Letters of Authorization To Take Marine Mammals, 19288-19290 [2013-07339]

Download as PDF 19288 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2013 / Notices Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201310058 Status: Unutilized Comments: located on military installation; public access denied & no alternative method w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area 13 Buildings Sheppard AFB Sheppard AFB TX 76311 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201310059 Status: Underutilized Directions: 527, 528, 596, 690, 691, 692, 693, 776, 790, 791, 792, 793, 794 Comments: secured area; public access denied & no alternative method w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area Virginia Bldg. 1994 Eagle Ave Hampton VA 23665 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201220024 Status: Underutilized Comments: nat’l security concerns; public access denied & no alternative method to gain access w/out comprising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area 9 Buildings Langley AFB Langley AFB VA 23665 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201220027 Status: Underutilized Directions: 1092, 1093, 1094, 1095, 1096, 1097, 1098, 750, 51 Comments: nat’l security concerns; public access denied & no alternative method to gain access w/out comprising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Washington 4 Buildings South Taxiway Rd. Fairchild AFB WA 99011 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201230010 Status: Underutilized Directions: 1024,1023,1026,1021 Comments: located w/in the boundary of an active AF installation where public access denied & no alternative method to gain access w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area Hanger 1025 200 S. Taxiway I Rd. Fairchild AFB WA 99011 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201230024 Status: Underutilized Comments: located w/in controlled active installation; public access denied & no alternative method w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area Wyoming Bldg. 1200 1105 Wyoming Street FE Warren AFB WY 82005 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201230006 Status: Underutilized Comments: located on restricted military installation; public access denied & no alternative method to gain access w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area Bldg. 945 7505 Booker Rd. Cheyenne WY Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201230062 Status: Unutilized Comments: located in a secured area; public access denied & no alternative method to gain access w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area 3 Buildings FE Warren AF Cheyenne WY 82005 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201240020 Status: Unutilized Directions: 1166, 2277, 835 Comments: restricted area; public access denied & no alternative method to gain access w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area Florida 8 Buildings null Tyndall AFB FL 32403 Landholding Agency: Air Force Property Number: 18201310011 Status: Underutilized Directions: 205, 207, 214, 748, 1277, 1279, 1280, 1476 Comments: restricted military installation; public access denied & no alternative method to gain access w/out compromising nat’l security Reasons: Secured Area [FR Doc. 2013–06971 Filed 3–28–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R7–FHC–2013–N047; FF07CAMM00.FX.FR133707PB000] Letters of Authorization To Take Marine Mammals Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Issuance. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, or we), has issued letters of authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walrus incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska and incidental to oil and gas industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and the adjacent western coast of Alaska. These letters of authorization stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific walrus from these activities. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Perham at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341, Anchorage, AK 99503; (800) 362–5148 or (907) 786–3810. On August 3, 2011, we published in the Federal Register a final rule (76 FR 47010) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus during year-round oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective through August 3, 2016. The rule prescribed a process under which we issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to applicants conducting activities as described under the provisions of the regulations. Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the activity and location. Holders of LOAs must use methods and conduct activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walrus and polar bears, their habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take is prohibited. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to each of the following companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BEAUFORT SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION Company Activity Project Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Production ........... Production ........... Trans-Alaska Pipeline Operation & Maintenance ......... Trans-Alaska Pipeline Operation & Maintenance ......... VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:34 Mar 28, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM Date issued 29MRN1 November 15, 2011. December 11, 2012. 19289 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2013 / Notices BEAUFORT SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION—Continued Company Activity Project BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. ............. BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. ............. BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. ............. BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. ............. BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. ............. Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation. Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation. Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation. CGGVeritas ...................................... CGGVeritas ...................................... CGGVeritas ...................................... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc ............... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc ............... Exploration .......... Production ........... Development ....... Development ....... Exploration .......... Exploration .......... Summer Seismic Survey .............................................. North Slope Production ................................................. Liberty Development Project ......................................... Red Dog #1 Plug and Abandonment Project ............... Simpson Lagoon Seismic Survey ................................. North Tarn/Mustang Exploration Program .................... August 3, 2011. August 3, 2011. January 10, 2012. January 10, 2012. July 16, 2012. November 20, 2011. Exploration .......... Tofcat Exploration Program .......................................... February 1, 2012. Exploration .......... Mustang Exploration Program ...................................... January 15, 2013. Exploration .......... Exploration .......... Exploration .......... Production ........... Exploration .......... November 30, 2011. March 19, 2012. February 1, 2013. August, 3, 2011. December 1, 2011. ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc ............... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc ............... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc ............... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. .............. Eni US Operating Co., Inc. .............. ExxonMobil Production Company .... ExxonMobil Production Company .... ExxonMobil Production Company .... Great Bear Petroleum, LLC ............. Ion Geophysical ............................... North Slope Borough ....................... Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC .............. Development ....... Development ....... Development ....... Exploration .......... Development ....... Exploration .......... Development ....... Development ....... Exploration .......... Exploration .......... Development ....... Exploration .......... Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC .............. Exploration .......... Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska, Inc.. Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska, Inc.. Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska, Inc.. Repsol E&P USA, Inc. ..................... Repsol E&P USA, Inc. ..................... Savant Alaska, LLC ......................... Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Production ........... Tabasco 3D Seismic Survey ........................................ Great Bear 3D Seismic Survey .................................... Great Bear Winter 3D Seismic Survey ......................... North Slope Production ................................................. Hydrate Production Test, Ignik Sikumi I, Prudhoe Bay Unit. Hemi Springs Plug and Abandonment Program .......... North Staines River #1 Well Inspection ........................ Gravel Borehole Project ................................................ Winter Exploration Drilling Program ............................. Nikaitchuq Development Project ................................... Prudhoe Bay Bathymetry & Noise Monitoring Survey Point Thomson .............................................................. Point Thomson .............................................................. Great Bear Exploration and Evaluation Program ......... 2D Seismic Survey ....................................................... Gas Fields Well Drilling Program ................................. Beaufort Sea Acoustic Monitoring Recorder Deployment and Retrieval Project. Marine Fish Transboundary Cruise Environmental Studies Program. North Slope Production ................................................. Exploration .......... North Slope Exploration Program ................................. October 17, 2011. Development ....... Nuna Development Program ........................................ April 20, 2012. Exploration .......... Exploration .......... Development ....... Exploration .......... December 7, 2011. February 7, 2013. April 15, 2012. January 10, 2012. Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Exploration .......... Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Exploration .......... Exploration .......... Colville River Delta Winter Drilling ................................ Colville River Delta Winter Drilling ................................ Badami Unit Redevelopment Project ............................ Beaufort Sea Ice Observation and On-Ice Argos Data Buoy Deployment Program. Beaufort Sea Open Water Marine Survey Program and Onshore Environmental Baseline Study Activities. Camden Bay OCS Exploration Drilling ......................... Beaufort Sea Ice Observation and On-Ice Argos Data Buoy Deployment Program. On June 11, 2008, we published in the Federal Register a final rule (73 FR 33212) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus during year-round oil and gas industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart I of 50 CFR part 18 and is effective until June 11, 2013. The process under which we issue LOAs to applicants and the requirements that the holders of LOAs must follow is the same as described Date issued January 15, 2012. March 19, 2012. March 19, 2012. December 15, 2012. August 15, 2012. April 1, 2012. February 1, 2012. February 1, 2013. January 19, 2012. October 17, 2012. May 1, 2012. July 15, 2012. September 19, 2012. August 3, 2011. June 4, 2012. June 4, 2012. January 1, 2013. above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR 18, subpart J. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we issued LOAs to the following companies in the Chukchi Sea: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES CHUKCHI SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION Company Activity Project Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC .............. Exploration .......... Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Exploration .......... Exploration .......... Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Exploration .......... Chukchi Sea Baseline Environmental Studies Program. Chukchi Sea Ice Observation Flights Program ............ Chukchi Sea Coastal Marine and Onshore Environmental Baseline Study. Chukchi Sea OCS Exploratory Drilling Program .......... VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:34 Mar 28, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM Date issued 29MRN1 July 15, 2012. January 10, 2012. June 4, 2012. June 4, 2012. 19290 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2013 / Notices CHUKCHI SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION—Continued Company Activity Project Shell Offshore, Inc. .......................... Exploration .......... Chukchi Sea Ice Observation Flights Program ............ Dated: March 12, 2013. Geoffrey Haskett, Regional Director, Alaska Region. [FR Doc. 2013–07339 Filed 3–28–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO620000.L18200000.XH0000] Call for Nominations for Advisory Committees Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to reopen the request for public nominations for certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Advisory Committees that have member terms expiring this year. These Advisory Committees provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their respective geographic areas. The Advisory Committees covered by this request for nominations are identified below. The BLM will accept public nominations for 30 days after the publication of this notice. DATES: All nominations must be received no later than April 29, 2013. ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the address of respective BLM Offices accepting nominations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Luckey, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Correspondence, International, and Advisory Committee Office, 1849 C Street NW., MS–MIB 5070, Washington, DC 20240; 202–208–3806. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to involve the public in planning and issues related to management of lands administered by the BLM. Section 309 of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1739) directs the Secretary to establish 10- to 15-member citizenbased advisory councils that are consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). As required by FACA, Resource Advisory Council VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:34 Mar 28, 2013 Jkt 229001 (RAC) membership must be balanced and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands. The rules governing RACs are found at 43 CFR subpart 1784 and include the following three membership categories: Category One—Holders of Federal grazing permits and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, timber industry, transportation or rights-ofway, developed outdoor recreation, offhighway vehicle use, and commercial recreation; Category Two—Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historic organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations; and Category Three—Representatives of State, county, or local elected office, employees of a State agency responsible for management of natural resources, representatives of Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the council is organized, representatives of academia who are employed in natural sciences, and the public-at-large. Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Nominees must be residents of the State in which the RAC has jurisdiction. The BLM will evaluate nominees based on their education, training, experience, and knowledge of the geographical area of the RAC. Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative resource decision-making. The Obama Administration prohibits individuals who are currently federally registered lobbyists from being appointed or reappointed to FACA and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils. This request for public nominations also applies to the Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) in Oregon established pursuant to Section 131 of the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000. The SMAC advises the Secretary of the Interior in managing the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area. Nominations are requested for the positions of Burns Paiute Tribe member and the State of Oregon liaison. The following must accompany all nominations for the RACs and SMAC: PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Date issued February 1, 2013. —Letters of reference from represented interests or organizations; —A completed Resource Advisory Council application; and —Any other information that addresses the nominee’s qualifications. Simultaneous with this notice, BLM state offices will issue press releases providing additional information for submitting nominations, with specifics about the number and categories of member positions available for each RAC in the state and the Steens Mountain Advisory Council in Oregon. If you have already submitted your RAC nomination materials for 2013 you will not need to resubmit. Nominations for the following RACs should be sent to the appropriate BLM offices as noted below: Alaska Alaska RAC Thom Jennings, Alaska State Office, BLM, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513, 970–271–3335. California Northwestern California RAC Jeff Fontana, Eagle Lake Field Office, BLM, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, California 96130, 530–252–5332. Central California RAC David Christy, Mother Lode Field Office, BLM, 5152 Hillsdale Circle, El Dorado Hills, California 95762, 916–941–3146. Idaho Boise District RAC Marsha Buchanan, Boise District Office, BLM, 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705, 208–384–3393. Coeur d’Alene District RAC Suzanne Endsley, Coeur d’Alene District Office, BLM, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815, 208–769–5004. Idaho Falls District RAC Sarah Wheeler, Idaho Falls District Office, BLM, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401, 208–524–7550. Montana and Dakotas Central Montana RAC Kaylene Patten, Lewistown Field Office, BLM, 920 Northeast Main Street, Lewistown, Montana 59457, 406–538– 1957. Dakotas RAC Mark Jacobsen, Miles City Field Office, BLM, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, Montana 59301, 406–233–2800. E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19288-19290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07339]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-FHC-2013-N047; FF07CAMM00.FX.FR133707PB000]


