Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Construction at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, California, 48914-48915 [2019-20008]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 180 / Tuesday, September 17, 2019 / Notices
which they are applying; community
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management/ac/council_charters.html)
and the National Marine Sanctuary
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management/ac/acref.html). For more
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including seat descriptions and
application materials, please visit
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jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with NOTICES
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of public information related to the
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Send comments regarding this burden
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VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:05 Sep 16, 2019
Jkt 247001
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
John Armor,
Director, Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2019–20069 Filed 9–16–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF591
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to U.S. Navy Construction at
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach,
California
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 U.S. Navy (Navy) for
authorization to take small numbers of
marine mammals incidental to
conducting construction activities
related to construction of an
ammunition pier and turning basin at
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach,
California, 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 Navy’s
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
Navy’s application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than October 17,
2019.
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.Laws@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 25SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizationsconstruction-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.
Ben
Laws, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, (301) 427–8401. An electronic
copy of the Navy’s application may be
obtained online at:
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-constructionactivities. In case of problems accessing
these documents, please call the contact
listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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 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.
E:\FR\FM\17SEN1.SGM
17SEN1
jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 180 / Tuesday, September 17, 2019 / Notices
48915
or more Senior Executive Service (SES)
performance review boards. The
purpose of these boards is to review and
evaluate the initial appraisal of a senior
executive’s performance by the
supervisor, along with any
recommendations to the appointing
authority relative to the performance of
the senior executive. The current
members of the Council of the
Inspectors General on Integrity and
Efficiency Performance Review Board,
as of October 1, 2019, are as follows:
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).
information, suggestions, and comments
related to the request during the
development of proposed regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals by the Navy, if
appropriate.
Summary of Request
On September 10, 2019, NMFS
received an adequate and complete
application from the Navy requesting
authorization for take of marine
mammals incidental to construction
activities related to construction of an
ammunition pier and turning basin at
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach,
California. The requested regulations
would be valid for five years, from 2020
through 2025. The Navy plans to
conduct necessary work, including
impact and vibratory pile driving, to
demolish the old pier and construct a
new one. The proposed action may
incidentally expose marine mammals
occurring in the vicinity to elevated
levels of underwater sound, thereby
resulting in incidental take, by Level B
harassment only. Therefore, the Navy
requests authorization to incidentally
take marine mammals.
COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS
GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND
EFFICIENCY
I. Background
Specified Activities
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
was commissioned in 1944 as a Naval
Ammunition and Net Depot, and the
existing wharf was rebuilt in 1953. This
facility is the Navy’s primary weapons
station on the U.S. West Coast. The
existing wharf is past its design life, not
in compliance with modern earthquake
codes, and presents safety and security
concerns due to the proximity of naval
munitions operations to civilian small
boat traffic and the Pacific Coast
Highway. Therefore, replacement of the
wharf is planned, and is expected to
require removal of approximately 100
piles and installation via impact
hammer of approximately 900 new
concrete piles. The work is expected to
require approximately 474 days over the
5-year period. Bottlenose dolphins,
harbor seals, California sea lions, and
common dolphins have been observed
in the area.
The Inspector General Act of 1978, as
amended, created the Offices of
Inspectors General as independent and
objective units to conduct and supervise
audits and investigations relating to
Federal programs and operations. The
Inspector General Reform Act of 2008,
established the Council of the Inspectors
General on Integrity and Efficiency
(CIGIE) to address integrity, economy,
and effectiveness issues that transcend
individual Government agencies; and
increase the professionalism and
effectiveness of personnel by developing
policies, standards, and approaches to
aid in the establishment of a welltrained and highly skilled workforce in
the Offices of Inspectors General. The
CIGIE is an interagency council whose
executive chair is the Deputy Director
for Management, Office of Management
and Budget, and is comprised
principally of the 73 Inspectors General
(IGs).
Department of Agriculture
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit
information, suggestions, and comments
concerning the Navy’s request (see
ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all
II. CIGIE Performance Review Board
Phone Number: (202) 482–4661
Under 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(1)–(5), and in
accordance with regulations prescribed
by the Office of Personnel Management,
each agency is required to establish one
CIGIE Liaison—Clark Reid (202) 482–
4661
E. Wade Green—Counsel to the
Inspector General.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:05 Sep 16, 2019
Jkt 247001
Dated: September 11, 2019.
