Incidental Takes of Marine Mammals During Specified Activities; On-ice Marine Geophysical and Seismic Operations in State/OCS Waters of the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska, 7589 [E9-3419]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 18, 2009 / Notices philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve until February 2011, pursuant to the council’s Charter. DATES: Applications are due by March 13, 2009. ADDRESSES: Application kits may be obtained from Nicole Capps at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940. Completed applications should be sent to the same address. Application kits may also be obtained from the sanctuary’s Web site at https://montereybay.noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Capps at (831) 647–4206, or nicole.capps@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MBNMS Advisory Council was established in March 1994 to assure continued public participation in the management of the Sanctuary. Since its establishment, the Advisory Council has played a vital role in decisions affecting the Sanctuary along the central California coast. The Advisory Council’s twenty voting members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public, plus seven local, state and federal governmental jurisdictions. In addition, the respective managers or superintendents for the four California National Marine Sanctuaries (Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary) and the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve sit as non-voting members. Four working groups support the Advisory Council: The Research Activity Panel (‘‘RAP’’) chaired by the Research Representative, the Sanctuary Education Panel (‘‘SEP’’) chaired by the Education Representative, the Conservation Working Group (‘‘CWG’’) chaired by the Conservation Representative, and the Business and Tourism Activity Panel (‘‘BTAP’’) chaired by the Business/Industry Representative, each dealing with matters concerning research, education, conservation and human use. The working groups are composed of experts from the appropriate fields of interest and meet monthly, or bi-monthly, serving as invaluable advisors to the Advisory Council and the Sanctuary Superintendent. The Advisory Council represents the coordination link between the VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:45 Feb 17, 2009 Jkt 217001 7589 Sanctuary and the state and federal management agencies, user groups, researchers, educators, policy makers, and other various groups that help to focus efforts and attention on the central California coastal and marine ecosystems. The Advisory Council functions in an advisory capacity to the Sanctuary Superintendent and is instrumental in helping develop policies, program goals, and identify education, outreach, research, long-term monitoring, resource protection, and revenue enhancement priorities. The Advisory Council works in concert with the Sanctuary Superintendent by keeping him or her informed about issues of concern throughout the Sanctuary, offering recommendations on specific issues, and aiding the Superintendent in achieving the goals of the Sanctuary program within the context of California’s marine programs and policies. in the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska from February to May, 2009. Authority: 16 U.S.C. Sections 1431, et seq. (Federal Domestic Assistance catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Goldstein or Ken Hollingshead, NMFS, 301–713–2289. Dated: February 6, 2009. Daniel J. Basta, Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E9–3203 Filed 2–17–09; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BILLING CODE 3510–NK–M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XL67 Incidental Takes of Marine Mammals During Specified Activities; On-ice Marine Geophysical and Seismic Operations in State/OCS Waters of the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice, withdrawal of an incidental take authorization application. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that CGGVeritas Land, Inc. (Veritas) has withdrawn its application for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA). The following action is related to a proposed IHA to Veritas for the take of small numbers of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to conducting an on-ice marine geophysical research and seismic survey PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ADDRESSES: The documents and the application related to this action are available by writing to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation, and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 209103225, or by telephoning the contact listed here. A copy of the application containing a list of the references used in this document may be obtained by writing to the address specified above, telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or online at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ permits/incidental.htm. Documents cited in this notice may be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the aforementioned address. On October 6, 2008, NMFS received an application from Veritas requesting an IHA. The requested IHA was for an authorization to take, by Level B harassment, small numbers of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) incidental to conducting on-ice seismic surveys, north and northwest of Thetis Island in State/OCS waters in the Beaufort Sea. On February 9, 2008, NMFS accepted notice from Veritas withdrawing their IHA application for the proposed action. During a recent aerial survey, Veritas found that unsafe ice conditions were present and concluded that such conditions are unsuitable for the on-ice seismic survey operations presented in the IHA application package. The energy source for the proposed activity was Vibroseis. Data acquisition would have begun mid-February and continued until the end of May. Dated: February 11, 2009. James H. Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E9–3419 Filed 2–17–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM 18FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 7589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3419]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL67


Incidental Takes of Marine Mammals During Specified Activities; 
On-ice Marine Geophysical and Seismic Operations in State/OCS Waters of 
the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice, withdrawal of an incidental take authorization 
application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that CGGVeritas Land, Inc. (Veritas) 
has withdrawn its application for an Incidental Harassment 
Authorization (IHA). The following action is related to a proposed IHA 
to Veritas for the take of small numbers of marine mammals, by Level B 
harassment only, incidental to conducting an on-ice marine geophysical 
research and seismic survey in the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska from 
February to May, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The documents and the application related to this action are 
available by writing to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation, 
and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3225, or by telephoning the contact listed here.
    A copy of the application containing a list of the references used 
in this document may be obtained by writing to the address specified 
above, telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT), or online at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
permits/incidental.htm. Documents cited in this notice may be viewed, 
by appointment, during regular business hours, at the aforementioned 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Goldstein or Ken Hollingshead, 
NMFS, 301-713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 6, 2008, NMFS received an 
application from Veritas requesting an IHA. The requested IHA was for 
an authorization to take, by Level B harassment, small numbers of 
ringed seals (Phoca hispida) incidental to conducting on-ice seismic 
surveys, north and northwest of Thetis Island in State/OCS waters in 
the Beaufort Sea. On February 9, 2008, NMFS accepted notice from 
Veritas withdrawing their IHA application for the proposed action. 
During a recent aerial survey, Veritas found that unsafe ice conditions 
were present and concluded that such conditions are unsuitable for the 
on-ice seismic survey operations presented in the IHA application 
package. The energy source for the proposed activity was Vibroseis. 
Data acquisition would have begun mid-February and continued until the 
end of May.

    Dated: February 11, 2009.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3419 Filed 2-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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