Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 34214-34215 [2024-09223]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Notices
—— Recess ——
Thursday, May 23, 2024
XIX. 9 a.m.–10 a.m.: CCC Workgroups/
Subcommittees
9 a.m.–9:15 a.m.
• Communications Committee
Councils MSA 50-year Anniversary
Update
9:15 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
• Habitat Working Group—Dr. Lisa
Hollensead/Dr. Graciela Garcı´aMoliner
9:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m.
• NEPA Working Group Report—Dr.
Graciela Garcı´a-Moliner
9:45 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
• EEJ Working Group Report—Mr.
Zach Yamada/Dr. Graciela Garcı´aMoliner
—— Break 10:15 a.m.–10:30 a.m. ——
XX. 10:30 a.m.–11 a.m.: Public
Comments—Mr. Carlos F. Farchette
XXI. 11 a.m.–11:15 a.m.: 2025 CCC
Meetings—Dr. Cate O’keefe
XXII. 11:15 a.m.–12 p.m.: Other
Business and Wrap-Up—Mr. Carlos
F. Farchette
• CCC Outcomes and Action Items
—— ADJOURN ——
The timing and order in which agenda
items are addressed may change as
required to effectively address the
issues. The CCC will meet as late as
necessary to complete scheduled
business.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in the meeting agenda may be
discussed, those issues may not be the
subject of formal action during these
meetings. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed in this
document and any issues arising after
publication of this document that
require emergency action under section
305 (c) of the Magnuson-Stephens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the intent to take final action
to address the emergency.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Diana Martino,
Caribbean Fishery Management Council,
270 Mun˜oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401,
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00918–1903,
telephone: (787) 226–8849, at least 5
working days prior to the meeting.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:27 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
Dated: April 24, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–09213 Filed 4–29–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD881]
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Geophysical Surveys
Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the
Gulf of Mexico
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of modification to
expiration date of letter of authorization.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), as amended, its implementing
regulations, and NMFS’ MMPA
Regulations for Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Geophysical
Surveys Related to Oil and Gas
Activities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM),
notification is hereby given that NMFS
has modified the expiration date of a
Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to
WesternGeco for the take of marine
mammals incidental to geophysical
survey activity in the GOM.
DATES: This LOA is effective through
July 31, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and
supporting documentation are available
online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/marinemammal-protection/issued-lettersauthorization-oil-and-gas-industrygeophysical-survey. In case of problems
accessing these documents, please call
the contact listed below (FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jenna Harlacher, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
the Secretary of Commerce 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
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 authorization for incidental
takings 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.
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).
On January 19, 2021, we issued a final
rule with regulations to govern the
unintentional taking of marine
mammals incidental to geophysical
survey activities conducted by oil and
gas industry operators, and those
persons authorized to conduct activities
on their behalf (collectively ‘‘industry
operators’’), in U.S. waters of the GOM
over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322,
January 19, 2021). The rule was based
on our findings that the total taking
from the specified activities over the 5year period will have a negligible
impact on the affected species or
stock(s) of marine mammals and will
not have an unmitigable adverse impact
on the availability of those species or
stocks for subsistence uses. The rule
became effective on April 19, 2021.
Our regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et
seq. allow for the issuance of LOAs to
industry operators for the incidental
take of marine mammals during
geophysical survey activities and
prescribe the permissible methods of
taking and other means of effecting the
least practicable adverse impact on
marine mammal species or stocks and
their habitat (often referred to as
mitigation), as well as requirements
pertaining to the monitoring and
E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM
30APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 84 / Tuesday, April 30, 2024 / Notices
reporting of such taking. Under 50 CFR
217.186(e), issuance of an LOA shall be
based on a determination that the level
of taking will be consistent with the
findings made for the total taking
allowable under these regulations and a
determination that the amount of take
authorized under the LOA is of no more
than small numbers.
NMFS issued a LOA to WesternGeco
on October 17, 2023, for the take of
marine mammals incidental to a threedimensional ocean bottom node survey
in the Green Canyon and Walker Ridge
protraction areas, including
approximately 795 lease blocks,
effective October 16, 2023, through
April 30, 2024. Please see the Federal
Register notice of issuance (88 FR
72739, October 23, 2023) for additional
detail regarding the LOA and the survey
activity.
WesternGeco has requested a
modification of the April 30, 2024,
expiration date, extending it to July 31,
2024, due to survey delays. There are no
other changes to WesternGeco’s planned
activity.
Authorization
NMFS has changed the expiration
date of the LOA from April 30, 2024, to
July 31, 2024. There are no other
changes to the LOA as described in the
October 23, 2023, Federal Register
notice of issuance (88 FR 72739): the
specified survey activity; estimated take
by incidental harassment; and small
numbers analysis and determination
remain unchanged and are incorporated
here by reference.
Dated: April 23, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–09223 Filed 4–29–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD902]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Cook Inlet Salmon;
Public Outreach Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Meeting notice.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
AGENCY:
NMFS will hold two in
person public meetings and one webinar
regarding Amendment 16 to the Fishery
Management Plan for the Salmon
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:27 Apr 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) Off Alaska (Salmon FMP).
Amendment 16 establishes Federal
management for the salmon fishery in
the Federal (i.e., EEZ) waters of upper
Cook Inlet.
DATES: The first meeting will take place
on May 15, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska,
starting at 5:30 p.m. AKDT and
concluding no later than 7:30 p.m.
