Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Navy Training and Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation Activities Conducted within the Northwest Training Range Complex, 10557-10558 [E9-5287]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 / Notices
3. Salmon Bycatch: Final action on
Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
4. Groundfish Issues: Review
discussion paper on proposed Bristol
Bay Trawl Closure and Walrus issues,
and receive Council direction; Review
discussion paper on GOA Tanner and
Chinook Bycatch and receive Council
direction.
5. Amendment 80 Cooperatives:
Review annual report from cooperative;
Final action on Amendment 80
Cooperative Formation criteria.
6. Marine Protection Act Nomination
Process: Review NMFS letter and
discuss next steps. (T)
7. Other Groundfish Issues: Review
and approve halibut sorting Exempted
Fishery Permit (T); Review Habitat Area
of Particular Concern (HAPC) evaluation
criteria and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
5-year review methodology (SSC Only).
8. Scallop Issues: Receive Plan Team
Report and review and approve Stock
Assessment Fishery Evaluation (SAFE)
Report.
9. Staff Tasking: Review Committees
and tasking.
10. Other Business
The SSC agenda will include the
following issues:
1, Salmon Bycatch
2. Halibut Sorting EFP
3. HAPC evaluation criteria and EFH
5 year review methodology
4. Scallop Issues
The Advisory Panel will address most
of the same agenda issues as the
Council, except for ι1 reports. The
Agenda is subject to change, and the
latest version will be posted at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before these groups for discussion, in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during these meetings. Actions
will be restricted to those issues
specifically identified in this notice and
any issues arising after publication of
this notice that require emergency
action under Section 305 (c) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the
public has been notified of the Council’s
intent to take final action to address the
emergency.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Gail Bendixen at
(907) 271–2809 at least 7 working days
prior to the meeting date.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:01 Mar 10, 2009
Jkt 217001
Dated: March 5, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–5085 Filed 3–10–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN: 0648–XN98
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of a public meeting of the
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council’s Pacific Northwest Crab
Industry Advisory Committee
(PNCIAC).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The PNCIAC will meet in
Seattle, WA. The meeting is open to the
public.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Monday, March 23, 2009, from 9 a.m. to
1 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Leif Erikson Hall, 2247 NW 57th
Street, Suite 403, Seattle, WA 98107 (in
Ballard); telephone: (206) 769–3474.
Council address: North Pacific
Fishery Management Council, 605 W.
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99501–2252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Diana Stram, Council Staff; telephone:
(907) 271–2809.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
PNCIAC will review the Economic Data
Reports: Review Alaska Fishery Science
Center draft metadata and continue
work on revisions of EDR forms; and
discuss of Marine Stewartship Council/
sustainable fisheries certification issues
and take action as needed.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Actions will
be restricted to those issues specifically
identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
Section 305 (c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the Council’s intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail
Bendixen at (907) 271–2809 at least 7
working days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: March 5, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–5104 Filed 3–10–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
PO 00000
10557
Sfmt 4703
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XN87
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Navy Training and
Research, Development, Testing, and
Evaluation Activities Conducted within
the Northwest Training Range
Complex
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
letter of authorization; request for
comments and information.
SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request
from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for
authorization to take marine mammals
incidental to military readiness training
activities and research, development,
testing and evaluation (RDT&E) to be
conducted in the Northwest Training
Range Complex (NWTRC) for the period
beginning September 2009 and ending
September 2014. Pursuant to the
implementing regulations of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS
is announcing our receipt of the Navy’s
request for the development and
implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals and inviting
information, suggestions, and comments
on the Navy’s application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than April 10, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the
application should be addressed to
Michael Payne, Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910–3225. The mailbox address for
providing email comments is PR1.0648–
XN87@noaa.gov. NMFS is not
responsible for e-mail comments sent to
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
10558
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 / Notices
addresses other than the one provided
here. Comments sent via e-mail,
including all attachments, must not
exceed a 10–megabyte file size.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jolie
Harrison, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, (301) 713–2289, ext. 166.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability
A copy of the Navy’s application may
be obtained by writing to the address
specified above
(See ADDRESSES), telephoning the
contact listed above (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT), or visiting the
internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
pr/permits/incidental.htm. The Navy’s
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) for NWTRC was made available
to the public on December 26, 2008, and
may be viewed at https://
www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/. During
the initial 45–day public comment
period, the Navy hosted five public
hearings. The comment period was
subsequently extended 30 days and
another public hearing was held at an
additional location.
