Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Air Force Launching of Space Launch Vehicles, Intercontinental Ballistic and Small Missiles, and Aircraft and Helicopter Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 46483-46484 [2018-19896]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices
In the past, NMFS has made plans and
annual reports from states available
through the internet and plans to
continue this practice.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
III. Data
RIN 0648–XG331
OMB Control Number: 0648–0466.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
collection).
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; State, local or tribal
governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
Estimated Time per Response: 2,500
hours to complete each agreement or
plan that has the intention of making
listing unnecessary; 320 hours to
conduct monitoring for successful
agreements; and 80 hours to prepare a
report for successful agreements.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 2,820.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $150 in recordkeeping/reporting
costs.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to U.S. Air Force
Launching of Space Launch Vehicles,
Intercontinental Ballistic and Small
Missiles, and Aircraft and Helicopter
Operations at Vandenberg Air Force
Base, California
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Dated: September 10, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–19900 Filed 9–12–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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19:20 Sep 12, 2018
Jkt 244001
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
Letters of Authorization; request for
comments and information.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for
authorization to take marine mammals
incidental to launching space launch
vehicles, intercontinental ballistic and
small missiles, and aircraft and
helicopter operations at Vandenberg Air
Force Base (VAFB), California, from
March 27, 2019 through March 26, 2024.
Pursuant to the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is
announcing our receipt of the USAF’s
request for the development and
implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals and inviting
information, suggestions, and comments
on the USAF’s application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than October 15,
2018.
SUMMARY:
Comments on the
application 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.Carduner@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 to the
internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46483
permits/incidental/military.htm 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:
Jordan Carduner, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. An
electronic copy of the USAF’s
application 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 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 (Secretary)
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 geographic region if
certain findings are made and either
regulations are issued or, if the taking is
limited to harassment, notice of a
proposed authorization is provided to
the public for review.
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.
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,
E:\FR\FM\13SEN1.SGM
13SEN1
46484
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (Level B
harassment).
The National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (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).
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Summary of Request
On August 10, 2018, NMFS received
an adequate and complete application
from the USAF requesting a letter of
authorization (LOA) for the take of six
species of marine mammals (all
pinnipeds), by Level B harassment only,
incidental to launching space launch
vehicles, intercontinental ballistic and
small missiles, and aircraft and
helicopter operations at VAFB. The
USAF is requesting a 5-year LOA for
these activities. These activities may
result in the take of marine mammals as
a result of noise or visual disturbance.
Description of the Specified Activity
VAFB supports launch activities for
the USAF, Department of Defense,
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and commercial
entities. VAFB is the primary launch
facility on the West Coast of the United
States for placing commercial,
government and military satellites into
polar orbit on unmanned launch
vehicles, and for the testing and
evaluation of intercontinental ballistic
missiles (ICBMs) and sub-orbital target
and interceptor missiles. In addition to
space vehicle and missile launch
activities at VAFB, occasional helicopter
and aircraft operations involve searchand-rescue, delivery of space vehicle
components, launch mission support,
security reconnaissance, and training
flights.
There are currently six active facilities
at VAFB used to launch satellites into
polar orbit. These facilities support
launch programs for the Atlas V, Delta
II, Delta IV, Falcon 9 and Minotaur
rockets. A variety of small missiles are
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:20 Sep 12, 2018
Jkt 244001
also launched from various facilities at
VAFB, including Minuteman III, an
ICBM which is launched from
underground silos. In addition, several
types of interceptor and target vehicles
are launched for the Missile Defense
Agency, which develops various
systems and elements, including the
Ballistic Missile Defense System.
The USAF anticipates that no more
than 15 missile and 50 rocket launches
would occur in any year, with total
launch activities not exceeding 75
missile and 250 rocket launches over
five years. All launch operations would
occur at VAFB, potentially resulting in
impacts to marine mammals at VAFB
(as a result of launch noise and visual
stimuli) and at the Northern Channel
Islands (as a result of noise from sonic
booms). A full description of the
activities to be conducted by the USAF
at VAFB, including descriptions of the
space vehicles and missiles proposed
for use, is provided in the USAF’s
application.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit
information, suggestions, and comments
concerning the USAF’s 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 USAF, if
appropriate.
Dated: September 7, 2018.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–19896 Filed 9–12–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG460
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting
(webinar).
