Draft Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing-Acoustic Threshold Levels for Onset of Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts, 45642-45643 [2015-18790]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 147 / Friday, July 31, 2015 / Notices
the South Atlantic Council and the WFL
stock managed by the Gulf of Mexico
Council. These boundary demarcations
will aid in enforcing regulations and in
tracking the annual catch limits (ACLs)
and annual catch targets (ACTs) for each
stock.
On February 17, 2015, NMFS notified
the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Councils that the FLK/EFL stock is
overfished and undergoing overfishing,
based on the results of the 2014
benchmark stock assessment. Within
two years of such a notification, the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires an
FMP amendment or proposed
regulations be prepared and
implemented to end overfishing
immediately and to rebuild the affected
stock. Therefore, Amendment 37 and
the associated EIS also contain
rebuilding plan alternatives to increase
the biomass of the FLK/EFL stock to a
sustainable level within a specified time
period.
Finally, for both the FLK/EFL and
GA-NC stocks, Amendment 37 and the
associated EIS also contain alternatives
for management reference points
(optimum yield and maximum
sustainable yield), status determination
criteria (overfishing limit and minimum
stock size threshold), ACLs (including
by sector), ACTs, accountability
measures, and new or modified
commercial and recreational minimum
size limits, commercial trip limits, and
recreational bag limits.
In accordance with NOAA’s
Administrative Order 216–6, Section
5.02(c), Scoping Process, NMFS, in
collaboration with the South Atlantic
Council, is conducting scoping to help
identify significant environmental
issues related to these proposed actions
and alternatives. The public is invited to
attend the scoping meeting (date and
address below) and provide written
comments on the actions and
alternatives in the Amendment 37
scoping document. A copy of the
Amendment 37 scoping document is
available at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/
sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/
index.html. The preliminary actions and
alternatives included in the scoping
document may not represent the full
range of actions and alternatives that
will be considered and evaluated in
Amendment 37 and the associated EIS.
The South Atlantic Council will review
scoping comments at their September
meeting.
After the draft EIS (DEIS) associated
with Amendment 37 is completed, it
will be filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). After filing,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:44 Jul 30, 2015
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the EPA will publish a notice of
availability of the DEIS for public
comment in the Federal Register. NMFS
will solicit public comment on the DEIS
for 45 days pursuant to regulations
issued by the Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) for implementing the
procedural provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40
CFR parts 1500–1508) and to NOAA’s
Administrative Order 216–6 regarding
NOAA’s compliance with NEPA and the
CEQ regulations.
The South Atlantic Council and
NMFS will consider public comments
received on the DEIS in developing the
final EIS (FEIS), and before the South
Atlantic Council votes to submit
Amendment 37 to NMFS for Secretarial
review, approval, and implementation
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
NMFS will announce in the Federal
Register the availability of the final
amendment and proposed
implementing regulations for public
review during the Magnuson-Stevens
Act Secretarial review period. The EPA
will announce the availability of the
FEIS for public review. NMFS will
consider all public comments received
during the Secretarial review period,
whether they are on the final
amendment, the proposed regulations,
or the FEIS, prior to final agency action.
Scoping Meeting
The scoping meeting will be held via
webinar on August 10, 2015. The
scoping meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and
will be accessible via the internet from
the South Atlantic Council’s Web site at
www.safmc.net. Registration for the
webinar is required. Registration
information will be posted on the South
Atlantic Council’s Web site at
www.safmc.net as it becomes available.
Webinar registrants may test or confirm
their computer setup for the webinar
one hour prior to the meeting and
contact Mike Collins at 843–763–1050
to address any questions regarding
webinar setup.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 27, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–18736 Filed 7–30–15; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC969
Draft Guidance for Assessing the
Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on
Marine Mammal Hearing—Acoustic
Threshold Levels for Onset of
Permanent and Temporary Threshold
Shifts
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), on behalf of
NMFS and the National Ocean Service
(referred collectively here as the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)), announces the
availability of a revised version of draft
guidance for assessing the effects of
anthropogenic sound on marine
mammal species under NOAA’s
jurisdiction. The guidance provides
updated received levels, or thresholds,
above which individual marine
mammals are predicted to experience
changes in their hearing sensitivity
(either temporary or permanent) for all
underwater anthropogenic sound
sources. NOAA solicits public comment
on the revised draft guidance based on
updated scientific information and
comments received during the first
public comment period.
DATES: Comments must be received by
September 14, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The revised draft guidance
is available in electronic form via the
Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
pr/acoustics/.