Background
In the case of military readiness
activities, sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D)
of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)
direct the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) to allow, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional taking of
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
engage in a specified activity (other than
commercial fishing) if certain findings
are made and regulations are issued or,
if the taking is limited to harassment,
notice of a proposed authorization is
provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings
may be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have no more than a
negligible impact on the species or
stock(s), will not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of the
species or stock(s) for subsistence uses,
and that the permissible methods of
taking and requirements pertaining to
the mitigation, monitoring and reporting
of such taking are set forth.
NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as:
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
an impact resulting from the specified
activity that cannot be reasonably expected
to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely
affect the species or stock through effects on
annual rates of recruitment or survival.
With respect to military readiness
activities, the MMPA defines
‘‘harassment’’ as:
(i) any act that injures or has the significant
potential to injure a marine mammal or
marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A
Harassment]; or (ii) any act that disturbs or
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:01 Mar 10, 2009
Jkt 217001
is likely to disturb a marine mammal or
marine mammal stock in the wild by causing
disruption of natural behavioral patterns,
including, but not limited to, migration,
surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or
sheltering, to a point where such behavioral
patterns are abandoned or significantly
altered [Level B Harassment].
Dated: March 6, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Division of Permits, Conservation, and
Education, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–5287 Filed 3–10–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
Summary of Request
In September, 2008, NMFS received
an application from the Navy requesting
authorization to take individuals of 32
species of marine mammals (4 pinniped
and 28 cetacean) incidental to upcoming
training and RDT&E activities to be
conducted in the NWTRC (off the coasts
of Washington, Oregon, and northern
California) over the course of 5 years.
These training and RDT&E activities are
classified as military readiness
activities. The Navy states that these
training activities may expose some of
the marine mammals present in the area
to sound from various mid-frequency
and high-frequency active tactical sonar
sources or to pressure from underwater
detonations. The Navy requests
authorization to take individuals of 32
species of marine mammals by Level B
Harassment.
Specified Activities
In the application submitted to
NMFS, the Navy requests authorization
to take marine mammals incidental to
conducting training events and RDT&E
utilizing mid- and high frequency active
sonar sources and explosive
detonations. These sonar and explosive
sources will be utilized during Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Tracking
Exercises, Mine Avoidance Training,
Extended Echo Ranging and Improved
Extended Echo Ranging (EER/IEER)
events, Missile Exercises, Gunnery
Exercises, Bombing Exercises, Sinking
Exercises, and Mine Warfare Training.
Table 1–1 in the application lists the
activity types, the equipment and
platforms involved, and the duration
and potential locations of the activities.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit
information, suggestions, and comments
concerning the Navy’s request (see
ADDRESSES). All information,
suggestions, and comments related to
the Navy’s NWTRC request and NMFS’
potential development and
implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals by the Navy’s NWTRC
activities will be considered by NMFS
in developing, if appropriate, the most
effective regulations governing the
issuance of letters of authorization.
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Proposed Information
Collection Requests
AGENCY: Department of Education.
SUMMARY: The Acting Director,
Information Collection Clearance
Division, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of
Management, invites comments on the
proposed information collection
requests as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before May 11,
2009.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires
that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) provide interested
Federal agencies and the public an early
opportunity to comment on information
collection requests. OMB may amend or
waive the requirement for public
consultation to the extent that public
participation in the approval process
would defeat the purpose of the
information collection, violate State or
Federal law, or substantially interfere
with any agency’s ability to perform its
statutory obligations. The Acting
Director, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of
Management, publishes that notice
containing proposed information
collection requests prior to submission
of these requests to OMB. Each
proposed information collection,
grouped by office, contains the
following: (1) Type of review requested,
e.g. new, revision, extension, existing or
reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary of
the collection; (4) Description of the
need for, and proposed use of, the
information; (5) Respondents and
frequency of collection; and (6)
Reporting and/or Recordkeeping
burden. OMB invites public comment.
