National Sea Grant Review Panel, 63445 [E8-25370]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices The JTA will notify NMFS and the Regional Office prior to initiation of each explosive demolition session. Any takes of marine mammals other than those authorized by the IHA, as well as any injuries or deaths of marine mammals, will be reported to the Southeast Regional Administrator, within 24 hours. A draft final report must be submitted to NMFS within 90 days after the conclusion of the blasting activities. The report will include a summary of the information gathered pursuant to the monitoring requirements set forth in the IHA, including dates and times of detonations as well as pre- and postblasting monitoring observations. A final report must be submitted to the Regional Administrator within 30 days after receiving comments from NMFS on the draft final report. If no comments are received from NMFS, the draft final report will be considered to be the final report. ESA For the reasons already described in this Federal Register Notice, NMFS has determined that the described proposed blasting activities and the accompanying IHA may have the potential to adversely affect species under NMFS jurisdiction and protected by the ESA. The ACOE, on behalf of the JTA, requested a section 7 consultation pursuant to the ESA with NMFS. Since ESA-listed species are not expected to be adversely affected by the proposed activities provided the described protected species avoidance measures for the use of explosives are implemented, a Letter of Concurrence was prepared by the NMFS Southeast Regional Office, dated October 9, 2008. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) on an Authorization for the Incidental Take of Marine Mammals Associated with Confined Underwater Blasting as a Construction Method for Civil Works Projects along the Coast of Florida by the Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which analyzed the issuance of multiple IHAs over several years for these activities, as well as is currently preparing a Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the proposed action. The proposed action is similar to the action that was analyzed in the 2005 EA and the EA and 2008 Supplemental EA remains applicable. A copy of the EA and SEA are available upon request (see ADDRESSES). VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:48 Oct 23, 2008 Jkt 217001 Preliminary Determinations Based on JTA’s application, as well as the analysis contained herein, NMFS has preliminarily determined that the impact of the described blasting project will result, at most, in a temporary modification in behavior by small numbers of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, in the form of temporarily vacating the Beach Boulevard AICWW Bridge area to avoid blasting activity and potential for minor visual and acoustic disturbance from dredging and detonations. The effect of the blasting project is expected to be limited to short-term and localized TTS-related behavioral changes. Due to the infrequency, short timeframe, and localized nature of these activities, the number of marine mammals, relative to the population size, potentially taken by harassment is small. In addition, no take by injury or death is anticipated, and take by Level B Harassment will be at the lowest level practicable due to incorporation of the proposed monitoring and mitigation measures mentioned previously in this document. NMFS has further preliminarily determined that the anticipated takes will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stock of marine mammals. No injury (Level A Harassment), serious injury, and/or mortality is authorized for marine mammals. The provision requiring that the activity not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the affected species or stock for subsistence uses does not apply to this proposed action as there are no subsistence users within the geographic area of the proposed project. Proposed Authorization As a result of these preliminary determinations, NMFS proposes to issue an IHA to the JTA for the harassment of small numbers (based on populations of the species and stock) of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin incidental to the explosive demolition of bridge support structures, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. Information Solicited NMFS requests interested persons to submit comments and information concerning this proposed project and NMFS’ preliminary determination of issuing an IHA (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. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63445 Dated: October 20, 2008. James H. Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–25414 Filed 10–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Sea Grant Review Panel National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Sea Grant Review Panel. Panel members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, education and extension, science and technology programs, and other matters as described in the Agenda below. DATES: The announced meeting is scheduled for two and one half days: Tuesday, November 11 through Thursday, November 13, 2008. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Melissa Pearson, National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 EastWest Highway, Room 11717, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, 301–713–1083. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Panel, which consists of a balanced representation from academia, industry, state government and citizens groups, was established by Section 209 of the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94–461, 33 U.S.C. 1128). The Panel advises the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the National Sea Grant College Program with respect to operations under the Act, and such other matters as the Secretary refers to them for review and advice. The agenda for the meeting can be found at https:// www.seagrant.noaa.gov/leadership/ review_panel.html. Dated: October 17, 2008. Mark E. Brown, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. [FR Doc. E8–25370 Filed 10–23–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–KA–P E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 207 (Friday, October 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 63445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25370]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Sea Grant Review Panel

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a 
forthcoming meeting of the Sea Grant Review Panel. Panel members will 
discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program in 
the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, education and 
extension, science and technology programs, and other matters as 
described in the Agenda below.

DATES: The announced meeting is scheduled for two and one half days: 
Tuesday, November 11 through Thursday, November 13, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol 
Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Melissa Pearson, National Sea 
Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
1315 East-West Highway, Room 11717, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, 301-
713-1083.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Panel, which consists of a balanced 
representation from academia, industry, state government and citizens 
groups, was established by Section 209 of the Sea Grant Program 
Improvement Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-461, 33 U.S.C. 1128). The Panel 
advises the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the National Sea 
Grant College Program with respect to operations under the Act, and 
such other matters as the Secretary refers to them for review and 
advice. The agenda for the meeting can be found at https://
www.seagrant.noaa.gov/leadership/review_panel.html.

    Dated: October 17, 2008.
Mark E. Brown,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research.
[FR Doc. E8-25370 Filed 10-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-P
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