Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; U.S. Navy Training Activities in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area, 24679-24681 [2017-11037]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 30, 2017 / Notices
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Dated: May 23, 2017.
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Director, Office of Energy and Environmental
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[FR Doc. 2017–10999 Filed 5–26–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Advisory Committee on Supply Chain
Competitiveness: Notice of Public
Meetings
International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open meetings.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
schedule and proposed topics of
discussion for public meetings of the
Advisory Committee on Supply Chain
Competitiveness (Committee).
DATES: The meetings will be held on
June 21, 2017, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00
p.m., and June 22, 2017, from 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time
(EST).
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
The meetings on June 21
and 22 will be held at the U.S.
Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Research
Library (Room 1894), Washington, DC
20230.
ADDRESSES:
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard Boll, Office of Supply Chain,
Professional & Business Services
(OSCPBS), International Trade
Administration. (Phone: (202) 482–1135
or Email: richard.boll@trade.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Committee was
established under the discretionary
authority of the Secretary of Commerce
and in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App.). It provides advice to the
Secretary of Commerce on the
recommended elements of a
comprehensive policy approach to
supply chain competitiveness designed
to support U.S. export growth and
national economic competitiveness,
encourage innovation, facilitate the
movement of goods, and improve the
competitiveness of U.S. supply chains
for goods and services in the domestic
and global economy; and provides
advice to the Secretary on regulatory
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supplychain/acscc/.
Matters to Be Considered: Committee
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Committee meetings, including trade
and competitiveness; freight movement
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issues; finance and infrastructure; and
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accommodate other Committee
business. The Office of Supply Chain,
Professional & Business Services will
post the final detailed agendas on its
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oscpb/supplychain/acscc/, at least one
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Interested parties are invited to
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written comments for consideration by
the Committee in advance of this
meeting must send them to the Office of
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24679
Supply Chain, Professional & Business
Services, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Room 11014, Washington, DC 20230, or
email to richard.boll@trade.gov.
For consideration during the
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meetings. The minutes of the meetings
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site within 60 days of the meeting.
Dated: May 23, 2017.
Maureen Smith,
Director, Office of Supply Chain.
[FR Doc. 2017–11074 Filed 5–26–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF435
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; U.S. Navy Training
Activities in the Gulf of Alaska
Temporary Maritime Activities Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of a Letter of
Authorization.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) as amended, and implementing
regulations, notice is hereby given that
a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has
been issued to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to
take marine mammals incidental to
Navy training activities conducted in
the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Temporary
Maritime Activities Area (Study Area).
These activities are considered military
readiness activities pursuant to the
MMPA, as amended by the National
Defense Authorization Act of 2004
(NDAA).
DATES: Effective from April 26, 2017 to
April 26, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting
documents may be obtained online at:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
incidental/military.htm. In case of
problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed below (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jolie
Harrison or Stephanie Egger, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, 301–427–
8401.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 30, 2017 / Notices
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA
directs the Secretary of Commerce to
allow, upon request, the incidental, but
not intentional, taking of small numbers
of marine mammals by U.S. citizens
who engage in a specified activity (other
than commercial fishing) within a
specified geographical region if certain
findings are made and regulations are
issued. Under the MMPA, the term
‘‘take’’ means to harass, hunt, capture,
or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt,
capture, or kill marine mammals. We,
NMFS, have been delegated the
authority to issue such regulations and
Authorizations.
The NDAA (Pub. L. 108–136)
removed the ‘‘small numbers’’ and
‘‘specified geographical region’’
limitations indicated above and
amended the definition of ‘‘harassment’’
as it applies to a ‘‘military readiness
activity’’ to read as follows (Section
3(18)(B) of the MMPA): ‘‘(i) Any act that
injures or has the significant potential to
injure a marine mammal or marine
mammal stock in the wild (Level A
harassment); or (ii) Any act that disturbs
or is likely to disturb a marine mammal
or marine mammal stock in the wild by
causing disruption of natural behavioral
patterns, including, but not limited to,
migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering, to a point where
such behavioral patterns are abandoned
or significantly altered (Level B
Harassment).
