Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Surveys Along the Oregon and California Coasts, 55940-55941 [2019-22729]

Download as PDF 55940 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 202 / Friday, October 18, 2019 / Notices SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract This notice and request for public comment is for a request to extend a currently approved information collection. The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) creates a State-federal partnership to improve the management of the nation’s coastal zone through the development of federally approved State coastal management plans (CMPs). The CZMA provides two incentives for States to develop federally approved CMPs: (1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has appropriated monies to grant to States to develop and implement State CMPs that meet statutory and regulatory criteria; and (2) the CZMA requires federal agencies, non-federal licensees, and State and local government recipients of federal assistance to conduct their activities in a manner ‘‘consistent’’ with the enforceable policies of NOAA-approved CMPs. The latter incentive, referred to as the ‘‘federal consistency’’ provision, is found at 16 U.S.C. 1456. NOAA’s regulations at 15 CFR part 930 implement NOAA’s responsibilities to provide procedures for the consistency provision, the procedures available for an appeal of a State’s objection to a consistency certification as provided for in 16 U.S.C. 1456(c)(3)(A) and (B) and 1456(d), and changes in the appeal process created by Congressional amendments in 1990, 1996 and 2005, and found at 16 U.S.C. 1465. Paperwork and information collection occur largely outside of NOAA by: (1) State and Federal agencies engaged in licensing and permitting activities affecting coastal resources, (2) Federal agencies taking actions affecting State coastal zones, and (3) Federal agencies providing federal assistance to State and local governments in the coastal zone. In each of these cases, information is collected by the entity making the license, permit, assistance or action decision and NOAA’s regulations provide for the use of that information already required by the State or Federal entity in the consistency process. Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1456, NOAA’s regulations require the appropriate entity, Federal agency or applicant for license or permit, to prepare a consistency determination or certification. This information is provided to the relevant State CMP, not to NOAA. Information is provided to NOAA only when there is a State objection to a consistency certification, when informal mediation is sought by a Federal agency or State, or when an VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Oct 17, 2019 Jkt 250001 applicant for a federal license or permit appeals to the Secretary of Commerce for an override to a State CMPs objection to a consistency certification. Last, in 1990, Congress required State CMPs to provide for public participation in their permitting processes, consistency determinations and similar decisions, 16 U.S.C. 1455(d)(14), and NOAA regulations at part 930 implement that requirement. A number of paperwork submissions are required by the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) federal consistency provision, 16 U.S.C. 1456, and implementing regulations. These submissions are intended to provide a reasonable, efficient, and predictable means of complying with CZMA requirements. The paperwork submission requirements are detailed in 15 CFR part 930. The information will be used by coastal states with federally approved Coastal Zone Management Programs to determine if Federal agency activities, Federal license or permit activities, and Federal assistance activities that affect a state’s coastal zone are consistent with the state’s coastal management program. Information will also be used by NOAA and the Secretary of Commerce for appeals to the Secretary by non-federal applicants regarding state CZMA objections to federal license or permit activities or Federal assistance activities. II. Method of Collection III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0411. Form Number(s): None. Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection). Affected Public: State, Local, or tribal government; Federal government; business or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,334. Estimated Time per Response: Applications, certifications, and state objection or concurrence letters, 8 hours each; state requests for review of unlisted activities, 4 hours; public notices, 1 hour; interstate listing notices, 30 hours; mediation, 2 hours; appeals to the Secretary of Commerce, 210 hours. Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. Sheleen Dumas, Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Commerce Department. [FR Doc. 2019–22773 Filed 10–17–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–08–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Information is submitted pursuant to the procedural requirements of the CZMA and its implementing federal consistency regulations. Required information is case-specific and not submitted by form. Methods of submittal include email and mail. PO 00000 Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 35,799. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $9,024 in recordkeeping and reporting costs. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XR050 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Surveys Along the Oregon and California Coasts 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 University of California Santa Cruz for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring along the coasts of Oregon and 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 University of SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM 18OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 202 / Friday, October 18, 2019 / Notices California Santa Cruz’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 University of California Santa Cruz’s application and request. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than November 18, 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.Meadows@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-researchand-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: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. An electronic copy of the University of California Santa Cruz’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: 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:37 Oct 17, 2019 Jkt 250001 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 August 12, 2019, NMFS received an application from the University of California Santa Cruz requesting authorization for take of marine mammals incidental to research activities related to rocky intertidal monitoring along the coasts of Oregon and California. After the applicant responded to our questions, we determined the application was adequate and complete on October 8, 2019. The requested regulations would be valid for five years, from 2020 through 2025. The University of California Santa Cruz plans to conduct necessary work, including research surveys, to monitor rocky intertidal communities. The proposed action may incidentally expose marine mammals occurring in the vicinity to researchers moving through their habitat, and setting up research transects and photoquadrats, thereby resulting in incidental take, by Level B harassment only. Therefore, the University of California Santa Cruz requests PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55941 authorization to incidentally take marine mammals. Specified Activities The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO, www.piscoweb.org), administered by the University of California Santa Cruz, conducts monitoring at rocky intertidal sites in California and Oregon. They have been conducting similar research since 2013. Information from PISCO’s research is used to inform marine policy and is also made available to the public through outreach and educational programs. The University of California Santa Cruz anticipates approximately 300 survey days over the course of the 5-year period. They expect to take California sea lions, Northern elephant seals, Steller sea lions, and California and Oregon/Washington stocks of harbor seals. Information Solicited Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and comments concerning the University of California Santa Cruz’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 University of California Santa Cruz, if appropriate. Dated: October 11, 2019. Donna Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22729 Filed 10–17–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Technical Information Service Renewal of Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment Request; Limited Access Death Master File Systems Safeguards Attestation Forms National Technical Information Service, Department of Commerce. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice. The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM 18OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55940-55941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22729]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR050


