National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration July 9, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will begin its plenary session and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold public meetings in Anchorage, AK.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy for an authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar from August 16, 2007, through August 15, 2012. By this document, NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take. In order to issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) and final regulations governing the take, NMFS must determine that the taking will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stocks of marine mammals. NMFS regulations must set forth the permissible methods of take and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stocks of marine mammals and their habitat. NMFS invites comment on the proposed regulations and findings.