The Department of Education is
especially interested in public comment
addressing the following issues: (1) Is
this collection necessary to the proper
functions of the Department; (2) will
this information be processed and used
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate
of burden accurate; (4) how might the
Department enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10557-10558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5287]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XN87
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Navy Training and Research,
Development, Testing, and Evaluation Activities Conducted within the
Northwest Training Range Complex
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for letter of authorization;
request for comments and information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for
authorization to take marine mammals incidental to military readiness
training activities and research, development, testing and evaluation
(RDT&E) to be conducted in the Northwest Training Range Complex (NWTRC)
for the period beginning September 2009 and ending September 2014.
Pursuant to the implementing regulations of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing our receipt of the Navy's
request for the development and implementation of regulations governing
the incidental taking of marine mammals and inviting information,
suggestions, and comments on the Navy's application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than April
10, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the application should be addressed to 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. The mailbox address for
providing email comments is PR1.0648-XN87@noaa.gov. NMFS is not
responsible for e-mail comments sent to
[[Page 10558]]
addresses other than the one provided here. Comments sent via e-mail,
including all attachments, must not exceed a 10-megabyte file size.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jolie Harrison, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 713-2289, ext. 166.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability
A copy of the Navy's application may be obtained by writing to the
address specified above
(See ADDRESSES), telephoning the contact listed above (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or visiting the internet at: https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. The Navy's Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for NWTRC was made available to
the public on December 26, 2008, and may be viewed at https://
www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/. During the initial 45-day public comment
period, the Navy hosted five public hearings. The comment period was
subsequently extended 30 days and another public hearing was held at an
additional location.
Background
In the case of military readiness activities, sections 101(a)(5)(A)
and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not
intentional taking of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a
specified activity (other than commercial fishing) if certain findings
are made and regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to
harassment, notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the
public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings may be granted if NMFS finds
that the taking will have no more than a negligible impact on the
species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses, and that
the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the
mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such taking are set forth.
NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as:
an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be
reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely
affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of
recruitment or survival.
With respect to military readiness activities, the MMPA defines
``harassment'' as:
(i) any act that injures or has the significant potential to
injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A
Harassment]; or (ii) any act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a
marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing
disruption of natural behavioral patterns, including, but not
limited to, migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or
sheltering, to a point where such behavioral patterns are abandoned
or significantly altered [Level B Harassment].
Summary of Request
In September, 2008, NMFS received an application from the Navy
requesting authorization to take individuals of 32 species of marine
mammals (4 pinniped and 28 cetacean) incidental to upcoming training
and RDT&E activities to be conducted in the NWTRC (off the coasts of
Washington, Oregon, and northern California) over the course of 5
years. These training and RDT&E activities are classified as military
readiness activities. The Navy states that these training activities
may expose some of the marine mammals present in the area to sound from
various mid-frequency and high-frequency active tactical sonar sources
or to pressure from underwater detonations. The Navy requests
authorization to take individuals of 32 species of marine mammals by
Level B Harassment.
Specified Activities
In the application submitted to NMFS, the Navy requests
authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting training
events and RDT&E utilizing mid- and high frequency active sonar sources
and explosive detonations. These sonar and explosive sources will be
utilized during Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) Tracking Exercises, Mine
Avoidance Training, Extended Echo Ranging and Improved Extended Echo
Ranging (EER/IEER) events, Missile Exercises, Gunnery Exercises,
Bombing Exercises, Sinking Exercises, and Mine Warfare Training. Table
1-1 in the application lists the activity types, the equipment and
platforms involved, and the duration and potential locations of the
activities.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and
comments concerning the Navy's request (see ADDRESSES). All
information, suggestions, and comments related to the Navy's NWTRC
request and NMFS' potential development and implementation of
regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals by the
Navy's NWTRC activities will be considered by NMFS in developing, if
appropriate, the most effective regulations governing the issuance of
letters of authorization.
Dated: March 6, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Division of Permits, Conservation, and Education, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-5287 Filed 3-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
