marine mammal species
and stocks. Dwarf and pygmy sperm
whales and manatees are unlikely to be
found in the area and, therefore, will not
be affected. While behavioral
modifications may be made by Atlantic
bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic
spotted dolphins to avoid the resultant
acoustic stimuli, there is virtually no
possibility of injury or mortality when
the potential density of dolphins in the
area and extent of mitigation and
monitoring are taken into consideration.
The effects of the NEODS training are
expected to be limited to short-term and
localized TTS-related behavioral
changes.
Due to the infrequency and localized
nature of these activities, the estimated
number of marine mammals, relative to
the population size, potentially taken by
harassment is small (less than 0.0002
percent for each species, and perhaps 1–
2 percent of an inshore stock of
bottlenose dolphin if one of them were
harassed). In addition, no take by injury
and/or death is anticipated. No
rookeries, mating grounds, areas of
concentrated feeding, or other areas of
special significance for marine
mammals occur within or near the
NEODS test sites.
Information Solicited
NMFS requests interested persons to
submit comments and information
concerning this request (see ADDRESSES).
Concurrent with the publication of this
notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is
forwarding copies of this application to
the Marine Mammal Commission and
its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: July 6, 2007.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7–13424 Filed 7–11–07; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XB14
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Construction and
Operation of Offshore Oil and Gas
Facilities in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of a letter of
authorization.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), as amended, and
implementing regulations, notice is
hereby given that NMFS has issued a
letter of authorization (LOA) to BP
Exploration (Alaska), Inc. (BP) to take
marine mammals incidental to the
production of offshore oil and gas at the
Northstar development in the Beaufort
Sea off Alaska.
DATES: This Authorization is effective
from July 7, 2007, through July 6, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting
documentation may be obtained by
writing to P. Michael Payne, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910, or by telephoning one of the
contacts listed here.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Candace Nachman or Kenneth R.
Hollingshead (301) 713–2289, or
Bradley Smith (907) 271–3023.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.) directs NMFS to allow, on
request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
engage in a specified activity (other than
commercial fishing) within a specified
geographical region, if certain findings
are made by NMFS and regulations are
issued. Under the MMPA, the term
‘‘take’’ means to harass, hunt, capture,
or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt,
capture, or kill marine mammals.
Authorization, in the form of annual
LOAs, may be granted for periods up to
5 years if NMFS finds, after notice and
opportunity for public comment, that
the taking will have a negligible impact
on the species or stock(s) of marine
mammals and will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) of
marine mammals for subsistence uses.
In addition, NMFS must prescribe
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38065
regulations setting forth the permissible
methods of taking and other means of
effecting the least practicable adverse
impact on the species and its habitat,
and on the availability of the species for
subsistence uses. The regulations also
must include requirements pertaining to
the monitoring and reporting of such
taking. Regulations governing the taking
of marine mammals incidental to
construction and operation of the
offshore oil and gas facility at Northstar
were made effective on April 6, 2006 (71
FR 11314, March 7, 2006), and remain
in effect until April 6, 2011. These
regulations include mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements.
The six species of marine mammals that
BP may take in small numbers during
construction and operation of the
Northstar facility are bowhead whales
(Balaena mysticetus), gray whales
(Eschrichtius robustus), beluga whales
(Delphinapterus leucas), ringed seals
(Phoca hispida), spotted seals (Phoca
largha), and bearded seals (Erignathus
barbatus).
Impacts on marine mammals may
occur through noise from barge,
helicopter traffic, drilling, and other
noise sources on the island facility.
Impacts may also result if there is an oil
spill resulting from production. While
noise impacts on marine mammals will
be low (activities on Northstar Island
will make less noise than that from
standard jack-up rigs, the concrete
island drilling structure, or seismic
activity), marine mammals will likely
hear the noise at distances up to 10 km
(6.2 mi) from the island. In addition,
there may be some harassment
(including injury or mortality) of ringed
seals during winter ice-road
construction. No take is authorized for
an oil spill.
As oil spills are highly unlikely,
impacts on marine mammals from an oil
spill are also unlikely to take place.
However, in order to mitigate the
potential for impacts on bowheads and
the subsistence use of bowheads, BP
will not drill into oil-bearing strata
during periods of open water or broken
ice, essentially the time period between
June 13 and ending with the presence of
18 inches of continuous ice cover for
one-half mile in all directions.
