Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Exploration Drilling Programs in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, AK, 4093-4094 [2011-1357]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 15 / Monday, January 24, 2011 / Notices Gordon C. Colvin, Fishery Biologist, NMFS ST–12453, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon C. Colvin, Fishery Biologist; (301) 713–2367 x175; e-mail: Gordon.Colvin@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final rule implementing the National Saltwater Angler Registry Program, 50 CFR part 600 subpart P, was published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2008. The final rule requires persons who are angling, spear fishing or operating a for-hire fishing vessel in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone or for anadromous species to register annually with NOAA. However, persons who are licensed or registered by, or State residents who are not required to register or hold a license issued by, a State that is designated as an exempted State are not required to register with NOAA. The final rule sets forth the requirements for States to be designated as exempted States. Generally, exempted States must agree to provide to NMFS names, addresses, dates of birth and telephone numbers of the persons licensed or registered under a qualifying State license and/or registry program, or to provide catch and effort data from a qualifying regional survey of recreational fishing, and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with NMFS to formalize the data reporting agreement. NMFS has received proposals for providing license/registry data from the States listed below, has determined that the States’ programs qualify for exempted State designation under the provisions of the final rule, and has entered into Memoranda of Agreement with each of the States. Therefore, pursuant to 50 CFR 600.1415(b)(3), notice is hereby given that the following States are designated as exempted States under 50 CFR 600.1415: Maine, Florida, and Louisiana. Persons who hold a valid fishing license or registration issued by these exempted States for angling, spear fishing or operating a for-hire fishing vessel in tidal waters are not required to register with NOAA under 50 CFR 600.1405(b). Persons who are residents of these exempted States who are not required to hold a fishing license, or to be registered to fish under the laws of these exempted States, also are not required to register with NOAA. Further, pursuant to 50 CFR 600.1415(b)(3), notice is hereby given that the following States are designated as exempted States only for anglers and spear fishers: Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia. Massachusetts, Maryland, mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 Jan 21, 2011 Jkt 223001 and Virginia were previously designated as exempted States for for-hire fishing vessels. Persons who hold a valid license or registration issued by these exempted States for angling or spear fishing in tidal waters are not required to register with NOAA under 50 CFR 600.1405(b). Persons who are residents of these exempted States who are not required to hold a fishing license, or to be registered to fish under the laws of these exempted STATEs, also are not required to register with NOAA. Dated: January 18, 2011. Eric C. Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–1368 Filed 1–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA157 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Exploration Drilling Programs in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, AK National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; non-issuance of incidental harassment authorizations. AGENCY: On April 19, 2010, and May 7, 2010, NMFS published notices of proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for the take of small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, by Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell) incidental to offshore exploration drilling on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska, during July through October, 2010. Notice is hereby given that these IHAs were not issued, and Shell did not conduct the proposed exploration drilling programs in 2010. ADDRESSES: The applications related to this action are available by writing to Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation, and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, by telephoning the contact listed here, or online at: https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm. Documents cited in this notice may be viewed, by appointment, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4093 during regular business hours, at the aforementioned address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman, NMFS, 301–713– 2289 ext. 156. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 18, 2010, and April 14, 2010, NMFS received revised IHA applications from Shell requesting the take of several species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to conducting an exploration drilling program on OCS leases in Camden Bay, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, and offshore OCS leases in the Chukchi Sea, respectively, during the 2010 open-water season. NMFS published notices of proposed IHA along with 30-day public comment periods in the Federal Register on April 19, 2010 (74 FR 20482) for the Beaufort Sea request and May 7, 2010 (74 FR 25730) for the Chukchi Sea request. On May 27, 2010, following the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a suspension of proposed exploration drilling in the U.S. Arctic and that DOI would postpone consideration of Shell’s exploration drilling requests for the 2010 open-water season. Since no permits were issued to Shell by DOI to conduct the exploration drilling programs during the 2010 open-water season, NMFS did not issue IHAs to Shell for these two proposed programs. In November 2010, Shell sent two letters to NMFS regarding the 2010 IHA requests. Regarding the proposed Beaufort Sea program, Shell indicated that they intend to move forward with the exploration drilling program in Camden Bay during the 2011 openwater season. Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS continue processing the pending 2010 IHA request. NMFS has requested additional information from Shell. Until this information is received, NMFS cannot consider the 2011 IHA request complete. Once a completeness determination is made for the Beaufort Sea exploration drilling program, NMFS will proceed with publication of a new notice of proposed IHA and request for public comments. Regarding the proposed Chukchi Sea program, Shell indicated that because of ongoing litigation with the Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193 planning area, they have had to defer their Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan. Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS suspend further consideration and action of Shell’s Chukchi Sea program. Shell will inform NMFS at such time that they intend to move forward with their Chukchi Sea exploration drilling program. If and when Shell informs NMFS that their E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1 4094 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 15 / Monday, January 24, 2011 / Notices Chukchi Sea program is moving forward, NMFS will ensure that it has a complete application before publishing a new notice of proposed IHA. Dated: January 18, 2011. Helen M. Golde, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–1357 Filed 1–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Title: Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Actions. Form Number(s): PTO 2120, 2151, 2153, and 2188 through 2190. Agency Approval Number: 0651– 0040. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Burden: 14,423 hours annually. Number of Respondents: 71,743 responses per year, with an estimated 61,900 responses filed electronically. Avg. Hours per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the public between 10 to 30 minutes (0.17 to 0.50 hours) to provide this information, depending upon the request. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, prepare the petitions, notices, extensions, or additional papers, and submit the completed request to the USPTO. The USPTO estimates that it will take the same amount of time (and possibly less time) to gather the necessary information, prepare the submission, and submit it electronically as it does to submit the information in paper form. Needs and Uses: Individuals or entities who believe that they would be damaged by the registration of a mark may file an opposition to the registration of that mark, or an extension of time to file an opposition, under Section 13 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1063. If a mark is successfully opposed, registration will not take place. Section 14 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1064, allows individuals and entities, who believe that they are or VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 Jan 21, 2011 Jkt 223001 will be damaged by the registration of a mark, to file a petition to cancel the registration of that mark. Individuals or entities may file an appeal from any final decision of the Trademark Examining Attorney assigned to review an application for registration of a mark under Section 20 of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1070. These petitions, notices, extensions, and additional papers are filed with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), an administrative tribunal empowered to determine the right to register as the issue may be presented in such cases. There are no paper forms associated with this collection. However, this collection does contain two suggested formats and six electronic forms that are available through the Electronic System for Trademark Trials and Appeals (ESTTA). Affected Public: Businesses, other forprofits, and non-profit institutions. Frequency: On occasion. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits. OMB Desk Officer: Nicholas A. Fraser, e-mail: Nicholas_A_Fraser@ omb.eop.gov. Once submitted, the request will be publicly available in electronic format through the Information Collection Review page at https://www.reginfo.gov. Paper copies can be obtained by: • E-mail: InformationCollection@ uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0040 copy request’’ in the subject line of the message. • Fax: 571–273–0112, marked to the attention of Susan K. Fawcett. • Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent on or before February 23, 2011 to Nicholas A. Fraser, OMB Desk Officer, via e-mail to Nicholas_A_Fraser@omb.eop.gov or by fax to 202–395–5167, marked to the attention of Nicholas A. Fraser. Dated: January 19, 2011. Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2011–1343 Filed 1–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meetings AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Sunshine Act Meetings TIME AND DATE: 11 a.m., Friday, February 4, 2011. 1155 21st St., NW., Washington, DC, 9th Floor Commission Conference Room. PLACE: STATUS: Closed. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Surveillance and Enforcement Matters. CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Sauntia S. Warfield, 202–418–5084. Sauntia S. Warfield, Assistant Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2011–1522 Filed 1–20–11; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 6351–01–P COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meetings The following notice of scheduled meetings is published pursuant to the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, 5 U.S.C. 552b. AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETINGS: Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The Commission has scheduled two meetings for the following dates: February 11, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. February 24, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. TIMES AND DATES: Three Lafayette Center, 1155 21st St., NW., Washington, DC, Lobby Level Hearing Room (Room 1000). PLACE: STATUS: Open. The Commission has scheduled these meetings to consider various rulemaking matters, including the issuance of proposed rules and the approval of final rules. Agendas for each of the scheduled meetings will be made available to the public and posted on the Commission’s Web site at https://www.cftc.gov at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. In the event that the times or dates of the meetings change, an announcement of the change, along with the new time and place of the meeting will be posted on the Commission’s Web site. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4093-4094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1357]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA157


