Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 92906-92907 [2024-27528]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
92906
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 227 / Monday, November 25, 2024 / Notices
purposes, the written description of the
scope of these investigations is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2024–27494 Filed 11–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
National Artificial Intelligence Advisory
Committee
National Institute of Standards
and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
The National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST)
announces that the National Artificial
Intelligence Advisory Committee
(NAIAC or Committee) will meet
virtually via web conference on
December 12, 2024, from 2:00 p.m.–3:00
p.m. Eastern time. The primary purpose
of this meeting is for the Committee to
report working group findings, identify
actionable recommendations, and
receive public briefings. The final
agenda will be posted on the NIST
website at https://www.nist.gov/itl/
national-artificial-intelligence-advisorycommittee-naiac.
DATES: The NAIAC will meet on
Thursday, December 12, 2024, from 2:00
p.m.–3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
virtually via web conference. Please
note participation instructions under
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl L. Gendron, Designated Federal
Officer, Information Technology
Laboratory, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, Telephone:
(301) 975–2785, Email address:
cheryl.gendron@nist.gov. Please direct
any inquiries to the committee at
naiac@nist.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
as amended, 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.,
notice is hereby given that the NAIAC
will meet virtually as set forth in the
DATES section of this notice. The
meeting will be open to the public.
The NAIAC is authorized by Section
5104 of the National Artificial
Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (Pub.
L. 116–283), in accordance with the
provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, as amended (FACA), 5
U.S.C. 1001 et seq. The Committee
advises the President and the National
Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office
on matters related to the National
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:29 Nov 22, 2024
Jkt 265001
Artificial Intelligence Initiative.
Additional information on the NAIAC is
available at ai.gov/naiac/.
The primary purpose of this meeting
is for the Committee to report working
group findings, identify actionable
recommendations, and receive public
briefings. The meeting will include
continued discussion and deliberation
on the NAIAC’s planned Transition
Report. Briefings from outside subject
matter experts to the full Committee
include speakers from areas such as
industry, nonprofit organizations, the
scientific community, the defense and
law enforcement communities, and
other appropriate organizations.
Additional information, including the
speaker names, will be available on the
agenda, which will be posted online.
Members of the public interested in
reviewing the agenda in advance and
viewing the meeting are encouraged to
visit https://www.nist.gov/itl/nationalartificial-intelligence-advisorycommittee-naiac for meeting details and
to register to watch virtually. The
agenda items may change to
accommodate NAIAC business. The
final agenda will be posted on the
NAIAC Upcoming Meeting Page on the
NIST website at https://www.nist.gov/
itl/national-artificial-intelligenceadvisory-committee-naiac.
Comments: Individuals and
representatives of organizations who
would like to offer comments and
suggestions related to items on the
Committee’s agenda for this meeting are
invited to submit comments in advance
of the event. Please note that all
comments submitted via email will be
treated as public documents and will be
made available for public inspection.
For consideration prior to the meeting,
all comments must be submitted via
email with the subject line ‘‘December
12, 2024, NAIAC Public Meeting’’ to
naiac@nist.gov by 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, December 10, 2024. NIST will not
accept comments accompanied by a
request that part or all of the comment
be treated confidentially because of its
business proprietary nature or for any
other reason. Therefore, do not submit
confidential business information or
otherwise sensitive, protected, or
personal information, such as account
numbers, Social Security numbers, or
names of other individuals. Members of
the public may also submit written
comments to the NAIAC at any time.
Virtual Meeting Registration
Instructions: The meeting will be
broadcast via web conference. Requests
for special accommodations may be
made by emailing cheryl.gendron@
nist.gov. Registration is required to view
the web conference. Instructions on how
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to register will be made available at
https://www.nist.gov/itl/nationalartificial-intelligence-advisorycommittee-naiac. Registration will
remain open until the conclusion of the
meeting.
Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2024–27461 Filed 11–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE463]
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
Murphy Exploration and Production
Company (Murphy) for the take of
marine mammals incidental to
geophysical survey activity in the GOM.
DATES: This LOA is effective through
March 15, 2025.
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:
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
E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM
25NON1
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 227 / Monday, November 25, 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:29 Nov 22, 2024
Jkt 265001
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 subsequently discovered that
the 2021 rule was based on erroneous
take estimates. We conducted another
rulemaking using correct take estimates
and other newly available and pertinent
information relevant to the analyses
supporting some of the findings in the
2021 final rule and the taking allowable
under the regulations. We issued a final
rule in April 2024, effective May 24,
2024 (89 FR 31488, April 24, 2024).
