80_FR_19709 80 FR 19639 - Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Construction of the Block Island Transmission System

80 FR 19639 - Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Construction of the Block Island Transmission System

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 70 (April 13, 2015)

Page Range19639-19640
FR Document2015-08461

NMFS received a joint request from Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission, LLC (DWBIT) and the Narragansett Electric Company (a subsidiary of National Grid USA), doing business as National Grid (TNEC), to transfer from DWBIT to TNEC, a Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) one-year Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to construction of the Block Island Transmission System (BITS), following the sale of the BITS from DWBIT to TNEC. No other changes are proposed. NMFS is inviting comments on the proposed transfer of the BITS IHA from DWBIT to TNEC.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 70 (Monday, April 13, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19639-19640]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08461]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD131


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Construction of the Block Island 
Transmission System

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

ACTION: Notice; proposed revised incidental harassment authorization; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS received a joint request from Deepwater Wind Block Island 
Transmission, LLC (DWBIT) and the Narragansett Electric Company (a 
subsidiary of National Grid USA), doing business as National Grid 
(TNEC), to transfer from DWBIT to TNEC, a Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA) one-year Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take 
marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to construction of the Block 
Island Transmission System (BITS), following the sale of the BITS from 
DWBIT to TNEC. No other changes are proposed. NMFS is inviting comments 
on the proposed transfer of the BITS IHA from DWBIT to TNEC.

DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than May 13, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed revised IHA should be addressed to 
Jolie Harrison, Chief, 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]. Comments sent via email, 
including all attachments, must not exceed a 10-megabyte file size. 
NMFS is not responsible for comments sent to addresses other than those 
provided here.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/ 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.
    An electronic copy of DWBIT's original IHA application and current 
IHA for the BITS may be obtained by visiting the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/. NMFS prepared an 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on the 
issuance of the BITS IHA on August 21, 2014 which are available at the 
same internet address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fiorentino, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8477.

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 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 authorization for incidental takings 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.

Summary of Request

    On August 22, 2014, NMFS issued an IHA to DWBIT to take marine 
mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to construction of the BITS, 
effective from November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015 (79 FR 51314). 
On January 30, 2015, DWBIT sold the BITS, in its entirety, to TNEC. The 
BITS, a bi-directional submarine transmission cable, will interconnect 
Block Island to TNEC's existing distribution system in Narragansett, 
Rhode Island. To date, no construction has occurred.
    DWBIT and TNEC subsequently submitted a written request to transfer 
the current IHA from DWBIT to TNEC. With the transfer of the BITS IHA, 
TNEC agrees to comply with the associated terms, conditions, 
stipulations, and restrictions of the original BITS IHA. No other 
changes were requested. The revised IHA, if issued, would remain 
effective from November 1, 2014, through October 31, 2015.
    This Federal Register notice sets forth only a proposed change in 
the BITS IHA holder's name. There are no other changes to the current 
IHA as described in the August 28, 2014, Federal Register notice of a 
final IHA (79 FR 51314): the specified activity; description of marine 
mammals in the area of the specified activity; potential effects on 
marine mammals and their habitat; mitigation and related monitoring 
used to implement mitigation; reporting; estimated take by incidental 
harassment; negligible impact and small numbers analyses and 
determinations; impact on availability of affected species or stocks 
for subsistence uses and the period of effectiveness remain unchanged 
and are herein incorporated by reference.

Proposed Revision to BITS IHA

    NMFS is proposing a change in the name of the holder of the BITS 
IHA from ``Deepwater Wind Block Island

[[Page 19640]]

Transmission, LLC, 56 Exchange Terrace, Suite 101, Providence, Rhode 
Island, 02903'' to ``The Narragansett Electric Company, d/b/a National 
Grid, 40 Sylvan Road, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02451.''

Request for Public Comments

    NMFS invites comment on the proposed revised IHA. Please include 
with your comments any supporting data or literature citations to help 
inform our final decision on DWBIT and TNEC's request for transfer of 
the BITS MMPA authorization.