Mitigation has been proposed by BP to
the North Slope Borough native
community to ensure that, in the event
that an oil spill does occur, it will not
have an unmitigable adverse impact on
the subsistence use of the bowhead
whale.
Additionally, take of marine
mammals will also be minimized
through implementation of the
following mitigation measures: (1)
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 133 / Thursday, July 12, 2007 / Notices
avoiding sea lairs by 100 m (328 ft) if
new activities occur on the floating sea
ice after March 20; (2) establishing and
monitoring during all daylight hours a
190 dB safety zone for seals and a 180
dB safety zone for whales; (3) visually
monitoring of the safety zones for at
least 30 minutes prior to the
commencement of activities; (4)
shutting-down of sound sources if
marine mammals enter the respective
safety zones; (5) scheduling nonessential boat, barge, and air traffic to
avoid periods when bowhead whales
are migrating through the area; and (6)
limiting helicopter flights to a corridor
from Seal Island to the mainland, and,
except when limited by weather, will
maintain a minimum altitude of 1,000 ft
(305 ft), except during takeoff and
landing.
Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring and reporting
requirements are contained in the
Northstar regulations (50 CFR 216.206)
and described in the final rule (71 FR
11314, March 7, 2006). Monitoring
reports are submitted annually as
required by the regulations and the LOA
and plans and reports are peer-reviewed
as required by the MMPA and
regulations. A list of these reports is
available upon request (see
ADDRESSES). No new activities were
conducted during the summer of 2006,
and therefore, no specific acoustic
recordings of new sources were
undertaken in 2006. Acoustic
monitoring of the 2006 bowhead whale
migration was implemented during the
fall of 2006, as planned. No industrial
source operating at Northstar during the
past year has produced sounds capable
of reaching 180 dB in the water, and
therefore, no monitoring of the ‘‘safety
radii’’ has been implemented. Ice-road
and other construction activities on
previously undisturbed ice were not
initiated after March 1, 2006; therefore,
dog-assisted surveys of such areas were
not required in 2006.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Summary of Request
On April 23, 2007, NMFS received a
request from BP for a renewal of an LOA
issued on July 7, 2006, for the taking of
marine mammals incidental to oil
production operations at Northstar,
under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the
MMPA. This request (BP, 2007) contains
information in compliance with 50 CFR
216.209, which updates information
provided in BP’s original application for
takings incidental to construction and
operations at Northstar.
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Summary of Activity and Monitoring
Under the Current LOA
One offshore ice road was built during
the 2005–2006 ice-covered season.
Helicopters made 465 round trips to
Northstar during the 2005–2006 icecovered season to transport crew and
materials to and from the facility and
recommended flight corridors and
altitude restrictions were maintained.
Hagglunds tracked vehicles made 70
round trips between West Dock and
Northstar Island, and the hovercraft
made 249 round trips during the 2005–
2006 ice-covered season.
Drilling activities were conducted at
six well sites during the reporting
period. Two new wells were drilled and
completed, and surface drilling was
conducted at a third new well site.
Routine maintenance activities to repair
the block system and fabric barrier
around Northstar Island occurred from
May 26 through June 28, 2006.
Each month, six to seven aerial
surveys were conducted to inspect the
pipeline for leaks or spills. There were
17 reportable Northstar-related spills
during the 2005–2006 ice-covered
season. Material spilled included
corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor,
diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid, anti-foulant,
drilling mud, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric
acid, and sewage. Most of this material
remained in contaminant and was
recovered. Smaller amounts of some
materials, including sewage, corrosion
inhibitor, hydraulic oil, drilling mud,
hydrochloric and sulfuric acid, and
diesel fuel were spilled outside of
containment. All material spilled during
this ice-covered season was cleaned up.
During the open-water period, there
were 261 helicopter round trips, 560
hovercraft round trips, 64 tug and barge
trips, and 106 Alaska Clean Seas Bayclass boat round trips to Northstar.
There were an additional five trips by
Bay-class boats in association with
acoustic monitoring of the bowhead
whale migration. Three reportable spills
occurred during the 2006 open-water
period. Spilled material included scale
and corrosion inhibitor and lube oil. All
spilled material was cleaned up.
