Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walruses, Polar Bears, and Northern Sea Otters in Alaska, in 2023, 38180-38182 [2024-09900]
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38180
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 7, 2024 / Notices
the distance from the sound source to
the sea otter upon initial observation,
the duration of the encounter, and the
distance at last observation in order to
monitor cumulative sound exposures.
(vi) Observers will note any instances
of animals lingering close to or traveling
with vessels for prolonged periods of
time.
(21) Monitoring of the shutdown zone
must continue for 30 minutes following
completion of pile installation.
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E. Measures To Reduce Impacts to
Subsistence Users
(22) Prior to conducting the work, the
City and Borough of Sitka will take the
following steps to reduce potential
effects on subsistence harvest of sea
otters:
(i) Avoid work in areas of known sea
otter subsistence harvest;
(ii) Discuss the planned activities
with subsistence stakeholders including
Southeast Alaska villages and
traditional councils;
(iii) Identify and work to resolve
concerns of stakeholders regarding the
project’s effects on subsistence hunting
of sea otters; and
(iv) If any concerns remain, develop a
POC in consultation with the FWS and
subsistence stakeholders to address
these concerns.
F. Reporting Requirements
(23) The City and Borough of Sitka
must notify the FWS at least 48 hours
prior to commencement of activities.
(24) Reports will be submitted to the
FWS’s MMM weekly during project
activities. The reports will summarize
project work and monitoring efforts.
(25) A final report will be submitted
to the FWS’s MMM within 90 days after
completion of work or expiration of the
IHA. It will summarize all monitoring
efforts and observations, describe all
project activities, and discuss any
additional work yet to be done. Factors
influencing visibility and detectability
of marine mammals (e.g., sea state,
number of observers, fog, and glare) will
be discussed. The report will describe
changes in sea otter behavior resulting
from project activities and any specific
behaviors of interest. Sea otter
observation records will be provided in
the form of electronic database or
spreadsheet files. The report will assess
any effects the City and Borough of
Sitka’s operations may have had on the
availability of sea otters for subsistence
harvest and if applicable, evaluate the
effectiveness of the POC for preventing
impacts to subsistence users of sea
otters.
(26) Injured, dead, or distressed sea
otters that are not associated with
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project activities (e.g., animals found
outside the project area, previously
wounded animals, or carcasses with
moderate to advanced decomposition or
scavenger damage) must be reported to
the FWS within 24 hours of discovery.
Photographs, video, location
information, or any other available
documentation shall be provided to the
FWS.
(27) All reports shall be submitted by
email to fw7_mmm_reports@fws.gov.
(28) The City and Borough of Sitka
must notify the FWS upon project
completion or end of the work season.
Request for Public Comments
If you wish to comment on this
proposed authorization, the associated
draft environmental assessment, or both
documents, you may submit your
comments by either of the methods
described in ADDRESSES. Please identify
if you are commenting on the proposed
authorization, draft environmental
assessment, or both, make your
comments as specific as possible,
confine them to issues pertinent to the
proposed authorization, and explain the
reason for any changes you recommend.
Where possible, your comments should
reference the specific section or
paragraph that you are addressing. The
FWS will consider all comments that
are received before the close of the
comment period (see DATES). The FWS
does not anticipate extending the public
comment period beyond the 30 days
required under section 101(a)(5)(D)(iii)
of the MMPA.
Comments, including names and
street addresses of respondents, will
become part of the administrative record
for this proposal. Before including your
address, telephone number, email
address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, be
advised that your entire comment,
including your personal identifying
information, may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can ask
us in your comments to withhold from
public review your personal identifying
information, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
Peter Fasbender,
Assistant Regional Director for Fisheries and
Ecological Services, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 2024–09895 Filed 5–6–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–R7–ES–2024–0003;
FXES111607MRG01–245–FF07CAMM00]
Marine Mammals; Letters of
Authorization To Take Pacific
Walruses, Polar Bears, and Northern
Sea Otters in Alaska, in 2023
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 (Service) issues 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. The Service also issues LOAs
for the nonlethal take of northern sea
otters incidental to pile driving and
marine construction activities in the
Gulf of Alaska. This notice announces
the LOAs issued in calendar year 2023.