    Dated: April 8, 2015.
Wanda L. Cain,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-08461 Filed 4-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 70 / Monday, April 13, 2015 / Notices 19639 at sea and in the air. Law enforcement Narragansett Electric Company (a geographical region if certain findings personnel rely on vessel marking subsidiary of National Grid USA), doing are made and either regulations are information to assure compliance with business as National Grid (TNEC), to issued or, if the taking is limited to fisheries management regulations. transfer from DWBIT to TNEC, a Marine harassment, a notice of a proposed Vessels that qualify for particular Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) one- authorization is provided to the public fisheries are also readily identified, and year Incidental Harassment for review. this allows for more cost-effective Authorization (IHA) to take marine An authorization for incidental enforcement. Cooperating fishermen mammals, by harassment, incidental to takings shall be granted if NMFS finds also use the vessel numbers to report construction of the Block Island that the taking will have a negligible suspicious or non-compliant activities Transmission System (BITS), following impact on the species or stock(s), will that they observe in unauthorized areas. the sale of the BITS from DWBIT to not have an unmitigable adverse impact The identifying number on fishing TNEC. No other changes are proposed. on the availability of the species or vessels is used by the National Marine NMFS is inviting comments on the stock(s) for subsistence uses (where Fisheries Service (NMFS), the United proposed transfer of the BITS IHA from relevant), and if the permissible States Coast Guard (USCG), and other DWBIT to TNEC. methods of taking and requirements marine agencies in issuing regulations, DATES: Comments and information must pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring prosecutions, and other enforcement be received no later than May 13, 2015. and reporting of such takings are set actions necessary to support sustainable forth. ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed fisheries behaviors as intended in revised IHA should be addressed to Jolie Summary of Request regulations. Regulation-compliant Harrison, Chief, Permits and fishermen ultimately benefit from these On August 22, 2014, NMFS issued an Conservation Division, Office of IHA to DWBIT to take marine mammals, requirements, as unauthorized and Protected Resources, National Marine illegal fishing is deterred and more by Level B harassment, incidental to Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West construction of the BITS, effective from burdensome regulations are avoided. Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The Affected Public: Business or other for- November 1, 2014 through October 31, mailbox address for providing email 2015 (79 FR 51314). On January 30, profit organizations. comments is itp.fiorentino@noaa.gov. Frequency: Every 5 years. 2015, DWBIT sold the BITS, in its Comments sent via email, including all entirety, to TNEC. The BITS, a bi- Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. attachments, must not exceed a 10- This information collection request directional submarine transmission megabyte file size. NMFS is not cable, will interconnect Block Island to may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow responsible for comments sent to the instructions to view Department of TNEC’s existing distribution system in addresses other than those provided Narragansett, Rhode Island. To date, no Commerce collections currently under here. review by OMB. construction has occurred. Instructions: All comments received DWBIT and TNEC subsequently Written comments and are a part of the public record and will submitted a written request to transfer recommendations for the proposed generally be posted to http://www.nmfs. the current IHA from DWBIT to TNEC. information collection should be sent noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/ With the transfer of the BITS IHA, TNEC within 30 days of publication of this without change. All Personal Identifying agrees to comply with the associated notice to OIRA_Submission@ Information (for example, name, terms, conditions, stipulations, and omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by restrictions of the original BITS IHA. No Dated: April 7, 2015. the commenter may be publicly other changes were requested. The Sarah Brabson, accessible. Do not submit Confidential revised IHA, if issued, would remain NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. Business Information or otherwise effective from November 1, 2014, [FR Doc. 2015–08353 Filed 4–10–15; 8:45 am] sensitive or protected information. through October 31, 2015. An electronic copy of DWBIT’s This Federal Register notice sets forth BILLING CODE 3510–22–P original IHA application and current only a proposed change in the BITS IHA IHA for the BITS may be obtained by holder’s name. There are no other DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE visiting the internet at: http:// changes to the current IHA as described www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ in the August 28, 2014, Federal Register National Oceanic and Atmospheric incidental/. NMFS prepared an notice of a final IHA (79 FR 51314): the Administration Environmental Assessment and Finding specified activity; description of marine of No Significant Impact on the issuance mammals in the area of the specified RIN 0648–XD131 of the BITS IHA on August 21, 2014 activity; potential effects on marine which are available at the same internet mammals and their habitat; mitigation Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to address. Specified Activities; Taking Marine and related monitoring used to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John implement mitigation; reporting; Mammals Incidental to Construction of the Block Island Transmission System Fiorentino, Office of Protected estimated take by incidental Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8477. harassment; negligible impact and small AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: numbers analyses and determinations; Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and impact on availability of affected Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Background species or stocks for subsistence uses mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Commerce. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the and the period of effectiveness remain ACTION: Notice; proposed revised MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct unchanged and are herein incorporated incidental harassment authorization; the Secretary of Commerce to allow, by reference. request for comments. upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of Proposed Revision to BITS IHA SUMMARY: NMFS received a joint request marine mammals by U.S. citizens who NMFS is proposing a change in the from Deepwater Wind Block Island engage in a specified activity (other than name of the holder of the BITS IHA Transmission, LLC (DWBIT) and the commercial fishing) within a specified from ‘‘Deepwater Wind Block Island VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:02 Apr 10, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM 13APN1