AGENCY:
The Pacific Fishery
Management Council’s (Pacific Council)
Highly Migratory Species Management
Team (HMSMT) will hold a webinar,
which is open to the public.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The webinar meeting will be
held on Wednesday, October 3, 2018,
from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
via webinar. A public listening station
is available at the Pacific Council office
(address below). To attend the webinar
(1) join the meeting by visiting this link
https://www.gotomeeting.com/webinar,
(2) enter the Webinar ID: 193–653–531,
and (3) enter your name and email
address (required). After logging in to
the webinar, please (1) dial this TOLL
number 1–213–929–4232 (not a toll-free
number), (2) enter the attendee phone
audio access code 380–095–597, and (3)
enter the provided audio PIN after
joining the webinar. You must enter this
PIN for audio access. NOTE: We have
disabled Mic/Speakers as an option and
require all participants to use a
telephone or cell phone to participate.
Technical Information and system
requirements: PC-based attendees are
required to use Windows® 7, Vista, or
XP; Mac®-based attendees are required
to use Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer; Mobile
attendees are required to use iPhone®,
iPad®, AndroidTM phone or Android
tablet (See the https://
www.gotomeeting.com/webinar/ipadiphone-android-webinar-apps). You
may send an email to Mr. Kris
Kleinschmidt at Kris.Kleinschmidt@
noaa.gov or contact him at (503) 820–
2280, extension 411 for technical
assistance. A public listening station
will also be available at the Pacific
Council office.
Council address: Pacific Fishery
Management Council, 7700 NE
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland,
OR 97220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Kit Dahl, Pacific Council; telephone:
(503) 820–2422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the HMSMT webinar is to (1)
prepare for the Council’s November 1–
8, 2018 meeting, (2) discuss analytical
tasks to support the Council finalizing a
range of alternatives for authorizing a
fishery using deep-set buoy gear, and (3)
discuss other topics related to the
management of HMS fisheries.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in the meeting agenda may be
discussed, those issues may not be the
subject of formal action during this
meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed in this
document and any issues arising after
publication of this document that
require emergency action under section
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
provided the public has been notified of
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\13SEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 178 (Thursday, September 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46483-46484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19896]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG331
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities;
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Air Force Launching of Space
Launch Vehicles, Intercontinental Ballistic and Small Missiles, and
Aircraft and Helicopter Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base,
California
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for Letters of Authorization;
request for comments and information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) for
authorization to take marine mammals incidental to launching space
launch vehicles, intercontinental ballistic and small missiles, and
aircraft and helicopter operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB),
California, from March 27, 2019 through March 26, 2024. Pursuant to the
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing our receipt of
the USAF's request for the development and implementation of
regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and
inviting information, suggestions, and comments on the USAF's
application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than October
15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the application 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 to the internet at
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm 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: Jordan Carduner, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. An electronic copy of the USAF's
application 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 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 (Secretary) 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 geographic region if certain
findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking
is limited to harassment, notice of a proposed authorization is
provided to the public for review.
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.
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,
[[Page 46484]]
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering (Level
B harassment).
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (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).
Summary of Request
On August 10, 2018, NMFS received an adequate and complete
application from the USAF requesting a letter of authorization (LOA)
for the take of six species of marine mammals (all pinnipeds), by Level
B harassment only, incidental to launching space launch vehicles,
intercontinental ballistic and small missiles, and aircraft and
helicopter operations at VAFB. The USAF is requesting a 5-year LOA for
these activities. These activities may result in the take of marine
mammals as a result of noise or visual disturbance.
Description of the Specified Activity
VAFB supports launch activities for the USAF, Department of
Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and commercial
entities. VAFB is the primary launch facility on the West Coast of the
United States for placing commercial, government and military
satellites into polar orbit on unmanned launch vehicles, and for the
testing and evaluation of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
and sub-orbital target and interceptor missiles. In addition to space
vehicle and missile launch activities at VAFB, occasional helicopter
and aircraft operations involve search-and-rescue, delivery of space
vehicle components, launch mission support, security reconnaissance,
and training flights.
There are currently six active facilities at VAFB used to launch
satellites into polar orbit. These facilities support launch programs
for the Atlas V, Delta II, Delta IV, Falcon 9 and Minotaur rockets. A
variety of small missiles are also launched from various facilities at
VAFB, including Minuteman III, an ICBM which is launched from
underground silos. In addition, several types of interceptor and target
vehicles are launched for the Missile Defense Agency, which develops
various systems and elements, including the Ballistic Missile Defense
System.
The USAF anticipates that no more than 15 missile and 50 rocket
launches would occur in any year, with total launch activities not
exceeding 75 missile and 250 rocket launches over five years. All
launch operations would occur at VAFB, potentially resulting in impacts
to marine mammals at VAFB (as a result of launch noise and visual
stimuli) and at the Northern Channel Islands (as a result of noise from
sonic booms). A full description of the activities to be conducted by
the USAF at VAFB, including descriptions of the space vehicles and
missiles proposed for use, is provided in the USAF's application.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and
comments concerning the USAF's 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 USAF, if appropriate.
Dated: September 7, 2018.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-19896 Filed 9-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
