Taking and Importing Marine Mammals: Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Navy Training Exercises in Three East Coast Range Complexes, 31333-31335 [2012-12778]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 102 / Friday, May 25, 2012 / Notices
BOEM’s Atlantic Geological and
Geophysical Programmatic EIS. The
Council will respond to a proposal to
remove Individual Transferable Quotas
(ITQs) from Monkfish Amendment 6.
During the Listening Session a
presentation on the effects of climate on
fisheries resources of the Mid-Atlantic
region will be presented by Jon Hare of
NMFS.
On Wednesday, June 13—Discussion
on the background and context of the
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and methods for stakeholder data
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proposal for the next phase of the
visioning and strategic plan. The
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alternatives to recommend to NMFS for
implementation. The Surfclam and
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a Committee of the Whole to review and
consider changes to the 2013 quota
specifications for surfclams and ocean
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collection, 2012 survey, and stock
assessment. There will be a presentation
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management).
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proposal to review/revise National
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Organizational Reports, the New
England Council Liaison Report, the
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the meeting date.
Dated: May 21, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–12684 Filed 5–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC024
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals: Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Navy Training Exercises
in Three East Coast Range Complexes
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of three
modified Letters of Authorization.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), as amended, and
implementing regulations, notification
is hereby given that NMFS has issued
three Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to
take marine mammals by harassment,
incidental to the U.S. Navy’s training
activities within the Virginia Capes
(VACAPES), Jacksonville (JAX), and
Cherry Point (CHPT) Range Complexes
to the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces
Command, 1562 Mitscher Avenue, Suite
250, Norfolk, VA 23551–2487 and
persons operating under his authority.
DATES: Effective from June 5, 2012,
through June 4, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Navy’s request
for LOAs, the Navy’s 2011–2012 marine
mammal monitoring report and the
Navy’s 2011–2012 exercise report are
available by writing to Tammy C.
Adams, Acting Chief, Permits and
Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, by
telephoning the contact listed here (SEE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or
online at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
permits/incidental.htm#applications.
Documents cited in this notice may be
viewed, by appointment, during regular
business hours, at the aforementioned
address.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shane Guan, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS (301) 724–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary
of Commerce to allow, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional taking of
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
engage in a military readiness activity if
certain findings are made and either
regulations are issued or, if the taking is
limited to harassment, a notice of a
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31333
proposed authorization is provided to
the public for review.
Authorization may be granted for
periods of 5 years or less if NMFS finds
that the taking will have a negligible
impact on the species or stock(s), and
will not have an unmitigable adverse
impact on the availability of the species
or stock(s) for certain subsistence uses,
and if the permissible methods of taking
and requirements pertaining to the
mitigation, monitoring and reporting of
such taking are set forth.
Regulations governing the taking of
marine mammals incidental to the U.S.
Navy’s training activities at the
VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range
Complexes were published on June 15,
2009 (VACAPES: 74 FR 28328; JAX: 74
FR 28349; CHPT: 74 FR 28370) and
remain in effect through June 4, 2014.
They are codified at 50 CFR part 218
subpart A (VACAPES), subpart B (JAX),
and subpart C (CHPT). These
regulations include mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements
for the incidental taking of marine
mammals by the Navy’s range complex
training exercises. For detailed
information on these actions, please
refer to the June 15, 2009 Federal
Register Notices and 50 CFR part 218
subparts A, B, and C.
An interim final rule was issued on
May 26, 2011 (76 FR 30552) to allow
certain flexibilities concerning Navy’s
training activities at VACAPES and JAX,
and LOAs were issued to the Navy on
June 1, 2011 (76 FR 33266; June 8,
2011). These LOAs were subsequently
modified on January 6, 2012, to allow
takes of marine mammals by using timedelayed firing devices (i.e., detonation is
controlled by a time-delaying devices
instead of being promptly executed)
with improved monitoring and
mitigation measures (77 FR 2040;
January 13, 2012).
On February 12, 2012, NMFS
published a final rule (77 FR 4917) that
allows for the issuance of multi-year
LOAs, as long as the regulations
governing such LOAs are valid, and
finalized the May 26, 2011 interim rule.