An authorization for incidental
takings shall be granted if NMFS finds
that the taking will have a negligible
impact on the species or stock(s); will
not have an unmitigable adverse impact
on the availability of the species or
stock(s) for subsistence uses (where
relevant); and, if the permissible
methods of taking and requirements
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring
and reporting of such takings are set
forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘an
impact resulting from the specified
activity that cannot be reasonably
expected to, and is not reasonably likely
to, adversely affect the species or stock
through effects on annual rates of
recruitment or survival.’’
Regulations governing the taking of
individuals of 19 species of marine
mammals, representing 27 stocks, by
Level B harassment and one species of
marine mammal (Dall’s porpoise) by
Level A harassment incidental to Navy
training activities in the GOA Study
Area are in effect from April 26, 2017
through April 26, 2022 (82 FR 19530,
April 27, 2017) and are codified at 50
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19:59 May 26, 2017
Jkt 241001
CFR part 218, subpart P. The regulations
include mitigation, monitoring, and
reporting requirements. Pursuant to
those regulations, NMFS issued a fiveyear LOA for the incidental take of
marine mammals during training
activities in the GOA Study Area on
April 26, 2017. For detailed information
on this action, please refer to the April
27, 2017 Federal Register notice and 50
CFR part 218, subpart P.
Summary of Request
On July 28, 2014, NMFS received an
application from the Navy requesting
regulations and a subsequent LOA for
the take of 19 species of marine
mammals, representing 27 stocks,
incidental to Navy training activities to
be conducted in the GOA Study Area
over 5 years. On October 14, 2014, the
Navy submitted a revised application to
reflect minor changes in the number and
types of training activities. To address
minor inconsistencies with the draft
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement/Overseas Environmental
Impact Statement (DSEIS/OEIS), the
Navy submitted a final revision to the
application on January 21, 2015. In
November 2016, the Navy requested that
the final rule and LOA be issued for the
training activities addressed by
Alternative 1 of the Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact
Statement (FSEIS/OEIS). The Navy’s
application was based on the training
activities addressed by Alternative 2 of
the DSEIS/OEIS; therefore, our proposed
rule (81 FR 9950; February 26, 2016)
analyzed the level of activities as
described by Alternative 2. Pursuant to
the Navy’s November 2016 request, the
final rule (82 FR 19530; April 27, 2017)
reflects the training activities addressed
by Alternative 1 of the FSEIS/OEIS,
which include a subset of the activities
analyzed in the proposed rule. The
change from Alternative 2 to Alternative
1 results in a significant reduction in
proposed training activities (i.e.,
lessening the number of the Carrier
Strike Group Events from 2 to 1 per
year, and the number of SINKEXs from
2 to 0 per year, which means that
several types of explosives will no
longer be used and there will be no live
MISSILEX). This significantly decreases
the number of anticipated and
authorized takes for this activity
compared to what was presented in the
proposed rule.
The Study Area is a polygon roughly
the shape of a 300 nm by 150 nm
rectangle oriented northwest to
southeast in the long direction, located
south of Prince William Sound and east
of Kodiak Island, Alaska. The activities
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Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
conducted within the Study Area are
classified as military readiness
activities. The final rule (82 FR 19530,
April 27, 2017) and GOA FSEIS/OEIS
include a complete description of the
Navy’s specified training activities
incidental to which NMFS is
authorizing take of marine mammals.
Sonar use and underwater detonations
are the stressors most likely to result in
impacts on marine mammals that could
rise to the level of harassment.
Authorization
We have issued an LOA to the Navy
authorizing the take of marine mammals
by harassment incidental to training
activities in the GOA Study Area, as
described above. The level and type of
take authorized by the LOA is the same
as the level and type of take analyzed in
the final rule (82 FR 19530, April 27,
2017). There are no mortality takes of
any species predicted or authorized for
any training activities in the GOA Study
Area. Take of marine mammals will be
minimized through implementation of
mitigation measures, including: preexercise visual or aerial monitoring
during certain training activities; the use
of lookouts to monitor for marine
mammals and begin powerdown and
shutdown of sonar when marine
mammals are detected within ranges
where the received sound level is likely
to result in threshold shift or injury; use
of exclusion zones that avoid exposing
marine mammals to levels of explosives
likely to result in injury or death of
marine mammals; avoidance of marine
mammals by vessels; limitation of
activities in a North Pacific Right Whale
‘‘Cautionary Area’’; and implementation
of a stranding response plan, among
others. The Navy is also required to
comply with monitoring and reporting
measures under 50 CFR 218.155.
