Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Gull and Climate Monitoring/Research in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, 7699-7700 [2018-03578]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2018 / Notices
to determine whether additional
mitigation measures or modifications to
the activities are appropriate.
iii. In the event that the City discovers
an injured or dead marine mammal, and
the lead observer determines that the
injury or death is not associated with or
related to the activities authorized in the
IHA (e.g., previously wounded animal,
carcass with moderate to advanced
decomposition, or scavenger damage),
the City shall report the incident to the
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
and the West Coast Regional Stranding
Coordinator, NMFS, within 24 hours of
the discovery. The City shall provide
photographs or video footage or other
documentation of the stranded animal
sighting to NMFS.
This Authorization may be modified,
suspended or withdrawn if the holder
fails to abide by the conditions
prescribed herein, or if NMFS
determines the authorized taking is
having more than a negligible impact on
7699
the species or stock of affected marine
mammals.
TABLE 1—AUTHORIZED TAKE
NUMBERS, BY SPECIES
Species
Authorized
take
Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) .....
California sea lion (Zalophus
californianus) .........................
Steller sea lion (Eumetopias
jubatus) .................................
108
2,604
3,284
TABLE 2—MINIMUM RADIAL DISTANCE TO SHUTDOWN ZONES
Activity
Level B Zone of Influence
Vibratory pile removal ....................................................................................................
Impact pile driving ..........................................................................................................
Roadway and railway demolition and construction ........................................................
1,600 m .....................................................
398 m ........................................................
28 m (harbor seals) 9 m (sea lions) .........
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Request for Public Comments
We request comment on our analyses,
the proposed authorization, and any
other aspect of this Notice of Proposed
IHA for the proposed bridge
replacement project. We also request
comment on the potential for renewal of
this proposed IHA as described in the
paragraph below. Please include with
your comments any supporting data or
literature citations to help inform our
final decision on the request for MMPA
authorization.
On a case-by-case basis, NMFS may
issue a second one-year IHA without
additional notice when (1) another year
of identical or nearly identical activities
as described in the Specified Activities
section is planned or (2) the activities
would not be completed by the time the
IHA expires and a second IHA would
allow for completion of the activities
beyond that described in the Dates and
Duration section, provided all of the
following conditions are met:
• A request for renewal is received no
later than 60 days prior to expiration of
the current IHA.
• The request for renewal must
include the following:
(1) An explanation that the activities
to be conducted beyond the initial dates
either are identical to the previously
analyzed activities or include changes
so minor (e.g., reduction in pile size)
that the changes do not affect the
previous analyses, take estimates, or
mitigation and monitoring
requirements.
(2) A preliminary monitoring report
showing the results of the required
monitoring to date and an explanation
showing that the monitoring results do
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:10 Feb 21, 2018
Jkt 244001
not indicate impacts of a scale or nature
not previously analyzed or authorized.
• Upon review of the request for
renewal, the status of the affected
species or stocks, and any other
pertinent information, NMFS
determines that there are no more than
minor changes in the activities, the
mitigation and monitoring measures
remain the same and appropriate, and
the original findings remain valid.
Dated: February 16, 2018.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–03615 Filed 2–21–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG012
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Gull and Climate
Monitoring/Research in Glacier Bay
National Park, Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
Letter of Authorization; request for
comments and information.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from the National Park Service (NPS) for
authorization to take small numbers of
marine mammals incidental to
glaucous-winged gull and climate
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Level A
Exclusion
Zone
15 m.
53.4 m.
