Inland Waterways Users Board; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting, 55353 [2018-24147]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 214 / Monday, November 5, 2018 / Notices provisional abundance estimates of 810 and 1,003 minke whales in the centraleastern and southeastern Bering Sea, respectively (Moore et al., 2002). Additionally, line-transect surveys were conducted in shelf and nearshore waters in 2001–2003 from the Kenai Fjords in the Gulf of Alaska to the central Aleutian Islands. Minke whale abundance was estimated to be 1,233 for this area (Zerbini et al., 2006). However, these estimates cannot be used as an estimate of the entire Alaska stock of minke whales because only a portion of the stock’s range was surveyed. (Allen and Anglis 2012). Clearly, 42 authorized takes should be considered a small number, as it constitutes only 5.2 percent of the smallest abundance estimate generated during the surveys just described and each of these surveys represented only a portion of the minke whale range. Therefore, the number of individual animals authorized to be taken for all species are considered small relative to the relevant stocks or populations. The 2018–2019 IHA includes mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements that are identical to those depicted in the 2017–2018 IHA, and there is no new information suggesting that our analysis or findings should change. Based on the information contained here and in the referenced documents, NMFS has determined the following: (1) The required mitigation measures will effect the least practicable impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat; (2) the authorized takes will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species or stocks; (3) the authorized takes represent small numbers of marine mammals relative to the affected stock abundances; and (4) ADOT&PF’s activities will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on taking for subsistence purposes as no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals are implicated by this action. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal agency insure that any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs, NMFS consults internally whenever we propose to authorize take for endangered or threatened species. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:38 Nov 02, 2018 Jkt 247001 In order to comply with the ESA, NMFS Alaska Regional Office (AKR) Protected Resources Division issued a Biological Opinion on March 21, 2017 under section 7 of the ESA, on the issuance of an IHA to ADOT&PF under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA. This consultation concluded that the project was likely to adversely affect but unlikely to jeopardize the continued existence of the threatened Mexico DPS of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) or the endangered western DPS of Steller sea lion (Eumatopias jubatus), or adversely modify designated critical habitat for Steller sea lions. In a memo dated June 13, 2018, NMFS AKR concluded that reinitiation of section 7 consultation is not necessary for the issuance of the 2018– 2019 IHA. The only modification to the project is a time shift of one year. No additional take has been requested by ADOT&PF or has been authorized by NMFS. All mitigation measures described in the Biological Opinion would be implemented to reduce harassment of marine mammals and document take of marine mammals. For these reasons, we anticipate no new or changed effects of the action beyond what was considered in the 2017 Biological Opinion. National Environmental Policy Act In compliance with NOAA policy, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500– 1508), NMFS determined the issuance of the IHA qualifies to be categorically excluded from further NEPA review. This action is consistent with categories of activities identified in CE B4 of the Companion Manual for NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A, which do not individually or cumulatively have the potential for significant impacts on the quality of the human environment and for which we have not identified any extraordinary circumstances that would preclude this categorical exclusion. Authorization As a result of these determinations, we have issued an IHA to ADOT&PF for conducting the described construction activities related to city dock and ferry terminal improvements from December 15, 2018 through December 14, 2019, provided the previously described mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 55353 Dated: October 26, 2018. Catherine Marzin, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–24064 Filed 11–2–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Inland Waterways Users Board; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice; correction. The notice of an open meeting scheduled for November 28, 2018 published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2018 has a new date. The meeting will be held on November 29, 2018. SUMMARY: The Inland Waterways Users Board will meet from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on November 29, 2018. Public registration will begin at 7:15 a.m. DATES: Mr. Mark R. Pointon, the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the committee, in writing at the Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CEIWR–GM, 7701 Telegraph Road, Casey Building, Alexandria, VA 22315–3868; by telephone at 703–428–6438; and by email at Mark.Pointon@usace.army.mil. Alternatively, contact Mr. Kenneth E. Lichtman, the Alternate Designated Federal Officer (ADFO), in writing at the Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CEIWR–GW, 7701 Telegraph Road, Casey Building, Alexandria, VA 22315–3868; by telephone at 703–428–8083; and by email at Kenneth.E.Lichtman@ usace.army.mil. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: None. Brenda S. Bowen, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2018–24147 Filed 11–2–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720–58–P E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 55353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24147]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Inland Waterways Users Board; Notice of Federal Advisory 
Committee Meeting

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice; correction.

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SUMMARY: The notice of an open meeting scheduled for November 28, 2018 
published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2018 has a new date. 
The meeting will be held on November 29, 2018.

DATES: The Inland Waterways Users Board will meet from 8:00 a.m. to 
12:00 p.m. on November 29, 2018. Public registration will begin at 7:15 
a.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark R. Pointon, the Designated 
Federal Officer (DFO) for the committee, in writing at the Institute 
for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CEIWR-GM, 7701 
Telegraph Road, Casey Building, Alexandria, VA 22315-3868; by telephone 
at 703-428-6438; and by email at [email protected]. 
Alternatively, contact Mr. Kenneth E. Lichtman, the Alternate 
Designated Federal Officer (ADFO), in writing at the Institute for 
Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CEIWR-GW, 7701 
Telegraph Road, Casey Building, Alexandria, VA 22315-3868; by telephone 
at 703-428-8083; and by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: None.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-24147 Filed 11-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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