Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project Offshore Rhode Island; Extension of Public Comment Period, 3375 [2023-00900]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00900]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 217

[Docket No 221214-0271]
RIN 0648-BL52


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Revolution Wind Offshore Wind 
Farm Project Offshore Rhode Island; Extension of Public Comment Period

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On December 23, 2022, NMFS published a proposed rule, with a 
30-day public comment period ending January 23, 2023, in response to 
Revolution Wind, LLC's (Revolution Wind's) request for regulations and 
an associated Letter of Authorization (LOA), pursuant to the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed regulations would allow for 
the taking of marine mammals, by Level A harassment and Level B 
harassment, incidental to the Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Farm 
Project offshore of Rhode Island. In response to a request, NMFS is 
announcing an extension of the public comment period by an additional 
15 days. The public comment period on the proposed rule is extended 
from January 23, 2023, to February 7, 2023.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the proposed rule 
published on December 23, 2022 (87 FR 79072), is extended from January 
23, 2023, to February 7, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2022-
0127 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 comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. 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), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carter Esch, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 23, 2022, NMFS published a proposed rulemaking in 
response to Revolution Wind's request that NMFS authorize the taking, 
by Level A harassment and Level B harassment, of marine mammals 
incidental to the Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project, located 
offshore of Rhode Island in and around lease area OCS-A-0486. When 
published, the proposed rule (87 FR 79072; December 23, 2022) allowed 
for a 30-day public comment period, ending on January 23, 2023. On 
December 23, 2022, we received a request from the Natural Resource 
Defense Council (NRDC) for a 15-day extension of the public comment 
period. NMFS considered the request and the permitting timelines for 
this project and, in this case, is extending the comment period on the 
proposed rule for an additional 15 days to provide further opportunity 
for public comment. This extension provides a total of 45 days for 
public input on the proposed rule.
    All comments and information submitted previously regarding the 
proposed rule for Revolution Wind will be fully considered during the 
development of the final rule and LOA, if determined to be promulgated 
and issued, and do not need to be resubmitted.

Information Solicited

    Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and 
comments concerning the proposed rulemaking for the Revolution Wind 
Offshore Wind Farm Project (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all 
information, suggestions, and comments from both the initial and 
extended public comment periods during the development of final 
regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals by 
Revolution Wind, if appropriate.

    Dated: January 12, 2023.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-00900 Filed 1-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P