Draft Revised Management Plan for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 95187-95188 [2024-28208]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 231 / Monday, December 2, 2024 / Notices
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pursuit, torment, or annoyance which
has the potential to injure a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild (16 U.S.C. 1362(18); 50 CFR 216.3).
Level B harassment is defined as any act
of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which
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 (16 U.S.C.
1362(18); 50 CFR 216.3). Section
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and the
implementing regulations at 50 CFR part
216, subpart I authorize NMFS to
propose and, if appropriate, promulgate
regulations and issue associated LOA(s).
NMFS promulgated regulations on
October 23, 2024 (89 FR 84676) for the
taking of marine mammals incidental to
the construction of the Maryland
Offshore Wind Project offshore of
Maryland. The LOA authorizes US
Wind, and those persons it authorizes or
funds to conduct activities on its behalf,
to take marine mammals incidental to
specified activities during the
construction of the Project and requires
them to implement mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements.
Summary of Request
On October 23, 2024, NMFS
promulgated a final rule (89 FR 84674)
responding to a request from US Wind
for authorization to take marine
mammals (19 species comprising 20
stocks) by Level B harassment (all 20
stocks) and by Level A harassment (5
stocks of the 20 stocks) incidental to
construction activities occurring in
Federal and State waters off of
Maryland, specifically within and
around the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease
of Submerged Lands for Renewable
Energy Development on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Area
OCS–A 0490 (collectively, ‘‘Lease
Area’’) and along two export cable
routes to sea-to-shore transition points
(collectively referred to as the ‘‘Project
Area’’), over the course of 5 years
(January 1, 2025 through December 31,
2029). The final rule included the
following specified activities: the
installation of up to 114 wind turbine
generators (WTGs) on monopile
foundations using impact pile driving;
the installation of 4 offshore substations
(OSSs) on jacket foundations consisting
of post-piled pin piles using impact pile
driving; the installation of one
meteorological tower (Met Tower) on
pin piles using impact pile driving;
installation and subsequent removal of
gravity cells to connect the offshore
export cables to onshore facilities
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within Delaware Seashore State Park;
high-resolution geophysical (HRG)
marine site characterization surveys
using active acoustic sources; fishery
and ecological monitoring surveys; the
placement of scour protection; the
installation of the export cable routes
from OSSs to shore-based converter
stations and inter-array cables between
turbines by trenching, laying, and burial
activities; vessel transit within the
specified geographical region to
transport crew, supplies, and materials;
and WTG operation.
Marine mammals exposed to elevated
noise levels during foundation impact
pile driving may be taken by Level A
harassment, and marine mammals
exposed to elevated noise levels during
impact pile driving and HRG site
characterization surveys may be taken
by Level B harassment. No mortality or
serious injury of any marine mammal is
anticipated or authorized. The number
of takes, by species, authorized may be
found in table 1 in the LOA, which is
available at https://www.fisheries.
noaa.gov/permit/incidental-takeauthorizations-under-marine-mammalprotection-act.
Authorization
In accordance with the final rule (89
FR 84674, October 23, 2024; see 50 CFR
217.306), NMFS has issued a LOA to US
Wind authorizing the take, by
harassment, of marine mammals
incidental to specified activities within
the specified geographical region. As
previously stated, no mortality or
serious injury of any marine mammal
species is anticipated or authorized. The
incidental takes authorized herein are
the same as those analyzed and
authorized in the final rule (89 FR
84674, October 23, 2024). Takes of
marine mammals will be minimized
through the following planned
mitigation and monitoring measures, as
applicable for each specified activity: (1)
implementation of seasonal pile driving
work restrictions; (2) use of multiple
NMFS-approved Protected Species
Observers (PSOs) to visually observe for
marine mammals (with any detection
within specifically designated zones
triggering a delay or shutdown, as
applicable); (3) use of NMFS-approved
passive acoustic monitoring (PAM)
operators to acoustically detect marine
mammals, with a focus on detecting
baleen whales (with any detection
within designated zones triggering a
delay or shutdown, as applicable); (4)
implementation of clearance and
shutdown zones; (5) use of soft-start
upon commencement of impact pile
driving and ramp-up of acoustic sources
during HRG surveys; (6) use of noise
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95187
attenuation technology during
foundation pile driving; (7) use of
situational awareness monitoring for
marine mammal presence; (8) use of
sound field verification monitoring; (9)
use of PAM within the vessel transit
corridor for Project vessels to travel over
10 knots (11.5 miles per hour); and (10)
implementation of several vessel strike
avoidance measures to avoid vessel
strikes, including but not limited to,
vessel separation zones between marine
mammals and project vessels.
