Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to the Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures in the Gulf of Mexico, 16539 [2012-6821]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 21, 2012 / Notices
contained in the list of threatened and
endangered species, and improved
analytical methods, if any. Any new
information will be considered during
the 5-year review and will also be useful
in evaluating the ongoing recovery
programs for these whales.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: March 12, 2012.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–6575 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XB084
Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals;
Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental
to the Explosive Removal of Offshore
Structures in the Gulf of Mexico
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of Letters of
Authorization (LOA).
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) and implementing regulations,
notification is hereby given that NMFS
has issued one-year LOAs to take
marine mammals incidental to the
explosive removal of offshore oil and
gas structures (EROS) in the Gulf of
Mexico.
DATES: These authorizations are
effective from March 16, 2012 through
March 15, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The application and LOAs
are available for review by writing to P.
Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and
Conservation 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 Jolie Harrison,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
301–427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:15 Mar 20, 2012
Jkt 226001
1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary of
Commerce (who has delegated the
authority to 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 and
regulations are issued. Under the
MMPA, the term ‘‘take’’ means to
harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to
attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill
any marine mammal.
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 notice and
opportunity for public comment, that
the total taking over the five-year period
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 (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 of
marine mammals incidental to EROS
were published on June 19, 2008 (73 FR
34875), 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-headed
whales (Peponocephala electra), shortfinned pilot whales (Globicephala
macrorhynchus), and sperm whales
(Physeter macrocephalus). NMFS
received requests for LOAs from W&T
Offshore, Inc. (W&T Offshore) and W&T
Energy VI, L.L.C. (W&T Energy) for
activities covered by EROS regulations.
W&T Offshore and W&T Energy have
not conducted any EROS activities to
date.
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
16539
Pursuant to these regulations, NMFS
has issued an LOA to W&T Offshore and
W&T Energy. Issuance of the LOAs is
based on a finding made in the
preamble to the final rule that the total
taking over the five-year period (with
monitoring, mitigation, and reporting
measures) will have 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 will review
reports to ensure that the applicants are
in compliance with meeting the
requirements contained in the
implementing regulations and LOA,
including monitoring, mitigation, and
reporting requirements.
Dated: March 14, 2012.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–6821 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XB098
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Council to convene a public
meeting.
AGENCY:
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council will convene a
meeting of the Socioeconomic Scientific
and Statistical Committee.
DATES: The meeting will be 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. on Thursday, April 5, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite
1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone:
(813) 348–1630.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2203 N.
Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL
33607.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Assane Diagne, Economist; Gulf of
Mexico Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (813) 348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of Mexico Fishery Management Council
(Council) will convene the
Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical
Committee to discuss socioeconomic
issues related to allocation and the
application of social indicators to
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 16539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6821]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB084
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 Letters of Authorization (LOA).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and
implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has
issued one-year LOAs to take marine mammals incidental to the explosive
removal of offshore oil and gas structures (EROS) in the Gulf of
Mexico.
DATES: These authorizations are effective from March 16, 2012 through
March 15, 2013.
ADDRESSES: The application and LOAs are available for review by writing
to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation 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 Jolie Harrison,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 301-427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary of Commerce (who has delegated the
authority to 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 and regulations are issued. Under the MMPA, the term ``take''
means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt,
capture, or kill any marine mammal.
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 notice and opportunity for public comment, that the total taking
over the five-year period 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
(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 of marine mammals incidental to
EROS were published on June 19, 2008 (73 FR 34875), 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-headed whales (Peponocephala electra), short-finned
pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), and sperm whales (Physeter
macrocephalus). NMFS received requests for LOAs from W&T Offshore, Inc.
(W&T Offshore) and W&T Energy VI, L.L.C. (W&T Energy) for activities
covered by EROS regulations. W&T Offshore and W&T Energy have not
conducted any EROS activities to date.
Pursuant to these regulations, NMFS has issued an LOA to W&T
Offshore and W&T Energy. Issuance of the LOAs is based on a finding
made in the preamble to the final rule that the total taking over the
five-year period (with monitoring, mitigation, and reporting measures)
will have 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 will review reports to ensure that the
applicants are in compliance with meeting the requirements contained in
the implementing regulations and LOA, including monitoring, mitigation,
and reporting requirements.
Dated: March 14, 2012.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6821 Filed 3-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
