80_FR_14398 80 FR 14345 - Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Seismic Surveys in Cook Inlet, Alaska

80 FR 14345 - Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Seismic Surveys in Cook Inlet, Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 53 (March 19, 2015)

Page Range14345-14345
FR Document2015-06342

On February 23, 2015, the NMFS published its proposed rulemaking to govern the take of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in Cook Inlet, Alaska from March 1, 2015 to February 29, 2020. The Federal Register document indicated that written comments are due by March 25, 2015. However, in response to a request to extend the public comment period, NMFS has decided to extend the public comment period by an additional 15 calendar days.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14345]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06342]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 217

RIN 0648-BE53


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Seismic Surveys in Cook Inlet, Alaska

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On February 23, 2015, the NMFS published its proposed 
rulemaking to govern the take of marine mammals, by harassment, 
incidental to conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in Cook 
Inlet, Alaska from March 1, 2015 to February 29, 2020. The Federal 
Register document indicated that written comments are due by March 25, 
2015. However, in response to a request to extend the public comment 
period, NMFS has decided to extend the public comment period by an 
additional 15 calendar days.

DATES: NMFS has extended the public comment period published on 
February 23, 2015 (80 FR 9509) to April 9, 2015. NMFS must receive 
written comments and information on or before April 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Address comments on the application to Jolie Harrison, 
Supervisor, Incidental Take Program, Permits and Conservation Division, 
Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The mailbox address for 
providing email comments is [email protected]. Please include 0648-
BE53 in the subject line. Comments sent via email to 
[email protected], including all attachments, must not exceed a 25-
megabyte file size. NMFS is not responsible for email comments sent to 
addresses other than the one provided here.
    Instructions: All submitted comments are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post them to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications without change. All Personal Identifying 
Information (for example, name, address, etc.) 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: Sara Young, NMFS, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS (301) 427-8484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce 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.
    On February 23, 2015, NMFS published a Federal Register notice (80 
FR 9509, February 23, 2015) announcing proposed issuance of regulations 
to Apache Alaska Corporation (Apache) to take marine mammals, by 
harassment incidental to conducting a seismic survey in Cook Inlet, 
Alaska March 1, 2015 through February 29, 2020. The 30-day public 
comment period for the Federal Register notice (80 FR 9509, February 
23, 2015) ends on March 25, 2015.
    This is the first time that NMFS has proposed to issue regulations 
for harassment incidental to a seismic survey in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
    On March 2, 2015, the Natural Resource Defense Council requested an 
extension of the public comment period to aid in their review of the 
proposed rulemaking. NMFS has considered the request and will extend 
the comment period to April 9, 2015. This extension provides a total of 
45 days for public input and continuing Federal agency reviews to 
inform NMFS' final decision to issue or deny the regulations.
    NMFS refers the reader to the February 23, 2015, notice of proposed 
regulations (80 FR 9509, February 23, 2015) for background information 
concerning the proposed rulemaking as this notice does not repeat the 
information here. For additional information about Apache's request and 
the environmental analyses, please visit the Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.