No responses of seals to Northstar
activities were noted during monitoring
surveys other than that a seal was noted
to raise its head in 2005, possibly in
response to Northstar activities. Results
of seal counts conducted from Northstar
Island during the reporting period did
not provide evidence, or reason to
suspect, that any seals were killed or
injured by Northstar-related activities
during 2006. No activities were
conducted that could have exposed
pinnipeds and whales to underwater
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received levels greater than 190 dB re 1
microPa (rms) or 180 dB re 1 microPa
(rms), respectively. There were no spills
of liquid hydrocarbons that reached the
water under the sea ice.
Seven Directional Autonomous
Seafloor Acoustic Recorders (DASARs)
were installed from August to
September, 2006. Four of the devices
were deployed at locations 11.5–16.6
km (7.1–10.3 mi) NNE of Northstar
Island and recorded low-frequency
sounds continuously for approximately
18 days. Near-island recordings were
obtained from three DASARs placed
410–465 m (1,345–1,525 ft) from
Northstar over approximately 27 days.
In total, 1,509 bowhead whale calls
were recorded over approximately 18
days at the four offshore DASAR
locations. This number is lower than
calls recorded from 2001–2004 but
higher than the number recorded in
2005 (Richardson, 2007). The low call
counts in 2006 are probably related to
the presence of heavy nearshore ice
during the 2006 season, which may
have deflected the migration pathway
farther offshore than in years with open
water (i.e., 2001–2004). The 2006 season
also had the fewest days of recording
offshore. A new sound was recorded in
2006 that has not been heard before. The
acoustic technicians do not believe
these sounds were produced by whales,
but they have not discovered their
origin(s) (Richardson, 2007).
Sound emissions associated with
Northstar activities in 2006 were
probably somewhat higher than in 2005,
and this difference would mainly be
attributable to extra boat traffic rather
than island sounds per se. Nevertheless,
sound emissions associated with
Northstar activities in 2006 were below
sound emissions in 2001, 2002, and
2003. The number of whales deflected
offshore in response to Northstar
operations in 2006 cannot be estimated
by the methods that have been applied
to the more extensive datasets acquired
in 2001–2004. However, if the overall
migration corridor in the central
Alaskan Beaufort Sea was farther
offshore in 2006 than in some other
recent years, as various indicators
suggest, then Northstar sounds would
have been (on average) less audible to
bowhead whales than at some times in
the past. In that case, the number of
whales deflected by Northstar-related
sounds in 2006 would likely be toward
the low end of the range for 2001–2004.
Subsistence hunters from Nuiqsut
who traveled to Cross Island for the
annual bowhead whale hunt did not
report any negative effects from
Northstar activities on their ability to
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 133 / Thursday, July 12, 2007 / Notices
conduct the hunt. The full quota of
whales was taken.
The meeting will be held
via Closed Session conference call.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2203
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa,
FL 33607.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Richard Leard, Deputy Executive
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council; telephone: (813)
348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of Mexico Fishery Management Council
(Council) will convene its SEDAR
Selection Committee via Conference
Call to select appointees to the SEDAR
16 King Mackerel workshops for
recommendation to the Council in a
closed session conference call on
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 2 p.m.
EDT. The Committee recommendations
will be presented to the Council at the
July 30 - August 2, 2007 Council
meeting in San Antonio, TX.
ADDRESSES:
Authorization
BP complied with the requirements of
the 2006 LOA, and NMFS has
determined that the marine mammal
take resulting from the 2006
construction and operation activities is
within that analyzed in and anticipated
by the associated regulations.
Accordingly, NMFS has issued a 1–year
LOA to BP, authorizing the taking of
marine mammals incidental to oil
production operations at the Northstar
offshore facility in state and Federal
waters in the U.S. Beaufort Sea.
Issuance of this LOA is based on
findings described in the preamble to
the final rule (71 FR 11314, March 7,
2006) and supported by information
contained in BP’s 2006 annual report
that the activities described in the LOA
will result in the taking of no more than
small numbers of bowhead whales,
beluga whales, ringed seals, and,
possibly California gray whales, bearded
seals, and spotted seals and that the
total taking will have a negligible
impact on these marine mammal stocks
and would not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of
these species or stocks for taking for
subsistence uses.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina
Trezza at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at
least 5 working days prior to the
meeting.
