Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Offshore New Jersey, May to August 2014, 19580-19581 [2014-07974]

Download as PDF TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 19580 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 2014 / Notices (Delphinapterus leucas), endangered bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), gray whales (Eschrictius robustus), and endangered humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) had been submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit was issued on May 21, 2010 (75 FR 30383) for the beluga whale and gray whale projects under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). A decision on the bowhead whale and humpback whale projects was deferred pending completion of consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). An amended permit (No. 14610–01) was issued on August 3, 2010 (75 CFR 50748) under the authority of the MMPA, the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals, the ESA, and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226) to include remote biopsy and instrument attachment for bowhead and humpback whales. The amended permit is valid through the expiration date of the original permit, May 31, 2015. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include authorization for takes during photoidentification efforts to determine stock or feeding group affiliation of gray whales encountered in Alaskan waters (Chukchi and western Beaufort seas). Photo-identification, in addition to currently authorized tagging and biopsy efforts, will allow larger sample sizes to increase knowledge of gray whale movements, habitat use, and behavior relative to industrial activities including oil and gas and shipping in the Arctic. The permit holder is requesting to take up to 300 gray whales per year by harassment during photo-identification efforts, including opportunistic encounters during tagging and biopsy activities, and increase incidental harassment of gray whales by 50 per year. The permit holder is also requesting to alter a current tag attachment method to allow for the attachment of a temporary acoustic tag using a two-anchor system on bowhead whales. This request is to allow for two much shorter anchors with one set of barbs each to be used for the short-term attachment of a base-plate for a temporary acoustic tag. The two anchor attachment is similar to that used by the LIMPET tag that has been used successfully on 13 species of whales. No VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:54 Apr 08, 2014 Jkt 232001 additional takes are requested for tagging activities. The expiration date of the permit would not change. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the potential environmental impacts of the proposed activity are consistent with the effects in the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact prepared for issuance of a prior version of the permit. Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: April 4, 2014. Tammy C. Adams, Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–07956 Filed 4–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD141 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Offshore New Jersey, May to August 2014 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; extension of comment period. AGENCY: On March 17, 2014, NMFS announced notice of a proposed issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (Authorization) to the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, to take marine mammals, by harassment incidental to conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in the northwest Atlantic Ocean May through August, 2014. The Federal Register notice indicated that written comments were due by April 16, 2014. However, in response to a request to extend the public comment period, NMFS has decided to extend the public comment period by an additional 30 calendar days. DATES: NMFS has extended the public comment period for this action from SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 April 16 to May 16, 2014. NMFS must receive written comments and information on or before May 16, 2014. ADDRESSES: Address comments on the application to Jolie Harrison, Supervisor, Incidental Take Program, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The mailbox address for providing email comments is ITP.Cody@ noaa.gov. Please include 0648–XD141 in the subject line. Comments sent via email to ITP.Cody@noaa.gov, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. NMFS is not responsible for email comments sent to addresses other than the one provided here. Instructions: All submitted comments are a part of the public record and NMFS will post them to https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm#applications without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannine Cody, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS (301) 427– 8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals of a species or population stock, by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if, after NMFS provides a notice of a proposed authorization to the public for review and comment: (1) NMFS makes certain findings; and (2) the taking is limited to harassment. On March 17, 2014, NMFS published a Federal Register notice (79 FR 14779, March 17, 2014) announcing proposed issuance of an Authorization to the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory to take marine mammals, by harassment incidental to conducting a seismic survey in the northwest Atlantic Ocean May through August, 2014. The 30-day public comment period for the Federal Register notice (79 FR 14779, March 17, 2014) ends on April 16, 2014. This is the first time that NMFS has proposed to issue an Authorization for harassment incidental to a scientific E:\FR\FM\09APN1.SGM 09APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 2014 / Notices seismic survey in federal waters approximately 25 to 85 kilometers (km) (15.5 to 52.8 miles (mi)) off the New Jersey coast. NMFS does not have the authority under Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA to permit, authorize, or prohibit the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory’s seismic survey activities. On March 25, 2004, Clean Ocean Action, based in New Jersey, requested an extension of the public comment period to aid in their review of the proposed Authorization. NMFS has considered the request and will extend the comment period to May 16, 2014. This extension provides a total of 60 days for public input and continuing Federal agency reviews to inform NMFS’ final decision to issue or deny the Authorization. NMFS does not anticipate that this 30-day extension will delay its decision on whether to issue or deny the Authorization. NMFS refers the reader to the March 17, 2014, notice of proposed Authorization (79 FR 14779, March 17, 2014) for background information concerning the proposed Authorization as this notice does not repeat the information here. For additional information about the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory’s request and the National Science Foundation’s environmental analyses, please visit the Web site at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. Dated: April 4, 2014. Perry F. Gayaldo, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–07974 Filed 4–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION [Docket No. CPSC–2009–0093] Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request—Consumer Opinion Forum Consumer Product Safety Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) announces that the CPSC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a request for extension of approval of a collection of information from persons who may voluntarily register and participate in a Consumer Opinion Forum on the CPSC Web site, TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:54 Apr 08, 2014 Jkt 232001 www.cpsc.gov. In the Federal Register of January 28, 2014 (79 FR 4454), the CPSC published a notice to announce the CPSC’s intention to seek extension of approval of the information collection under OMB Control No. 3041–0135. The CPSC received no comments. DATES: Written comments on this request for extension of approval of information collection requirements should be submitted by May 9, 2014. ADDRESSES: Submit comments about this request by email: OIRA_ submission@omb.eop.gov or fax: 202– 395–6881. Comments by mail should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the CPSC, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. In addition, written comments that are sent to OMB also should be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, under Docket No. CPSC–2009–0093. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact: Robert H. Squibb, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; (301) 504–7815, or by email to: rsquibb@cpsc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CPSC seeks to renew the following currently approved collection of information: Title: Consumer Opinion Forum. OMB Number: 3041–0135. Type of Review: Renewal of collection. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Affected Public: Persons who volunteer to participate in Consumer Opinion Forum. Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,489 respondents annually. Estimated Time per Response: 156 hours annually. Total Estimated Annual Burden: $4,560. General Description of Collection: The CPSC solicits consumer opinions and perceptions about consumer products, on a voluntary basis, through questions posted on the CPSC’s Consumer Opinion Forum. Consumers, 18 years and older, who have access to the Internet and email, who voluntarily register to participate through a participant registration process, may respond to the posted questions. Dated: April 4, 2014. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission. [FR Doc. 2014–07917 Filed 4–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6355–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19581 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [Docket ID DoD–2014–OS–0048] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records Office of the Secretary of Defense, DoD. ACTION: Notice to delete a System of Records Notice. AGENCY: The Office of the Secretary of Defense is deleting a system of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The notice is DFMP 24, Joint Service Review Activity File (JSRA) (February 22, 1993, 58 FR 10227). SUMMARY: Comments will be accepted on or before May 9, 2014. This proposed action will be effective on the date following the end of the comment period unless comments are received which result in a contrary determination. DATES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: * Federal Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. * Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, 2nd Floor, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. ADDRESSES: Mrs. Cindy Allard at (571) 372–0461. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of the Secretary of Defense systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available from the address in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or at the Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Web site at https:// dpclo.defense.gov/. The proposed deletion is not within the purview of subsection (r) of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, which requires the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\09APN1.SGM 09APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19580-19581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07974]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD141


