Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walruses and Polar Bears in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, in 2022, 43621-43622 [2023-14442]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 130 / Monday, July 10, 2023 / Notices
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lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
96 See DHS, Eliminating Exception To Expedited
Removal Authority for Cuban Nationals
Encountered in the United States or Arriving by
Sea, 82 FR 4902 (Jan. 17, 2017).
97 See DHS, Implementation of a Parole Process
for Cubans, 88 FR 1266 (Jan. 9, 2023); DHS,
Implementation of a Parole Process for Haitians, 88
FR 1243 (Jan. 9, 2023); DHS, Implementation of a
Parole Process for Nicaraguans, 88 FR 1255 (Jan. 9,
2023); DHS, Implementation of Changes to the
Parole Process for Venezuelans, 88 FR 1282 (Jan. 9,
2023); DHS, Implementation of a Parole Process for
Venezuelans, 87 FR 63507 (Oct. 19, 2022).
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17:45 Jul 07, 2023
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process also requires changes to the
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Within 45 days, USCIS and CBP will
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changes.98
Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
[FR Doc. 2023–14475 Filed 7–7–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P; 9111–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–R7–ES–2023–0008;
FF07CAMM00–FX–ES111607MRG01]
Marine Mammals; Letters of
Authorization To Take Pacific
Walruses and Polar Bears in the
Beaufort Sea, Alaska, in 2022
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of issuance.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service issued letters of authorization
(LOA) for the nonlethal take of polar
bears and Pacific walruses incidental to
oil and gas industry exploration,
development, and production activities
in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent
northern coast of Alaska in 2022. This
notice announces the LOAs issued in
calendar year 2022. The LOAs stipulate
conditions and methods that minimize
impacts to polar bears and Pacific
walruses from these activities.
ADDRESSES: Document availability: You
may view the letters of authorization at
https://www.regulations.gov under
Docket No. FWS–R7–ES–2023–0008, or
you may request them from the contact
in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charles Hamilton, via U.S. mail at
SUMMARY:
98 Per the normal clearance procedures at 5 CFR
1320.10(e).
PO 00000
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43621
Marine Mammals Management, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 341, 1011
East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503;
by email at R7mmmRegulatory@fws.gov,
or by telephone at 1–800–362–5148.
Individuals in the United States who are
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
On August
5, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) published in the
Federal Register a final rule (86 FR
42982) establishing regulations that
allow us to authorize the nonlethal,
incidental, unintentional take of small
numbers of polar bears (Ursus
maritimus) and Pacific walruses
(Odobenus rosmarus divergens) during
year-round oil and gas industry
exploration, development, and
production activities in the Beaufort Sea
and adjacent northern coast of Alaska.
These incidental take regulations are
located in subpart J in part 18 of title 50
of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
and are effective through August 5,
2026. The rule prescribed a process
under which we issue letters of
authorization (LOA) to applicants
conducting activities as described under
the provisions of the regulations.
Each LOA stipulates conditions or
methods that are specific to the activity
and location. Holders of the LOAs must
use methods and conduct activities in a
manner that minimizes to the greatest
extent practicable adverse impacts on
Pacific walruses and polar bears and
their habitat, and on the availability of
these marine mammals for subsistence
purposes. No intentional take or lethal
incidental take is authorized under
these regulations.
In accordance with section
101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)
and our regulations at 50 CFR part 18,
subpart J, in 2022, we issued LOAs to
the companies in the Beaufort Sea and
adjacent northern coast of Alaska shown
in the table. The Service includes in the
table all LOAs issued in 2022.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM
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43622
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 130 / Monday, July 10, 2023 / Notices
LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION ISSUED FOR OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE BEAUFORT SEA, ALASKA,
IN 2022
Company
Project
ASRC Consulting and Environmental
Services.
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc ......................
Well drilling for a methane hydrate project on the Kuparuk State 7–11–12 gravel
pad within the Prudhoe Bay Unit on the North Slope of Alaska.
Incidental take of polar bears that may occur during ConocoPhillips Alaska
Inc.’s 3D seismic acquisition at and surrounding the Alpine CD1 Pad.
Oil and gas drilling and production within the Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk Units on
Alaska’s North Slope.
Oil and gas exploration and development within and adjacent to the Pikka Unit
area and oil and gas exploration on Oil Search Alaska operated leaseholds
on Alaska’s North Slope.
Operation and maintenance of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, which extends from Pump Station 1 in the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield to the Valdez Marine
Terminal.
Well drilling and production test facility construction and operation for a methane
hydrate project on the Kuparuk State 7–11–12 gravel pad within the Prudhoe
Bay Unit on the North Slope of Alaska.
Incidental harassment of polar bears and Pacific walrus that may occur during
Glacier Oil and Gas Corporation’s oil production, facilities and pipeline maintenance, workovers of existing wells, and construction and maintenance of ice
roads associated with the Badami oilfield near Mikkelsen Bay in the North
Slope.