Letters of Authorization To Take Marine Mammals

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Issuance.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (MMPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, or we), 
has issued letters of authorization for the nonlethal take of polar 
bears and Pacific walrus incidental to oil and gas industry 
exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea 
and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska and incidental to oil and gas 
industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and the adjacent 
western coast of Alaska. These letters of authorization stipulate 
conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific 
walrus from these activities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Perham at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor 
Road, MS 341, Anchorage, AK 99503; (800) 362-5148 or (907) 786-3810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 3, 2011, we published in the 
Federal Register a final rule (76 FR 47010) establishing regulations 
that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional 
take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus during year-
round oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production 
activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. 
The rule established subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective through August 3, 2016. The 
rule prescribed a process under which we issue Letters of Authorization 
(LOAs) to applicants conducting activities as described under the 
provisions of the regulations.
    Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the 
activity and location. Holders of LOAs must use methods and conduct 
activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent 
practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walrus and polar bears, their 
habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for 
subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take is 
prohibited.
    In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 
et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to 
each of the following companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent 
northern coast of Alaska:

                                      Beaufort Sea Letters of Authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Company                     Activity                     Project                    Date issued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.  Production.........  Trans-Alaska Pipeline Operation &   November 15, 2011.
                                                         Maintenance.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.  Production.........  Trans-Alaska Pipeline Operation &   December 11, 2012.
                                                         Maintenance.

