Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to the Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures in the Gulf of Mexico, 18353-18354 [E9-9264]
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dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 22, 2009 / Notices
contact listed here (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,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
301–713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.) direct the NMFS to allow,
upon request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
marine mammals by United States
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 ‘‘taking’’ means to
harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to
attempt to harass, hunt capture, or kill
marine mammals.
Authorization for incidental taking, in
the form of annual LOAs, may be
granted by NMFS for periods up to five
years if NMFS finds, after notification
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) for
subsistence uses (where relevant). In
addition, NMFS must prescribe
regulations that include permissible
methods of taking and other means
effecting the least practicable adverse
impact on the species and its habitat
(i.e., mitigation), and on the availability
of the species for subsistence uses,
paying particular attention to rookeries,
mating rounds, and areas of similar
significance. The regulations also must
include requirements pertaining to the
monitoring and reporting of such taking.
Regulations governing the taking
incidental to EROS were published on
June 19, 2008 (73 FR 34889), and remain
in effect through July 19, 2013. For
detailed information on this action,
please refer to that Federal Register
notice. The species that applicants may
take in small numbers during EROS
activities are bottlenose dolphins
(Tursiops truncatus), Atlantic spotted
dolphins (Stenella frontalis),
pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella
attenuata), Clymene dolphins (Stenella
clymene), striped dolphins (Stenella
coeruleoalba), spinner dolphins
(Stenella longirostris), rough-toothed
dolphins (Steno bredanensis), Risso’s
dolphins (Grampus griseus), melonheaded whales (Peponocephala electra),
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:31 Apr 21, 2009
Jkt 217001
pilot whales (Globicephala
macrorhynchus), and sperm whales
(Physeter macrocephalus).
Pursuant to these regulations, NMFS
has issued an LOA to Kerr McGee Oil
and Gas Corporation, Noble Energy,
Inc., and Nippon Oil Exploration U.S.A.
Limited. Issuance of the LOAs is based
on a finding made in the preamble to
the final rule that the total taking by
these activities (with monitoring,
mitigation, and reporting measures) will
result in no more than a negligible
impact on the affected species or
stock(s) of marine mammals and will
not have an unmitigable adverse impact
on subsistence uses. NMFS also finds
that the applicant will meet the
requirements contained in the
implementing regulations and LOA,
including monitoring, mitigation, and
reporting requirements.
Dated: April 14, 2009.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–9000 Filed 4–21–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XO80
Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals;
Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental
to the Explosive Removal of Offshore
Structures in the Gulf of Mexico
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of letter of
authorization.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) and implementing regulations,
notification is hereby given that NMFS
has issued a one-year Letters of
Authorization (LOA) to ExxonMobil
Production Company to take marine
mammals incidental to the explosive
removal of offshore oil and gas
structures (EROS) in the Gulf of Mexico.
DATES: This authorization is effective
from May 1, 2009 through April 30,
2010.
ADDRESSES: The application and LOAs
are available for review by writing to P.
Michael Payne, Chief, Permits,
Conservation, and Education Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
18353
20910–3235 or by telephoning the
contact listed here (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,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
301–713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.) direct the NMFS to allow,
upon request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
marine mammals by United States
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 ‘‘taking’’ means to
harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to
attempt to harass, hunt capture, or kill
marine mammals.
Authorization for incidental taking, in
the form of annual LOAs, may be
granted by NMFS for periods up to five
years if NMFS finds, after notification
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) for
subsistence uses (where relevant). In
addition, NMFS must prescribe
regulations that include permissible
methods of taking and other means
effecting the least practicable adverse
impact on the species and its habitat
(i.e., mitigation), and on the availability
of the species for subsistence uses,
paying particular attention to rookeries,
mating rounds, and areas of similar
significance. The regulations also must
include requirements pertaining to the
monitoring and reporting of such taking.
Regulations governing the taking
incidental to EROS were published on
June 19, 2008 (73 FR 34889), and remain
in effect through July 19, 2013. For
detailed information on this action,
please refer to that Federal Register
notice. The species that applicants may
take in small numbers during EROS
activities are bottlenose dolphins
(Tursiops truncatus), Atlantic spotted
dolphins (Stenella frontalis),
pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella
attenuata), Clymene dolphins (Stenella
clymene), striped dolphins (Stenella
coeruleoalba), spinner dolphins
(Stenella longirostris), rough-toothed
dolphins (Steno bredanensis), Risso’s
dolphins (Grampus griseus), melon-
E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM
22APN1
18354
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 22, 2009 / Notices
headed whales (Peponocephala electra),
pilot whales (Globicephala
macrorhynchus), and sperm whales
(Physeter macrocephalus).
Pursuant to these regulations, NMFS
has issued an LOA to ExxonMobil
Production Company. Issuance of the
LOA is based on a finding made in the
preamble to the final rule that the total
taking by these activities (with
monitoring, mitigation, and reporting
measures) will result in no more than a
negligible impact on the affected species
or stock(s) of marine mammals and will
not have an unmitigable adverse impact
on subsistence uses. NMFS also finds
that the applicant will meet the
requirements contained in the
implementing regulations and LOA,
including monitoring, mitigation, and
reporting requirements.
Dated: April 16, 2009.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–9264 Filed 4–21–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XO20
Endangered Species; File No. 13544
and No. 13573
dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Issuance of permits.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Jeffrey Schmid, Conservancy of
Southwest Florida, 1450 Merrihue
Drive, Naples, FL 34102 has been issued
a permit to take Kemp’s ridley
(Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead
(Caretta caretta), hawksbill
(Eretmochelys imbricata), and green
(Chelonia mydas) sea turtles for
purposes of scientific research. Michael
Salmon, Florida Atlantic University,
777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL
33431–0991 has been issued a permit to
take green sea turtles for purposes of
scientific research.