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Surveys Along the Oregon and 
California Coasts

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.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the University of California 
Santa Cruz for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals 
incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring along the coasts of Oregon 
and 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 University of

[[Page 55941]]

California Santa Cruz'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 University of California Santa Cruz's application and request.

DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than November 
18, 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 online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-research-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: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. An electronic copy of the 
University of California Santa Cruz'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 August 12, 2019, NMFS received an application from the 
University of California Santa Cruz requesting authorization for take 
of marine mammals incidental to research activities related to rocky 
intertidal monitoring along the coasts of Oregon and California. After 
the applicant responded to our questions, we determined the application 
was adequate and complete on October 8, 2019. The requested regulations 
would be valid for five years, from 2020 through 2025. The University 
of California Santa Cruz plans to conduct necessary work, including 
research surveys, to monitor rocky intertidal communities. The proposed 
action may incidentally expose marine mammals occurring in the vicinity 
to researchers moving through their habitat, and setting up research 
transects and photoquadrats, thereby resulting in incidental take, by 
Level B harassment only. Therefore, the University of California Santa 
Cruz requests authorization to incidentally take marine mammals.

Specified Activities

    The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans 
(PISCO, www.piscoweb.org), administered by the University of California 
Santa Cruz, conducts monitoring at rocky intertidal sites in California 
and Oregon. They have been conducting similar research since 2013. 
Information from PISCO's research is used to inform marine policy and 
is also made available to the public through outreach and educational 
programs. The University of California Santa Cruz anticipates 
approximately 300 survey days over the course of the 5-year period. 
They expect to take California sea lions, Northern elephant seals, 
Steller sea lions, and California and Oregon/Washington stocks of 
harbor seals.

Information Solicited

    Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and 
comments concerning the University of California Santa Cruz'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 
University of California Santa Cruz, if appropriate.

    Dated: October 11, 2019.
Donna Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-22729 Filed 10-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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