Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Conducting Precision Strike Weapons Testing and Training by Eglin Air Force Base in the Gulf of Mexico, 16754-16755 [2010-7482]

Download as PDF 16754 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 63 / Friday, April 2, 2010 / Notices respect to Hangzhou. Although the 90day deadline to withdraw an administrative review request in the instant administrative review was March 2, 2010, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), the Secretary may extend the 90-day time limit if it is reasonable to do so.1 The Department determines it is reasonable to do so in this case because it has not expended significant resources conducting this administrative review with respect to Hangzhou. Specifically, the Department has not completed its full analysis of Hangzhou’s sales or factors of production data for the period of review nor has it calculated a preliminary margin for Hangzhou. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), and consistent with our practice, the Department is rescinding this administrative review. Assessment The Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (‘‘CBP’’) to assess antidumping duties at the cash deposit rate in effect on the date of entry, for entries during the period October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. The Department intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions to CBP 15 days after publication of this notice of rescission of administrative review. Notification to Importers This notice serves as a final reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in the Secretary’s presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order This notice serves as a final reminder to parties subject to administrative protective orders (‘‘APO’’) of their 1 As explained in the memorandum from the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, the Department has exercised its discretion to toll deadlines for the duration of the closure of the Federal Government from February 5, through February 12, 2010. Thus, all deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by seven days. The revised deadline to withdraw an administrative review request is March 2, 2010. See Memorandum to the Record from Ronald Lorentzen, DAS for Import Administration, regarding ‘‘Tolling of Administrative Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure During the Recent Snowstorm,’’ dated February 12, 2010. VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:40 Apr 01, 2010 Jkt 220001 responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/ destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation. This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4). Dated: March 26, 2010. John M. Andersen, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. [FR Doc. 2010–7521 Filed 4–1–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XV17 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Conducting Precision Strike Weapons Testing and Training by Eglin Air Force Base in the Gulf of Mexico 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 provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that a letter of authorization (LOA) to take four species of marine mammals incidental to testing and training during Precision Strike Weapons (PSW) tests in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), a military readiness activity, has been issued to Eglin Air Force Base (AFB). DATES: This authorization is effective from April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011. ADDRESSES: The application and LOA are available for review in the Permits, Conservation, and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or by contacting the individuals listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman or Michelle Magliocca, NMFS, (301) 713–2289. PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs NMFS to allow, upon 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 ‘‘taking’’ means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt, capture or kill marine mammals. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–136) removed the ‘‘small numbers’’ and ‘‘specified geographical region’’ limitations and amended the definition of ‘‘harassment’’ as it applies to a ‘‘military readiness activity’’ to read as follows (Section 3(18)(B) of the MMPA): (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]. Authorization, in the form of annual LOAs, may be granted for periods of up to 5 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 of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the species and its habitat, and on the availability of the species for subsistence uses, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance. The regulations must include requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Regulations governing the taking of marine mammals incidental to PSW testing and training within the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) in the GOM were published on November 24, 2006 (71 FR 67810), and remain in effect from December 26, 2006, through December 27, 2011. The species that Eglin AFB may take during PSW testing and training are Atlantic bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella E:\FR\FM\02APN1.SGM 02APN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 63 / Friday, April 2, 2010 / Notices frontalis) and dwarf (Kogia simus) and pygmy (Kogia breviceps) sperm whales. Issuance of the annual LOA to Eglin AFB is based on findings made in the preamble to the final rule that the total takings by this project would result in no more than a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal stocks or habitats and would not have an unmitigable adverse impact on subsistence uses of marine mammals. NMFS also finds that the applicant will meet the requirements contained in the implementing regulations and LOA, including monitoring and reporting requirements. Without any mitigation measures, a