Marine Mammals; File No. 27066, 15980-15981 [2023-05262]

Download as PDF lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 15980 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 15, 2023 / Notices would have any effect on the stocks’ annual rates of recruitment or survival. In combination, we believe that these factors, as well as the available body of evidence from other similar activities, demonstrate that the potential effects of the specified activities would have only minor, short-term effects on individuals. The specified activities are not expected to impact rates of recruitment or survival and would, therefore, not result in population-level impacts. In summary and as described above, the following factors primarily support negligible impact determinations for the affected stocks of California sea lions and harbor seals that the impacts resulting from this activity are not expected to adversely affect any of the species or stocks through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival: • No serious injury or mortality is anticipated or proposed for authorization; • Take by Level A harassment of California sea lions and harbor seals is not anticipated or proposed for authorization; • The Navy would implement mitigation measures including softstarts for impact pile driving and shutdown zones to minimize the numbers of marine mammals exposed to injurious levels of sound, and to ensure that take by Level A harassment does not occur. • The anticipated incidents of Level B harassment consist of, at worst, temporary modifications in behavior or TTS that would not result in fitness impacts to individuals; • The specified activity and ensonification area is very small relative to the overall habitat ranges of all species and does not include habitat areas of special significance (Biologically Important Areas or ESAdesignated critical habitat); • The intensity of anticipated takes by Level B harassment is relatively low for all stocks and would not be of a duration or intensity expected to result in impacts on reproduction or survival; and • The presumed efficacy of the proposed mitigation measures in reducing the effects of the specified activity to the level of least practicable adverse impact. Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into consideration the implementation of the proposed monitoring and mitigation measures, NMFS preliminarily finds that the total marine mammal take from the proposed activity will have a VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:48 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 259001 negligible impact on all affected marine mammal species or stocks. Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis and Determination There are no relevant subsistence uses of the affected marine mammal stocks or species implicated by this action. Therefore, NMFS has determined that the total taking of affected species or stocks would not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for subsistence purposes. Endangered Species Act 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. No incidental take of ESA-listed species is proposed for authorization or expected to result from this activity. Therefore, NMFS has determined that formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA is not required for this action. Proposed Authorization As a result of these preliminary determinations, NMFS proposes to issue an IHA to the Navy for conducting up to four pile driving training exercises at NBVC for a year after the date of issuance of the IHA, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. A draft of the proposed IHA can be found at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/ incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. Request for Public Comments We request comment on our analyses, the proposed authorization, and any other aspect of this notice of proposed IHA for the proposed action. We also request comment on the potential renewal of this proposed IHA as described in the paragraph below. Please include with your comments any supporting data or literature citations to help inform decisions on the request for this IHA or a subsequent renewal IHA. On a case-by-case basis, NMFS may issue a one-time, 1 year renewal IHA following notice to the public providing an additional 15 days for public comments when (1) up to another year PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of identical or nearly identical activities as described in the Description of Proposed Activities section of this notice is planned or (2) the activities as described in the Description of Proposed Activities section of this notice would not be completed by the time the IHA expires and a renewal would allow for completion of the activities beyond that described in the Dates and Duration section of this notice, provided all of the following conditions are met: • A request for renewal is received no later than 60 days prior to the needed renewal IHA effective date (recognizing that the renewal IHA expiration date cannot extend beyond one year from expiration of the initial IHA). • The request for renewal must include the following: (1) An explanation that the activities to be conducted under the requested renewal IHA are identical to the activities analyzed under the initial IHA, are a subset of the activities, or include changes so minor (e.g., reduction in pile size) that the changes do not affect the previous analyses, mitigation and monitoring requirements, or take estimates (with the exception of reducing the type or amount of take). (2) A preliminary monitoring report showing the results of the required monitoring to date and an explanation showing that the monitoring results do not indicate impacts of a scale or nature not previously analyzed or authorized. Upon review of the request for renewal, the status of the affected species or stocks, and any other pertinent information, NMFS determines that there are no more than minor changes in the activities, the mitigation and monitoring measures will remain the same and appropriate, and the findings in the initial IHA remain valid. Dated: March 9, 2023. Kimberly Damon-Randall, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–05242 Filed 3–14–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XC836] Marine Mammals; File No. 27066 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM 15MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 15, 2023 / Notices ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 (Responsible Party: Jon Hare), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before April 14, 2023. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 27066 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include File No. 27066 in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226). The applicant requests a 5-year research permit to determine the abundance, distribution, movement patterns, dive behavior, demographic parameters, trends in recruitment, and stock structure of cetaceans in U.S. waters of the western North Atlantic from Florida to Maine, and Canadian waters in the Bay of Fundy and Scotian Shelf. Up to 38 species of cetaceans may be taken during research including the following endangered species: blue (Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead (Balaena mysticetus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), gray (Western North Pacific; Eschrichtius robustus), North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis), sei lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:48 Mar 14, 2023 Jkt 259001 (Balaenoptera borealis), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales. Research methods during vessel and aerial (manned and unmanned) surveys will include counts, photoidentification, video recording, photogrammetry, passive acoustic recording, observations, thermal imaging, biological sampling (skin and blubber biopsy, sloughed skin, feces, and exhaled air), and tagging (suctioncup and dart tags). Dart tags may include short Type C tags that anchor in the blubber of large whales. Receipt, import, and export of marine mammal parts would also be authorized for research purposes. Four species of nonESA listed pinnipeds may be unintentional harassed and opportunistically studied during cetacean research. See the application for complete numbers of animals requested by species, life stage, and procedure. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: March 8, 2023. Amy Sloan, Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–05262 Filed 3–14–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of Request for Information; U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of request for information from the public on the structure, topics and content of an updated Climate Literacy Guide. AGENCY: The United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) requests input from the public to guide SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15981 an update of the 2009 ‘‘Climate Literacy: Essential Principles of Climate Science’’. This request for information (RFI) will inform USGCRP as it updates the Guide to include current climate and social science, and a focus on justice and capacity to implement solutions. DATES: Comments should be submitted via https://contribute.globalchange.gov and must be received by May 31, 2023. ADDRESSES: ‘‘Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science’’ can be accessed at https:// www.globalchange.gov/browse/reports/ climate-literacy-essential-principlesclimate-science-high-resolution-booklet and also through the USGCRP Open Notices Page (https:// www.globalchange.gov/notices). Instructions: To submit comments, respondents will need to register in the Public Contribution system. Comments may be submitted only via this online mechanism. Registration details can be found on the https://contribute. globalchange.gov home page, and review instructions are accessible once a registered user has logged into the system. All comments received through this process will be considered by the updated guide’s authors without knowledge of the commenters’ identities. No information submitted by a commenter as part of the registration process (such as an email address) will be disclosed publicly. Comments will be considered by USGCRP in the development of updated guidance. Response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents need not reply to all questions listed. Each individual or institution is requested to submit only one response. Please identify your answers by responding to a specific question or topic. Respondents may answer as many or as few questions as they wish. Comments of seven pages or fewer (3,500 words or equivalent) are strongly recommended. Links to resources, images, and videos may be submitted for consideration. USGCRP seeks to create a Climate Literacy Guide that is broadly relevant and provides useful information to all people living or residing in the United States. In that spirit, we encourage all members of the public who are interested in this initiative to submit their comments. Those interested may include any member of the public of any age, culture, background, level of education or career stage. There may also be interested organizations, such as Tribal Nations or Indigenous Peoples, scientific research or practitioner organizations, any state, local or territorial governments, any non-profit E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM 15MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15980-15981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05262]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC836]