You may submit comments, which
should be identified with NOAA–
NMFS–2013–0177, by any of the
following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal https://
www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Send comments to: Chief,
Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle
Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–
3226, Attn: Acoustic Guidance.
Instructions: All comments received
are a part of the public record and will
generally be posted to https://
www.regulations.gov without change.
All Personal Identifying Information
(e.g., name, address, etc.) voluntarily
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
31JYN1
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 147 / Friday, July 31, 2015 / Notices
submitted by the commenter may be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
Confidential Business Information or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter N/A in the required
fields, if you wish to remain
anonymous). You may submit
attachments to electronic comments in
Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or
Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Scholik-Schlomer, Office of
Protected Resources, 301–427–8449,
Amy.Scholik@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA has
developed draft guidance for assessing
the effects of anthropogenic sound on
the hearing of marine mammal species
under NOAA’s jurisdiction (i.e., whales,
dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea
lions). Specifically, the guidance
identifies the received levels, or
thresholds, above which individual
marine mammals are predicted to
experience changes in their hearing
sensitivity (either temporary or
permanent) for all underwater
anthropogenic sound sources. This
guidance is intended to be used by
NOAA analysts and managers and other
relevant user groups and stakeholders,
including other federal agencies, when
seeking to determine whether and how
their activities are expected to result in
particular types of impacts to marine
mammals via acoustic exposure. The
document outlines NOAA’s updated
acoustic threshold level, describes in
detail how the thresholds were
developed, and explains how they will
be updated in the future. NOAA
published a Federal Register Notice on
December 27, 2013, announcing the
availability of the draft guidance and a
30-day public comment period (78 FR
78822), which was extended another 45
days based upon public request on
January 29, 2014 (79 FR 4672). Please
refer to these Federal Register Notices
for additional background about the
draft guidance.
While NOAA was in the process of
evaluating and addressing public
comments, the U.S. Navy updated its
methodology for the development of
marine mammal auditory weighting
functions and acoustic threshold levels.
NOAA evaluated the proposed
methodology and preliminarily
determined that it reflects the best
available science. Accordingly, we have
incorporated it into our draft guidance.
NOAA also re-evaluated its methods for
defining threshold usage for sources
characterized as ‘‘impulsive’’ or ‘‘nonimpulsive’’ based on comments received
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:44 Jul 30, 2015
Jkt 235001
during the initial public comment
period. As a result, NOAA is now
soliciting public comment, via this
second public comment period, on this
revised version of the draft guidance
that incorporates these changes.
Updated sections can be found in the
following locations: (1) A summary of
the updated draft acoustic threshold
levels and marine mammal auditory
weighting functions is in the main body
of the document, with additional details
provided in Appendix A (Navy
Technical Report); (2) NOAA’s proposed
methodology for defining threshold
usage for sources characterized as
‘‘impulsive’’ or ‘‘non-impulsive’’ is in
Section 2.3.1 of the main document,
with additional details in Appendix C;
(3) a new appendix identifying research
recommendations and data gaps in
response to comments submitted during
the initial public comment period is
Appendix D; and a new appendix
providing optional alternative
methodology for user groups unable to
apply the guidance’s more complex
acoustic threshold levels and auditory
weighting functions is Appendix E.
Before the guidance is finalized,
NOAA will address substantive public
comments received from the initial
public comment period, as well as from
this second public comment period.
Therefore, NOAA encourages the public
to currently focus comments on the
revised and new sections of the
document. We are particularly
interested in identification of any
additional datasets for inclusion in the
assessment, comments on our proposed
methodology for transitioning from
‘‘impulsive’’ to ‘‘non-impulsive’’
acoustic threshold levels, and
evaluation of the methodology
associated with updated marine
mammal auditory weighting functions
and acoustic thresholds.
The guidance is classified as a Highly
Influential Scientific Assessment by the
Office of Management and Budget. As
such, independent peer review is
required prior to broad public
dissemination by the Federal
Government. NOAA recently conducted
two independent peer reviews in
association with the revised draft
guidance (in addition to the peer review
on the first draft of the guidance).
Details of both peer reviews can be
found within the draft guidance and at
the following Web site: https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/.
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
45643
Dated: July 27, 2015.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–18790 Filed 7–30–15; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Establishment of the Advisory
Committee for the Sustained National
Climate Assessment and Solicitation
for Nominations for Membership
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of establishment of the
Advisory Committee for the Sustained
National Climate Assessment and
solicitation for nominations for
membership.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the Secretary of Commerce has
determined that the establishment of the
Advisory Committee for the Sustained
National Climate Assessment
(Committee) is necessary and in the
public interest. Accordingly, NOAA has
chartered the Advisory Committee for
the Sustained National Climate
Assessment. NOAA is also soliciting
nominations for membership on the
Committee.