10 m.
monitoring/research in Glacier Bay
National Park (GLBA NP), Alaska over
the course of five years from the date of
issuance. Pursuant to regulations
implementing the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is
announcing receipt of the NPS’ request
for the development and
implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals. NMFS invites the
public to provide information,
suggestions, and comments on the NPS’
application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than March 26,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the
applications should be addressed to
Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and
Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service. Physical comments
should be sent to 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
electronic comments should be sent to
ITP.molineaux@noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments received
electronically, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
file formats only. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizations-research-
E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.SGM
22FEN1
7700
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 36 / Thursday, February 22, 2018 / Notices
and-other-activities without change. All
personal identifying information (e.g.,
name, address) 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:
Jonathan Molineaux, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. An
electronic copy of the NPS’s application
may be obtained online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-research-and-otheractivities. In case of problems accessing
these documents, please call the contact
listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated
to NMFS) 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 either
regulations are issued or, if the taking is
limited to harassment, a notice of a
proposed authorization is provided to
the public for review.
An incidental take authorization 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.
The MMPA states that the term ‘‘take’’
means to harass, hunt, capture, kill or
attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill
any marine mammal.
Except with respect to certain
activities not pertinent here, 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,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:10 Feb 21, 2018
Jkt 244001
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (Level B
harassment).
Summary of Request
On February 6, 2018, NMFS received
an adequate and complete application
from the NPS requesting authorization
for take of marine mammals incidental
to glaucous-winged gull and climate
monitoring research activities in GLBA
NP, Alaska. The requested regulations
would be valid for five years, from
March 2019 through December 2023.
The NPS plans to conduct necessary
work, including gull and climate
monitoring to assist in informing future
native egg harvests and fill crucial
climate data gaps. The proposed action
may incidentally expose marine
mammals occurring in the vicinity to
either acoustic disturbance from
motorboat sounds or visual disturbance
from the presence of observers, thereby
resulting in incidental take, by Level B
harassment only. Therefore, the NPS
requests authorization to incidentally
take eastern pacific harbor seals.
Specified Activities
The purpose for the monitoring
activities are as follows. Gull monitoring
studies are mandated by a Record of
Decision of a Legislative Environmental
Impact Statement (LEIS) (NPS 2010)
which states that NPS must initiate a
monitoring program for glaucouswinged gulls (Larus glaucescens) to
inform future native egg harvest by the
Hoonah Tlingit in Glacier Bay, Alaska.
Installation of a new weather station on
Lone Island is being planned as one of
several installations intended to fill
coverage gaps among existing weather
stations in GLBA NP (NPS 2015a).
These new stations will be operated as
the foundation of a new long-term
climate-monitoring program for GLBA
NP. The maximum number of days the
NPS will conduct annual monitoring
activities that require a Letter of
Authorization will be 24 days during
each of the five years of work. This
consists of four possible yearly climate
monitoring visits to Lone Island during
the months of October to April and five
possible annual gull monitoring visits
each to Boulder Island, Geikie Rock,
Lone Island and Flapjack Island during
the months of May to September.
Eastern Pacific harbor (Phoca vitulina
richardii) seals are the only marine
mammals expected to be taken by the
activities as the NPS will maintain a
distance of 100 meters from all Steller
sea lions.
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit
information, suggestions, and comments
concerning the NPS’ request (see
ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all
information, suggestions, and comments
related to the request during the
development of proposed regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals by the NPS, if
appropriate.
Dated: February 15, 2018.
Donna Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–03578 Filed 2–21–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER
SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Publication of Fiscal Year 2016 Service
Contract Inventory
Court Services and Offender
Supervision Agency for the District of
Columbia (CSOSA).
ACTION: Notice of public availability of
FY 2016 Service Contract Inventory.
AGENCY:
In accordance with Section
743 of Division C of the FY2010
Consolidated Appropriations Act, the
Court Services and Offender
Supervision Agency hereby advises the
public of the availability of the FY 2016
Service Contract Inventory. This
inventory provides information on
service contract actions over $25,000
that were made in FY 2016. The
information is organized by function to
show how contracted resources are
distributed throughout the agency. This
inventory has been developed in
accordance with guidance issued on
November 5, 2010 and December 19,
2011 by the Office of Management and
Budget’s Office of Federal Procurement
Policy (OFPP). CSOSA’s FY 2016
Service Contract Inventory is available
on its website at: https://www.csosa.gov/
about/mandated-reports.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Inventory Information: Reggie James,
Associate Director, Court Services and
Offender Supervision Agency, Office of
Administration, 800 North Capitol
Street NW, Washington, DC 20004, at
(202) 220–5707, or reggie.james@
csosa.gov.
