Marine Mammals; File No. 28233, 7661-7662 [2025-01407]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 22, 2025 / Notices the negligible impact and small numbers standards and authorized under the initial IHA and no new information has emerged that would change those findings. The re-issued 2025 IHA includes identical required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures as the initial IHA, and there is no new information suggesting that our analysis or findings should change. Based on the information contained here and in the referenced documents, NMFS has determined the following: (1) the required mitigation measures will effect the least practicable impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat; (2) the authorized takes will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species or stocks; (3) the authorized takes represent small numbers of marine mammals relative to the affected stock abundances; and (4) Trident’s activities will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on taking for subsistence purposes as no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals are implicated by this action. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 National Environmental Policy Act To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216–6A, NMFS must review our proposed action with respect to environmental consequences on the human environment. Accordingly, NMFS has determined that the issuance of the IHA qualifies to be categorically excluded from further NEPA review. This action is consistent with categories of activities identified in CE B4 of the Companion Manual for NAO 216–6A, which do not individually or cumulatively have the potential for significant impacts on the quality of the human environment and for which we have not identified any extraordinary circumstances that would preclude this categorical exclusion. Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 (ESA: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal agency insure that any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs, NMFS consults internally whenever we propose to authorize take for endangered or threatened species, in this case with the NMFS’ Alaska Regional Office (AKRO). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 Jan 21, 2025 Jkt 265001 NMFS is authorizing take of the Mexico-North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS) of humpback whale, and the western DPS of the Steller sea lion, which are listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. The NMFS AKRO issued a Biological Opinion under section 7 of the ESA on the issuance of an IHA to Trident under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA by NMFS OPR. The biological opinion concluded that the action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the listed species. Authorization NMFS has issued an IHA to Trident for in-water construction activities associated with the specified activity from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2026. All previously described mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements from the initial 2024 IHA are incorporated. Dated: January 15, 2025. Kimberly Damon-Randall, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2025–01448 Filed 1–21–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XE619] Marine Mammals; File No. 28233 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Fisheries Service is extending the public comment period associated with the notice of receipt for an application for a permit to import bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) submitted by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. DATES: The comment period for the notice published on December 20, 2024, at 89 FR 104107, is extended. Written comments must be received on or before March 20, 2025. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ permit-application-import-5-bottlenosedolphins-file-no-28233-clearwatermarine-aquarium. You may submit comments, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2024–0140, by any of the following methods: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7661 • Electronic Submission: Submit electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, enter NOAA–NMFS–2024–0140 in the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on the ‘‘Comment Now’’ icon on the right of that line. • Mail: Comments on the application should be addressed to: Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 EastWest Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; ATTN: Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division. Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division via one of the methods listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this amendment would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Courtney Smith, Ph.D., (301) 427–8401. On December 20, 2024 (89 FR 104107), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published notice of a permit application submitted by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 (Responsible Party: James Powell, Ph.D.,). The applicant is requesting to import up to five adult male bottlenose dolphins from Attica Zoological Park in Athina, Greece, to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium for public display. The requested duration of the permit is five years. In response to a request to extend the public comment period, NMFS is extending the public comment period for an additional 45 days. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\22JAN1.SGM 22JAN1 7662 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 22, 2025 / Notices Dated: January 15, 2025. Julia M. Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2025–01407 Filed 1–21–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0647–XE616] Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 87 Assessment Webinar VI for Gulf of Mexico White, Pink, and Brown Shrimp. AGENCY: The SEDAR 87 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico white, pink, and brown shrimp will consist of a Data Workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The SEDAR 87 Assessment Webinar VI will be held Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., Eastern Time. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to members of the public. Those interested in participating should contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar. SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; (843) 571– 4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data Workshop, (2) a series of assessment webinars, and (3) A Review Workshop. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 Jan 21, 2025 Jkt 265001 The product of the Data Workshop is a report that compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses. The assessment webinars produce a report that describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. The product of the Review Workshop is an Assessment Summary documenting panel opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and input data. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, HMS Management Division, and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including fishermen, environmentalists, and NGO’s; International experts; and staff of Councils, Commissions, and State and Federal agencies. The items of discussion during the Assessment Webinar VI are as follows: Participants will review the assessment modeling work to date and provide recommendations to the analytic team. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 business days prior to each workshop. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 15, 2025. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2025–01405 Filed 1–21–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XE596] Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Empire Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project Offshore of New York National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; modification 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 Construction of the Empire Wind Offshore Wind Project Offshore of New York, notification is hereby given that upon request from Empire Wind, LLC (Empire Wind), NMFS has modified a Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to Empire Wind for the take of marine mammals incidental to activities associated with construction of the Empire Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project (hereafter known as the ‘‘Project’’) in Federal and State waters offshore New York. Specifically, NMFS has modified the LOA Holder’s name as well as mitigation and monitoring measures related to vessel strike avoidance, sound field verification reporting, and requirements for passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). NMFS has also made modifications to additional measures to improve clarify and better align with the Biological Opinion. NMFS has determined that these modifications do not change the findings made for the regulations and does not result in any change in the total estimated number of takes of marine mammals. DATES: The modified LOA is valid through February 21, 2029. ADDRESSES: The issued modified LOA may be obtained online at https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ incidental-take-authorization-empireoffshore-wind-llc-construction-empirewind-project-ew1?check_logged_in=1. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Taylor, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of marine mammals, with certain E:\FR\FM\22JAN1.SGM 22JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7661-7662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01407]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE619]


Marine Mammals; File No. 28233

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Fisheries 
Service is extending the public comment period associated with the 
notice of receipt for an application for a permit to import bottlenose 
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) submitted by the Clearwater Marine 
Aquarium.

DATES: The comment period for the notice published on December 20, 
2024, at 89 FR 104107, is extended. Written comments must be received 
on or before March 20, 2025.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available online 
at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/permit-application-import-5-bottlenose-dolphins-file-no-28233-clearwater-marine-aquarium.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2024-0140, by any 
of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit electronic public comments 
via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To submit 
comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, enter NOAA-NMFS-2024-0140 in the 
keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the 
resulting list and click on the ``Comment Now'' icon on the right of 
that line.
     Mail: Comments on the application should be addressed to: 
Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; ATTN: 
Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods. All comments received are a part of the public record and will 
generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without 
change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, 
etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. 
Do not submit confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive 
or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division via one 
of the methods listed above. The request should set forth the specific 
reasons why a hearing on this amendment would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Courtney Smith, 
Ph.D., (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 20, 2024 (89 FR 104107), the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published notice of a permit 
application submitted by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward 
Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 (Responsible Party: James Powell, 
Ph.D.,). The applicant is requesting to import up to five adult male 
bottlenose dolphins from Attica Zoological Park in Athina, Greece, to 
the Clearwater Marine Aquarium for public display. The requested 
duration of the permit is five years. In response to a request to 
extend the public comment period, NMFS is extending the public comment 
period for an additional 45 days.


[[Page 7662]]


    Dated: January 15, 2025.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-01407 Filed 1-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.