    Dated: March 11, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06342 Filed 3-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 53 / Thursday, March 19, 2015 / Proposed Rules 14345 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041– by March 25, 2015. However, in 30-day public comment period for the 3803. response to a request to extend the Federal Register notice (80 FR 9509, We request that you send comments public comment period, NMFS has February 23, 2015) ends on March 25, only by one of the methods described decided to extend the public comment 2015. above. We will post all comments on period by an additional 15 calendar This is the first time that NMFS has http://www.regulations.gov. This days. proposed to issue regulations for generally means that we will post any harassment incidental to a seismic DATES: NMFS has extended the public personal information you provide us survey in Cook Inlet, Alaska. comment period published on February (for more information, see the On March 2, 2015, the Natural 23, 2015 (80 FR 9509) to April 9, 2015. Information Requested section of the Resource Defense Council requested an NMFS must receive written comments March 11, 2015, proposed rule at 80 FR extension of the public comment period and information on or before April 9, 12846). to aid in their review of the proposed 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: rulemaking. NMFS has considered the Stephen Ricks, Field Supervisor, U.S. ADDRESSES: Address comments on the request and will extend the comment Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi application to Jolie Harrison, period to April 9, 2015. This extension Field Office, 6578 Dogwood View Supervisor, Incidental Take Program, provides a total of 45 days for public Parkway, Jackson, MS 39213; telephone: Permits and Conservation Division, input and continuing Federal agency 601–321–1122; facsimile: 601–965– Office of Protected Resources, National reviews to inform NMFS’ final decision 4340. If you use a telecommunications Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East- to issue or deny the regulations. device for the deaf (TDD), call the West Highway, Silver Spring, MD NMFS refers the reader to the Federal Information Relay Service 20910. The mailbox address for February 23, 2015, notice of proposed (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. providing email comments is regulations (80 FR 9509, February 23, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a ITP.Young@noaa.gov. Please include 2015) for background information proposed rule that published in the 0648–BE53 in the subject line. concerning the proposed rulemaking as Federal Register on March 11, 2015, at Comments sent via email to ITP.Young@ this notice does not repeat the 80 FR 12846, the ADDRESSES section noaa.gov, including all attachments, information here. For additional provided the wrong address for the must not exceed a 25-megabyte file size. information about Apache’s request and submission of hard-copy comments. The NMFS is not responsible for email the environmental analyses, please visit corrected ADDRESSES section appears comments sent to addresses other than the Web site at: http:// above. the one provided here. www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ Instructions: All submitted comments incidental.htm#applications. Dated: March 16, 2015. are a part of the public record and Dated: March 11, 2015. Tina A. Campbell, NMFS will post them to http:// Samuel D. Rauch III, Chief, Division of Policy, Performance, and www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ Management Programs, U.S Fish and Wildlife incidental.htm#applications without Deputy Assistant Administrator for Service. Regulatory Programs, National Marine change. All Personal Identifying Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–06302 Filed 3–18–15; 8:45 am] Information (for example, name, [FR Doc. 2015–06342 Filed 3–18–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE business information or otherwise DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE sensitive or protected information. National Oceanic and Atmospheric FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Young, NMFS, Office of Protected Administration Resources, NMFS (301) 427–8484. 50 CFR Part 217 50 CFR Part 229 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections RIN 0648–BE53 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 [Docket No. 150122067–5229–01] U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary Taking and Importing Marine of Commerce to allow, upon request, the RIN 0648–BE83 Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals incidental, but not intentional, taking of Incidental to Seismic Surveys in Cook Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental small numbers of marine mammals by Inlet, Alaska to Commercial Fishing Operations; U.S. citizens who engage in a specified Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries activity (other than commercial fishing) Plan Regulations Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and within a specified geographical region if Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), certain findings are made and either AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Commerce. regulations are issued or, if the taking is Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of limited to harassment, a notice of a Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), comment period. proposed authorization is provided to Commerce. the public for review. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for SUMMARY: On February 23, 2015, the On February 23, 2015, NMFS comments. Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS NMFS published its proposed published a Federal Register notice (80 rulemaking to govern the take of marine FR 9509, February 23, 2015) announcing SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to amend the mammals, by harassment, incidental to proposed issuance of regulations to regulations implementing the Atlantic conducting a marine geophysical Apache Alaska Corporation (Apache) to Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. This (seismic) survey in Cook Inlet, Alaska take marine mammals, by harassment action proposes to change the minimum from March 1, 2015 to February 29, incidental to conducting a seismic number of traps per trawl to allow 2020. The Federal Register document survey in Cook Inlet, Alaska March 1, fishing with a single trap in certain indicated that written comments are due 2015 through February 29, 2020. The Massachusetts and Rhode Island state VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Mar 18, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\19MRP1.SGM 19MRP1


Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:42:00
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:42:00
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule; extension of comment period.
DatesNMFS has extended the public comment period published on February 23, 2015 (80 FR 9509) to April 9, 2015. NMFS must receive written comments and information on or before April 9, 2015.
ContactSara Young, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS (301) 427-8484.
FR Citation80 FR 14345 
RIN Number0648-BE53
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