Summary of LOA Request
On January 19, 2012, the Navy
submitted an application to take marine
mammals incidental to training
activities at VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT
Range Complexes under the regulations
issued on June 15, 2009 (VACAPES: 74
FR 28328; JAX: 74 FR 28349; CHPT: 74
FR 28370) and modified on February 12,
2012 (77 FR 4917). The application
requested authorization for two years, to
take marine mammals by harassment,
incidental to proposed training
activities that involve the use of
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 102 / Friday, May 25, 2012 / Notices
underwater detonations and the use of
time-delay firing devices, as described
in the January 13, 2012 Federal Register
notice announcing the issuance of
modified LOAs (77 FR 2040).
Summary of Activity Under the 2011
VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT LOAs
As described in the Navy’s Annual
Range Complex Exercise Report for the
NAVSEA VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT
Range Complexes, between January 2,
2011, and January 1, 2012, the training
activities conducted by the Navy were
within the scope and amounts
contemplated by the final rule and
identified by the 2011 LOAs. A detailed
description of the Navy’s 2011 training
activities can be found in the exercise
reports posted on NMFS Web site:
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
incidental.htm#applications.
Planned Activities for 2012–2014
In 2012 through June 2014, the Navy
expects to conduct the same type and
amount of training activities identified
in the final rules and 2011 LOAs,
including the use of time-delay firing
devices. No modification is proposed by
the Navy for its planned 2012–2014
activities.
Estimated Take for 2012–2014
The estimated takes for the Navy’s
proposed training activities are the same
as those contemplated in the regulations
and authorized in the 2011 LOAs.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Summary of Monitoring, Reporting,
and other requirements under the 2011
LOA
Annual Exercise Report
The Navy submitted its 2011 exercise
reports within the required timeframes
and it is posted on the NMFS Web site:
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
incidental.htm. NMFS has reviewed the
report and it contains the information
required by the 2011 LOAs. The reports
list the amount of training activities
conducted between January 2, 2011 and
January 1, 2012.
Specifically, at the VACAPES Range
Complex, the Navy conducted 14 5-lb
charge, 28 10-lb charge, and 3 20-lb
charge mine exercise (MINEX); 5 Mk-82
(500 lb bomb) Air-to-Surface Bombing
Exercises (BOMEX); 28 AGM–114
(Hellfire missile) exercises and 1 AGM–
65 (Maverick missile) exercise
(MISSIEX); and 13 5′ explosive Naval
gunfire exercises (FIREX with IMPASS).
No AGM–88 (HARM missile) and MK–
83/GBU–32 (1,000 lb bomb) exercise
was conducted during the reporting
period.
At the JAX Range Complex, the Navy
conducted 9 AGM–114 (Hellfire missile)
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exercises and 3 AGM–65 (Maverick
missile) exercises; and 6 FIREX with
IMPASS. No MINEX and no Small Arms
Training was conducted during the
reporting period.
At the CHPT Range Complex, the
Navy conducted only one FIREX with
IMPASS. No other exercise (MINEX and
MISSIEX) was conducted.
Monitoring and Annual Monitoring
Report
The Navy submitted their 2011
annual marine mammal monitoring
reports covering the period from January
2, 2011, through January 1, 2012, and
the reports are posted on NMFS Web
site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
permits/incidental.htm#applications.
The Navy conducted the monitoring
required by the 2011 LOAs and
described in the Monitoring Reports.
For training exercises at the
VACAPES Range Complex, the Navy
implemented vessel and aerial surveys
and deployed passive acoustic
monitoring (PAM) devices. The
monitoring efforts for 2011 were
conducted within the mine
neutralization exercise (MINEX) W–50
box in conjunction with a MINEX event,
and the Firing Exercise (FIREX) 7C/7D
training boxes in junction with a FIREX
event.
A vessel survey was conducted on
July 14, 2011, in association with a
FIREX with IMPASS training event off
the coast of Virginia. Four marine
mammal observers (MMOs) were
stationed aboard a Navy vessel. No
marine mammal species were sighted.
Vessel surveys were also conducted in
association with a MINEX training event
off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Seven MMOs were stationed aboard a
Navy vessel. Surveys were conducted
on August 7–9, 2011 before, during, and
after the training event. During the 3day monitoring trip, a total of 19
bottlenose dolphin sightings including
approximately 91–149 individuals were
recorded by the Navy MMOs. No
injuries or mortalities of marine
mammals were observed during the
MINEX training. No marine mammal
was sighted between 30 minutes predetonation and 30 minutes postdetonation. In addition, aerial surveys
were conducted in association with a
FIREX training event with IMPASS off
the coast of Virginia. Line-transect
surveys were conducted on July 13–15,
2011, before, during, and after the
training event. Three sightings of marine
mammals were made during the 1-day
pre-FIREX survey; two sightings of
marine mammals were recorded
throughout the 1-day during FIREX
survey period; and four sightings of
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marine mammals were recorded during
the 1-day post-FIREX survey. No
injuries or mortalities of marine
mammals were observed during the
FIREX training event on July 14. No live
explosive rounds were used during the
FIREX training. Therefore, no animals
were exposed during this VACAPES
FIREX with IMPASS training event.