19640 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 70 / Monday, April 13, 2015 / Notices Transmission, LLC, 56 Exchange with the vessel’s official number, SUMMARY: This notice announces the Terrace, Suite 101, Providence, Rhode Federal permit or tag number, or some next meeting of the National Technical Island, 02903’’ to ‘‘The Narragansett other specified form of identification. Information Service Advisory Board (the Electric Company, d/b/a National Grid, The regulations further specify how the Advisory Board), which advises the 40 Sylvan Road, Waltham, gear is to be marked (e.g., location and Secretary of Commerce and the Director Massachusetts, 02451.’’ color). Law enforcement personnel rely of the National Technical Information on gear marking information to assure Service (NTIS) on policies and Request for Public Comments compliance with fisheries management operations of the Service. NMFS invites comment on the regulations. Gear that is not properly proposed revised IHA. Please include identified is confiscated. Gear violations DATES: The Advisory Board will meet on with your comments any supporting are more readily prosecuted when the Friday, April 24, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. data or literature citations to help gear is marked, and this allows for more to approximately 2:30 p.m. inform our final decision on DWBIT and cost-effective enforcement. Gear ADDRESSES: The Advisory Board will be TNEC’s request for transfer of the BITS marking helps ensure that a vessel MMPA authorization. held in Room 116 of the NTIS Facility harvests fish only from its own traps/ at 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, Dated: April 8, 2015. pots/other gear are not illegally placed. Virginia 22312. Please note admittance Wanda L. Cain, Cooperating fishermen also use the gear marking numbers to report suspicious or instructions under the SUPPLEMENTARY Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, INFORMATION section of this notice. National Marine Fisheries Service. non-compliant activities that they [FR Doc. 2015–08461 Filed 4–10–15; 8:45 am] observe, and to report placement or FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. occurrence of gear in unauthorized Bruce Borzino, (703) 605–6405, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P areas. The identifying number on bborzino@ntis.gov. fishing gear is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NTIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Coast Guard (USCG), and Advisory Board is established by National Oceanic and Atmospheric other marine agencies in issuing Section 3704b(c) of Title 15 of the Administration regulations, prosecutions, and other United States Code. The charter has enforcement actions necessary to been filed in accordance with the Submission for OMB Review; support sustainable fisheries behaviors requirements of the Federal Advisory Comment Request as intended in regulations. Regulation- Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. compliant fishermen ultimately benefit App.). The Department of Commerce will from these requirements, as The meeting will focus on a review of submit to the Office of Management and unauthorized and illegal fishing is NTIS performance and Budget (OMB) for clearance the deterred and more burdensome accomplishments in the first half of following proposal for collection of regulations are avoided. Fiscal Year 2015. A final agenda and information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Affected Public: Business or other for- summary of the proceedings will be Chapter 35). profit organizations. posted at NTIS Web site as soon as they Agency: National Oceanic and Frequency: Every five years. are available (http://www.ntis.gov/ Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. about/advisorybd.aspx). Title: West Coast Region, Gear This information collection request The NTIS Facility is a secure one. Identification Requirements. may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow OMB Control Number: 0648–0352. Accordingly persons wishing to attend the instructions to view Department of Form Number(s): None. Commerce collections currently under should call the NTIS Visitors Center, Type of Request: Regular (extension of review by OMB. (703) 605–6040, to arrange for a currently approved information Written comments and admission no later than Monday, April collection). recommendations for the proposed 20, 2015. If there are sufficient Number of Respondents: 685. information collection should be sent expressions of interest, up to one-half Average Hours per Response: 15 within 30 days of publication of this hour will be reserved for public minutes. notice to OIRA_Submission@ comments during the session. Questions Burden Hours: 574. omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. from the public will not be considered Needs and Uses: This request is for by the Board but any person who wishes extension of a currently approved Dated: April 7, 2015. to submit a written question for the information collection. Sarah Brabson, Board’s consideration should mail or The success of fisheries management NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. email it to the NTIS Visitor Center, programs depends significantly on [FR Doc. 2015–08352 Filed 4–10–15; 8:45 am] bookstore@ntis.gov, not later than regulatory compliance. The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Monday, April 20, 2015. requirements that fishing gear be marked are essential to facilitate Dated: April 7, 2015. enforcement. The ability to link fishing DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bruce Borzino, gear to the vessel owner or operator is Director. National Technical Information Service mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES crucial to enforcement of regulations [FR Doc. 2015–08390 Filed 4–10–15; 8:45 am] issued under the authority of the National Technical Information Service BILLING CODE 3510–04–P Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Advisory Board Conservation and Management Act. The marking of fishing gear is also valuable AGENCY: National Technical Information in actions concerning damage, loss, and Service. civil proceedings. The regulations ACTION: Notice of open meeting. specify that fishing gear must be marked VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:02 Apr 10, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM 13APN1


Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:22:02
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:22:02
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; proposed revised incidental harassment authorization; request for comments.
DatesComments and information must be received no later than May 13, 2015.
ContactJohn Fiorentino, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8477.
FR Citation80 FR 19639 
RIN Number0648-XD13
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