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Offshore New 
Jersey, May to August 2014

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

ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; extension 
of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: On March 17, 2014, NMFS announced notice of a proposed 
issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (Authorization) to 
the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory in collaboration with the National 
Science Foundation, to take marine mammals, by harassment incidental to 
conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in the northwest 
Atlantic Ocean May through August, 2014. The Federal Register notice 
indicated that written comments were due by April 16, 2014. However, in 
response to a request to extend the public comment period, NMFS has 
decided to extend the public comment period by an additional 30 
calendar days.

DATES: NMFS has extended the public comment period for this action from 
April 16 to May 16, 2014. NMFS must receive written comments and 
information on or before May 16, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Address comments on the application to Jolie Harrison, 
Supervisor, Incidental Take Program, Permits and Conservation Division, 
Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is ITP.Cody@noaa.gov. Please include 0648-
XD141 in the subject line. Comments sent via email to 
ITP.Cody@noaa.gov, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25-
megabyte file size. NMFS is not responsible for email comments sent to 
addresses other than the one provided here.
    Instructions: All submitted comments are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post them to https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications without change. All Personal Identifying 
Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential 
business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannine Cody, NMFS, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
directs the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the 
incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine 
mammals of a species or population stock, by U.S. citizens who engage 
in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a 
specified geographical region if, after NMFS provides a notice of a 
proposed authorization to the public for review and comment: (1) NMFS 
makes certain findings; and (2) the taking is limited to harassment.
    On March 17, 2014, NMFS published a Federal Register notice (79 FR 
14779, March 17, 2014) announcing proposed issuance of an Authorization 
to the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory to take marine mammals, by 
harassment incidental to conducting a seismic survey in the northwest 
Atlantic Ocean May through August, 2014. The 30-day public comment 
period for the Federal Register notice (79 FR 14779, March 17, 2014) 
ends on April 16, 2014.
    This is the first time that NMFS has proposed to issue an 
Authorization for harassment incidental to a scientific

[[Page 19581]]

seismic survey in federal waters approximately 25 to 85 kilometers (km) 
(15.5 to 52.8 miles (mi)) off the New Jersey coast. NMFS does not have 
the authority under Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA to permit, 
authorize, or prohibit the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory's seismic 
survey activities.
    On March 25, 2004, Clean Ocean Action, based in New Jersey, 
requested an extension of the public comment period to aid in their 
review of the proposed Authorization. NMFS has considered the request 
and will extend the comment period to May 16, 2014. This extension 
provides a total of 60 days for public input and continuing Federal 
agency reviews to inform NMFS' final decision to issue or deny the 
Authorization. NMFS does not anticipate that this 30-day extension will 
delay its decision on whether to issue or deny the Authorization.
    NMFS refers the reader to the March 17, 2014, notice of proposed 
Authorization (79 FR 14779, March 17, 2014) for background information 
concerning the proposed Authorization as this notice does not repeat 
the information here. For additional information about the Lamont 
Doherty Earth Observatory's request and the National Science 
Foundation's environmental analyses, please visit the Web site at: 
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.

    Dated: April 4, 2014.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07974 Filed 4-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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