[[Page 19289]]

 
BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.......  Exploration........  Summer Seismic Survey.............  August 3, 2011.
BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.......  Production.........  North Slope Production............  August 3, 2011.
BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.......  Development........  Liberty Development Project.......  January 10, 2012.
BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.......  Development........  Red Dog 1 Plug and         January 10, 2012.
                                                         Abandonment Project.
BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.......  Exploration........  Simpson Lagoon Seismic Survey.....  July 16, 2012.
Brooks Range Petroleum             Exploration........  North Tarn/Mustang Exploration      November 20, 2011.
 Corporation.                                            Program.
Brooks Range Petroleum             Exploration........  Tofcat Exploration Program........  February 1, 2012.
 Corporation.
Brooks Range Petroleum             Exploration........  Mustang Exploration Program.......  January 15, 2013.
 Corporation.
CGGVeritas.......................  Exploration........  Tabasco 3D Seismic Survey.........  November 30, 2011.
CGGVeritas.......................  Exploration........  Great Bear 3D Seismic Survey......  March 19, 2012.
CGGVeritas.......................  Exploration........  Great Bear Winter 3D Seismic        February 1, 2013.
                                                         Survey.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.......  Production.........  North Slope Production............  August, 3, 2011.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.......  Exploration........  Hydrate Production Test, Ignik      December 1, 2011.
                                                         Sikumi I, Prudhoe Bay Unit.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.......  Development........  Hemi Springs Plug and Abandonment   January 15, 2012.
                                                         Program.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.......  Development........  North Staines River 1      March 19, 2012.
                                                         Well Inspection.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.......  Development........  Gravel Borehole Project...........  March 19, 2012.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.......  Exploration........  Winter Exploration Drilling         December 15, 2012.
                                                         Program.
Eni US Operating Co., Inc........  Development........  Nikaitchuq Development Project....  August 15, 2012.
ExxonMobil Production Company....  Exploration........  Prudhoe Bay Bathymetry & Noise      April 1, 2012.
                                                         Monitoring Survey.
ExxonMobil Production Company....  Development........  Point Thomson.....................  February 1, 2012.
ExxonMobil Production Company....  Development........  Point Thomson.....................  February 1, 2013.
Great Bear Petroleum, LLC........  Exploration........  Great Bear Exploration and          January 19, 2012.
                                                         Evaluation Program.
Ion Geophysical..................  Exploration........  2D Seismic Survey.................  October 17, 2012.
North Slope Borough..............  Development........  Gas Fields Well Drilling Program..  May 1, 2012.
Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC........  Exploration........  Beaufort Sea Acoustic Monitoring    July 15, 2012.
                                                         Recorder Deployment and Retrieval
                                                         Project.
Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC........  Exploration........  Marine Fish Transboundary Cruise    September 19, 2012.
                                                         Environmental Studies Program.
Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska,  Production.........  North Slope Production............  August 3, 2011.
 Inc..
Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska,  Exploration........  North Slope Exploration Program...  October 17, 2011.
 Inc..
Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska,  Development........  Nuna Development Program..........  April 20, 2012.
 Inc..
Repsol E&P USA, Inc..............  Exploration........  Colville River Delta Winter         December 7, 2011.
                                                         Drilling.
Repsol E&P USA, Inc..............  Exploration........  Colville River Delta Winter         February 7, 2013.
                                                         Drilling.
Savant Alaska, LLC...............  Development........  Badami Unit Redevelopment Project.  April 15, 2012.
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Beaufort Sea Ice Observation and    January 10, 2012.
                                                         On-Ice Argos Data Buoy Deployment
                                                         Program.
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Beaufort Sea Open Water Marine      June 4, 2012.
                                                         Survey Program and Onshore
                                                         Environmental Baseline Study
                                                         Activities.
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Camden Bay OCS Exploration          June 4, 2012.
                                                         Drilling.
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Beaufort Sea Ice Observation and    January 1, 2013.
                                                         On-Ice Argos Data Buoy Deployment
                                                         Program.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On June 11, 2008, we published in the Federal Register a final rule 
(73 FR 33212) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the 
nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar 
bears and Pacific walrus during year-round oil and gas industry 
exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of 
Alaska. The rule established subpart I of 50 CFR part 18 and is 
effective until June 11, 2013. The process under which we issue LOAs to 
applicants and the requirements that the holders of LOAs must follow is 
the same as described above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR 18, subpart J.
    In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our 
regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we issued LOAs to the following 
companies in the Chukchi Sea:

                                      Chukchi Sea Letters of Authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Company                     Activity                     Project                    Date issued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC........  Exploration........  Chukchi Sea Baseline Environmental  July 15, 2012.
                                                         Studies Program.
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Chukchi Sea Ice Observation         January 10, 2012.
                                                         Flights Program.
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Chukchi Sea Coastal Marine and      June 4, 2012.
                                                         Onshore Environmental Baseline
                                                         Study.
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Chukchi Sea OCS Exploratory         June 4, 2012.
                                                         Drilling Program.

[[Page 19290]]

 
Shell Offshore, Inc..............  Exploration........  Chukchi Sea Ice Observation         February 1, 2013.
                                                         Flights Program.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: March 12, 2013.
Geoffrey Haskett,
Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-07339 Filed 3-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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