The LOAs stipulate conditions and
methods that minimize impacts to polar
bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea
otters from these activities.
ADDRESSES:
Accessing documents: You may view
the letters of authorization at https://
www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
FWS–R7–ES–2024–0003. Alternatively,
you may request these documents from
the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charles Hamilton, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road
MS–341, Anchorage, AK 99503, by
email at R7mmmregulatory@fws.gov or
by telephone at (907) 786–3800.
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.
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
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\07MYN1.SGM
07MYN1
38181
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 7, 2024 / Notices
(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 2023, we issued LOAs to
the companies in the Beaufort Sea and
adjacent northern coast of Alaska shown
in table 1.
TABLE 1—LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION ISSUED FOR OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE BEAUFORT SEA,
ALASKA, IN 2023
Company
Project
Eni U.S. Operating Company Inc ...........
Oil and gas drilling and production within the Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk Units on
Alaska’s North Slope.
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.
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.
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.
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.
An amendment request dated November 2, 2023, for 23–INC–05 to include
three additional pad expansions, two additional road expansions, repair of the
Northstar bench, and construction and use of an ice road from Niakuk to Endicott’s main drilling island in the Mine Point, Duck Island (Endicott), and
Northstar Island operational areas. Original LOA (23–INC–05) for 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.
A letter from the Service dated December 19, 2023, outlining additional monitoring and mitigation measures to reduce disturbance of a putative den identified through aerial infrared surveys and located within the 1-mile buffer zone
of operations and infrastructure.
Incidental take of polar bears during oil and gas activities associated with the
Willow Development (Project) work in 2023–2024. Represents an extension of
Willow LOA 22–INC–10, which expires August 6, 2023.
Renewal request of 22–INC–09: 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.
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.
Incidental take of polar bears that may occur during CPAI’s Ptarmigan Seismic
Survey in the Greater Mooses Tooth, Bear Tooth, and non-unitized land on
the North Slope of Alaska.
Incidental take of polar bears associated with Lagniappe drilling program activities, including ice road and ice pad construction, ice road transportation, well
drilling, and aircraft-supported cleanup for an oil and gas exploration well drilling project. Drilling located south of the Badami Unit.
Amendment submitted on Jan. 18, 2023, to LOA 22–INC–04. Amendment pertains to the incidental take of polar bears that may occur during 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. Amendment allows for additional tundra travel to
survey a pipeline route between Oliktok Point and the Kuparuk area and the
construction of a 10-acre gravel pad alongside the NDA gravel road.
ASRC Consulting and Environmental
Services.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company ........
Oil Search Alaska, LLC ..........................
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ................................
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ................................
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC ................................
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc ......................
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc ......................
Glacier Oil and Gas ................................
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc ......................
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ASRC Consulting and Environmental
Services.
Oil Search Alaska, LLC ..........................
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LOA #
07MYN1
23–01.
23–02.
23–03.
23–04.
23–05.
23–05 [Amended in
Dec. 2023 from
July 2023].
23–05 [Amended in
Dec. 2023 from
July 2023].
23–06.
23–07.
23–08.
23–09.
23–10.
22–04 [Amended in
2023 from 2022].
38182
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 7, 2024 / Notices
On April 19, 2023, the Service
published in the Federal Register a final
rule (88 FR 24115) establishing
regulations that allow us to authorize
the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional
take of small numbers of northern sea
otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) during
marine construction and pile-driving
activities in coastal waters surrounding
eight United States Coast Guard (USCG)
facilities in the Gulf of Alaska. These
incidental take regulations are located
in subpart L in part 18 of title 50 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and
are effective through May 19, 2028. The
rule prescribed a process under which
we issue LOAs to the USCG Guard
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
northern sea otters and their habitat,
and on the availability of northern sea
otters 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 L, in 2023, we issued two LOAs
to the USCG for their activities in the
Gulf of Alaska shown in table 2.