Finally, acoustic buoys were deployed
on August 7 and 8, 2011, to monitor
marine mammal vocalization activity
before, during, and after the MINEX
event. Six buoys were deployed on both
days. Total successful recording time
was approximately 38.3 hours, which
included 22.75 hours on August 7 and
15.5 hours on August 8. A preliminary
analysis of the acoustic recordings was
performed on the August 8 data using 1minute spectrogram window, which
showed some odontocete whistles.
Based on earlier sightings from that day,
the Navy stated that the vocalizations
are most likely from bottlenose
dolphins.
For training exercises at the JAX
Range Complex, aerial surveys were
conducted in association with a FIREX
training event with IMPASS off the
coast of Georgia and Florida. Linetransect surveys were conducted on
September 19–21, 2011, before, during,
and after the training event. No
sightings of marine mammals were
recorded during these surveys.
For training exercises at the CHPT
Range Complex, aerial surveys were
conducted in association with a FIREX
with IMPASS training event off the
coast of North Carolina. The pre-FIREX
line-transact survey on November 29,
2011, was cancelled due to poor
weather and low ceiling conditions. No
sightings of marine mammals were
recorded during the 1.4 hours of total
survey flight time (includes on-effort
and off-effort intervals) within the
survey area covering a 1-day period
(November 30, 2011). One large
unidentified whale was briefly seen
approximately 18 km south of Lookout
Bight, North Carolina (approximately
100 km outside of the survey area) on
the transit back to the airport.
Adaptive Management
In general, adaptive management
allows NMFS to consider new
information from different sources to
determine (with input from the Navy
regarding practicability) if monitoring
efforts should be modified if new
information suggests that such
modifications are appropriate. All of the
5-year rules and LOAs issued to the
Navy include an adaptive management
component, which includes an annual
meeting between NMFS and the Navy.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 102 / Friday, May 25, 2012 / Notices
NMFS and the Navy conducted an
adaptive management meeting in
October, 2011, which representatives
from the Marine Mammal Commission
participated in, wherein we reviewed
the Navy monitoring results through
August 1, 2011, discussed other Navy
research and development efforts, and
discussed other new information that
could potentially inform decisions
regarding Navy mitigation and
monitoring.
No changes were requested from the
Navy for the 2012–2014 LOAs for
VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range
Complexes.
Authorization
Since there are no changes in the
Navy’s proposed training activities at
the VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range
Complexes, NMFS’ determination that
the Navy’s training activities at these
Range Complexes will have no more
than a negligible impact on the affected
species or stocks of marine mammals in
the action area, as described in the
original regulations and the interim
regulations, is still valid. There is no
subsistence use of marine mammals that
could potentially be impacted by the
Navy’s training activities at the
VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range
Complexes. Further, the level of taking
authorized in June 2012 through June
2014 for the Navy’s VACAPES, JAX, and
CHPT Range Complexes training
activities is consistent with our previous
findings made for the total taking
allowed under the regulations and
interim regulations for these Range
Complexes. Accordingly, NMFS has
issued three two-year LOAs for Navy’s
training activities conducted at the
VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range
Complexes from June 5, 2012, through
June 4, 2014.
Dated: May 21, 2012.
Helen M. Golde,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–12778 Filed 5–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Additions
On March 16, 2012 (77 FR 15736) and
March 23, 2012 (77 FR 17035), the
Committee for Purchase From People
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
published notices of proposed additions
to the Procurement List.
After consideration of the material
presented to it concerning capability of
qualified nonprofit agencies to provide
the products and service and impact of
the additions on the current or most
recent contractors, the Committee has
determined that the products and
service listed below are suitable for
procurement by the Federal Government
under 41 U.S.C. 8501–8506 and 41 CFR
51–2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action will not result in any
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
other compliance requirements for small
entities other than the small
organizations that will furnish the
products and service to the Government.
2. The action will result in
authorizing small entities to furnish the
products and service to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in
connection with the products and
service proposed for addition to the
Procurement List.
