Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Bravo Wharf Recapitalization Project, 11344-11345 [2017-03410]

Download as PDF 11344 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 34 / Wednesday, February 22, 2017 / Notices occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. Administrative Protective Order This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under the APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), which continues to govern business proprietary information in this segment of the proceeding. Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a violation subject to sanction. Notification to Interested Parties These final results are in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h) and 351.221(b)(5). Dated: February 14, 2017. Ronald K. Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2017–03418 Filed 2–21–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT or Committee), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will meet by webinar in an open session on Thursday, March 16, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The VCAT is composed of not fewer than 9 members appointed by the NIST Director, a majority of whom are eminent in such fields as business, research, new product development, engineering, labor, education, management consulting, environment, and international relations. DATES: The VCAT will meet on Thursday, March 16, 2017, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be conducted by webinar. Please note instructions under the SUPPLEMENTARY sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:05 Feb 21, 2017 Jkt 241001 INFORMATION section of this notice for participation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Serena Martinez, VCAT, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 1060, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899–1060, telephone number 301–975–2661. Mrs. Martinez’s email address is serena.martinez@nist.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: invited to submit written statements to VCAT, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 1060, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, via fax at 301–216–0529 or electronically by email to stephanie.shaw@nist.gov. Phillip A. Singerman, Associate Director for Innovations and Industry Services. [FR Doc. 2017–03426 Filed 2–21–17; 8:45 am] Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278, as amended, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. BILLING CODE 3510–13–P The purpose of this meeting is for the VCAT to review and make recommendations regarding general policy for NIST, its organization, its budget, and its programs within the framework of applicable national policies as set forth by the President and the Congress. The agenda will include a discussion on the Committee’s focus for 2017. The agenda may change to accommodate Committee business. The final agenda will be posted on the NIST Web site at https://www.nist.gov/ director/vcat/agenda.cfm. Members of the public can listen to the discussion. The meeting is available to the public through a toll-free call-in number. When you register by email to Mrs. Serena Martinez, serena.martinez@ nist.gov, with your name, organization affiliated with (if any), and email address, the toll-free call-in information, including passcode, will be provided to you. Callers can expect to incur regular charges for calls they initiate over wireless lines, according to their wireless plan. The Committee will not refund any incurred charges. Callers will incur no charges for calls they initiate over land-line connections to the toll-free call-in number. Individuals and representatives of organizations who would like to offer comments and suggestions related to the Committee’s affairs are invited to request a place on the agenda by email to Stephanie.shaw@ nist.gov, no later than March 8, 2017 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Approximately fifteen minutes will be reserved for public comments and speaking times will be assigned on a first-come, firstserve basis. The amount of time per speaker will be determined by the number of requests received, but is likely to be about 3 minutes each. The exact time for public comments will be included in the final agenda that will be posted on the NIST Web site at https:// www.nist.gov/director/vcat/agenda.cfm. Questions from the public will not be considered during this period. Speakers who wish to expand upon their oral statements, and those who had wished to speak but could not be accommodated on the agenda, are DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE271 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Bravo Wharf Recapitalization Project National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; revision of an incidental harassment authorization. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that we have revised an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) issued to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, one species of marine mammal during construction activities associated with a wharf recapitalization project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. The project has been delayed and the effective dates revised accordingly. DATES: This authorization is now effective from March 13, 2017, through March 12, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura McCue, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background On July 21, 2015, we received a request from the Navy for authorization of the taking, by Level B harassment only, of marine mammals incidental to pile driving in association with the Bravo Wharf Recapitalization Project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida (NSM). A final version, which we deemed adequate and complete, was submitted on November 17, 2015. We published notice of a proposed IHA and request for comments on December 7, 2015 (80 FR 75978), and subsequently published final notice of our issuance of the IHA on August 9, 2016 (81 FR 52637). Inwater work associated with the project was expected to be completed within E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.SGM 22FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 34 / Wednesday, February 22, 2017 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES the one-year timeframe of the IHA (effective dates originally December 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017). One species of marine mammal is expected to be affected by the specified activities: Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus truncatus). This species may occur yearround in the action area. On January 23. 