small possibility exists for one bottlenose dolphin and one spotted dolphin to be exposed to blast levels from the PSW testing sufficient to cause mortality. Additionally, less than two cetaceans might be exposed to noise levels sufficient to induce Level A harassment (injury) annually, and as few as 31 or as many as 53 cetaceans (depending on the season and water depth) could potentially be exposed (annually) to noise levels sufficient to induce Level B harassment in the form of a temporary loss of hearing sensitivity (also referred to as a temporary threshold shift). While none of these impact estimates consider the proposed mitigation measures that will be employed by Eglin AFB to minimize potential impacts to protected species, NMFS has authorized Eglin AFB a total of one mortality, two takes by Level A harassment, and 53 takes by Level B harassment (TTS) annually. However, the proposed mitigation measures described in the final rule (71 FR 67810, November 24, 2006) and the LOA are anticipated to both reduce the number of marine mammal takes and lessen the severity of the effects of the takes. These measures include a conservative safety range for marine mammal exclusion; incorporation of aerial and shipboard survey monitoring efforts in the program both prior to and after detonation of explosives; and a prohibition on detonations whenever marine mammals are detected within the safety zone, may enter the safety zone at the time of detonation, or if weather and sea conditions preclude adequate aerial surveillance. This LOA may be renewed annually based on a review of the activity, completion of monitoring requirements, and receipt of reports required by the LOA. Summary of Request On March 4, 2010, NMFS received a request for an LOA renewal pursuant to the aforementioned regulations that would authorize, for a period not to VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:40 Apr 01, 2010 Jkt 220001 16755 exceed 1 year, take of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to PSW testing and training in the GOM. COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Summary of Activity and Monitoring Conducted During 2009 and 2010 Procurement List Additions and Deletions No PSW tests were conducted during calendar year 2009 or between January and March of 2010. However, the PSW LOA was modified on April 16, 2009, to include Stand-Off Precision Guided Munition (SOPGM) testing. NMFS issued this modification because it was determined that the impacts of SOPGM testing would be significantly smaller than the impacts outlined in the PSW LOA. SOPGM testing utilized two out of the six live shots allowed for the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) exercise under the PSW LOA. Three GriffinTM SOPGM system missiles with a net explosive weight of 7.5 pounds (TNT equivalent) were fired against two target boats in the GOM on April 29, 2009, and May 5, 2009. No marine mammals were seen during the boat sweep or at release. No evidence of injury or death to marine mammals was noted after either mission. AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Additions to and Deletions from Procurement List. Authorization The U.S. Air Force complied with the requirements of the 2009 LOA, and NMFS has determined that there was no take of marine mammals by the U.S. Air Force in 2009. Accordingly, NMFS has issued a LOA to Eglin AFB authorizing the take of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to PSW testing and training in the EGTTR in the GOM. Issuance of this LOA is based on findings described in the preamble to the final rule (71 FR 67810, November 24, 2006) and supported by information contained in Eglin’s March 2010 request for a new LOA that the activities described under this LOA will not result in more than the incidental harassment of certain marine mammal species and will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stocks. The provision requiring that the activities not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the affected species or stock for subsistence uses does not apply for this action. Dated: March 29, 2010. James H. Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–7482 Filed 3–30–10; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SUMMARY: This action adds to the Procurement List a product and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes from the Procurement List products previously furnished by such agencies. Effective Date: May 3, 2010. Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: ADDRESSES: Additions On 1/15/2010 (75 FR 2510) and 2/5/ 2010 (75 FR 5970–5971), the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notices of proposed additions to the Procurement List. The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee) operates pursuant to statutory and regulatory requirements. Committee decisions regarding which items are suitable for addition to the Procurement List are specifically guided by 41 CFR Chapter 51. This regulation states that for a commodity or service to be suitable for addition to the Procurement List, each of the following criteria must be satisfied: Employment potential, nonprofit agency qualifications, capability, and level of impact on the current contractor for the commodity or service. In response to its Notice of Proposed Procurement List Addition, the Committee received comments from five parties relating to the fourth criterion, level of impact. Comments were received from the incumbent contractor for the facilities management requirement at Fort Lewis, WA. The firm stated that addition of this service to the Procurement List is inconsistent with the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act policy regarding contracts E:\FR\FM\02APN1.SGM 02APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 63 (Friday, April 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16754-16755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7482]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV17