AGENCY:
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following products
and service are added to the
Procurement List:
This action adds products and
a service to the Procurement List that
Products
Product Name/NSN: Parts Kit, Soft Top
Troop Area Enclosure, Humvee, Tan/
2540–01–329–8073
NPA: Montgomery County Chapter,
NYSARC, Inc., Amsterdam, NY.
Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics
Procurement List; Additions
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
will be furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities.
DATES: Effective Date: June 25, 2012.
ADDRESSES: 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:
Patricia Briscoe, Telephone: (703) 603–
7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email
CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to the Procurement
List.
SUMMARY:
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Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus,
OH.
Coverage: C–List for 100% of the requirement
of the Department of Defense, as
aggregated by the Defense Logistics
Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus,
OH.
Product Names/NSNs:
Ice Melt/De-Icer, 10 lbs./6850–01–598–
1946
Ice Melt/De-Icer, 20 lbs./6850–01–598–
1926
Ice Melt/De-Icer, 40 lbs./6850–01–598–
1933
NPA: Bosma Industries for the Blind, Inc.,
Indianapolis, IN.
Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics
Agency Aviation, Richmond, VA.
Coverage: C–List for 100% of the requirement
of the Department of Defense, as
aggregated by the Defense Logistics
Agency Aviation, Richmond, VA.
Service
Service Type/Locations: Facilities
Maintenance Services, Defense
Information Systems Agency, JITC, 2001
Brainard Rd., Building 57305, Fort
Huachuca, AZ.
3341 Strauss Avenue, Building 900, Indian
Head, MD.
4465 Indian Head Highway, Ely Building,
Indian Head, MD.
6910 Cooper Avenue, Fort Meade, MD.
NPAs: Beacon Group SW., Inc., Tucson, AZ
(Prime Contractor.
The Centers for Habilitation/TCH, Tempe,
AZ (Subcontractor).
Didlake, Inc., Manassas, VA
(Subcontractor).
Contracting Activity: defense information
systems agency (DISA), DITCO–FT
HUACHUCA PL65, Fort Huachuca, AZ.
Patricia Briscoe,
Deputy Director, Business Operations,
(Pricing and Information Management).
[FR Doc. 2012–12756 Filed 5–24–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Proposed Additions
and Deletion
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Proposed additions to and
deletion from the Procurement List.
AGENCY:
The Committee is proposing
to add products and services to the
Procurement List that will be furnished
by nonprofit agencies employing
persons who are blind or have other
severe disabilities, and deletes a service
previously provided by such agency.
Comments Must Be Received on or
Before: June 25, 2012.
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31333-31335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12778]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC024
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals: Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Navy Training Exercises in Three East Coast Range
Complexes
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of three modified Letters of Authorization.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as
amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given
that NMFS has issued three Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to take
marine mammals by harassment, incidental to the U.S. Navy's training
activities within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES), Jacksonville (JAX), and
Cherry Point (CHPT) Range Complexes to the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces
Command, 1562 Mitscher Avenue, Suite 250, Norfolk, VA 23551-2487 and
persons operating under his authority.
DATES: Effective from June 5, 2012, through June 4, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Navy's request for LOAs, the Navy's 2011-2012
marine mammal monitoring report and the Navy's 2011-2012 exercise
report are available by writing to Tammy C. Adams, Acting Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910, by telephoning the contact listed here (SEE FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or online at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. Documents cited in this notice
may be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the
aforementioned address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Guan, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS (301) 724-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs
the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but
not intentional taking of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in
a military readiness activity if certain findings are made and either
regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a
notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for
review.
Authorization may be granted for periods of 5 years or less if NMFS
finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or
stock(s), and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for certain subsistence uses,
and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to
the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such taking are set forth.
Regulations governing the taking of marine mammals incidental to
the U.S. Navy's training activities at the VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range
Complexes were published on June 15, 2009 (VACAPES: 74 FR 28328; JAX:
74 FR 28349; CHPT: 74 FR 28370) and remain in effect through June 4,
2014. They are codified at 50 CFR part 218 subpart A (VACAPES), subpart
B (JAX), and subpart C (CHPT). These regulations include mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements for the incidental taking of
marine mammals by the Navy's range complex training exercises. For
detailed information on these actions, please refer to the June 15,
2009 Federal Register Notices and 50 CFR part 218 subparts A, B, and C.
An interim final rule was issued on May 26, 2011 (76 FR 30552) to
allow certain flexibilities concerning Navy's training activities at
VACAPES and JAX, and LOAs were issued to the Navy on June 1, 2011 (76
FR 33266; June 8, 2011). These LOAs were subsequently modified on
January 6, 2012, to allow takes of marine mammals by using time-delayed
firing devices (i.e., detonation is controlled by a time-delaying
devices instead of being promptly executed) with improved monitoring
and mitigation measures (77 FR 2040; January 13, 2012).