ADDRESSES: The permits and related
documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment
in the following offices:
Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:31 Apr 21, 2009
Jkt 217001
Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th
Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701;
phone (727)824–5312; fax (727)824–
5309.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate
Swails or Patrick Opay, (301)713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July
24, 2008, notice was published in the
Federal Register (73 FR 43211) that a
request for a scientific research permit
to take sea turtles had been submitted
by Dr. Schmid. On September 3, 2008,
notice was published in the Federal
Register (73 FR 51446) that a request for
a scientific research permit to take sea
turtles had been submitted by Dr.
Salmon. The requested permits have
been issued under the authority of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and the regulations governing the
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR parts 222–226).
Dr. Schmid’s research activities will
characterize the aggregations of marine
turtles in the nearshore waters of Lee
County in southwest Florida. The
permit holder will annually capture 130
Kemp’s ridley, 50 loggerhead, 20 green,
and five hawksbill turtles. Turtles will
be collected in Pine Island Sound, San
Carlos Bay, Estero Bay, and adjacent
Gulf of Mexico waters using a largemesh, run-around strike net. Turtles
will be measured, weighed, and tagged
with Inconel and passive integrated
transponder tags. Tissue samples will be
collected for genetic and stable isotope
analyses. A subset of Kemp’s ridleys
will be held for 24–48 hrs. for fecal
sample collection. Another subset of
Kemp’s ridleys will receive electronic
transmitters to investigate their
movements, home range, and habitat
associations. The permit is a five-year
permit.
Dr. Salmon will study when green sea
turtle navigation is guided by magnetic
versus solar cues. Animals will be
captured by hand, handled, weighed,
measured, flipper and passive integrated
transponder tagged, transported,
temporarily held for experiments in an
outdoor tank arena, and released.
Researchers will capture and conduct
research on up to 40 animals on near
shore reefs of Palm Beach County,
Florida over the course of the permit.
The permit is issued for 3 years.
Issuance of these permits, as required
by the ESA, was based on a finding that
such permits (1) were applied for in
good faith, (2) will not operate to the
disadvantage of such endangered or
threatened species, and (3) are
consistent with the purposes and
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA.
Dated: April 17, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–9252 Filed 4–21–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XO83
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery
Management Council’s (Council) VMS/
Enforcement Committee will meet to
consider actions affecting New England
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Friday, May 8, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The
meeting will be held at the Sheraton
Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road,
Danvers, MA 01923; Telephone: (978)
777–2500; Fax: (978) 750–7991.
Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
J. Howard, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (978)465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items
of discussion in the committee’s agenda
are as follows:
(1) The committee will review and
discuss management alternatives under
development in Amendment 4 to the
Atlantic Herring Fishery Management
Plan (FMP), which may include
measures to establish annual catch
limits and accountability measures, a
catch monitoring program for the
Atlantic herring fishery, management
measures to address/minimize bycatch,
and measures to address access by
herring vessels to groundfish closed
areas; and develop Enforcement
Committee recommendations for
Herring Committee/Council
consideration.
(2) The enforcement discussion
regarding Amendment 4 to the Herring
FMP will likely focus on the details of
E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM
22APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18353-18354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9264]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XO80
Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals
Incidental to the Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures in the Gulf
of Mexico
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of letter of authorization.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS
has issued a one-year Letters of Authorization (LOA) to ExxonMobil
Production Company to take marine mammals incidental to the explosive
removal of offshore oil and gas structures (EROS) in the Gulf of
Mexico.
DATES: This authorization is effective from May 1, 2009 through April
30, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The application and LOAs are available for review 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 20910-3235
or by telephoning the contact listed here (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,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 301-713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.) direct the NMFS to allow, upon request, the incidental,
but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by
United States 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 ``taking'' means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to
attempt to harass, hunt capture, or kill marine mammals.
Authorization for incidental taking, in the form of annual LOAs,
may be granted by NMFS for periods up to five years if NMFS finds,
after notification 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) for subsistence uses (where
relevant). In addition, NMFS must prescribe regulations that include
permissible methods of taking and other means effecting the least
practicable adverse impact on the species and its habitat (i.e.,
mitigation), and on the availability of the species for subsistence
uses, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating rounds, and
areas of similar significance. The regulations also must include
requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
Regulations governing the taking incidental to EROS were published on
June 19, 2008 (73 FR 34889), and remain in effect through July 19,
2013. For detailed information on this action, please refer to that
Federal Register notice. The species that applicants may take in small
numbers during EROS activities are bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
truncatus), Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), pantropical
spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), Clymene dolphins (Stenella
clymene), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), spinner dolphins
(Stenella longirostris), rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis),
Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), melon-
[[Page 18354]]
headed whales (Peponocephala electra), pilot whales (Globicephala
macrorhynchus), and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus).
Pursuant to these regulations, NMFS has issued an LOA to ExxonMobil
Production Company. Issuance of the LOA is based on a finding made in
the preamble to the final rule that the total taking by these
activities (with monitoring, mitigation, and reporting measures) will
result in no more than a negligible impact on the affected species or
stock(s) of marine mammals and will not have an unmitigable adverse
impact on subsistence uses. NMFS also finds that the applicant will
meet the requirements contained in the implementing regulations and
LOA, including monitoring, mitigation, and reporting requirements.
Dated: April 16, 2009.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-9264 Filed 4-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
