Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project on Interstate 5 Between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, WA, 11950-11951 [2025-03982]
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11950
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 48 / Thursday, March 13, 2025 / Notices
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.
taking of marine mammals. NMFS
invites the public to provide
information, suggestions, and comments
on the IBRP’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. Physical comments
should be sent to 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
electronic comments should be sent to
ITP.hotchkin@noaa.gov.
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 received
electronically, 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-authorizationsconstruction-activities 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: Cara
Hotchkin, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, (301) 427–8401. An electronic
copy of the IBRP’s application 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:
NMFS has received a request
from the Interstate Bridge Replacement
Program (IBRP) for authorization to take
small numbers of marine mammals
incidental to the Interstate Bridge
Replacement Project (IBR) on Interstate
5 (I–5) between Portland, Oregon, and
Vancouver, Washington 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 the IBRP’s request for the
development and implementation of
regulations governing the incidental
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.
Based on the analysis contained
herein of WesternGeco’s proposed
survey activity described in its LOA
application and the anticipated take of
marine mammals, NMFS finds that
small numbers of marine mammals will
be taken relative to the affected species
or stock sizes (i.e., less than one-third of
the best available abundance estimate)
and therefore the taking is of no more
than small numbers.
Authorization
NMFS has determined that the level
of taking for this LOA request is
consistent with the findings made for
the total taking allowable under the
incidental take regulations and that the
amount of take authorized under the
LOA is of no more than small numbers.
Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to
WesternGeco authorizing the take of
marine mammals incidental to its
geophysical survey activity, as
described above.
Dated: March 10, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025–04024 Filed 3–12–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE624
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to the Interstate Bridge
Replacement Project on Interstate 5
Between Portland, Oregon and
Vancouver, WA
AGENCY:
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:14 Mar 12, 2025
Jkt 265001
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 July 18, 2024, NMFS received
application from the IBRP requesting
authorization for take of marine
mammals incidental to construction
activities related to the Interstate Bridge
Replacement Project on I–5 between
Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. After
the IBRP responded to our questions on
October 12, 2024 and January 14, 2025,
we determined the application was
adequate and complete on January 16,
2025. The requested regulations would
be valid for five years, from September
15, 2027 through September 14, 2032.
The IBRP plans to conduct necessary
work, including pile driving (impact
and vibratory) and rotary drilling, to
construct replacement bridges for the I–
5 roadway over the Columbia River and
North Portland Harbor. The proposed
action may incidentally expose marine
mammals occurring in the vicinity to
elevated levels of underwater sound,
thereby resulting in incidental take, by
Level A and Level B harassment.
Therefore, the IBRP requests
authorization to incidentally take
marine mammals.
E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM
13MRN1
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
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 48 (Thursday, March 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11950-11951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03982]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE624
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project on Interstate 5
Between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, WA
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 Interstate Bridge
Replacement Program (IBRP) for authorization to take small numbers of
marine mammals incidental to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project
(IBR) on Interstate 5 (I-5) between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver,
Washington 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 the IBRP'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 the IBRP'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. Physical comments should
be sent to 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
electronic comments should be sent to [email protected].
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 received electronically, 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-construction-activities 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: Cara Hotchkin, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. An electronic copy of the IBRP's
application may be obtained online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-construction-activities. In case of problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed above.
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 July 18, 2024, NMFS received application from the IBRP
requesting authorization for take of marine mammals incidental to
construction activities related to the Interstate Bridge Replacement
Project on I-5 between Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. After the IBRP
responded to our questions on October 12, 2024 and January 14, 2025, we
determined the application was adequate and complete on January 16,
2025. The requested regulations would be valid for five years, from
September 15, 2027 through September 14, 2032. The IBRP plans to
conduct necessary work, including pile driving (impact and vibratory)
and rotary drilling, to construct replacement bridges for the I-5
roadway over the Columbia River and North Portland Harbor. The proposed
action may incidentally expose marine mammals occurring in the vicinity
to elevated levels of underwater sound, thereby resulting in incidental
take, by Level A and Level B harassment. Therefore, the IBRP requests
authorization to incidentally take marine mammals.
[[Page 11951]]
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