On February 12, 2012, NMFS published a final rule (77 FR 4917) that
allows for the issuance of multi-year LOAs, as long as the regulations
governing such LOAs are valid, and finalized the May 26, 2011 interim
rule.
Summary of LOA Request
On January 19, 2012, the Navy submitted an application to take
marine mammals incidental to training activities at VACAPES, JAX, and
CHPT Range Complexes under the regulations issued on June 15, 2009
(VACAPES: 74 FR 28328; JAX: 74 FR 28349; CHPT: 74 FR 28370) and
modified on February 12, 2012 (77 FR 4917). The application requested
authorization for two years, to take marine mammals by harassment,
incidental to proposed training activities that involve the use of
[[Page 31334]]
underwater detonations and the use of time-delay firing devices, as
described in the January 13, 2012 Federal Register notice announcing
the issuance of modified LOAs (77 FR 2040).
Summary of Activity Under the 2011 VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT LOAs
As described in the Navy's Annual Range Complex Exercise Report for
the NAVSEA VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range Complexes, between January 2,
2011, and January 1, 2012, the training activities conducted by the
Navy were within the scope and amounts contemplated by the final rule
and identified by the 2011 LOAs. A detailed description of the Navy's
2011 training activities can be found in the exercise reports posted on
NMFS Web site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.
Planned Activities for 2012-2014
In 2012 through June 2014, the Navy expects to conduct the same
type and amount of training activities identified in the final rules
and 2011 LOAs, including the use of time-delay firing devices. No
modification is proposed by the Navy for its planned 2012-2014
activities.
Estimated Take for 2012-2014
The estimated takes for the Navy's proposed training activities are
the same as those contemplated in the regulations and authorized in the
2011 LOAs.
Summary of Monitoring, Reporting, and other requirements under the 2011
LOA
Annual Exercise Report
The Navy submitted its 2011 exercise reports within the required
timeframes and it is posted on the NMFS Web site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. NMFS has reviewed the
report and it contains the information required by the 2011 LOAs. The
reports list the amount of training activities conducted between
January 2, 2011 and January 1, 2012.
Specifically, at the VACAPES Range Complex, the Navy conducted 14
5-lb charge, 28 10-lb charge, and 3 20-lb charge mine exercise (MINEX);
5 Mk-82 (500 lb bomb) Air-to-Surface Bombing Exercises (BOMEX); 28 AGM-
114 (Hellfire missile) exercises and 1 AGM-65 (Maverick missile)
exercise (MISSIEX); and 13 5' explosive Naval gunfire exercises (FIREX
with IMPASS). No AGM-88 (HARM missile) and MK-83/GBU-32 (1,000 lb bomb)
exercise was conducted during the reporting period.
At the JAX Range Complex, the Navy conducted 9 AGM-114 (Hellfire
missile) exercises and 3 AGM-65 (Maverick missile) exercises; and 6
FIREX with IMPASS. No MINEX and no Small Arms Training was conducted
during the reporting period.
At the CHPT Range Complex, the Navy conducted only one FIREX with
IMPASS. No other exercise (MINEX and MISSIEX) was conducted.
Monitoring and Annual Monitoring Report
The Navy submitted their 2011 annual marine mammal monitoring
reports covering the period from January 2, 2011, through January 1,
2012, and the reports are posted on NMFS Web site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. The Navy
conducted the monitoring required by the 2011 LOAs and described in the
Monitoring Reports.
For training exercises at the VACAPES Range Complex, the Navy
implemented vessel and aerial surveys and deployed passive acoustic
monitoring (PAM) devices. The monitoring efforts for 2011 were
conducted within the mine neutralization exercise (MINEX) W-50 box in
conjunction with a MINEX event, and the Firing Exercise (FIREX) 7C/7D
training boxes in junction with a FIREX event.