Dated: July 6, 2007.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7–13556 Filed 7–11–07; 8:45 am]
Dated: July 9, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7–13531 Filed 7–11–07; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
XRIN: 0648–XB35
XRIN: 0648–XB36
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council (Council); Public Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Closed Session SEDAR
(Southeast Data and Review) Selection
Committee Conference Call.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
convene its SEDAR Selection
Committee via Conference Call to select
appointees to the SEDAR 16 King
Mackerel workshops for
recommendation to the Council.
DATES: The Conference Call will be held
on Wednesday, July 25, 2007, from 2
p.m. EDT to 3 p.m. EDT.
16:42 Jul 11, 2007
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa,
FL 33607.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director,
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Council
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
8:35 a.m. - The Council meeting will
begin with a review the agenda and
minutes;
8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m - NMFS Proposed
Shark Regulations;
9:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Public
testimony on exempted fishing permits
(EFPs), if any, Open Public Comment
Period regarding any fishery issue or
concern. People wishing to speak before
the Council should complete a public
comment card prior to the comment
period.
The Council will review and discuss
reports from the previous two days’
committee meetings as follows:
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Reef Fish
Management;
3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Joint Reef Fish/
Mackerel/Red Drum;
4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Red Drum
Management;
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. - Administrative
Policy;
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. - NOAA Fisheries
Service and Gulf Council staff will hold
an open public forum/question and
answer session on Gulf Reef Fish. This
forum, while not a public hearing, will
provide the public an opportunity to ask
questions and discuss Gulf Reef Fish
science and management issues in a less
formal setting. The forum is intended to
increase dialogue between constituents
and fishery managers.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
AGENCY:
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38067
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National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
AGENCY:
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council will convene
public meetings.
DATES: The meeting will be held July 30
- August 2, 2007.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the El Tropicano Riverwalk, 110
Lexington Ave., San Antonio, TX 78205;
telephone: (210) 223–9461.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2203
SUMMARY:
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The Council will continue to review
and discuss reports from the committee
meetings as follows:
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. - Report of the
Closed Council Session on (Southeast
Data and Review (SEDAR);
8:45 a.m. - 10 a.m. - The Council will
conclude its meeting by discussing
Other Business items.
Committees
Monday, July 30, 2007.
1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - The Reef Fish
Management Committee will meet to
discuss the Public Hearing Draft for Reef
Fish Amendment 30 A for Gray
Triggerfish/Greater Amberjack, Public
Hearing Schedule, Advisory Panel (AP)/
Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC) Schedule and Committee Action;
Options Paper for Reef Fish Amendment
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 133 (Thursday, July 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38065-38067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13556]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB14
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Construction and Operation of Offshore Oil and Gas
Facilities in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of a letter of authorization.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as
amended, and implementing regulations, notice is hereby given that NMFS
has issued a letter of authorization (LOA) to BP Exploration (Alaska),
Inc. (BP) to take marine mammals incidental to the production of
offshore oil and gas at the Northstar development in the Beaufort Sea
off Alaska.
DATES: This Authorization is effective from July 7, 2007, through July
6, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting documentation may be obtained by
writing to P. Michael Payne, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or by telephoning one of
the contacts listed here.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman or Kenneth R.
Hollingshead (301) 713-2289, or Bradley Smith (907) 271-3023.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.) directs NMFS to allow, on request, the incidental, but
not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S.
citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial
fishing) within a specified geographical region, if certain findings
are made by NMFS and regulations are issued. Under the MMPA, the term
``take'' means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to attempt to
harass, hunt, capture, or kill marine mammals.
Authorization, in the form of annual LOAs, may be granted for
periods up to 5 years if NMFS finds, after notice and opportunity for
public comment, that the taking will have a negligible impact on the
species or stock(s) of marine mammals and will not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) of marine
mammals for subsistence uses. In addition, NMFS must prescribe
regulations setting forth the permissible methods of taking and other
means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the species
and its habitat, and on the availability of the species for subsistence
uses. The regulations also must include requirements pertaining to the
monitoring and reporting of such taking. Regulations governing the
taking of marine mammals incidental to construction and operation of
the offshore oil and gas facility at Northstar were made effective on
April 6, 2006 (71 FR 11314, March 7, 2006), and remain in effect until
April 6, 2011. These regulations include mitigation, monitoring, and
reporting requirements. The six species of marine mammals that BP may
take in small numbers during construction and operation of the
Northstar facility are bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), gray whales
(Eschrichtius robustus), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), ringed
seals (Phoca hispida), spotted seals (Phoca largha), and bearded seals
(Erignathus barbatus).