The Committee’s mission is to
provide advice on sustained National
Climate Assessment activities and
products to the Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
(Under Secretary) who will forward the
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economics and social sciences;
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in the private sector, academia, public
sector, non-governmental organizations,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45642-45643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18790]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC969
Draft Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound
on Marine Mammal Hearing--Acoustic Threshold Levels for Onset of
Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), on behalf of
NMFS and the National Ocean Service (referred collectively here as the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)), announces the
availability of a revised version of draft guidance for assessing the
effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal species under NOAA's
jurisdiction. The guidance provides updated received levels, or
thresholds, above which individual marine mammals are predicted to
experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either temporary or
permanent) for all underwater anthropogenic sound sources. NOAA
solicits public comment on the revised draft guidance based on updated
scientific information and comments received during the first public
comment period.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 14, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The revised draft guidance is available in electronic form
via the Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/.
You may submit comments, which should be identified with NOAA-NMFS-
2013-0177, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Send comments to: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3226, Attn: Acoustic Guidance.
Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without
change. All Personal Identifying Information (e.g., name, address,
etc.) voluntarily
[[Page 45643]]
submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF
file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Scholik-Schlomer, Office of
Protected Resources, 301-427-8449, Amy.Scholik@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA has developed draft guidance for
assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on the hearing of marine
mammal species under NOAA's jurisdiction (i.e., whales, dolphins,
porpoises, seals and sea lions). Specifically, the guidance identifies
the received levels, or thresholds, above which individual marine
mammals are predicted to experience changes in their hearing
sensitivity (either temporary or permanent) for all underwater
anthropogenic sound sources. This guidance is intended to be used by
NOAA analysts and managers and other relevant user groups and
stakeholders, including other federal agencies, when seeking to
determine whether and how their activities are expected to result in
particular types of impacts to marine mammals via acoustic exposure.
The document outlines NOAA's updated acoustic threshold level,
describes in detail how the thresholds were developed, and explains how
they will be updated in the future. NOAA published a Federal Register
Notice on December 27, 2013, announcing the availability of the draft
guidance and a 30-day public comment period (78 FR 78822), which was
extended another 45 days based upon public request on January 29, 2014
(79 FR 4672). Please refer to these Federal Register Notices for
additional background about the draft guidance.
While NOAA was in the process of evaluating and addressing public
comments, the U.S. Navy updated its methodology for the development of
marine mammal auditory weighting functions and acoustic threshold
levels. NOAA evaluated the proposed methodology and preliminarily
determined that it reflects the best available science. Accordingly, we
have incorporated it into our draft guidance. NOAA also re-evaluated
its methods for defining threshold usage for sources characterized as
``impulsive'' or ``non-impulsive'' based on comments received during
the initial public comment period. As a result, NOAA is now soliciting
public comment, via this second public comment period, on this revised
version of the draft guidance that incorporates these changes.
Updated sections can be found in the following locations: (1) A
summary of the updated draft acoustic threshold levels and marine
mammal auditory weighting functions is in the main body of the
document, with additional details provided in Appendix A (Navy
Technical Report); (2) NOAA's proposed methodology for defining
threshold usage for sources characterized as ``impulsive'' or ``non-
impulsive'' is in Section 2.3.1 of the main document, with additional
details in Appendix C; (3) a new appendix identifying research
recommendations and data gaps in response to comments submitted during
the initial public comment period is Appendix D; and a new appendix
providing optional alternative methodology for user groups unable to
apply the guidance's more complex acoustic threshold levels and
auditory weighting functions is Appendix E.
Before the guidance is finalized, NOAA will address substantive
public comments received from the initial public comment period, as
well as from this second public comment period. Therefore, NOAA
encourages the public to currently focus comments on the revised and
new sections of the document. We are particularly interested in
identification of any additional datasets for inclusion in the
assessment, comments on our proposed methodology for transitioning from
``impulsive'' to ``non-impulsive'' acoustic threshold levels, and
evaluation of the methodology associated with updated marine mammal
auditory weighting functions and acoustic thresholds.
The guidance is classified as a Highly Influential Scientific
Assessment by the Office of Management and Budget. As such, independent
peer review is required prior to broad public dissemination by the
Federal Government. NOAA recently conducted two independent peer
reviews in association with the revised draft guidance (in addition to
the peer review on the first draft of the guidance). Details of both
peer reviews can be found within the draft guidance and at the
following Web site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/.
Dated: July 27, 2015.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-18790 Filed 7-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P