A vessel survey was conducted on July 14, 2011, in association with
a FIREX with IMPASS training event off the coast of Virginia. Four
marine mammal observers (MMOs) were stationed aboard a Navy vessel. No
marine mammal species were sighted. Vessel surveys were also conducted
in association with a MINEX training event off the coast of Virginia
Beach, Virginia. Seven MMOs were stationed aboard a Navy vessel.
Surveys were conducted on August 7-9, 2011 before, during, and after
the training event. During the 3-day monitoring trip, a total of 19
bottlenose dolphin sightings including approximately 91-149 individuals
were recorded by the Navy MMOs. No injuries or mortalities of marine
mammals were observed during the MINEX training. No marine mammal was
sighted between 30 minutes pre-detonation and 30 minutes post-
detonation. In addition, aerial surveys were conducted in association
with a FIREX training event with IMPASS off the coast of Virginia.
Line-transect surveys were conducted on July 13-15, 2011, before,
during, and after the training event. Three sightings of marine mammals
were made during the 1-day pre-FIREX survey; two sightings of marine
mammals were recorded throughout the 1-day during FIREX survey period;
and four sightings of marine mammals were recorded during the 1-day
post-FIREX survey. No injuries or mortalities of marine mammals were
observed during the FIREX training event on July 14. No live explosive
rounds were used during the FIREX training. Therefore, no animals were
exposed during this VACAPES FIREX with IMPASS training event. Finally,
acoustic buoys were deployed on August 7 and 8, 2011, to monitor marine
mammal vocalization activity before, during, and after the MINEX event.
Six buoys were deployed on both days. Total successful recording time
was approximately 38.3 hours, which included 22.75 hours on August 7
and 15.5 hours on August 8. A preliminary analysis of the acoustic
recordings was performed on the August 8 data using 1-minute
spectrogram window, which showed some odontocete whistles. Based on
earlier sightings from that day, the Navy stated that the vocalizations
are most likely from bottlenose dolphins.
For training exercises at the JAX Range Complex, aerial surveys
were conducted in association with a FIREX training event with IMPASS
off the coast of Georgia and Florida. Line-transect surveys were
conducted on September 19-21, 2011, before, during, and after the
training event. No sightings of marine mammals were recorded during
these surveys.
For training exercises at the CHPT Range Complex, aerial surveys
were conducted in association with a FIREX with IMPASS training event
off the coast of North Carolina. The pre-FIREX line-transact survey on
November 29, 2011, was cancelled due to poor weather and low ceiling
conditions. No sightings of marine mammals were recorded during the 1.4
hours of total survey flight time (includes on-effort and off-effort
intervals) within the survey area covering a 1-day period (November 30,
2011). One large unidentified whale was briefly seen approximately 18
km south of Lookout Bight, North Carolina (approximately 100 km outside
of the survey area) on the transit back to the airport.
Adaptive Management
In general, adaptive management allows NMFS to consider new
information from different sources to determine (with input from the
Navy regarding practicability) if monitoring efforts should be modified
if new information suggests that such modifications are appropriate.
All of the 5-year rules and LOAs issued to the Navy include an adaptive
management component, which includes an annual meeting between NMFS and
the Navy.
[[Page 31335]]
NMFS and the Navy conducted an adaptive management meeting in October,
2011, which representatives from the Marine Mammal Commission
participated in, wherein we reviewed the Navy monitoring results
through August 1, 2011, discussed other Navy research and development
efforts, and discussed other new information that could potentially
inform decisions regarding Navy mitigation and monitoring.
No changes were requested from the Navy for the 2012-2014 LOAs for
VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range Complexes.
Authorization
Since there are no changes in the Navy's proposed training
activities at the VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range Complexes, NMFS'
determination that the Navy's training activities at these Range
Complexes will have no more than a negligible impact on the affected
species or stocks of marine mammals in the action area, as described in
the original regulations and the interim regulations, is still valid.
There is no subsistence use of marine mammals that could potentially be
impacted by the Navy's training activities at the VACAPES, JAX, and
CHPT Range Complexes. Further, the level of taking authorized in June
2012 through June 2014 for the Navy's VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range
Complexes training activities is consistent with our previous findings
made for the total taking allowed under the regulations and interim
regulations for these Range Complexes. Accordingly, NMFS has issued
three two-year LOAs for Navy's training activities conducted at the
VACAPES, JAX, and CHPT Range Complexes from June 5, 2012, through June
4, 2014.
Dated: May 21, 2012.
Helen M. Golde,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12778 Filed 5-24-12; 8:45 am]
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