Additionally, the rule and LOA include
an adaptive management component
that allows for timely modification of
mitigation or monitoring measures
based on new information, when
appropriate. For full details on the
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements, please refer to the final
rule (82 FR 19530; April 27, 2017).
Issuance of the LOA is based on
findings, described in the preamble to
the final rule, that the total taking of
marine mammals incidental to the
Navy’s training activities in the GOA
Study Area will have a negligible
impact on the affected marine mammal
species or stocks and will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of such species or stocks for
taking for subsistence purposes.
The LOA will remain valid through
April 26, 2022, provided that the Navy
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 30, 2017 / Notices
remains in conformance with the
conditions of the regulations and the
LOA, including the mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements
described in 50 CFR part 218, subpart P
and the LOA.
Dated: May 23, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–11037 Filed 5–26–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF118
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Gull Monitoring
and Research in Glacier Bay National
Park, Alaska, 2017
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental
harassment authorization.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
regulations implementing the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as
amended, notification is hereby given
that the NMFS has issued an incidental
harassment authorization (IHA) to the
National Park Service (NPS) to
incidentally harass, by Level B
harassment only, marine mammals
during gull monitoring and research
activities in Glacier Bay National Park
(Glacier Bay NP) from May through
September, 2017.
DATES: This Authorization is effective
from May 1, 2017 through September
30, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephanie Egger, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
Electronic copies of the application and
supporting documents, as well as a list
of the references cited in this document,
may be obtained online at https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
incidental/research.htm. In case of
problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA direct the Secretary of
Commerce to allow, upon request by
U.S. citizens who engage in a specified
activity (other than commercial fishing)
within a specified area, the incidental,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:59 May 26, 2017
Jkt 241001
but not intentional, taking of small
numbers of marine mammals, provided
that certain findings are made and the
necessary prescriptions are established.
The incidental taking of small
numbers of marine mammals shall be
allowed if NMFS (through authority
delegated by the Secretary) finds that
the total taking by the specified activity
during the specified time period will (i)
have a negligible impact on the species
or stock(s) and (ii) not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
subsistence uses (where relevant).
Further, the permissible methods of
taking, as well as the other means of
effecting the least practicable adverse
impact on the species or stock and its
habitat (i.e., mitigation) must be
prescribed. Last, requirements
pertaining to the monitoring and
reporting of such taking must be set
forth.
Where there is the potential for
serious injury or death, the allowance of
incidental taking requires promulgation
of regulations under section
101(a)(5)(A). Subsequently, a Letter (or
Letters) of Authorization may be issued
as governed by the prescriptions
established in such regulations,
provided that the level of taking will be
consistent with the findings made for
the total taking allowable under the
specific regulations. Under section
101(a)(5)(D), NMFS may authorize
incidental taking by harassment only
(i.e., no serious injury or mortality), for
periods of not more than one year,
pursuant to requirements and
conditions contained within an IHA.
The promulgation of regulations or
issuance of IHAs (with their associated
prescripted mitigation, monitoring, and
reporting) requires notice and
opportunity for public comment.
NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an
impact resulting from the specified
activity that cannot be reasonably
expected to, and is not reasonably likely
to, adversely affect the species or stock
through effects on annual rates of
recruitment or survival.’’
NMFS has defined ‘‘unmitigable
adverse impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as
‘‘. . . an impact resulting from the
specified activity:
(1) That is likely to reduce the
availability of the species to a level
insufficient for a harvest to meet
subsistence needs by: (i) Causing the
marine mammals to abandon or avoid
hunting areas; (ii) directly displacing
subsistence users; or (iii) placing
physical barriers between the marine
mammals and the subsistence hunters;
and
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
24681
(2) That cannot be sufficiently
mitigated by other measures to increase
the availability of marine mammals to
allow subsistence needs to be met.
