Notice of Availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment on the Effects of Permitting Translocation of Sturgeon for Scientific Research and Enhancement Under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act, 86319-86320 [2024-25214]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 210 / Wednesday, October 30, 2024 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE291]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27984
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
Jooke Robbins, Ph.D., Center for Coastal
Studies, 5 Holway Avenue,
Provincetown, MA 02657, has applied
in due form for a permit to conduct
research on marine mammals.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before November 29,
2024.
SUMMARY:
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 home page, https://
apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting
File No. 27984 from the list of available
applications. These documents are
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. 27984 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:
Courtney Smith, Ph.D., or Shasta
McClenahan, Ph.D., (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 (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 proposes to target
humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae;
Gulf of Maine stock/West Indies Distinct
Population Segment) and endangered
fin (Balaenoptera physalus; Western
North Atlantic stock) whales for
research purposes in the Gulf of Maine
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ADDRESSES:
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and adjacent waters, and the waters off
Georgia and Florida. An additional 12
species of cetaceans and 2 species of
pinnipeds may be unintentionally
harassed during research, including
endangered North Atlantic right
(Eubalaena glacialis) and sei (B.
borealis) whales. Marine mammals may
be approached during vessel surveys for
photo-identification, photogrammetry,
underwater photography/videography,
counts, unmanned aircraft system
operations, behavioral observations, and
biological sampling (skin and blubber
biopsy, feces, and sloughed skin).
Additionally, samples would be
imported and exported for analysis and
the creation of cell lines. See the
application for complete numbers of
animals requested by species, age-class,
and procedure. The objectives of the
research are to continue the long-term
study of the biology and ecology of
humpback and fin whales by examining
population dynamics, movement and
habitat use, entanglement and other
human impacts, molecular genetics,
aging, toxicology, foraging ecology,
microbiology, reproduction, and health.
The permit would be valid for 5 years.
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: October 24, 2024.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–25126 Filed 10–25–24; 4:15 pm]
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86319
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE386]
Notice of Availability of a Final
Programmatic Environmental
Assessment on the Effects of
Permitting Translocation of Sturgeon
for Scientific Research and
Enhancement Under Section
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species
Act
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of final
programmatic environmental
assessment and finding of no significant
impact.
AGENCY:
NOAA has prepared a final
programmatic environmental
assessment (PEA) and Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) under the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, analyzing the
environmental impacts of the NMFS
Office of Protected Resources (OPR)
proposal to authorize directed take
under the sturgeon Endangered Species
Act (ESA) permitting program for the
translocation of shortnose (Acipenser
brevirostrum) and Atlantic (A.
oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) sturgeons for
research and enhancement purposes.
Based on its finding of no significant
impact, NMFS has determined that an
environmental impact statement need
not be prepared.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Markin, Ph.D., erin.markin@noaa.gov,
(301) 427–8416; Malcolm Mohead,
malcolm.mohead@noaa.gov, (301) 427–
8427.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
This final PEA analyzes the potential
impacts on the natural and human
environments for the authorization of
directed take of sturgeon by
translocation, in scientific research or
enhancement permits under section
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA, to achieve
recovery objectives. For the purposes of
the sturgeon permitting program,
translocation is the intentional capture,
holding, handling, transport, and release
of individuals within a river system
(e.g., translocation of fish across a dam
or fish passage) or between river
systems within the U.S. historical range
of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon (i.e.,
Maine to Florida). Under the Proposed
Action, NMFS would authorize directed
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 210 / Wednesday, October 30, 2024 / Notices
take for the translocation of ESA-listed
Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon as a
research or enhancement activity to
support sturgeon conservation
management and recovery objectives.
NMFS would authorize translocation
concurrent with additional research or
enhancement activities, if the research
or enhancement activity’s objectives are
(1) stated as a term and condition to
implement reasonable and prudent
measures of an active biological
opinion, (2) an identified objective in a
NMFS recovery outline or recovery plan
for the species, or (3) determined
necessary by NMFS Regional Offices
and the NMFS OPR to recover the
species. Programmatic NEPA reviews
add value and efficiency to the decision
making process when they inform the
scope of decisions and subsequent
tiered NEPA reviews. Therefore, NMFS
decided that completing a PEA for the
proposed action was appropriate.
NMFS published a Notice of
Availability of the draft PEA in the
Federal Register on December 27, 2023
(88 FR 89385) beginning a 30-day public
comment period. NMFS considered the
public comments received on the draft
PEA and has responded to comments in
appendix 1 of the final PEA.
After publishing the draft PEA for
public comment, NMFS identified one
additional sampling method that was
inadvertently left out of the draft PEA.
Epidermal mucus sampling was found
to be consistent with an existing
category of activities that normally do
not have a significant effect on the
human environment, and therefore do
not require preparation of an
environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement (40
CFR 1501.4). NMFS incorporated this
additional method into the final PEA
which resulted in no changes to the
impact determinations. Additional
information is located in section 1.2.1 of
the final PEA.
The PEA and FONSI have been
prepared in compliance with NEPA of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et
seq.), the 2020 Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR 1500–1508) as modified by the
Phase 1 2022 revisions, and NOAA
policy and procedures (NOAA
Administrative Order 216–6A and its
Companion Manual). The final PEA and
FONSI may be downloaded or viewed
at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
action/draft-environmental-assessmentpermitting-translocation-sturgeonscientific-research-and.