2017, the Navy informed us that no work had been performed relevant to the specified activity considered in the MMPA analysis and requested that the dates of the IHA be revised. Summary of the Activity The purpose of the project is to complete necessary repairs at an existing general purpose berthing wharf at NSM. The wharf is one of NSM’s two primary deep-draft berths and is one of the primary ordnance handling wharves, and is in an advanced state of deterioration resulting in load restrictions. Construction of the replacement pier will require vibratory pile installation, with impact pile driving as a contingency. The entire project is expected to require a maximum of 130 in-water workdays over two phases within a 24-month period. This IHA would be valid from December 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017. In order to rehabilitate Bravo Wharf, the Navy proposes to install a new steel sheet pile bulkhead at Bravo Wharf, requiring approximately 880 single sheet piles (Phase I—berths B–2 and B– 3: 590; Phase II—berth B–1: 290). Vibratory driving will be the primary method of installation for all piles, although impact driving may be required as a contingency in the case of difficult subsurface driving conditions. Effects to marine mammals from the specified activity are expected to result from underwater sound produced by vibratory and impact pile driving. In order to assess project impacts, the Navy used thresholds recommended by NMFS. The Navy assumed practical spreading loss and used empiricallymeasured source levels from representative pile driving events to estimate potential marine mammal exposures. The calculations predict that only Level B harassment would occur associated with pile driving activities, and required mitigation measures further ensure that no more than Level B harassment would occur. Findings Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)—As required by the MMPA, in order to issue an IHA, we determined that (1) the required mitigation measures are sufficient to reduce the effects of the specified activities to the VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:05 Feb 21, 2017 Jkt 241001 level of least practicable impact; (2) the authorized takes will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species; (3) the authorized takes represent small numbers relative to the affected stock abundances; and (4) the Navy’s activities will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on taking for subsistence purposes as no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals are implicated by this action. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)—The Navy prepared an Environmental Assessment analyzing the project. We reviewed the EA and the public comments received and determined that it was appropriate to adopt the document in order to assess the impacts to the human environment of issuance of an IHA to the Navy. We signed a Finding of No Significant Impact on July 25, 2016. Endangered Species Act (ESA)— There are no ESA-listed marine mammals expected to occur in the action area. Therefore, the Navy did not request authorization of the incidental take of ESA-listed species and no such authorization was issued; therefore, no consultation under the ESA was required. Summary of the Revision Construction activities have been delayed for the project due to delays from construction activities at another wharf in NSM, where they are allowed to only have one out-of-service wharf at a time. No in-water work has occurred, including all aspects of the specified activity considered in our issuance of the IHA. The IHA, as issued, is a oneyear IHA with no consideration of seasonality in timing any component of the specified activity. Therefore, shifting the effective dates of the IHA to accommodate the Navy’s delayed schedule for this project has no effect on our analysis of project impacts and does not affect our findings. NOAA’s new acoustic guidance was published in the Federal Register on August 4, 2016 (81 FR 51693) after the original IHA was issued. We are not considering this information here; the change to the effective dates is the only change to this IHA. No other new information is available that would substantively affect our analyses under the MMPA, NEPA, or ESA. All mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures described in our notice of issuance of the IHA remain in effect. The species for which take was authorized and the numbers of incidences of take authorized are unchanged. As a result of the foregoing, we have revised the IHA issued to the Navy to conduct the specified activities in Naval PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11345 Station Mayport, FL. Originally valid for 1 year, from December 1, 2013, through November 30, 2014, the IHA now becomes effective on March 13, 2017, and is valid for one year, until March 12, 2018. Dated: February 16, 2017. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–03410 Filed 2–21–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF185 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; SnapperGrouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States, Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Off the Atlantic States, and Coral and Coral Reefs Fishery in the South Atlantic; Exempted Fishing Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from Dr. Janelle Fleming, on behalf of the Eastern Carolina Artificial Reef Association (ECARA). If granted, the EFP would authorize the deployment of Maine lobster traps, crab pot Christmas trees, and geometric reef balls (fish attracting devices) at several sites in the Federal waters off North Carolina to determine the efficacy of these gear types for attracting and collecting invasive lionfish. SUMMARY: Written comments must be received on or before March 24, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application, identified by ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2017–0011’’, by either of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20170011, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Helies, Southeast Regional Office, DATES: E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.SGM 22FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11344-11345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03410]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE271