Notice Information: Rochelle Durant,
Program Analyst, Court Services and
Offender Supervision Agency, 633
Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20004, (202) 220–5304, or
rochelle.durant@csosa.gov.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.SGM
22FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7699-7700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03578]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG012
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Gull and Climate Monitoring/Research in Glacier Bay
National Park, Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for Letter of Authorization;
request for comments and information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the National Park Service
(NPS) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals
incidental to glaucous-winged gull and climate monitoring/research in
Glacier Bay National Park (GLBA NP), Alaska over the course of five
years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing
the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of
the NPS' request for the development and implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the
public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the NPS'
application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than March
26, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the applications should be addressed to Jolie
Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. Physical comments should
be sent to 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
electronic comments should be sent to [email protected].
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the
end of the comment period. Comments received electronically, including
all attachments, must not exceed a 25-megabyte file size. Attachments
to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel or
Adobe PDF file formats only. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted online at https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-
take-authorizations-research-
[[Page 7700]]
and-other-activities without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address) 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: Jonathan Molineaux, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. An electronic copy of the
NPS's application may be obtained online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-research-and-other-activities. In case of problems
accessing these documents, please call the contact listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)
direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) 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 either regulations are issued or, if
the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed
authorization is provided to the public for review.
An incidental take authorization 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.
The MMPA states that the term ``take'' means to harass, hunt,
capture, kill or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine
mammal.
Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, 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 February 6, 2018, NMFS received an adequate and complete
application from the NPS requesting authorization for take of marine
mammals incidental to glaucous-winged gull and climate monitoring
research activities in GLBA NP, Alaska. The requested regulations would
be valid for five years, from March 2019 through December 2023. The NPS
plans to conduct necessary work, including gull and climate monitoring
to assist in informing future native egg harvests and fill crucial
climate data gaps. The proposed action may incidentally expose marine
mammals occurring in the vicinity to either acoustic disturbance from
motorboat sounds or visual disturbance from the presence of observers,
thereby resulting in incidental take, by Level B harassment only.
Therefore, the NPS requests authorization to incidentally take eastern
pacific harbor seals.
Specified Activities
The purpose for the monitoring activities are as follows. Gull
monitoring studies are mandated by a Record of Decision of a
Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) (NPS 2010) which
states that NPS must initiate a monitoring program for glaucous-winged
gulls (Larus glaucescens) to inform future native egg harvest by the
Hoonah Tlingit in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Installation of a new weather
station on Lone Island is being planned as one of several installations
intended to fill coverage gaps among existing weather stations in GLBA
NP (NPS 2015a). These new stations will be operated as the foundation
of a new long-term climate-monitoring program for GLBA NP. The maximum
number of days the NPS will conduct annual monitoring activities that
require a Letter of Authorization will be 24 days during each of the
five years of work. This consists of four possible yearly climate
monitoring visits to Lone Island during the months of October to April
and five possible annual gull monitoring visits each to Boulder Island,
Geikie Rock, Lone Island and Flapjack Island during the months of May
to September. Eastern Pacific harbor (Phoca vitulina richardii) seals
are the only marine mammals expected to be taken by the activities as
the NPS will maintain a distance of 100 meters from all Steller sea
lions.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and
comments concerning the NPS' request (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will
consider all information, suggestions, and comments related to the
request during the development of proposed regulations governing the
incidental taking of marine mammals by the NPS, if appropriate.
Dated: February 15, 2018.
Donna Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-03578 Filed 2-21-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