Catherine G. Marzin,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–20008 Filed 9–16–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Agency for International Development
Senior Executive Service Performance
Review Board Membership
Council of the Inspectors
General on Integrity and Efficiency.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
names and titles of the current
membership of the Council of the
Inspectors General on Integrity and
Efficiency (CIGIE) Performance Review
Board as of October 1, 2019.
DATES: Applicable: October 1, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Individual Offices of Inspectors General
at the telephone numbers listed below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Phone Number: (202) 712–1150
CIGIE Liaison—Thomas Ullom (202)
712–1150
Thomas Ullom—Deputy Inspector
General.
Justin Brown—Counselor to the
Inspector General (SL).
Daniel Altman—Assistant Inspector
General for Investigations.
Suzann Gallaher—Deputy Assistant
Inspector General for Investigations.
Thomas Yatsco—Assistant Inspector
General for Audit.
Alvin A. Brown—Deputy Assistant
Inspector General for Audit.
Toayoa Aldridge—Deputy Assistant
Inspector General for Audit.
Jason Carroll—Assistant Inspector
General for Management.
Parisa Salehi—Deputy Assistant
Inspector General for Management.
Nicole Angarella—General Counsel to
the Inspector General.
Phone Number: (202) 720–8001
CIGIE Liaison—Angel N. Bethea (202)
720–8001
Ann M. Coffey—Deputy Inspector
General.
Christy A. Slamowitz—Counsel to the
Inspector General.
Gilroy Harden—Assistant Inspector
General for Audit.
Steven H. Rickrode, Jr.—Deputy
Assistant Inspector General for Audit.
Yarisis Rivera Rojas—Deputy
Assistant Inspector General for Audit.
Peter P. Paradis, Sr.—Deputy
Assistant Inspector General for
Investigations.
Virginia E.B. Rone—Assistant
Inspector General for Data Sciences.
Robert J. Huttenlocker—Assistant
Inspector General for Management.
Department of Commerce
E:\FR\FM\17SEN1.SGM
17SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48914-48915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20008]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF591
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to U.S. Navy Construction at Naval Weapons Station Seal
Beach, California
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 U.S. Navy (Navy) for
authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to
conducting construction activities related to construction of an
ammunition pier and turning basin at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach,
California, 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 Navy's 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 Navy's application and
request.
DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than October
17, 2019.
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 to the internet at
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-construction-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: Ben Laws, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. An electronic copy of the Navy's
application may be obtained online at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-construction-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 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.
[[Page 48915]]
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 September 10, 2019, NMFS received an adequate and complete
application from the Navy requesting authorization for take of marine
mammals incidental to construction activities related to construction
of an ammunition pier and turning basin at Naval Weapons Station Seal
Beach, California. The requested regulations would be valid for five
years, from 2020 through 2025. The Navy plans to conduct necessary
work, including impact and vibratory pile driving, to demolish the old
pier and construct a new one. The proposed action may incidentally
expose marine mammals occurring in the vicinity to elevated levels of
underwater sound, thereby resulting in incidental take, by Level B
harassment only. Therefore, the Navy requests authorization to
incidentally take marine mammals.
Specified Activities
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach was commissioned in 1944 as a
Naval Ammunition and Net Depot, and the existing wharf was rebuilt in
1953. This facility is the Navy's primary weapons station on the U.S.
West Coast. The existing wharf is past its design life, not in
compliance with modern earthquake codes, and presents safety and
security concerns due to the proximity of naval munitions operations to
civilian small boat traffic and the Pacific Coast Highway. Therefore,
replacement of the wharf is planned, and is expected to require removal
of approximately 100 piles and installation via impact hammer of
approximately 900 new concrete piles. The work is expected to require
approximately 474 days over the 5-year period. Bottlenose dolphins,
harbor seals, California sea lions, and common dolphins have been
observed in the area.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and
comments concerning the Navy'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 Navy, if appropriate.
Dated: September 11, 2019.
Catherine G. Marzin,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20008 Filed 9-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