Except with respect to certain
activities not pertinent here, section
3(18) of the MMPA defines
‘‘harassment’’ as: Any act of pursuit,
torment, or annoyance which (i) has the
potential to injure a marine mammal or
marine mammal stock in the wild (Level
A harassment); or (ii) has the potential
to disturb a marine mammal or marine
mammal stock in the wild by causing
disruption of behavioral patterns,
including, but not limited to, migration,
breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or
sheltering (Level B harassment).
Summary of Request
On November 22, 2016, NMFS
received an application from Glacier
Bay NP requesting taking by harassment
of marine mammals, incidental to
conducting monitoring and research
studies on glaucous-winged gulls (Larus
glaucescens) within Glacier Bay NP,
Alaska. The application was considered
adequate and complete on February 10,
2017. NMFS previously issued three
IHAs to Glacier Bay NP for the same
activities from 2014 to 2016 (79 FR
56065, September 18, 2014; 80 FR
28229, May 18, 2015; 81 FR 34994, May
16, 2016).
For the 2017 research season, Glacier
Bay NP plans to conduct ground-based
and vessel-based surveys to collect data
on the number and distribution of
nesting gulls within six study sites in
Glacier Bay, Alaska. Marine mammals
have only been observed at four of the
six study sites. The planned activities
would occur over the course of five
months, from May through September
2017.
The following aspects of the planned
gull research activities have the
potential to take marine mammals:
Noise generated by motorboat
approaches and departures; noise
generated by researchers while
conducting ground surveys; and human
presence (visual disturbance) during the
monitoring and research activities.
Harbor seals hauled out at the study
sites may flush into the water or exhibit
temporary modification in behavior
(Level B harassment). Thus, Glacier Bay
NP has requested an authorization to
take harbor seals by Level B harassment
only. Although Steller sea lions
(Eumetopias jubatus) may be present in
the action area, Glacier Bay NP will
avoid any site used by Steller sea lions.
Description of the Specified Activity
Glacier Bay NP plans to identify the
onset of gull nesting; conduct mid-
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24679-24681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11037]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF435
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; U.S.
Navy Training Activities in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime
Activities Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of a Letter of Authorization.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as
amended, and implementing regulations, notice is hereby given that a
Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the U.S. Navy (Navy)
to take marine mammals incidental to Navy training activities conducted
in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Temporary Maritime Activities Area (Study
Area). These activities are considered military readiness activities
pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization
Act of 2004 (NDAA).
DATES: Effective from April 26, 2017 to April 26, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting documents may be obtained online at:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. In case of
problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed
below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jolie Harrison or Stephanie Egger,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 301-427-8401.
[[Page 24680]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA directs the Secretary of Commerce
to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of
small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a
specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified
geographical region if certain findings are made and regulations are
issued. Under the MMPA, the term ``take'' means to harass, hunt,
capture, or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill marine
mammals. We, NMFS, have been delegated the authority to issue such
regulations and Authorizations.
The NDAA (Pub. L. 108-136) removed the ``small numbers'' and
``specified geographical region'' limitations indicated above and
amended the definition of ``harassment'' as it applies to a ``military
readiness activity'' to read as follows (Section 3(18)(B) of the MMPA):
``(i) Any act that injures or has the significant potential to injure a
marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment);
or (ii) Any act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine mammal
or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of natural
behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration,
surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering, to a point where
such behavioral patterns are abandoned or significantly altered (Level
B Harassment).
An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS
finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or
stock(s); will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where
relevant); and, if the permissible methods of taking and requirements
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings
are set forth. NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103
as ``an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be
reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely
affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of
recruitment or survival.''
Regulations governing the taking of individuals of 19 species of
marine mammals, representing 27 stocks, by Level B harassment and one
species of marine mammal (Dall's porpoise) by Level A harassment
incidental to Navy training activities in the GOA Study Area are in
effect from April 26, 2017 through April 26, 2022 (82 FR 19530, April
27, 2017) and are codified at 50 CFR part 218, subpart P. The
regulations include mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements.