Marine Mammals; File No. 27066

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

[[Page 15981]]


ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Northeast Fisheries 
Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 
(Responsible Party: Jon Hare), has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct research on marine mammals.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before April 14, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
``Features'' box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 27066 from the list of available applications. These documents are 
also available upon written request via email to 
[email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include File No. 27066 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., or Carrie 
Hubard, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The applicant requests a 5-year research permit to determine the 
abundance, distribution, movement patterns, dive behavior, demographic 
parameters, trends in recruitment, and stock structure of cetaceans in 
U.S. waters of the western North Atlantic from Florida to Maine, and 
Canadian waters in the Bay of Fundy and Scotian Shelf. Up to 38 species 
of cetaceans may be taken during research including the following 
endangered species: blue (Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead (Balaena 
mysticetus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), gray (Western North Pacific; 
Eschrichtius robustus), North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis), sei 
(Balaenoptera borealis), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales. 
Research methods during vessel and aerial (manned and unmanned) surveys 
will include counts, photo-identification, video recording, 
photogrammetry, passive acoustic recording, observations, thermal 
imaging, biological sampling (skin and blubber biopsy, sloughed skin, 
feces, and exhaled air), and tagging (suction-cup and dart tags). Dart 
tags may include short Type C tags that anchor in the blubber of large 
whales. Receipt, import, and export of marine mammal parts would also 
be authorized for research purposes. Four species of non-ESA listed 
pinnipeds may be unintentional harassed and opportunistically studied 
during cetacean research. See the application for complete numbers of 
animals requested by species, life stage, and procedure.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that 
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: March 8, 2023.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-05262 Filed 3-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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