Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus and Polar Bears in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska, 18329-18330 [2018-08759]

Download as PDF 18329 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Notices B. Solicitation of Public Comment DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected parties concerning the collection of information described in Section A on the following: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these questions. Fish and Wildlife Service Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. Dated: April 19, 2018. Anna P. Guido, Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2018–08779 Filed 4–25–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P [FWS–R7–ES–2017–N181; FF07CAMM00– FX–ES111607MRG01] Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus and Polar Bears in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of issuance. AGENCY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued Letters of Authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska and incidental to oil and gas industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and the adjacent western coast of Alaska. These Letters of Authorization stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific walruses from these activities. SUMMARY: These letters of authorization are available electronically at the following location: https://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/ mmm/itr.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Putnam at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; (800) 362–5148 or (907) 786– 3844. ADDRESSES: On August 5, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published in the Federal Register a final rule (81 FR 52276) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) during year-round oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective through August 5, 2021. The rule prescribed a process under which we issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to applicants conducting activities as described under the provisions of the regulations. This rule replaced a similar rule, published on August 3, 2011 (76 FR 47010), which expired on August 3, 2016, and likewise prescribed a process under which we issued such LOAs. Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the activity and location. Holders of LOAs must use methods and conduct activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walruses and polar bears and their habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take are prohibited. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR part 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to each of the following companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BEAUFORT SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION Activity Project Shell Exploration and Production Company, Inc. Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation .. Global Geophysical Services, Inc ......... Geokinetics, Inc .................................... Repsol E and P USA, Inc ..................... Support services ............ Development .................. Exploration ..................... Exploration ..................... Exploration ..................... BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc ................. ExxonMobil Development Company ..... Hilcorp Alaska, LLC .............................. Exploration ..................... Development .................. Exploration ..................... Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC .................. Olgoonik Specialty Contractors, LLC .... amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Company Development .................. Remediation ................... North Slope Borough ............................ ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... ARSC Exploration, LLC ........................ Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC ... Production ...................... Exploration ..................... Exploration ..................... Support services ............ SAExploration, Inc ................................ Exploration ..................... Ice surveys and helicopter search and rescue training. 2015 Mustang Development Program .. Winter seismic work .............................. Winter seismic work .............................. Exploration drilling in the Colville River Delta. Winter seismic work .............................. Point Thomson Project ......................... Liberty Geotech and Shallow Hazard Survey. Nuna Project ......................................... Point Lonely, Oliktok Point, and Bullen Point DEW line sites. Barrow pipeline upgrades ..................... Greater Moose’s Tooth ......................... Placer Unit exploratory drilling .............. Transportation activities on the North Slope. Aklaq seismic surveys on Canning and Sag River. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:58 Apr 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26APN1.SGM LOA No. 15–01 15–02 15–03 15–04 15–05 15–06 15–07, 16–06, 16–17 15–08 15–09, 16–01, 16–12, 17–06 15–10 15–12, 17–08 15–15 15–16 15–17, 17–01 15–18, 16–03 26APN1 18330 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Notices BEAUFORT SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION—Continued Company Activity Project Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC .................. Exploration ..................... Geokinetics, Inc .................................... Exploration ..................... Alaska Frontier Constructors, Inc ......... ExxonMobil Alaska, LNG, LLC ............. Marsh Creek, LLC ................................. Development .................. Exploration ..................... Remediation ................... ENI U.S. Operating Company, Inc ........ ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Fairweather, LLC .................................. Development .................. Exploration ..................... Exploration ..................... Exploration ..................... Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC .................. ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc ................. Savant Alaska, LLC .............................. Hilcorp Alaska, LLC .............................. Production Production Production Production Production Olgoonik Construction Services, LLC ... ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Alyeska Pipeline Service Company ...... Armstrong Energy, LLC ........................ BEM Systems, Incorporated ................. BEM Systems, Incorporated ................. ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Remediation ................... Development .................. Production ...................... Exploration ..................... Remediation ................... Remediation ................... Exploration ..................... BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc ................. Exploration ..................... Tulimaniq Exploration Program in Smith Bay. ‘‘Great Bear’’ 3d seismic on North Slope. Gravel removal in the Sag River .......... Alaska LNG Project surveys ................. Legacy wells–Cape Simpson, Iko Bay, Barrow, and Avak. Nakaitchuq North at Spy Island ............ NPRA seismic exploration .................... Exploration drilling ................................ Retrieval of mooring anchors in the Beaufort Sea. Oooguruk Project .................................. CPAI North Slope Alpine and Kuparuk Prudhoe Bay ......................................... Badami Project ..................................... Milne Point, Endicott, and Northstar Units. Barrow legacy wells .............................. GMT–1 Construction ............................. TAPS activities ...................................... Colville River Delta drilling and geotech Oliktok radar site ................................... Bullen Pt. radar site .............................. ‘‘Bear’’ Winter Seismic East of Colville River. 2017 Liberty Bathymetry Survey .......... On June 12, 2013, we published in the Federal Register a final rule (78 FR 35364) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walruses during year-round oil and gas industry exploration activities in the ...................... ...................... ...................... ...................... ...................... Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of Alaska. The rule established 50 CFR part 18 subpart I and is effective until June 11, 2018. The process under which we issue LOAs to applicants and the requirements that the holders of LOAs must follow is the same as described LOA No. 15–19, 16–09_a 15–20 15–21 16–02, 16–18 16–04, 16–21 16–05 16–08 16–09_b, 17–10 16–10 16–11 16–13 16–14 16–15 16–16 16–19 16–20, 17–09 16–22 16–23 17–03 17–04 17–05 17–07 above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR part 18, subpart J. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we issued LOAs to the following companies in the Chukchi Sea: CHUKCHI SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION Company Activity Project Shell Exploration and Production Company, Inc. Shell Exploration and Production Company, Inc. Fairweather, LLC .................................. Support services ............ 2015/2016 ice overflight surveys .......... 15–CS–01 Exploration ..................... Chukchi Sea exploration drilling ........... 15–CS–02 Exploration ..................... 16–CS–01 Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC ................... Exploration ..................... Retrieval of Shell’s mooring anchors in the Chukchi Sea. Post Shell drillsite monitoring ............... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Dated: January 4, 2018. Gregory E. Siekaniec, Regional Director, Alaska Region. amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Authority: We issue this notice under the authority of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). [FWS–R7–ES–2018–N010; FXES111607MRG01–189–FF07CAMM00] Editorial note: This document was received for publication by the Office of the Federal Register on April 23, 2018. [FR Doc. 2018–08759 Filed 4–25–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 433–15–P Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities; Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for Northern Sea Otters in Cook Inlet, Alaska; Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment; Request for Comments AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:58 Apr 25, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 LOA No. 16–CS–02 Notice of receipt of application; proposed incidental harassment authorization; availability of draft environmental assessment; request for comments. ACTION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, propose to authorize nonlethal, incidental take by harassment of small numbers of northern sea otters between May 23, 2018, and September 30, 2018. The applicant has requested this SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26APN1.SGM 26APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18329-18330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08759]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-ES-2017-N181; FF07CAMM00-FX-ES111607MRG01]

Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus
and Polar Bears in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of issuance.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued Letters of
Authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific
walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development,
and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern
coast of Alaska and incidental to oil and gas industry exploration
activities in the Chukchi Sea and the adjacent western coast of Alaska.
These Letters of Authorization stipulate conditions and methods that
minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific walruses from these
activities.

ADDRESSES: These letters of authorization are available electronically
at the following location: https://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/mmm/itr.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Putnam at the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East
Tudor Road, MS 341, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; (800) 362-5148 or (907)
786-3844.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2016, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service published in the Federal Register a final rule (81 FR
52276) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the
nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar
bears (Ursus maritimus) and Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus
divergens) during year-round oil and gas industry exploration,
development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent
northern coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart J in part 18 of
title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective
through August 5, 2021. The rule prescribed a process under which we
issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to applicants conducting
activities as described under the provisions of the regulations. This
rule replaced a similar rule, published on August 3, 2011 (76 FR
47010), which expired on August 3, 2016, and likewise prescribed a
process under which we issued such LOAs.
Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the
activity and location. Holders of LOAs must use methods and conduct
activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent
practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walruses and polar bears and
their habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for
subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take are
prohibited.
In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and our regulations at 50
CFR part 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to each of the following
companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska:

Beaufort Sea Letters of Authorization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Activity Project LOA No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shell Exploration and Production Support services...................... Ice surveys and 15-01
Company, Inc. helicopter search and
rescue training.
Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation... Development........................... 2015 Mustang 15-02
Development Program.
Global Geophysical Services, Inc..... Exploration........................... Winter seismic work.... 15-03
Geokinetics, Inc..................... Exploration........................... Winter seismic work.... 15-04
Repsol E and P USA, Inc.............. Exploration........................... Exploration drilling in 15-05
the Colville River
Delta.
BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc......... Exploration........................... Winter seismic work.... 15-06
ExxonMobil Development Company....... Development........................... Point Thomson Project.. 15-07, 16-06, 16-17
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC.................. Exploration........................... Liberty Geotech and 15-08
Shallow Hazard Survey.
Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC............ Development........................... Nuna Project........... 15-09, 16-01, 16-12, 17-06
Olgoonik Specialty Contractors, LLC.. Remediation........................... Point Lonely, Oliktok 15-10
Point, and Bullen
Point DEW line sites.
North Slope Borough.................. Production............................ Barrow pipeline 15-12, 17-08
upgrades.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... Greater Moose's Tooth.. 15-15
ARSC Exploration, LLC................ Exploration........................... Placer Unit exploratory 15-16
drilling.
Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC... Support services...................... Transportation 15-17, 17-01
activities on the
North Slope.
SAExploration, Inc................... Exploration........................... Aklaq seismic surveys 15-18, 16-03
on Canning and Sag
River.

[[Page 18330]]

Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC............ Exploration........................... Tulimaniq Exploration 15-19, 16-09_a
Program in Smith Bay.
Geokinetics, Inc..................... Exploration........................... ``Great Bear'' 3d 15-20
seismic on North Slope.
Alaska Frontier Constructors, Inc.... Development........................... Gravel removal in the 15-21
Sag River.
ExxonMobil Alaska, LNG, LLC.......... Exploration........................... Alaska LNG Project 16-02, 16-18
surveys.
Marsh Creek, LLC..................... Remediation........................... Legacy wells-Cape 16-04, 16-21
Simpson, Iko Bay,
Barrow, and Avak.
ENI U.S. Operating Company, Inc...... Development........................... Nakaitchuq North at Spy 16-05
Island.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... NPRA seismic 16-08
exploration.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... Exploration drilling... 16-09_b, 17-10
Fairweather, LLC..................... Exploration........................... Retrieval of mooring 16-10
anchors in the
Beaufort Sea.
Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC............ Production............................ Oooguruk Project....... 16-11
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Production............................ CPAI North Slope Alpine 16-13
and Kuparuk.
BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc......... Production............................ Prudhoe Bay............ 16-14
Savant Alaska, LLC................... Production............................ Badami Project......... 16-15
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC.................. Production............................ Milne Point, Endicott, 16-16
and Northstar Units.
Olgoonik Construction Services, LLC.. Remediation........................... Barrow legacy wells.... 16-19
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Development........................... GMT-1 Construction..... 16-20, 17-09
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company..... Production............................ TAPS activities........ 16-22
Armstrong Energy, LLC................ Exploration........................... Colville River Delta 16-23
drilling and geotech.
BEM Systems, Incorporated............ Remediation........................... Oliktok radar site..... 17-03
BEM Systems, Incorporated............ Remediation........................... Bullen Pt. radar site.. 17-04
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... ``Bear'' Winter Seismic 17-05
East of Colville River.
BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc......... Exploration........................... 2017 Liberty Bathymetry 17-07
Survey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On June 12, 2013, we published in the Federal Register a final rule
(78 FR 35364) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the
nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar
bears and Pacific walruses during year-round oil and gas industry
exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of
Alaska. The rule established 50 CFR part 18 subpart I and is effective
until June 11, 2018. The process under which we issue LOAs to
applicants and the requirements that the holders of LOAs must follow is
the same as described above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR part 18,
subpart J.
In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our
regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we issued LOAs to the following
companies in the Chukchi Sea:

Chukchi Sea Letters of Authorization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Activity Project LOA No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shell Exploration and Production Support services...................... 2015/2016 ice 15-CS-01
Company, Inc. overflight surveys.
Shell Exploration and Production Exploration........................... Chukchi Sea exploration 15-CS-02
Company, Inc. drilling.
Fairweather, LLC..................... Exploration........................... Retrieval of Shell's 16-CS-01
mooring anchors in the
Chukchi Sea.
Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC............ Exploration........................... Post Shell drillsite 16-CS-02
monitoring.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authority: We issue this notice under the authority of the MMPA
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).

Dated: January 4, 2018.
Gregory E. Siekaniec,
Regional Director, Alaska Region.

Editorial note: This document was received for publication by
the Office of the Federal Register on April 23, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-08759 Filed 4-25-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 433-15-P

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