Additionally, NMFS may modify the
LOA’s mitigation, monitoring, or
reporting measures, based on new
information. US Wind is also required
to submit reports, as specified in the
final rule.
Based on the findings discussed in the
preamble of the final rule, NMFS has
determined that the take authorized in
the LOA is of small numbers, will have
a negligible impact on marine mammal
stocks, will not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of the
affected marine mammal stock for
subsistence uses, and the mitigation
measures provide a means of affecting
the least practicable adverse impact on
the affected stocks and their habitat.
Dated: November 26, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–28215 Filed 11–29–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Draft Revised Management Plan for the
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve
Office for Coastal Management,
National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Request for comments.
AGENCY:
The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
soliciting comments from the public
regarding a proposed revision of the
management plan for the Narragansett
Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve (NBNERR). A management plan
provides a framework to guide a
reserve’s programs, track progress
toward meeting its goals, and identify
potential opportunities or changes in
direction. It is also used to guide
programmatic evaluations. Management
plan revisions are required at least every
SUMMARY:
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02DEN1
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
95188
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 231 / Monday, December 2, 2024 / Notices
five years. This draft, revised
management plan is intended to replace
the NBNERR management plan
approved in 2010.
DATES: Comments must be received at
the appropriate address (see ADDRESSES)
on or before January 2, 2025.
ADDRESSES: The draft revised
management plan can be downloaded or
viewed at: https://nbnerr.org/wp-content/
uploads/2024/08/NBNERR_
ManagementPlan_DRAFT_
PublicComment.pdf. It is also available
by sending a written request to the point
of contact identified below (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
You may submit comments by email
to claudia.mazur@noaa.gov. Include
‘‘Comments on draft Narragansett Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve
Management Plan’’ in the subject line of
the message. NOAA will accept
anonymous comments; however, the
written comments NOAA receives are
considered part of the public record,
and the entirety of the comment,
including the name of the commenter,
email address, attachments, and other
supporting materials, will be publicly
accessible. Sensitive, personally
identifiable information, such as
account numbers and Social Security
numbers, should not be included.
Comments that are not related to the
management plan for NBNERR, or that
contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or
other inappropriate language, will not
be considered.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Claudia Mazur, claudia.mazur@
noaa.gov, or Betsy Nicholson,
betsy.nicholson@noaa.gov, (617–894–
0197) of NOAA’s Office for Coastal
Management.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to 15 CFR 921.33(c), Rhode Island must
revise the management plan for
NBNERR at least every five years. If
approved by NOAA, the revised
management plan will replace the plan
previously approved in 2010.
Management plans outline a reserve’s
strategic goals and objectives;
administrative structure; programs for
conducting research and monitoring,
education, and training; resource
protection, restoration, and
manipulation plans; public access and
visitor use plans; consideration for
future land acquisition; and facility
development to support reserve
operations. In particular, this draft
revised plan for NBNERR provides
information on new staff positions and
new staff hired, and describes the
reserve’s updated position within the
Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management.
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18:25 Nov 29, 2024
Jkt 265001
Since the last management plan,
NBNERR has secured a land acquisition
and expanded its boundary.
Additionally, the updated plan
describes strategic goals and objectives
and identifies topic areas where
additional planning will be conducted
to identify and develop new goals and
objectives over the next five years. The
revised management plan, once
approved, would serve as the guiding
document for the reserve for the next
five years.