The 2024 final rule made no changes
to the specified activities or the
specified geographical region in which
those activities would be conducted, nor
to the original 5-year period of
effectiveness. In consideration of the
new information, the 2024 rule
presented new analyses supporting
affirmance of the negligible impact
determinations for all species, and
affirmed that the existing regulations,
which contain mitigation, monitoring,
and reporting requirements, are
consistent with the ‘‘least practicable
adverse impact’’ (LPAI) standard of the
MMPA.
NMFS issued a LOA to Murphy on
March 20, 2024, for the take of marine
mammals incidental to a threedimensional (3D) ocean bottom node
survey in the Green Canyon protraction
areas, including approximately 44 lease
blocks, effective April 1, 2024, through
October 31, 2024. Please see the Federal
Register notice of issuance (89 FR
20946, March 26, 2024) for additional
detail regarding the LOA and the survey
activity.
Murphy subsequently requested, and
NMFS issued, a modification to the
LOA expiration date, extending it to
January 31, 2025 (89 FR 83464, October
16, 2024). On November 1, 2024
Murphy informed NMFS that the survey
had further delays, and requested a
second modification to the expiration
date of the LOA (from December 31,
2025 to March 15, 2025) to
accommodate the delays. There are no
other changes to Murphy’s planned
activity.
Authorization
NMFS has changed the expiration
date of the LOA from January 31, 2025
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
92907
to March 15, 2025. There are no other
changes to the LOA as described in the
October 16, 2024, Federal Register
notice of issuance (89 FR 83464): the
specified survey activity, estimated take
by incidental harassment, and small
numbers analysis and determination
remain unchanged and are referenced in
this notice.
Dated: November 19, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–27528 Filed 11–22–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE482]
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to the Duckabush Estuary
Restoration Project in Washington
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
letter of authorization; request for
comments and information.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) for authorization to take
marine mammals incidental to the
Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project
(DERP) in Hood Canal, Washington, for
a period of 5 years (2025–2029).
Pursuant to regulations implementing
the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt
of USACE’s request for the development
and implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals. NMFS invites the
public to provide information,
suggestions, and comments on USACE’s
application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than December 26,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the
application should be addressed to Jolie
Harrison, Chief, Permits and
Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service. Physical comments
should be sent to 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
electronic comments should be sent to
ITP.Pauline@noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM
25NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92906-92907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27528]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE463]
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 Murphy Exploration and Production Company
(Murphy) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical
survey activity in the GOM.
DATES: This LOA is effective through March 15, 2025.
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
[[Page 92907]]
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 subsequently discovered that the 2021 rule was based on
erroneous take estimates. We conducted another rulemaking using correct
take estimates and other newly available and pertinent information
relevant to the analyses supporting some of the findings in the 2021
final rule and the taking allowable under the regulations. We issued a
final rule in April 2024, effective May 24, 2024 (89 FR 31488, April
24, 2024).
The 2024 final rule made no changes to the specified activities or
the specified geographical region in which those activities would be
conducted, nor to the original 5-year period of effectiveness. In
consideration of the new information, the 2024 rule presented new
analyses supporting affirmance of the negligible impact determinations
for all species, and affirmed that the existing regulations, which
contain mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements, are
consistent with the ``least practicable adverse impact'' (LPAI)
standard of the MMPA.
NMFS issued a LOA to Murphy on March 20, 2024, for the take of
marine mammals incidental to a three-dimensional (3D) ocean bottom node
survey in the Green Canyon protraction areas, including approximately
44 lease blocks, effective April 1, 2024, through October 31, 2024.
Please see the Federal Register notice of issuance (89 FR 20946, March
26, 2024) for additional detail regarding the LOA and the survey
activity.
Murphy subsequently requested, and NMFS issued, a modification to
the LOA expiration date, extending it to January 31, 2025 (89 FR 83464,
October 16, 2024). On November 1, 2024 Murphy informed NMFS that the
survey had further delays, and requested a second modification to the
expiration date of the LOA (from December 31, 2025 to March 15, 2025)
to accommodate the delays. There are no other changes to Murphy's
planned activity.
Authorization
NMFS has changed the expiration date of the LOA from January 31,
2025 to March 15, 2025. There are no other changes to the LOA as
described in the October 16, 2024, Federal Register notice of issuance
(89 FR 83464): the specified survey activity, estimated take by
incidental harassment, and small numbers analysis and determination
remain unchanged and are referenced in this notice.
Dated: November 19, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-27528 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