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Dated: October 25, 2024.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–25214 Filed 10–29–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE429]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Pile Driving
Training Exercises at Naval Base
Ventura County, Port Hueneme;
Correction
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; proposed issuance of an
incidental harassment authorization;
request for comments on proposed
authorization and possible renewal;
correction.
AGENCY:
This notice contains
corrections to a notice of the proposed
issuance an incidental harassment
authorization (IHA) to the United States
Navy (Navy). The document being
corrected is Takes of Marine Mammals
Incidental to Specified Activities;
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to
Pile Driving Training Exercises at Naval
Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme,
which was published on October 23,
2024.
SUMMARY:
Comments and information must
be received no later than November 22,
2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Reny Tyson Moore, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
Electronic copies of the application and
supporting documents, as well as the
Federal Register notices and IHAs, may
be obtained online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-constructionactivities. In case of problems accessing
these documents, please call the contact
listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Background
NMFS published a notice in the
Federal Register on October 23, 2024
(89 FR 84534) announcing the proposed
issuance of an IHA to the Navy
concerning the authorization of take of
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marine mammals incidental to pile
driving training exercises at Naval Base
Ventura County, Port Hueneme. The
proposed IHA, which would authorize
the Navy to incidentally take California
sea lions (Zalophus californius) and
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii),
by Level B harassment only, during the
described activities and specified
timeframe, prescribe the methods of
taking and other means of effecting the
least practicable adverse impact on
marine mammal species or stocks and
their habitat, as well as propose
requirements pertaining to the
monitoring and reporting of such taking.
NMFS refers the reader to the October
23, 2024, (89 FR 84534) Federal
Register notice for background
information concerning the proposed
issuance of the IHA. The information in
the notice of proposed issuance is not
repeated here.
Correction
The error to be corrected appears in
the DATES section. The text incorrectly
states that Comments and information
must be received no later than
November 7, 2024, which suggests the
comment period for this proposed IHA
is 15 days. However, proposed IHAs
require a 30-day public comment
period. Therefore, the correct public
comment period should be 30 days, and
should end on November 22, 2024.
Dated: October 25, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–25226 Filed 10–29–24; 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; StormReady, TsunamiReady,
TsunamiReady Supporter, StormReady
Supporter, and Weather-Ready
Ambassador Application Forms
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
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86319-86320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25214]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE386]
Notice of Availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental
Assessment on the Effects of Permitting Translocation of Sturgeon for
Scientific Research and Enhancement Under Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
Endangered Species Act
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of final programmatic environmental
assessment and finding of no significant impact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NOAA has prepared a final programmatic environmental
assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) under the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, analyzing
the environmental impacts of the NMFS Office of Protected Resources
(OPR) proposal to authorize directed take under the sturgeon Endangered
Species Act (ESA) permitting program for the translocation of shortnose
(Acipenser brevirostrum) and Atlantic (A. oxyrinchus oxyrinchus)
sturgeons for research and enhancement purposes. Based on its finding
of no significant impact, NMFS has determined that an environmental
impact statement need not be prepared.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Markin, Ph.D.,
[email protected], (301) 427-8416; Malcolm Mohead,
[email protected], (301) 427-8427.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This final PEA analyzes the potential impacts on the natural and
human environments for the authorization of directed take of sturgeon
by translocation, in scientific research or enhancement permits under
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA, to achieve recovery objectives. For the
purposes of the sturgeon permitting program, translocation is the
intentional capture, holding, handling, transport, and release of
individuals within a river system (e.g., translocation of fish across a
dam or fish passage) or between river systems within the U.S.
historical range of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon (i.e., Maine to
Florida). Under the Proposed Action, NMFS would authorize directed
[[Page 86320]]
take for the translocation of ESA-listed Atlantic and shortnose
sturgeon as a research or enhancement activity to support sturgeon
conservation management and recovery objectives. NMFS would authorize
translocation concurrent with additional research or enhancement
activities, if the research or enhancement activity's objectives are
(1) stated as a term and condition to implement reasonable and prudent
measures of an active biological opinion, (2) an identified objective
in a NMFS recovery outline or recovery plan for the species, or (3)
determined necessary by NMFS Regional Offices and the NMFS OPR to
recover the species. Programmatic NEPA reviews add value and efficiency
to the decision making process when they inform the scope of decisions
and subsequent tiered NEPA reviews. Therefore, NMFS decided that
completing a PEA for the proposed action was appropriate.
NMFS published a Notice of Availability of the draft PEA in the
Federal Register on December 27, 2023 (88 FR 89385) beginning a 30-day
public comment period. NMFS considered the public comments received on
the draft PEA and has responded to comments in appendix 1 of the final
PEA.
After publishing the draft PEA for public comment, NMFS identified
one additional sampling method that was inadvertently left out of the
draft PEA. Epidermal mucus sampling was found to be consistent with an
existing category of activities that normally do not have a significant
effect on the human environment, and therefore do not require
preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact
statement (40 CFR 1501.4). NMFS incorporated this additional method
into the final PEA which resulted in no changes to the impact
determinations. Additional information is located in section 1.2.1 of
the final PEA.
The PEA and FONSI have been prepared in compliance with NEPA of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the 2020 Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508) as modified by the
Phase 1 2022 revisions, and NOAA policy and procedures (NOAA
Administrative Order 216-6A and its Companion Manual). The final PEA
and FONSI may be downloaded or viewed at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/draft-environmental-assessment-permitting-translocation-sturgeon-scientific-research-and.
Dated: October 25, 2024.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25214 Filed 10-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
