Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 41393-41394 [2024-10305]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 93 / Monday, May 13, 2024 / Notices
hereby given that NOAA’s Office for
Coastal Management approves a
boundary expansion for the South
Slough National Estuarine Research
Reserve in Charleston, Oregon to add
1,771 acres, which consist of 30 acres
added as a correction to account for
changes in GIS-mapping technologies
since the reserve was established in
1974; 1,541 acres of parcels currently
owned by the Oregon Division of State
Lands outside the existing boundary;
and 200 acres of state-owned South
Slough waters located adjacent to the
expansion parcels, resulting in a new
total area for the reserve of 6,542 acres.
Pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act, NOAA prepared a draft
environmental assessment (draft EA) to
analyze the effects of the requested
expansion and solicited public
comment on the draft EA. NOAA
determined that the boundary
expansion would not have significant
environmental effects. Therefore, after
considering the comments it received,
NOAA issued a final environmental
assessment and finding of no significant
impact (FONSI).
ADDRESSES: The final environmental
assessment and FONSI can be
downloaded or viewed at
coast.noaa.gov/czm/compliance/. The
documents are also available by sending
a written request to the point of contact
identified below (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Erica Seiden of NOAA’s Office for
Coastal Management, by email at
Erica.Seiden@noaa.gov, phone at (240)
429–5166, or mail at 1305 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, 20910.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 15 CFR 921.33.
Keelin S. Kuipers,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal
Management, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–10321 Filed 5–10–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–08–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
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[RTID 0648–XD949]
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
AGENCY:
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The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a public meeting via webinar
of its Habitat Advisory Panel to consider
actions affecting New England fisheries
in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
This meeting will be held in-person
with a webinar option.
Recommendations from this group will
be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: This webinar will be held on
Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 9 a.m.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held
via webinar. Webinar registration URL
information: https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/
webinar/register/WN_t96szYknT2
aHcWje6x06bA.
Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate
O’Keefe, Ph.D., Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (978) 465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Agenda
The Advisory Panel will review and
discuss draft alternatives for the
Northern Edge Habitat-Scallop
Framework and recommend
modifications to the draft alternatives
and rationale to the Habitat Committee.
They will also receive updates on the
Council’s Essential Fish Habitat Review.
Also, they plan to review and discuss
potential Council comments to the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on
the Proposed Sale Notice for offshore
wind leases in the Gulf of Maine. Other
business will be discussed, if necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained on the agenda may come
before this Council for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Council
action will be restricted to those issues
specifically listed in this notice and any
issues arising after publication of this
notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has
been notified of the Council’s intent to
take final action to address the
emergency. The public also should be
aware that the meeting will be recorded.
Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy
of the recording is available upon
request.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate
O’Keefe, Ph.D., Executive Director, at
PO 00000
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41393
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 8, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–10393 Filed 5–10–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD787]
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
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
(Anadarko) for the take of marine
mammals incidental to geophysical
survey activity in the GOM.
DATES: This LOA is effective through
July 15, 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-gasindustry-geophysical-survey. In case of
problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed below (FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rachel Wachtendonk, 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
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41394
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 93 / Monday, May 13, 2024 / Notices
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 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
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marine mammal species or stocks and
their habitat (often referred to as
mitigation), as well as requirements
pertaining to the monitoring and
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 an LOA to Anadarko on
January 4, 2024, for the take of marine
mammals incidental a one-dimensional
vertical seismic profile (VSP) within
Mississippi Canyon Block MC–40,
effective January 15, 2024 through May
15, 2024. Please see the Federal Register
notice of issuance (89 FR 1550, January
10, 2024) for additional detail regarding
the LOA and the survey activity.
Anadarko initially anticipated that the
activity would occur at some point
between January 15 and May 15, 2024.
Anadarko subsequently conveyed to
NMFS that the survey would occur later
than previously expected. Anadarko has
requested modification to the expiration
date of the LOA (from May 15, 2024 to
July 15, 2024) to accommodate the
survey delays. Since issuance of the
LOA, no survey work has occurred.
There are no other changes to the LOA
as described in the January 10, 2024,
Federal Register notice of issuance (89
FR 1550): the specified survey activity;
estimated take by incidental
harassment; and small numbers analysis
and determination remain unchanged
and are incorporated here by reference.
Authorization
NMFS has changed the expiration
date of the LOA from May 15, 2024, to
July 15, 2024.
Dated: May 6, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–10305 Filed 5–10–24; 8:45 am]
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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; Protocol for Access to Tissue
Specimen Samples From the National
Marine Mammal Tissue Bank
The Department of Commerce will
submit the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication
of this notice. We invite 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. Public
comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register on January 30,
2024, during a 60-day comment period.
This notice allows for an additional 30
days for public comments.
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration,
Commerce.
Title: Protocol for Access to Tissue
Specimen Samples from the National
Marine Mammal Tissue Bank.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0468.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular submission
(extension of a current information
collection).
Number of Respondents: 25.
Average Hours per Response: 3 hours
for tissue request form and 45 minutes
for tissue bank form.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 105
hours.
Needs and Uses: The purpose of this
collection of information is to enable the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) to allow the
scientific community the opportunity to
request tissue specimen samples from
the National Marine Mammal Tissue
Bank (NMMTB), as well as for tissue
samples to be submitted. This
information collection is being renewed
to enable the Marine Mammal Health
and Stranding Response Program
(MMHSRP) of NOAA to assemble
information on all specimens submitted
to the National Institute of Standards
and Technology’s National
Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (Bank),
which includes the NMMTB.
Affected Public: Not-for-profit
institutions.
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41393-41394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10305]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD787]
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 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko)
for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey
activity in the GOM.
DATES: This LOA is effective through July 15, 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: Rachel Wachtendonk, 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
[[Page 41394]]
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 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 an LOA to Anadarko on January 4, 2024, for the take of
marine mammals incidental a one-dimensional vertical seismic profile
(VSP) within Mississippi Canyon Block MC-40, effective January 15, 2024
through May 15, 2024. Please see the Federal Register notice of
issuance (89 FR 1550, January 10, 2024) for additional detail regarding
the LOA and the survey activity.
Anadarko initially anticipated that the activity would occur at
some point between January 15 and May 15, 2024. Anadarko subsequently
conveyed to NMFS that the survey would occur later than previously
expected. Anadarko has requested modification to the expiration date of
the LOA (from May 15, 2024 to July 15, 2024) to accommodate the survey
delays. Since issuance of the LOA, no survey work has occurred. There
are no other changes to the LOA as described in the January 10, 2024,
Federal Register notice of issuance (89 FR 1550): the specified survey
activity; estimated take by incidental harassment; and small numbers
analysis and determination remain unchanged and are incorporated here
by reference.
Authorization
NMFS has changed the expiration date of the LOA from May 15, 2024,
to July 15, 2024.
Dated: May 6, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-10305 Filed 5-10-24; 8:45 am]
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