NOAA’s Office for Coastal
Management analyzes the
environmental impacts of the proposed
approval of this management plan in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq., and the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for Implementing
the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40
CFR 1500–1508 (2022). The public is
invited to comment on the draft revised
management plan. NOAA will take
these comments into consideration
when deciding whether to approve the
revised management plan in whole or in
part.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1451 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. 2024–28208 Filed 11–29–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–08–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2024–SCC–0111]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request; Carl
D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act State Plan Guide
Office of Career, Technical, and
Adult Education (OCTAE), Department
of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, the Department is proposing a
revision of a currently approved
information collection request (ICR).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before January
2, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should
be submitted within 30 days of
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
publication of this notice. Click on this
link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain to access the site. Find this
information collection request (ICR) by
selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’
under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then
check the ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public
Comment’’ checkbox. Reginfo.gov
provides two links to view documents
related to this information collection
request. Information collection forms
and instructions may be found by
clicking on the ‘‘View Information
Collection (IC) List’’ link. Supporting
statements and other supporting
documentation may be found by
clicking on the ‘‘View Supporting
Statement and Other Documents’’ link.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Braden Goetz,
(202) 245–7405.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act
State Plan Guide.
OMB Control Number: 1830–0029.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 54.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 1,026.
Abstract: This information collection
is used by the Department to request
State Plans and annual revisions under
the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006. We are
proposing to revise the ICR to provide
data specifications for the numerators
and denominators used to calculate the
law’s performance indicators so that
they are measured in a manner that is
consistent with the statute, reduce the
collection of potentially duplicative
information, give States more time to
report education and employment
outcomes to improve the accuracy and
completeness of these data, and to
E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM
02DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95187-95188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28208]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Draft Revised Management Plan for the Narragansett Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve
AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
soliciting comments from the public regarding a proposed revision of
the management plan for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve (NBNERR). A management plan provides a framework to
guide a reserve's programs, track progress toward meeting its goals,
and identify potential opportunities or changes in direction. It is
also used to guide programmatic evaluations. Management plan revisions
are required at least every
[[Page 95188]]
five years. This draft, revised management plan is intended to replace
the NBNERR management plan approved in 2010.
DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see
ADDRESSES) on or before January 2, 2025.
ADDRESSES: The draft revised management plan can be downloaded or
viewed at: https://nbnerr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/NBNERR_ManagementPlan_DRAFT_PublicComment.pdf. It is also available by
sending a written request to the point of contact identified below (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
You may submit comments by email to [email protected]. Include
``Comments on draft Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve Management Plan'' in the subject line of the message. NOAA will
accept anonymous comments; however, the written comments NOAA receives
are considered part of the public record, and the entirety of the
comment, including the name of the commenter, email address,
attachments, and other supporting materials, will be publicly
accessible. Sensitive, personally identifiable information, such as
account numbers and Social Security numbers, should not be included.
Comments that are not related to the management plan for NBNERR, or
that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate
language, will not be considered.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claudia Mazur, [email protected],
or Betsy Nicholson, [email protected], (617-894-0197) of NOAA's
Office for Coastal Management.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), Rhode Island
must revise the management plan for NBNERR at least every five years.
If approved by NOAA, the revised management plan will replace the plan
previously approved in 2010.
Management plans outline a reserve's strategic goals and
objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting research
and monitoring, education, and training; resource protection,
restoration, and manipulation plans; public access and visitor use
plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and facility
development to support reserve operations. In particular, this draft
revised plan for NBNERR provides information on new staff positions and
new staff hired, and describes the reserve's updated position within
the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Since the last management plan, NBNERR has secured a land
acquisition and expanded its boundary. Additionally, the updated plan
describes strategic goals and objectives and identifies topic areas
where additional planning will be conducted to identify and develop new
goals and objectives over the next five years. The revised management
plan, once approved, would serve as the guiding document for the
reserve for the next five years.
NOAA's Office for Coastal Management analyzes the environmental
impacts of the proposed approval of this management plan in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended,
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR
1500-1508 (2022). The public is invited to comment on the draft revised
management plan. NOAA will take these comments into consideration when
deciding whether to approve the revised management plan in whole or in
part.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1451 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. 2024-28208 Filed 11-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P