TABLE 2—LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION ISSUED TO THE U.S. COAST GUARD (USCG) FOR MARINE CONSTRUCTION AND
PILE-DRIVING ACTIVITIES IN THE GULF OF ALASKA
Company
Project
USCG ......................................................
Incidental take of small numbers of northern sea otters that may occur during
activities associated with pile driving and marine construction activities in Cordova, Alaska.
Incidental take of small numbers of northern sea otters that may occur during
activities associated with improvements to the small boat fueling tank facility
at USCG Station Valdez, Alaska.
USCG ......................................................
Authority: We issue this notice under
the authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.).
INFORMATION CONTACT
Peter Fasbender,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries and
Ecological Services, Alaska Region.
Travis Edwards BLM Spokane District
Office, 1103 N Fancher, Spokane Valley,
WA 99212; telephone: (509) 536–1297;
or email: tedwards@blm.gov.
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.
[FR Doc. 2024–09900 Filed 5–6–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_OR_FRN_MO4500178813]
Second Call for Nominations for the
San Juan Islands National Monument
Advisory Committee
AGENCY:
Interior.
Second call for nominations to
San Juan Islands National Monument
Advisory Committee.
ACTION:
The purpose of this notice is
to request public nominations for the
Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM)
San Juan Islands National Monument
Advisory Committee (MAC). The
Council provides advice and
recommendations to the BLM on land
use planning and management of the
public land resources located within the
BLM’s San Juan Islands National
Monument, located in the Spokane
District.
DATES: All nominations must be
received no later than June 21, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Nominations and completed
applications should be sent to the BLM
office listed in the FOR FURTHER
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the
Interior to involve the public in
planning and issues related to
management of lands administered by
the BLM. Section 309 of FLPMA, as
amended (43 U.S.C. 1739), directs the
Secretary to establish 10- to 15-member
citizen-based advisory committees that
are consistent with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA). As required by
FACA, MAC membership must be
balanced and representative of the
various interests concerned with the
management of the public lands. The
BLM’s regulations governing resource
advisory councils are found at 43 CFR
1784.
The MAC includes thirteen
representative members to be appointed
by the Secretary of the Interior as
follows:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Bureau of Land Management,
SUMMARY:
section of this
notice.
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LOA #
23–CG–01
23–CG–02
(a) One member representing
archeological, cultural, and heritage
interests;
(b) One member representing wildlife
and ecological interests;
(c) One member representing the
interests of a nonprofit organization
whose mission is conservation and/or
management of natural resources, land,
or water;
(d) One member representing natural
resource management or natural
sciences interests;
(e) One member representing
recreation and tourism interests;
(f) One member representing local
youth, education, and interpretation
interests;
(g) Two members that have significant
cultural or historic connections to, and
knowledge about, the landscape,
archeological sites, or cultural sites
connected to the Monument;
(h) One member who holds State,
county, or local elected office;
(i) One member representing
conservation and/or management of
natural resources, land, or water
interests;
(j) One member representing local
interests that is a resident of Lopez
Island; and
(k) One member of the public-at-large.
Members will be appointed to the
MAC to serve three-year staggered
terms.
Nominating Potential Members:
Nominations should include a resume
providing an adequate description of the
nominee’s qualifications, including
information that would enable the
Department of the Interior to make an
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38180-38182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09900]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2024-0003; FXES111607MRG01-245-FF07CAMM00]
Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific
Walruses, Polar Bears, and Northern Sea Otters in Alaska, in 2023
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 (Service) issues 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. The Service also issues LOAs for the
nonlethal take of northern sea otters incidental to pile driving and
marine construction activities in the Gulf of Alaska. This notice
announces the LOAs issued in calendar year 2023. The LOAs stipulate
conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears, Pacific
walruses, and northern sea otters from these activities.
ADDRESSES:
Accessing documents: You may view the letters of authorization at
https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2024-0003.
Alternatively, you may request these documents from the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Hamilton, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road MS-341, Anchorage, AK 99503, by
email at [email protected] or by telephone at (907) 786-3800.