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Exploration Drilling Programs in 
the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, AK

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

ACTION: Notice; non-issuance of incidental harassment authorizations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On April 19, 2010, and May 7, 2010, NMFS published notices of 
proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for the take of 
small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, by Shell Offshore Inc. 
(Shell) incidental to offshore exploration drilling on Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 
Alaska, during July through October, 2010. Notice is hereby given that 
these IHAs were not issued, and Shell did not conduct the proposed 
exploration drilling programs in 2010.

ADDRESSES: The applications related to this action are available by 
writing 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, by 
telephoning the contact listed here, 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: Candace Nachman, NMFS, 301-713-2289 
ext. 156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 18, 2010, and April 14, 2010, NMFS 
received revised IHA applications from Shell requesting the take of 
several species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to 
conducting an exploration drilling program on OCS leases in Camden Bay, 
Beaufort Sea, Alaska, and offshore OCS leases in the Chukchi Sea, 
respectively, during the 2010 open-water season. NMFS published notices 
of proposed IHA along with 30-day public comment periods in the Federal 
Register on April 19, 2010 (74 FR 20482) for the Beaufort Sea request 
and May 7, 2010 (74 FR 25730) for the Chukchi Sea request.
    On May 27, 2010, following the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon 
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Department of the Interior (DOI) 
announced a suspension of proposed exploration drilling in the U.S. 
Arctic and that DOI would postpone consideration of Shell's exploration 
drilling requests for the 2010 open-water season. Since no permits were 
issued to Shell by DOI to conduct the exploration drilling programs 
during the 2010 open-water season, NMFS did not issue IHAs to Shell for 
these two proposed programs.
    In November 2010, Shell sent two letters to NMFS regarding the 2010 
IHA requests. Regarding the proposed Beaufort Sea program, Shell 
indicated that they intend to move forward with the exploration 
drilling program in Camden Bay during the 2011 open-water season. 
Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS continue processing the pending 
2010 IHA request. NMFS has requested additional information from Shell. 
Until this information is received, NMFS cannot consider the 2011 IHA 
request complete. Once a completeness determination is made for the 
Beaufort Sea exploration drilling program, NMFS will proceed with 
publication of a new notice of proposed IHA and request for public 
comments.
    Regarding the proposed Chukchi Sea program, Shell indicated that 
because of ongoing litigation with the Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193 
planning area, they have had to defer their Chukchi Sea Exploration 
Plan. Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS suspend further 
consideration and action of Shell's Chukchi Sea program. Shell will 
inform NMFS at such time that they intend to move forward with their 
Chukchi Sea exploration drilling program. If and when Shell informs 
NMFS that their

[[Page 4094]]

Chukchi Sea program is moving forward, NMFS will ensure that it has a 
complete application before publishing a new notice of proposed IHA.

    Dated: January 18, 2011.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1357 Filed 1-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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