Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-Year Review of the Sperm Whale, 28577-28578 [2021-11190]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 101 / Thursday, May 27, 2021 / Notices
change; understanding land use and
human impacts; community-relevant
engagement; and long-term ecosystem
monitoring.
Since 2012, the reserve has undergone
significant state agency administration
transition from the Alaska Department
of Fish and Game, Division of Sport
Fish to the University of AlaskaAnchorage, College of Arts and
Sciences, Alaska Center for
Conservation Science. With the
administrative transition, the reserve
staff and programs have relocated from
the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor
Center to the reserve’s Field Station
modular office and bunkhouse. Due to
the change in facilities, some of the
education and training programs have
changed, but many of the core research,
monitoring, education, and training
activities have remained the same. The
revised management plan, once
approved, would serve as the guiding
document for the 372,000-acre
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve for the next five years.
NOAA’s Office for Coastal
Management analyzes the
environmental impacts of the proposed
approval of this draft revised
management plan in accordance with
section 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and the
Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for Implementing the
Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR
1500–1508). The public is invited to
comment on the draft revised
management plan. NOAA will take
these comments into consideration in
deciding whether to approve the draft
revised management plan in whole or in
part.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; 15 CFR
921.33.)
Keelin S. Kuipers,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal
Management, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021–11270 Filed 5–26–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB029]
Endangered and Threatened Species;
Notice of Initiation of a 5-Year Review
of the Sperm Whale
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
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17:29 May 26, 2021
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Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
NMFS announces the
initiation of a 5-year review for the
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).
NMFS is required by the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year
reviews to ensure that the listing
classifications of species are accurate.
The 5-year review must be based on the
best scientific and commercial data
available at the time of the review. We
request submission of any such
information on the sperm whale,
particularly information on the status,
threats, and recovery of the species that
has become available since its last status
review in 2015.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to
conduct this review, we must receive
your information no later than July 26,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit
information on this document,
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2021–0041,
by the following method:
• Electronic Submission: Submit
electronic information via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA–
NMFS–2021–0041 in the Search box.
Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, complete
the required fields, and enter or attach
your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the specified period, may not be
considered. All comments received are
a part of the public record and will
generally be posted for public viewing
on www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential
business information, or otherwise
sensitive or protected information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. NMFS will
accept anonymous submissions (enter
‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish
to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Caroline Good by phone at (301) 427–
8445 or Caroline.Good@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice announces our review of the
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
listed as endangered under the ESA.
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires
that we conduct a review of listed
species at least once every 5 years. The
regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require
that we publish a notice in the Federal
Register announcing species currently
under active review. On the basis of
such reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B),
SUMMARY:
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28577
we determine whether any species
should be removed from the list (i.e.,
delisted) or reclassified from
endangered to threatened or from
threatened to endangered (16 U.S.C.
1533(c)(2)(B)). As described by the
regulations in 50 CFR 424.11(e), the
Secretary shall delist a species if the
Secretary finds that, after conducting a
status review based on the best
scientific and commercial data
available: (1) The species is extinct; (2)
the species does not meet the definition
of an endangered species or a threatened
species; and/or (3) the listed entity does
not meet the statutory definition of a
species. Any change in Federal
classification would require a separate
rulemaking process.
Background information on the
species is available on the NMFS
website at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/spermwhale.
Public Solicitation of New Information
To ensure that the review is complete
and based on the best available
scientific and commercial information,
we are soliciting new information from
the public, governmental agencies,
Tribes, the scientific community,
industry, environmental entities, and
any other interested parties concerning
the status of Physeter macrocephalus.
Categories of requested information
include: (1) Species biology including,
but not limited to, population trends,
distribution, abundance, demographics,
and genetics; (2) habitat conditions
including, but not limited to, amount,
distribution, and important features for
conservation; (3) status and trends of
threats to the species and its habitats; (4)
conservation measures that have been
implemented that benefit the species,
including monitoring data
demonstrating effectiveness of such
measures; and (5) other new
information, data, or corrections
including, but not limited to, taxonomic
or nomenclatural changes and improved
analytical methods for evaluating
extinction risk.
If you wish to provide information for
the review, you may submit your
information and materials electronically
(see ADDRESSES section). We request that
all information be accompanied by
supporting documentation such as
maps, bibliographic references, or
reprints of pertinent publications.
E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM
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28578
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 101 / Thursday, May 27, 2021 / Notices
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Margaret H. Miller,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–11190 Filed 5–26–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB087]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Chevron
Richmond Refinery Long Wharf
Maintenance and Efficiency Project in
San Francisco Bay, California
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental
harassment authorization.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
regulations implementing the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as
amended, notification is hereby given
that NMFS has issued an IHA to
Chevron Products Company (Chevron)
to incidentally harass, by Level B
harassment only, marine mammals
during construction activities associated
with the Chevron Richmond Refinery
Long Wharf Maintenance and Efficiency
Project (LWMEP) in San Francisco Bay,
California.
DATES: This authorization is effective
from June 1, 2021 through May 31,
2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dwayne Meadows, Ph.D., Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–
8401. Electronic copies of the
application, 2019 and 2020 IHAs, and
supporting documents (including NMFS
Federal Register notices of the earlier
proposed and final authorizations, and
the previous IHAs), as well as a list of
the references cited in this document,
may be obtained online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. In case
of problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Background
The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of
marine mammals, with certain
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17:29 May 26, 2021
Jkt 253001
exceptions. 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
incidental take authorization is
provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings
shall be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s) and will not have
an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
taking for subsistence uses (where
relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe
the permissible methods of taking and
other ‘‘means of effecting the least
practicable adverse impact’’ on the
affected species or stocks and their
habitat, paying particular attention to
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of
similar significance, and on the
availability of such species or stocks for
taking for certain subsistence uses
(referred to here as ‘‘mitigation
measures’’). Monitoring and reporting of
such takings are also required. The
meaning of key terms such as ‘‘take,’’
‘‘harassment,’’ and ‘‘negligible impact’’
can be found in section 3 of the MMPA
(16 U.S.C. 1362) and the agency’s
regulations at 50 CFR 216.103.