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
[[Page 38181]]
(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 2023, we issued LOAs to the companies in the
Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska shown in table 1.
Table 1--Letters of Authorization Issued for Oil and Gas Development Activities in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, in
2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Project LOA #
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eni U.S. Operating Company Inc........... Oil and gas drilling and 23-01.
production within the
Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk Units
on Alaska's North Slope.
ASRC Consulting and Environmental Well drilling and production 23-02.
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.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company......... Operation and maintenance of the 23-03.
Trans Alaska Pipeline System,
which extends from Pump Station
1 in the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield
to the Valdez Marine Terminal.
Oil Search Alaska, LLC................... Oil and gas exploration and 23-04.
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.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...................... Year-round oil and gas 23-05.
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.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...................... An amendment request dated 23-05 [Amended in Dec. 2023 from
November 2, 2023, for 23-INC-05 July 2023].
to include three additional pad
expansions, two additional road
expansions, repair of the
Northstar bench, and
construction and use of an ice
road from Niakuk to Endicott's
main drilling island in the
Mine Point, Duck Island
(Endicott), and Northstar
Island operational areas.
Original LOA (23-INC-05) for
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.
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC...................... A letter from the Service dated 23-05 [Amended in Dec. 2023 from
December 19, 2023, outlining July 2023].
additional monitoring and
mitigation measures to reduce
disturbance of a putative den
identified through aerial
infrared surveys and located
within the 1-mile buffer zone
of operations and
infrastructure.
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc................ Incidental take of polar bears 23-06.
during oil and gas activities
associated with the Willow
Development (Project) work in
2023-2024. Represents an
extension of Willow LOA 22-INC-
10, which expires August 6,
2023.
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc................ Renewal request of 22-INC-09: 23-07.
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.
Glacier Oil and Gas...................... Incidental harassment of polar 23-08.
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.
Conoco Philips Alaska Inc................ Incidental take of polar bears 23-09.
that may occur during CPAI's
Ptarmigan Seismic Survey in the
Greater Mooses Tooth, Bear
Tooth, and non-unitized land on
the North Slope of Alaska.
ASRC Consulting and Environmental Incidental take of polar bears 23-10.
Services. associated with Lagniappe
drilling program activities,
including ice road and ice pad
construction, ice road
transportation, well drilling,
and aircraft-supported cleanup
for an oil and gas exploration
well drilling project. Drilling
located south of the Badami
Unit.
Oil Search Alaska, LLC................... Amendment submitted on Jan. 18, 22-04 [Amended in 2023 from 2022].
2023, to LOA 22-INC-04.
Amendment pertains to the
incidental take of polar bears
that may occur during
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. Amendment allows
for additional tundra travel to
survey a pipeline route between
Oliktok Point and the Kuparuk
area and the construction of a
10-acre gravel pad alongside
the NDA gravel road.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 38182]]
On April 19, 2023, the Service published in the Federal Register a
final rule (88 FR 24115) establishing regulations that allow us to
authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small
numbers of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) during marine
construction and pile-driving activities in coastal waters surrounding
eight United States Coast Guard (USCG) facilities in the Gulf of
Alaska. These incidental take regulations are located in subpart L in
part 18 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and are
effective through May 19, 2028. The rule prescribed a process under
which we issue LOAs to the USCG Guard 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 northern sea otters and their habitat,
and on the availability of northern sea otters 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 L, in 2023, we issued two LOAs to the USCG for their
activities in the Gulf of Alaska shown in table 2.
Table 2--Letters of Authorization Issued to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for Marine Construction and Pile-Driving
Activities in the Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Project LOA #
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USCG..................................... Incidental take of small numbers 23-CG-01
of northern sea otters that may
occur during activities
associated with pile driving
and marine construction
activities in Cordova, Alaska.
USCG..................................... Incidental take of small numbers 23-CG-02
of northern sea otters that may
occur during activities
associated with improvements to
the small boat fueling tank
facility at USCG Station
Valdez, Alaska.
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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. 2024-09900 Filed 5-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
