Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Hilcorp Alaska, LLC Oil and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, 11951-11952 [2025-03981]
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 48 / Thursday, March 13, 2025 / Notices
Specified Activities
The purpose of the proposed IBR
project is to improve I–5 corridor
mobility by addressing present and
future travel demand and mobility
needs in the program area. Relative to
the replacement bridges portion of the
larger transportation project, the
proposed action is intended to achieve
the following objectives: improve travel
safety and traffic operations on the I–5
river crossing and associated
interchanges; and improve the I–5 river
crossing’s structural integrity (seismic
stability). The entire IBR project,
including demolition and removal of the
existing bridges, is anticipated to take
approximately nine years to construct.
The IBRP’s ITR request is for the first
five years. Within the first five years,
construction work is expected to take
approximately 1,725 non-consecutive
days over the course of five years, and
involve the installation and or removal
of 1,560 steel pipe piles (24-inch [in] or
48-in diameter) and 1,500 linear feet (ft)
of steel sheet piles.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit
information, suggestions, and comments
concerning the IBRP’s request (see
ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all
information, suggestions, and comments
related to the request during the
development of proposed regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals by the IBRP, if
appropriate.
Dated: March 7, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025–03982 Filed 3–12–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE668
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Hilcorp Alaska, LLC Oil
and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet,
Alaska
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:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Mar 12, 2025
NMFS has received a request
from the Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp)
for authorization to take small numbers
of marine mammals incidental to oil
and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska,
over the course of five years from the
date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations
implementing the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is
announcing receipt of Hilcorp’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 Hilcorp’s
application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than April 14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the
applications should be addressed to
Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and
Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service and should be
submitted via email to itp.tyson.moore@
noaa.gov. An electronic copy of the
application may be obtained online at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizations-oil-andgas. In case of problems accessing these
documents, please call the contact listed
below.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
file formats only. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizations-oil-andgas without change. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name,
address) voluntarily submitted by the
commenter may be publicly accessible.
Do not submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Reny Tyson Moore, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Jkt 265001
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated
to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of
small numbers of marine mammals by
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
11951
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 incidental take authorization 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.
The MMPA states that the term ‘‘take’’
means to harass, hunt, capture, kill or
attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill
any marine mammal.
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).
Summary of Request
On October 30, 2024, NMFS received
an application from Hilcorp requesting
authorization for take of marine
mammals incidental to oil and gas
exploration, development, production,
and decommissioning activities in Cook
Inlet, Alaska. NMFS determined that the
application was adequate and complete
on February 10, 2024. The requested
regulations would be valid for five
years, from the date of issuance through
December 31, 2029. Hilcorp plans to
conduct necessary work, including tugs
towing, holding, or positioning a jackup rig, pile driving, and pipeline
replacement/installation activities. The
exposure of marine mammals occurring
in the vicinity to underwater noise
generated by the activities could result
in incidental take, by Level A and Level
B harassment. Therefore, Hilcorp
requests authorization to incidentally
take marine mammals.
E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM
13MRN1
11952
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 48 / Thursday, March 13, 2025 / Notices
Specified Activities
Hilcorp plans to continue oil and gas
exploration, development, production,
and decommissioning activities in Cook
Inlet, Alaska, for the reasonably
foreseeable future. The work expected to
span five years includes up to 54 days
of tugs towing, holding, or positioning
a jack-up rig in support of production
drilling at existing platforms in middle
Cook Inlet and Trading Bay; up to 70
days of pile driving in support of
production well development at the
Tyonek platform in middle Cook Inlet;
up to 6 days of tugs towing, holding, or
positioning a jack-up rig and up to 18
days of pile driving in support of
exploration drilling at two locations in
the Middle Ground Shoal Unit in
middle Cook Inlet and one location
between the Anna and Bruce platforms
on the northern border of Trading Bay;
and up to 22 days of pipeline
replacement/installation, involving
either pipe pulling or anchor handling
or a combination of both, at up to two
locations in middle Cook Inlet and/or
Trading Bay. Hilcorp requests take of
marine mammals by Level B harassment
for twelve marine mammal species
(including Cook Inlet beluga whales
(Delphinapterus leucas)), and take by
Level A harassment of nine marine
mammal species.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit
information, suggestions, and comments
concerning the Hilcorp’s request (see
ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all
information, suggestions, and comments
related to the request during the
development of proposed regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals by Hilcorp, if
appropriate.
Dated: March 7, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025–03981 Filed 3–12–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
[RTID 0648–XE472]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Eareckson Air
Station Fuel Pier Repair in Alcan
Harbor on Shemya Island, Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Mar 12, 2025
Jkt 265001
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; proposed issuance of an
incidental harassment authorization;
request for comments.