Impacts on marine mammals may occur through noise from barge,
helicopter traffic, drilling, and other noise sources on the island
facility. Impacts may also result if there is an oil spill resulting
from production. While noise impacts on marine mammals will be low
(activities on Northstar Island will make less noise than that from
standard jack-up rigs, the concrete island drilling structure, or
seismic activity), marine mammals will likely hear the noise at
distances up to 10 km (6.2 mi) from the island. In addition, there may
be some harassment (including injury or mortality) of ringed seals
during winter ice-road construction. No take is authorized for an oil
spill.
As oil spills are highly unlikely, impacts on marine mammals from
an oil spill are also unlikely to take place. However, in order to
mitigate the potential for impacts on bowheads and the subsistence use
of bowheads, BP will not drill into oil-bearing strata during periods
of open water or broken ice, essentially the time period between June
13 and ending with the presence of 18 inches of continuous ice cover
for one-half mile in all directions. Mitigation has been proposed by BP
to the North Slope Borough native community to ensure that, in the
event that an oil spill does occur, it will not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the subsistence use of the bowhead whale.
Additionally, take of marine mammals will also be minimized through
implementation of the following mitigation measures: (1)
[[Page 38066]]
avoiding sea lairs by 100 m (328 ft) if new activities occur on the
floating sea ice after March 20; (2) establishing and monitoring during
all daylight hours a 190 dB safety zone for seals and a 180 dB safety
zone for whales; (3) visually monitoring of the safety zones for at
least 30 minutes prior to the commencement of activities; (4) shutting-
down of sound sources if marine mammals enter the respective safety
zones; (5) scheduling non-essential boat, barge, and air traffic to
avoid periods when bowhead whales are migrating through the area; and
(6) limiting helicopter flights to a corridor from Seal Island to the
mainland, and, except when limited by weather, will maintain a minimum
altitude of 1,000 ft (305 ft), except during takeoff and landing.
Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring and reporting requirements are contained in the
Northstar regulations (50 CFR 216.206) and described in the final rule
(71 FR 11314, March 7, 2006). Monitoring reports are submitted annually
as required by the regulations and the LOA and plans and reports are
peer-reviewed as required by the MMPA and regulations. A list of these
reports is available upon request (see ADDRESSES). No new activities
were conducted during the summer of 2006, and therefore, no specific
acoustic recordings of new sources were undertaken in 2006. Acoustic
monitoring of the 2006 bowhead whale migration was implemented during
the fall of 2006, as planned. No industrial source operating at
Northstar during the past year has produced sounds capable of reaching
180 dB in the water, and therefore, no monitoring of the ``safety
radii'' has been implemented. Ice-road and other construction
activities on previously undisturbed ice were not initiated after March
1, 2006; therefore, dog-assisted surveys of such areas were not
required in 2006.
Summary of Request
On April 23, 2007, NMFS received a request from BP for a renewal of
an LOA issued on July 7, 2006, for the taking of marine mammals
incidental to oil production operations at Northstar, under section
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA. This request (BP, 2007) contains information
in compliance with 50 CFR 216.209, which updates information provided
in BP's original application for takings incidental to construction and
operations at Northstar.
Summary of Activity and Monitoring Under the Current LOA
One offshore ice road was built during the 2005-2006 ice-covered
season. Helicopters made 465 round trips to Northstar during the 2005-
2006 ice-covered season to transport crew and materials to and from the
facility and recommended flight corridors and altitude restrictions
were maintained. Hagglunds tracked vehicles made 70 round trips between
West Dock and Northstar Island, and the hovercraft made 249 round trips
during the 2005-2006 ice-covered season.
Drilling activities were conducted at six well sites during the
reporting period. Two new wells were drilled and completed, and surface
drilling was conducted at a third new well site. Routine maintenance
activities to repair the block system and fabric barrier around
Northstar Island occurred from May 26 through June 28, 2006.