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Bravo Wharf Recapitalization 
Project

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

ACTION: Notice; revision of an incidental harassment authorization.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that we have revised an incidental 
harassment authorization (IHA) issued to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to 
incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, one species of marine 
mammal during construction activities associated with a wharf 
recapitalization project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. The project 
has been delayed and the effective dates revised accordingly.

DATES: This authorization is now effective from March 13, 2017, through 
March 12, 2018.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 21, 2015, we received a request from the Navy for 
authorization of the taking, by Level B harassment only, of marine 
mammals incidental to pile driving in association with the Bravo Wharf 
Recapitalization Project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida (NSM). A 
final version, which we deemed adequate and complete, was submitted on 
November 17, 2015. We published notice of a proposed IHA and request 
for comments on December 7, 2015 (80 FR 75978), and subsequently 
published final notice of our issuance of the IHA on August 9, 2016 (81 
FR 52637). In-water work associated with the project was expected to be 
completed within

[[Page 11345]]

the one-year timeframe of the IHA (effective dates originally December 
1, 2016 through November 30, 2017). One species of marine mammal is 
expected to be affected by the specified activities: Bottlenose dolphin 
(Tursiops truncatus truncatus). This species may occur year-round in 
the action area. On January 23. 2017, the Navy informed us that no work 
had been performed relevant to the specified activity considered in the 
MMPA analysis and requested that the dates of the IHA be revised.

Summary of the Activity

    The purpose of the project is to complete necessary repairs at an 
existing general purpose berthing wharf at NSM. The wharf is one of 
NSM's two primary deep-draft berths and is one of the primary ordnance 
handling wharves, and is in an advanced state of deterioration 
resulting in load restrictions. Construction of the replacement pier 
will require vibratory pile installation, with impact pile driving as a 
contingency. The entire project is expected to require a maximum of 130 
in-water workdays over two phases within a 24-month period. This IHA 
would be valid from December 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017.
    In order to rehabilitate Bravo Wharf, the Navy proposes to install 
a new steel sheet pile bulkhead at Bravo Wharf, requiring approximately 
880 single sheet piles (Phase I--berths B-2 and B-3: 590; Phase II--
berth B-1: 290). Vibratory driving will be the primary method of 
installation for all piles, although impact driving may be required as 
a contingency in the case of difficult subsurface driving conditions.
    Effects to marine mammals from the specified activity are expected 
to result from underwater sound produced by vibratory and impact pile 
driving. In order to assess project impacts, the Navy used thresholds 
recommended by NMFS. The Navy assumed practical spreading loss and used 
empirically-measured source levels from representative pile driving 
events to estimate potential marine mammal exposures. The calculations 
predict that only Level B harassment would occur associated with pile 
driving activities, and required mitigation measures further ensure 
that no more than Level B harassment would occur.

Findings

    Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)--As required by the MMPA, in 
order to issue an IHA, we determined that (1) the required mitigation 
measures are sufficient to reduce the effects of the specified 
activities to the level of least practicable impact; (2) the authorized 
takes will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal 
species; (3) the authorized takes represent small numbers relative to 
the affected stock abundances; and (4) the Navy's activities will not 
have an unmitigable adverse impact on taking for subsistence purposes 
as no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals are implicated by 
this action.
    National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)--The Navy prepared an 
Environmental Assessment analyzing the project. We reviewed the EA and 
the public comments received and determined that it was appropriate to 
adopt the document in order to assess the impacts to the human 
environment of issuance of an IHA to the Navy. We signed a Finding of 
No Significant Impact on July 25, 2016.
    Endangered Species Act (ESA)--There are no ESA-listed marine 
mammals expected to occur in the action area. Therefore, the Navy did 
not request authorization of the incidental take of ESA-listed species 
and no such authorization was issued; therefore, no consultation under 
the ESA was required.

Summary of the Revision

    Construction activities have been delayed for the project due to 
delays from construction activities at another wharf in NSM, where they 
are allowed to only have one out-of-service wharf at a time. No in-
water work has occurred, including all aspects of the specified 
activity considered in our issuance of the IHA. The IHA, as issued, is 
a one-year IHA with no consideration of seasonality in timing any 
component of the specified activity. Therefore, shifting the effective 
dates of the IHA to accommodate the Navy's delayed schedule for this 
project has no effect on our analysis of project impacts and does not 
affect our findings. NOAA's new acoustic guidance was published in the 
Federal Register on August 4, 2016 (81 FR 51693) after the original IHA 
was issued. We are not considering this information here; the change to 
the effective dates is the only change to this IHA. No other new 
information is available that would substantively affect our analyses 
under the MMPA, NEPA, or ESA. All mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
measures described in our notice of issuance of the IHA remain in 
effect. The species for which take was authorized and the numbers of 
incidences of take authorized are unchanged.
    As a result of the foregoing, we have revised the IHA issued to the 
Navy to conduct the specified activities in Naval Station Mayport, FL. 
Originally valid for 1 year, from December 1, 2013, through November 
30, 2014, the IHA now becomes effective on March 13, 2017, and is valid 
for one year, until March 12, 2018.

    Dated: February 16, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03410 Filed 2-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.