NMFS has received a request
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) on behalf of the United States
Air Force Pacific Air Forces Regional
Support Center (USAF) for an incidental
harassment authorization (IHA) that is
nearly identical to an IHA previously
issued to USAF authorizing the take of
marine mammals, by Level A and Level
B harassment, incidental to the
Eareckson Air Station (EAS) Fuel Pier
Repair project in Alcan Harbor on
Shemya Island, Alaska. Pursuant to the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments
on its proposal to issue an IHA to
incidentally take marine mammals
during the Eareckson Fuel Pier Repair
project. NMFS is also requesting
comments on a possible 1-year renewal
IHA that could be issued under certain
circumstances and if all requirements
are met, as described in Request for
Public Comments at the end of this
notice. NMFS will consider public
comments prior to making any final
decision on the issuance of the
requested MMPA authorizations and
agency responses will be summarized in
the final notice of our decision. The IHA
would be valid for one year from the
effective date.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than April 14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service. Written
comments should be submitted via
email to ITP.Fleming@noaa.gov.
Electronic copies of the original
application and supporting documents
(including NMFS Federal Register
notices of the original proposed and
final authorizations, and the previous
IHA), as well as a list of the references
cited in this document, may be obtained
online at: https://www.fisheries.
noaa.gov/permit/incidental-takeauthorizations-under-marine-mammalprotection-act. In case of problems
accessing these documents, please call
the contact listed below.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. All comments
received are a part of the public record
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and will generally be posted online at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act without
change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate
Fleming, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of
marine mammals, with certain
exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and
(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et
seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce
(as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon
request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
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
proposed or, if the taking is limited to
harassment, a notice of a proposed IHA
is provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings
shall be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s) and will not have
an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
taking for subsistence uses (where
relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe
the permissible methods of taking and
other ‘‘means of effecting the least
practicable adverse impact’’ on the
affected species or stocks and their
habitat, paying particular attention to
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of
similar significance, and on the
availability of the species or stocks for
taking for certain subsistence uses
(referred to in shorthand as
‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements
pertaining to the monitoring and
reporting of the takings. The definitions
of all applicable MMPA statutory terms
used above are included in the relevant
sections below and can be found in
section 3 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1362)
and NMFS regulations at 50 CFR
216.103.
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 (i.e., the issuance of an
E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM
13MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 48 (Thursday, March 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11951-11952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03981]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE668
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Hilcorp Alaska, LLC Oil and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet,
Alaska
AGENCY: 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
(Hilcorp) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals
incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over the
course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations
implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is
announcing receipt of Hilcorp'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 Hilcorp's application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than April
14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the applications should be addressed to Jolie
Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service and should be submitted
via email to [email protected]. An electronic copy of the
application may be obtained online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-oil-and-gas. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the
contact listed below.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the
end of the comment period. Comments, including all attachments, must
not exceed a 25-megabyte file size. Attachments to electronic comments
will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF file formats
only. All comments received are a part of the public record and will
generally be posted online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-oil-and-gas
without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name,
address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reny Tyson Moore, 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 (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon
request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers
of 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 incidental take authorization 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. The MMPA states that the term ``take'' means to harass, hunt,
capture, kill or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine
mammal.
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).
Summary of Request
On October 30, 2024, NMFS received an application from Hilcorp
requesting authorization for take of marine mammals incidental to oil
and gas exploration, development, production, and decommissioning
activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska. NMFS determined that the application
was adequate and complete on February 10, 2024. The requested
regulations would be valid for five years, from the date of issuance
through December 31, 2029. Hilcorp plans to conduct necessary work,
including tugs towing, holding, or positioning a jack-up rig, pile
driving, and pipeline replacement/installation activities. The exposure
of marine mammals occurring in the vicinity to underwater noise
generated by the activities could result in incidental take, by Level A
and Level B harassment. Therefore, Hilcorp requests authorization to
incidentally take marine mammals.
[[Page 11952]]
Specified Activities
Hilcorp plans to continue oil and gas exploration, development,
production, and decommissioning activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, for
the reasonably foreseeable future. The work expected to span five years
includes up to 54 days of tugs towing, holding, or positioning a jack-
up rig in support of production drilling at existing platforms in
middle Cook Inlet and Trading Bay; up to 70 days of pile driving in
support of production well development at the Tyonek platform in middle
Cook Inlet; up to 6 days of tugs towing, holding, or positioning a
jack-up rig and up to 18 days of pile driving in support of exploration
drilling at two locations in the Middle Ground Shoal Unit in middle
Cook Inlet and one location between the Anna and Bruce platforms on the
northern border of Trading Bay; and up to 22 days of pipeline
replacement/installation, involving either pipe pulling or anchor
handling or a combination of both, at up to two locations in middle
Cook Inlet and/or Trading Bay. Hilcorp requests take of marine mammals
by Level B harassment for twelve marine mammal species (including Cook
Inlet beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas)), and take by Level A
harassment of nine marine mammal species.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and
comments concerning the Hilcorp's request (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will
consider all information, suggestions, and comments related to the
request during the development of proposed regulations governing the
incidental taking of marine mammals by Hilcorp, if appropriate.
Dated: March 7, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-03981 Filed 3-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