Year-round oil and gas exploration, production, development, and support activities in the Milne Point, Duck Island (Endicott), Northstar Island, Prudhoe Bay,
and Point Thomson operation areas located in the Beaufort Sea Incidental
Take Regulations area of the North Slope of Alaska.
Incidental take of polar bears and Pacific walrus that may occur during
ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.’s field-wide operations in the Kuparuk River, Western North Slope, Colville River, Greater Moose’s Tooth, and Bear Tooth Units
on the North Slope of Alaska.
The incidental take of polar bears that may occur during ConocoPhillips Alaska
Inc.’s year 1 construction activities and geotechnical investigations for the Willow Development Project located in the Bear Tooth, Greater Mooses Tooth,
Colville River, Pikka, Southern Miluveach, and Kuparuk River Units of the
North Slope of Alaska, as well as non-unitized lands east of the Colville River.
An amendment dated March 9, 2022, to the letter of authorization (LOA) for the
alteration of a previously covered tundra travel route extending from
Deadhorse to Point Thomson and the addition of a secondary tundra travel
route extending from the western portion of the Point Thomson Unit coastal
route to the Bullen Point Staging Pad. The requested LOA is for the incidental
take of polar bears and Pacific walrus that may occur during operational and
tundra travel activities in support of the Point Thomson Production Facility on
the North Slope of Alaska.
An amendment dated January 26, 2022, to the LOA 21–03 [corrected] issued
on October 15, 2021, for the incidental take of small numbers of polar bears.
The amended LOA is for the incidental take of small numbers of polar bears
that may occur during Oil Search (Alaska) (OSA), LLC’s activities associated
with oil and gas exploration and development within and adjacent to the Pikka
Unit area and oil and gas exploration on OSA-operated leaseholds on Alaska’s North Slope. Planned activities occurred from January 28, 2022, to August 6, 2022.
An amendment dated January 3, 2022, to the LOA issued on August 5, 2021,
for the incidental take of polar bears and Pacific walrus. The Service considered additional information provided by Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, in the Milne
Point, Duck Island (Endicott), Northstar Island, and Prudhoe Bay operation
areas located in the Beaufort Sea Incidental Take Regulations Area of the
North Slope of Alaska. Planned activities occurred from January 3, 2022, to
August 5, 2022.
Eni U.S. Operating Company Inc ...........
Oil Search Alaska, LLC ..........................
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company ........
ASRC Consulting and Environmental
Services.
Glacier Oil and Gas ................................
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ................................
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc ......................
Conoco Philips Alaska, Inc .....................
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ................................
Oil Search Alaska, LLC ..........................
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ................................
Authority: We issue this notice under
the authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Peter Fasbender,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries and
Ecological Services, Alaska Region.
[FWS–R4–ES–2023–N058;
FXES11140400000–234–FF04E00000]
[FR Doc. 2023–14442 Filed 7–7–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered Species; Recovery Permit
Applications
AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
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17:45 Jul 07, 2023
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LOA No.
22–01.
22–02.
22–03.
22–04.
22–05.
22–06.
22–07.
22–08.
22–09.
22–10.
21–01 [Amended in
2022 from 2021].
21–03 [Amended in
2022 from 2021].
21–05 [Amended in
2022 from 2021].
Notice of receipt of permit
applications; request for comments.
ACTION:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have received
applications for permits to conduct
activities intended to enhance the
propagation or survival of endangered
species under the Endangered Species
Act. We invite the public and local,
State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 130 (Monday, July 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43621-43622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14442]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2023-0008; FF07CAMM00-FX-ES111607MRG01]
Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walruses
and Polar Bears in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, in 2022
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of issuance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued letters of
authorization (LOA) for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific
walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development,
and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern
coast of Alaska in 2022. This notice announces the LOAs issued in
calendar year 2022. The LOAs stipulate conditions and methods that
minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific walruses from these
activities.
ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may view the letters of
authorization at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R7-
ES-2023-0008, or you may request them from the contact in FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Hamilton, via U.S. mail at
Marine Mammals Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 341, 1011
East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; by email at
[email protected], or by telephone at 1-800-362-5148. Individuals
in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2021, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) published in the Federal Register a final
rule (86 FR 42982) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize
the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar
bears (Ursus maritimus) and Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus
divergens) during year-round oil and gas industry exploration,
development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent
northern coast of Alaska. These incidental take regulations are located
in subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) and are effective through August 5, 2026. The rule prescribed a
process under which we issue letters of authorization (LOA) to
applicants conducting activities as described under the provisions of
the regulations.
Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the
activity and location. Holders of the LOAs must use methods and conduct
activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent
practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walruses and polar bears and
their habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for
subsistence purposes. No intentional take or lethal incidental take is
authorized under these regulations.
In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR
part 18, subpart J, in 2022, we issued LOAs to the companies in the
Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska shown in the table.
The Service includes in the table all LOAs issued in 2022.
[[Page 43622]]
Letters of Authorization Issued for Oil and Gas Development Activities in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, in 2022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Project LOA No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASRC Consulting and Environmental Well drilling for a methane 22-01.
Services. hydrate project on the Kuparuk
State 7-11-12 gravel pad within
the Prudhoe Bay Unit on the
North Slope of Alaska.
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc................ Incidental take of polar bears 22-02.
that may occur during
ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.'s 3D
seismic acquisition at and
surrounding the Alpine CD1 Pad.
Eni U.S. Operating Company Inc........... Oil and gas drilling and 22-03.
production within the
Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk Units
on Alaska's North Slope.
Oil Search Alaska, LLC................... Oil and gas exploration and 22-04.
development within and adjacent
to the Pikka Unit area and oil
and gas exploration on Oil
Search Alaska operated
leaseholds on Alaska's North
Slope.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company......... Operation and maintenance of the 22-05.
Trans Alaska Pipeline System,
which extends from Pump Station
1 in the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield
to the Valdez Marine Terminal.
ASRC Consulting and Environmental Well drilling and production 22-06.
Services. test facility construction and
operation for a methane hydrate
project on the Kuparuk State 7-
11-12 gravel pad within the
Prudhoe Bay Unit on the North
Slope of Alaska.
Glacier Oil and Gas...................... Incidental harassment of polar 22-07.
bears and Pacific walrus that
may occur during Glacier Oil
and Gas Corporation's oil
production, facilities and
pipeline maintenance, workovers
of existing wells, and
construction and maintenance of
ice roads associated with the
Badami oilfield near Mikkelsen
Bay in the North Slope.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...................... Year-round oil and gas 22-08.
exploration, production,
development, and support
activities in the Milne Point,
Duck Island (Endicott),
Northstar Island, Prudhoe Bay,
and Point Thomson operation
areas located in the Beaufort
Sea Incidental Take Regulations
area of the North Slope of
Alaska.
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc................ Incidental take of polar bears 22-09.
and Pacific walrus that may
occur during ConocoPhillips
Alaska Inc.'s field-wide
operations in the Kuparuk
River, Western North Slope,
Colville River, Greater Moose's
Tooth, and Bear Tooth Units on
the North Slope of Alaska.
Conoco Philips Alaska, Inc............... The incidental take of polar 22-10.
bears that may occur during
ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.'s
year 1 construction activities
and geotechnical investigations
for the Willow Development
Project located in the Bear
Tooth, Greater Mooses Tooth,
Colville River, Pikka, Southern
Miluveach, and Kuparuk River
Units of the North Slope of
Alaska, as well as non-unitized
lands east of the Colville
River.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...................... An amendment dated March 9, 21-01 [Amended in 2022 from 2021].
2022, to the letter of
authorization (LOA) for the
alteration of a previously
covered tundra travel route
extending from Deadhorse to
Point Thomson and the addition
of a secondary tundra travel
route extending from the
western portion of the Point
Thomson Unit coastal route to
the Bullen Point Staging Pad.
The requested LOA is for the
incidental take of polar bears
and Pacific walrus that may
occur during operational and
tundra travel activities in
support of the Point Thomson
Production Facility on the
North Slope of Alaska.
Oil Search Alaska, LLC................... An amendment dated January 26, 21-03 [Amended in 2022 from 2021].
2022, to the LOA 21-03
[corrected] issued on October
15, 2021, for the incidental
take of small numbers of polar
bears. The amended LOA is for
the incidental take of small
numbers of polar bears that may
occur during Oil Search
(Alaska) (OSA), LLC's
activities associated with oil
and gas exploration and
development within and adjacent
to the Pikka Unit area and oil
and gas exploration on OSA-
operated leaseholds on Alaska's
North Slope. Planned activities
occurred from January 28, 2022,
to August 6, 2022.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...................... An amendment dated January 3, 21-05 [Amended in 2022 from 2021].
2022, to the LOA issued on
August 5, 2021, for the
incidental take of polar bears
and Pacific walrus. The Service
considered additional
information provided by Hilcorp
Alaska, LLC, in the Milne
Point, Duck Island (Endicott),
Northstar Island, and Prudhoe
Bay operation areas located in
the Beaufort Sea Incidental
Take Regulations Area of the
North Slope of Alaska. Planned
activities occurred from
January 3, 2022, to August 5,
2022.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authority: We issue this notice under the authority of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).
Peter Fasbender,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries and Ecological Services, Alaska
Region.
[FR Doc. 2023-14442 Filed 7-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