Each month, six to seven aerial surveys were conducted to inspect
the pipeline for leaks or spills. There were 17 reportable Northstar-
related spills during the 2005-2006 ice-covered season. Material
spilled included corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor, diesel fuel,
hydraulic fluid, anti-foulant, drilling mud, sulfuric acid,
hydrochloric acid, and sewage. Most of this material remained in
contaminant and was recovered. Smaller amounts of some materials,
including sewage, corrosion inhibitor, hydraulic oil, drilling mud,
hydrochloric and sulfuric acid, and diesel fuel were spilled outside of
containment. All material spilled during this ice-covered season was
cleaned up.
During the open-water period, there were 261 helicopter round
trips, 560 hovercraft round trips, 64 tug and barge trips, and 106
Alaska Clean Seas Bay-class boat round trips to Northstar. There were
an additional five trips by Bay-class boats in association with
acoustic monitoring of the bowhead whale migration. Three reportable
spills occurred during the 2006 open-water period. Spilled material
included scale and corrosion inhibitor and lube oil. All spilled
material was cleaned up.
No responses of seals to Northstar activities were noted during
monitoring surveys other than that a seal was noted to raise its head
in 2005, possibly in response to Northstar activities. Results of seal
counts conducted from Northstar Island during the reporting period did
not provide evidence, or reason to suspect, that any seals were killed
or injured by Northstar-related activities during 2006. No activities
were conducted that could have exposed pinnipeds and whales to
underwater received levels greater than 190 dB re 1 microPa (rms) or
180 dB re 1 microPa (rms), respectively. There were no spills of liquid
hydrocarbons that reached the water under the sea ice.
Seven Directional Autonomous Seafloor Acoustic Recorders (DASARs)
were installed from August to September, 2006. Four of the devices were
deployed at locations 11.5-16.6 km (7.1-10.3 mi) NNE of Northstar
Island and recorded low-frequency sounds continuously for approximately
18 days. Near-island recordings were obtained from three DASARs placed
410-465 m (1,345-1,525 ft) from Northstar over approximately 27 days.
In total, 1,509 bowhead whale calls were recorded over approximately 18
days at the four offshore DASAR locations. This number is lower than
calls recorded from 2001-2004 but higher than the number recorded in
2005 (Richardson, 2007). The low call counts in 2006 are probably
related to the presence of heavy nearshore ice during the 2006 season,
which may have deflected the migration pathway farther offshore than in
years with open water (i.e., 2001-2004). The 2006 season also had the
fewest days of recording offshore. A new sound was recorded in 2006
that has not been heard before. The acoustic technicians do not believe
these sounds were produced by whales, but they have not discovered
their origin(s) (Richardson, 2007).
Sound emissions associated with Northstar activities in 2006 were
probably somewhat higher than in 2005, and this difference would mainly
be attributable to extra boat traffic rather than island sounds per se.
Nevertheless, sound emissions associated with Northstar activities in
2006 were below sound emissions in 2001, 2002, and 2003. The number of
whales deflected offshore in response to Northstar operations in 2006
cannot be estimated by the methods that have been applied to the more
extensive datasets acquired in 2001-2004. However, if the overall
migration corridor in the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea was farther
offshore in 2006 than in some other recent years, as various indicators
suggest, then Northstar sounds would have been (on average) less
audible to bowhead whales than at some times in the past. In that case,
the number of whales deflected by Northstar-related sounds in 2006
would likely be toward the low end of the range for 2001-2004.
Subsistence hunters from Nuiqsut who traveled to Cross Island for
the annual bowhead whale hunt did not report any negative effects from
Northstar activities on their ability to
[[Page 38067]]
conduct the hunt. The full quota of whales was taken.
Authorization
BP complied with the requirements of the 2006 LOA, and NMFS has
determined that the marine mammal take resulting from the 2006
construction and operation activities is within that analyzed in and
anticipated by the associated regulations. Accordingly, NMFS has issued
a 1-year LOA to BP, authorizing the taking of marine mammals incidental
to oil production operations at the Northstar offshore facility in
state and Federal waters in the U.S. Beaufort Sea. Issuance of this LOA
is based on findings described in the preamble to the final rule (71 FR
11314, March 7, 2006) and supported by information contained in BP's
2006 annual report that the activities described in the LOA will result
in the taking of no more than small numbers of bowhead whales, beluga
whales, ringed seals, and, possibly California gray whales, bearded
seals, and spotted seals and that the total taking will have a
negligible impact on these marine mammal stocks and would not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of these species or
stocks for taking for subsistence uses.
Dated: July 6, 2007.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-13556 Filed 7-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