History of Request
On February 1, 2018, NMFS received
a request from Chevron for an IHA to
take marine mammals incidental to pile
driving and pile removal associated
with the LWMEP in San Francisco Bay,
California. An IHA was issued on May
31, 2018 (83 FR 27548, June 13, 2018).
Chevron was unable to complete all of
the planned work and was issued a
second IHA on June 1, 2019 (84 FR
28474, June 19, 2019) and when the
work was again not completed a
Renewal IHA was issued on June 11,
2020 (85 FR 37064; June 19, 2020).
Chevron was again unable to complete
the work in 2020 and on February 24,
2021 requested a new IHA to authorize
take of marine mammals for the subset
of the initially planned work that could
not be completed. The application was
deemed adequate and complete on
March 22, 2021. Chevron requested the
new IHA be effective from June 1, 2021
through May 31, 2022. Chevron does not
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qualify for an additional renewal IHA,
but given the proposed work is a subset
of that which has been previously
analyzed, we will be referencing the
prior authorization except where
activities or analysis have changed as
described below.
Comments and Responses
A notice of NMFS’s proposal to issue
an IHA to Chevron was published in the
Federal Register on April 6, 2021 (86 FR
17777). That notice described, in detail,
Chevron’s activity, the marine mammal
species that may be affected by the
activity, and the anticipated effects on
marine mammals. During the 30-day
public comment period, NMFS received
comments from the U.S. Geological
Survey that they have ‘‘no comment at
this time’’. No changes have been made
from the proposed IHA to the final IHA.
Description of the Specified Activities
and Anticipated Impacts
As described in the 2018, 2019 and
2020 IHAs, Chevron is upgrading Long
Wharf to comply with current Marine
Oil Terminal Engineering and
Maintenance Standards and in order to
accept more modern, fuel efficient
vessels. The remaining work includes
installing four new standoff fenders and
removing obsolete piles at Berth 2 and
installing four new dolphins and
removing temporary piles associated
with the prior work at Berth 4.
Remaining construction at Long Wharf
includes vibratory pile installation of 52
14-inch composite piles, vibratory
removal of 150 piles (eight 36-inch steel
piles, 36 14-inch steel H piles, and 106
16-inch timber piles) and impact
installation of nine 24-inch concrete
piles (Table 1). A detailed description of
the planned project is provided in the
Federal Register notice for the proposed
IHA (86 FR 17777; April 6, 2021). Since
that time, no changes have been made
to the planned activities. Therefore, a
detailed description is not provided
here. Please refer to that Federal
Register notice for the description of the
specific activity. The activities consist
of 36 days of in-water work. Pile driving
and removal activities will continue to
occur within the standard NMFS work
windows for Endangered Species Act
(ESA)-listed fish species (June 1 through
November 30). The prior IHAs included
Level A harassment take associated with
installation of larger piles that has since
been completed, therefore no Level A
harassment take is requested or
proposed for this IHA.
E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 101 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28577-28578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11190]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB029]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review of the Sperm Whale
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the initiation of a 5-year review for the sperm
whale (Physeter macrocephalus). NMFS is required by the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that the listing
classifications of species are accurate. The 5-year review must be
based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time
of the review. We request submission of any such information on the
sperm whale, particularly information on the status, threats, and
recovery of the species that has become available since its last status
review in 2015.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must
receive your information no later than July 26, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0041, by the following method:
Electronic Submission: Submit electronic information via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0041 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the specified
period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept
anonymous submissions (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish
to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroline Good by phone at (301) 427-
8445 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our review of the
sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) listed as endangered under the
ESA. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we conduct a review of
listed species at least once every 5 years. The regulations in 50 CFR
424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register
announcing species currently under active review. On the basis of such
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether any species
should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted) or reclassified from
endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered (16 U.S.C.
1533(c)(2)(B)). As described by the regulations in 50 CFR 424.11(e),
the Secretary shall delist a species if the Secretary finds that, after
conducting a status review based on the best scientific and commercial
data available: (1) The species is extinct; (2) the species does not
meet the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species;
and/or (3) the listed entity does not meet the statutory definition of
a species. Any change in Federal classification would require a
separate rulemaking process.
Background information on the species is available on the NMFS
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/sperm-whale.
Public Solicitation of New Information
To ensure that the review is complete and based on the best
available scientific and commercial information, we are soliciting new
information from the public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the
scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other
interested parties concerning the status of Physeter macrocephalus.
Categories of requested information include: (1) Species biology
including, but not limited to, population trends, distribution,
abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions
including, but not limited to, amount, distribution, and important
features for conservation; (3) status and trends of threats to the
species and its habitats; (4) conservation measures that have been
implemented that benefit the species, including monitoring data
demonstrating effectiveness of such measures; and (5) other new
information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to,
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and improved analytical methods for
evaluating extinction risk.
If you wish to provide information for the review, you may submit
your information and materials electronically (see ADDRESSES section).
We request that all information be accompanied by supporting
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of
pertinent publications.
[[Page 28578]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Margaret H. Miller,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-11190 Filed 5-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