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Conducting Precision Strike Weapons Testing and Training 
by Eglin Air Force Base in the Gulf of Mexico

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 provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that a letter of 
authorization (LOA) to take four species of marine mammals incidental 
to testing and training during Precision Strike Weapons (PSW) tests in 
the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), a military readiness activity, has been 
issued to Eglin Air Force Base (AFB).

DATES:  This authorization is effective from April 1, 2010, through 
March 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES:  The application and LOA are available for review in the 
Permits, Conservation, and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or by 
contacting the individuals listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman or Michelle Magliocca, 
NMFS, (301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs 
NMFS to allow, upon 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 ``taking'' means to 
harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt, capture 
or kill marine mammals. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 
(Public Law 108-136) removed the ``small numbers'' and ``specified 
geographical region'' limitations and amended the definition of 
``harassment'' as it applies to a ``military readiness activity'' to 
read as follows (Section 3(18)(B) of the MMPA):
    (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].
    Authorization, in the form of annual LOAs, may be granted for 
periods of up to 5 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 of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the 
species and its habitat, and on the availability of the species for 
subsistence uses, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating 
grounds, and areas of similar significance. The regulations must 
include requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such 
taking. Regulations governing the taking of marine mammals incidental 
to PSW testing and training within the Eglin Gulf Test and Training 
Range (EGTTR) in the GOM were published on November 24, 2006 (71 FR 
67810), and remain in effect from December 26, 2006, through December 
27, 2011. The species that Eglin AFB may take during PSW testing and 
training are Atlantic bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic 
spotted dolphins (Stenella

[[Page 16755]]

frontalis) and dwarf (Kogia simus) and pygmy (Kogia breviceps) sperm 
whales.
    Issuance of the annual LOA to Eglin AFB is based on findings made 
in the preamble to the final rule that the total takings by this 
project would result in no more than a negligible impact on the 
affected marine mammal stocks or habitats and would not have an 
unmitigable adverse impact on subsistence uses of marine mammals. NMFS 
also finds that the applicant will meet the requirements contained in 
the implementing regulations and LOA, including monitoring and 
reporting requirements. Without any mitigation measures, a small 
possibility exists for one bottlenose dolphin and one spotted dolphin 
to be exposed to blast levels from the PSW testing sufficient to cause 
mortality. Additionally, less than two cetaceans might be exposed to 
noise levels sufficient to induce Level A harassment (injury) annually, 
and as few as 31 or as many as 53 cetaceans (depending on the season 
and water depth) could potentially be exposed (annually) to noise 
levels sufficient to induce Level B harassment in the form of a 
temporary loss of hearing sensitivity (also referred to as a temporary 
threshold shift).
    While none of these impact estimates consider the proposed 
mitigation measures that will be employed by Eglin AFB to minimize 
potential impacts to protected species, NMFS has authorized Eglin AFB a 
total of one mortality, two takes by Level A harassment, and 53 takes 
by Level B harassment (TTS) annually. However, the proposed mitigation 
measures described in the final rule (71 FR 67810, November 24, 2006) 
and the LOA are anticipated to both reduce the number of marine mammal 
takes and lessen the severity of the effects of the takes. These 
measures include a conservative safety range for marine mammal 
exclusion; incorporation of aerial and shipboard survey monitoring 
efforts in the program both prior to and after detonation of 
explosives; and a prohibition on detonations whenever marine mammals 
are detected within the safety zone, may enter the safety zone at the 
time of detonation, or if weather and sea conditions preclude adequate 
aerial surveillance. This LOA may be renewed annually based on a review 
of the activity, completion of monitoring requirements, and receipt of 
reports required by the LOA.

Summary of Request

    On March 4, 2010, NMFS received a request for an LOA renewal 
pursuant to the aforementioned regulations that would authorize, for a 
period not to exceed 1 year, take of marine mammals, by harassment, 
incidental to PSW testing and training in the GOM.

Summary of Activity and Monitoring Conducted During 2009 and 2010

    No PSW tests were conducted during calendar year 2009 or between 
January and March of 2010. However, the PSW LOA was modified on April 
16, 2009, to include Stand-Off Precision Guided Munition (SOPGM) 
testing. NMFS issued this modification because it was determined that 
the impacts of SOPGM testing would be significantly smaller than the 
impacts outlined in the PSW LOA. SOPGM testing utilized two out of the 
six live shots allowed for the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) exercise under 
the PSW LOA. Three Griffin\TM\ SOPGM system missiles with a net 
explosive weight of 7.5 pounds (TNT equivalent) were fired against two 
target boats in the GOM on April 29, 2009, and May 5, 2009. No marine 
mammals were seen during the boat sweep or at release. No evidence of 
injury or death to marine mammals was noted after either mission.

Authorization

    The U.S. Air Force complied with the requirements of the 2009 LOA, 
and NMFS has determined that there was no take of marine mammals by the 
U.S. Air Force in 2009. Accordingly, NMFS has issued a LOA to Eglin AFB 
authorizing the take of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to 
PSW testing and training in the EGTTR in the GOM. Issuance of this LOA 
is based on findings described in the preamble to the final rule (71 FR 
67810, November 24, 2006) and supported by information contained in 
Eglin's March 2010 request for a new LOA that the activities described 
under this LOA will not result in more than the incidental harassment 
of certain marine mammal species and will have a negligible impact on 
the affected species or stocks. The provision requiring that the 
activities not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability 
of the affected species or stock for subsistence uses does not apply 
for this action.

    Dated: March 29, 2010.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7482 Filed 3-30-10; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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