AKDT. The second public meeting will
take place on May 16, 2024, in Homer,
Alaska, starting at 5:30 p.m. AKDT and
concluding no later than 7:30 p.m.
AKDT. The webinar will take place on
May 22, 2024, starting at 10 a.m. AKDT
and concluding no later than 12 p.m.
AKDT.
ADDRESSES:
• May 15, 2024: Kenai, Alaska
Æ Quality Inn—Conference room
Æ 10352 Kenai Spur Highway
• May 16, 2024: Homer, Alaska
Æ Best Western Bidarka Inn—Upstairs
conference room
Æ 575 Sterling Highway
• May 22, 2024: Webinar
Æ Cook Inlet Public Webinar
Æ Wednesday, May 22 · 10:00 a.m.–
12:00 p.m.
Æ Time zone: America/Anchorage
Æ Google Meet joining info
Æ Video call link: https://
meet.google.com/qbp-wpqo-mkw
Æ Or dial: (US) +1 929–324–9506 PIN:
148 365 993#
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Hadfield, 907–586–7376.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public
meetings will be held in Kenai, Homer
and via webinar to discuss the
permitting, recordkeeping and reporting
requirements for commercial drift
gillnet salmon fishing in the federally
managed Cook Inlet drift EEZ salmon
fishery.
In response to a 2016 decision of the
Ninth Circuit of Appeals and the 2022
summary judgment opinion of the U.S.
District Court for the District of Alaska
in United Cook Inlet Drift Association v.
NMFS, beginning in 2024 NMFS is
establishing Federal management over
all salmon fishing in the EEZ waters of
upper Cook Inlet, consistent with all
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
requirements. Because NMFS has not
previously managed salmon fishing in
the Cook Inlet EEZ, NMFS is conducting
public meetings to explain the
regulatory requirements for fishermen,
processors and fish transporter
participants and answer questions
pertaining to these requirements.
Staff will provide information and the
public will have the opportunity to ask
questions. The schedule is as follows:
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
34215
• Wednesday, May 15, 2024, inperson at 5:30 p.m., located at the
following address: Kenai Quality Inn,
10352 Kenai Spur Highway, Kenai,
Alaska.
• Thursday, May 16, 2024, in-person
at 5:30 p.m., located at the following
address: Best Western Bidarka Inn, 575
Sterling Highway, Homer, Alaska.
• Wednesday May 22, 2024, virtual
webinar at 10 a.m., located at the
following address: https://
meet.google.com/qbp-wpqo-mkw.
Registration is not required.
Special Accommodations
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Amy Hadfield,
907–586–7376, at least 5 working days
prior to the meeting date.
Dated: April 25, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–09298 Filed 4–29–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; National Marine Sanctuary
Nominations
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection,
request for comment.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), invites the general public and
other Federal agencies to comment on
proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. This notice pertains to
a requested renewal of the approved
collection of information for national
marine sanctuary nominations. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60
days of public comment preceding
submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received
on or before July 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments to
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM
30APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 84 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34214-34215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09223]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD881]
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in
the Gulf of Mexico
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of modification to expiration date of letter of
authorization.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as
amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil
and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), notification is hereby
given that NMFS has modified the expiration date of a Letter of
Authorization (LOA) issued to WesternGeco for the take of marine
mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.
DATES: This LOA is effective through July 31, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and supporting documentation are
available online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/marine-mammal-protection/issued-letters-authorization-oil-and-gas-industry-geophysical-survey. In case of problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed below (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenna Harlacher, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.
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 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 authorization for incidental takings 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.
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).
On January 19, 2021, we issued a final rule with regulations to
govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to
geophysical survey activities conducted by oil and gas industry
operators, and those persons authorized to conduct activities on their
behalf (collectively ``industry operators''), in U.S. waters of the GOM
over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322, January 19, 2021). The rule was
based on our findings that the total taking from the specified
activities over the 5-year period will have a negligible impact on the
affected species or stock(s) of marine mammals and will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species or
stocks for subsistence uses. The rule became effective on April 19,
2021.
Our regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et seq. allow for the issuance of
LOAs to industry operators for the incidental take of marine mammals
during geophysical survey activities and prescribe the permissible
methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable
adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat
(often referred to as mitigation), as well as requirements pertaining
to the monitoring and
[[Page 34215]]
reporting of such taking. Under 50 CFR 217.186(e), issuance of an LOA
shall be based on a determination that the level of taking will be
consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under
these regulations and a determination that the amount of take
authorized under the LOA is of no more than small numbers.
NMFS issued a LOA to WesternGeco on October 17, 2023, for the take
of marine mammals incidental to a three-dimensional ocean bottom node
survey in the Green Canyon and Walker Ridge protraction areas,
including approximately 795 lease blocks, effective October 16, 2023,
through April 30, 2024. Please see the Federal Register notice of
issuance (88 FR 72739, October 23, 2023) for additional detail
regarding the LOA and the survey activity.
WesternGeco has requested a modification of the April 30, 2024,
expiration date, extending it to July 31, 2024, due to survey delays.
There are no other changes to WesternGeco's planned activity.
Authorization
NMFS has changed the expiration date of the LOA from April 30,
2024, to July 31, 2024. There are no other changes to the LOA as
described in the October 23, 2023, Federal Register notice of issuance
(88 FR 72739): the specified survey activity; estimated take by
incidental harassment; and small numbers analysis and determination
remain unchanged and are incorporated here by reference.
Dated: April 23, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-09223 Filed 4-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