Pursuant to those regulations, NMFS issued a five-year LOA for the
incidental take of marine mammals during training activities in the GOA
Study Area on April 26, 2017. For detailed information on this action,
please refer to the April 27, 2017 Federal Register notice and 50 CFR
part 218, subpart P.
Summary of Request
On July 28, 2014, NMFS received an application from the Navy
requesting regulations and a subsequent LOA for the take of 19 species
of marine mammals, representing 27 stocks, incidental to Navy training
activities to be conducted in the GOA Study Area over 5 years. On
October 14, 2014, the Navy submitted a revised application to reflect
minor changes in the number and types of training activities. To
address minor inconsistencies with the draft Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS/OEIS),
the Navy submitted a final revision to the application on January 21,
2015. In November 2016, the Navy requested that the final rule and LOA
be issued for the training activities addressed by Alternative 1 of the
Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS/OEIS). The Navy's application was
based on the training activities addressed by Alternative 2 of the
DSEIS/OEIS; therefore, our proposed rule (81 FR 9950; February 26,
2016) analyzed the level of activities as described by Alternative 2.
Pursuant to the Navy's November 2016 request, the final rule (82 FR
19530; April 27, 2017) reflects the training activities addressed by
Alternative 1 of the FSEIS/OEIS, which include a subset of the
activities analyzed in the proposed rule. The change from Alternative 2
to Alternative 1 results in a significant reduction in proposed
training activities (i.e., lessening the number of the Carrier Strike
Group Events from 2 to 1 per year, and the number of SINKEXs from 2 to
0 per year, which means that several types of explosives will no longer
be used and there will be no live MISSILEX). This significantly
decreases the number of anticipated and authorized takes for this
activity compared to what was presented in the proposed rule.
The Study Area is a polygon roughly the shape of a 300 nm by 150 nm
rectangle oriented northwest to southeast in the long direction,
located south of Prince William Sound and east of Kodiak Island,
Alaska. The activities conducted within the Study Area are classified
as military readiness activities. The final rule (82 FR 19530, April
27, 2017) and GOA FSEIS/OEIS include a complete description of the
Navy's specified training activities incidental to which NMFS is
authorizing take of marine mammals. Sonar use and underwater
detonations are the stressors most likely to result in impacts on
marine mammals that could rise to the level of harassment.
Authorization
We have issued an LOA to the Navy authorizing the take of marine
mammals by harassment incidental to training activities in the GOA
Study Area, as described above. The level and type of take authorized
by the LOA is the same as the level and type of take analyzed in the
final rule (82 FR 19530, April 27, 2017). There are no mortality takes
of any species predicted or authorized for any training activities in
the GOA Study Area. Take of marine mammals will be minimized through
implementation of mitigation measures, including: pre-exercise visual
or aerial monitoring during certain training activities; the use of
lookouts to monitor for marine mammals and begin powerdown and shutdown
of sonar when marine mammals are detected within ranges where the
received sound level is likely to result in threshold shift or injury;
use of exclusion zones that avoid exposing marine mammals to levels of
explosives likely to result in injury or death of marine mammals;
avoidance of marine mammals by vessels; limitation of activities in a
North Pacific Right Whale ``Cautionary Area''; and implementation of a
stranding response plan, among others. The Navy is also required to
comply with monitoring and reporting measures under 50 CFR 218.155.
Additionally, the rule and LOA include an adaptive management component
that allows for timely modification of mitigation or monitoring
measures based on new information, when appropriate. For full details
on the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements, please refer
to the final rule (82 FR 19530; April 27, 2017).
Issuance of the LOA is based on findings, described in the preamble
to the final rule, that the total taking of marine mammals incidental
to the Navy's training activities in the GOA Study Area will have a
negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species or stocks and
will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of such
species or stocks for taking for subsistence purposes.
The LOA will remain valid through April 26, 2022, provided that the
Navy
[[Page 24681]]
remains in conformance with the conditions of the regulations and the
LOA, including the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements
described in 50 CFR part 218, subpart P and the LOA.
Dated: May 23, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-11037 Filed 5-26-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
