83 FR 18329 - Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus and Polar Bears in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 81 (April 26, 2018)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 81 (April 26, 2018)
| Page Range | 18329-18330 | |
| FR Document | 2018-08759 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 18329-18330] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-08759] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R7-ES-2017-N181; FF07CAMM00-FX-ES111607MRG01] Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus and Polar Bears in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Alaska AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued Letters of Authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska and incidental to oil and gas industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and the adjacent western coast of Alaska. These Letters of Authorization stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears and Pacific walruses from these activities. ADDRESSES: These letters of authorization are available electronically at the following location: http://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/mmm/itr.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Putnam at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; (800) 362-5148 or (907) 786-3844. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published in the Federal Register a final rule (81 FR 52276) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) during year-round oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective through August 5, 2021. The rule prescribed a process under which we issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to applicants conducting activities as described under the provisions of the regulations. This rule replaced a similar rule, published on August 3, 2011 (76 FR 47010), which expired on August 3, 2016, and likewise prescribed a process under which we issued such LOAs. Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the activity and location. Holders of LOAs must use methods and conduct activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walruses and polar bears and their habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take are prohibited. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR part 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to each of the following companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska: Beaufort Sea Letters of Authorization -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Company Activity Project LOA No. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shell Exploration and Production Support services...................... Ice surveys and 15-01 Company, Inc. helicopter search and rescue training. Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation... Development........................... 2015 Mustang 15-02 Development Program. Global Geophysical Services, Inc..... Exploration........................... Winter seismic work.... 15-03 Geokinetics, Inc..................... Exploration........................... Winter seismic work.... 15-04 Repsol E and P USA, Inc.............. Exploration........................... Exploration drilling in 15-05 the Colville River Delta. BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc......... Exploration........................... Winter seismic work.... 15-06 ExxonMobil Development Company....... Development........................... Point Thomson Project.. 15-07, 16-06, 16-17 Hilcorp Alaska, LLC.................. Exploration........................... Liberty Geotech and 15-08 Shallow Hazard Survey. Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC............ Development........................... Nuna Project........... 15-09, 16-01, 16-12, 17-06 Olgoonik Specialty Contractors, LLC.. Remediation........................... Point Lonely, Oliktok 15-10 Point, and Bullen Point DEW line sites. North Slope Borough.................. Production............................ Barrow pipeline 15-12, 17-08 upgrades. ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... Greater Moose's Tooth.. 15-15 ARSC Exploration, LLC................ Exploration........................... Placer Unit exploratory 15-16 drilling. Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC... Support services...................... Transportation 15-17, 17-01 activities on the North Slope. SAExploration, Inc................... Exploration........................... Aklaq seismic surveys 15-18, 16-03 on Canning and Sag River. [[Page 18330]] Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC............ Exploration........................... Tulimaniq Exploration 15-19, 16-09_a Program in Smith Bay. Geokinetics, Inc..................... Exploration........................... ``Great Bear'' 3d 15-20 seismic on North Slope. Alaska Frontier Constructors, Inc.... Development........................... Gravel removal in the 15-21 Sag River. ExxonMobil Alaska, LNG, LLC.......... Exploration........................... Alaska LNG Project 16-02, 16-18 surveys. Marsh Creek, LLC..................... Remediation........................... Legacy wells-Cape 16-04, 16-21 Simpson, Iko Bay, Barrow, and Avak. ENI U.S. Operating Company, Inc...... Development........................... Nakaitchuq North at Spy 16-05 Island. ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... NPRA seismic 16-08 exploration. ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... Exploration drilling... 16-09_b, 17-10 Fairweather, LLC..................... Exploration........................... Retrieval of mooring 16-10 anchors in the Beaufort Sea. Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC............ Production............................ Oooguruk Project....... 16-11 ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Production............................ CPAI North Slope Alpine 16-13 and Kuparuk. BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc......... Production............................ Prudhoe Bay............ 16-14 Savant Alaska, LLC................... Production............................ Badami Project......... 16-15 Hilcorp Alaska, LLC.................. Production............................ Milne Point, Endicott, 16-16 and Northstar Units. Olgoonik Construction Services, LLC.. Remediation........................... Barrow legacy wells.... 16-19 ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Development........................... GMT-1 Construction..... 16-20, 17-09 Alyeska Pipeline Service Company..... Production............................ TAPS activities........ 16-22 Armstrong Energy, LLC................ Exploration........................... Colville River Delta 16-23 drilling and geotech. BEM Systems, Incorporated............ Remediation........................... Oliktok radar site..... 17-03 BEM Systems, Incorporated............ Remediation........................... Bullen Pt. radar site.. 17-04 ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc........... Exploration........................... ``Bear'' Winter Seismic 17-05 East of Colville River. BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc......... Exploration........................... 2017 Liberty Bathymetry 17-07 Survey. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On June 12, 2013, we published in the Federal Register a final rule (78 FR 35364) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walruses during year-round oil and gas industry exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of Alaska. The rule established 50 CFR part 18 subpart I and is effective until June 11, 2018. The process under which we issue LOAs to applicants and the requirements that the holders of LOAs must follow is the same as described above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR part 18, subpart J. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we issued LOAs to the following companies in the Chukchi Sea: Chukchi Sea Letters of Authorization -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Company Activity Project LOA No. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shell Exploration and Production Support services...................... 2015/2016 ice 15-CS-01 Company, Inc. overflight surveys. Shell Exploration and Production Exploration........................... Chukchi Sea exploration 15-CS-02 Company, Inc. drilling. Fairweather, LLC..................... Exploration........................... Retrieval of Shell's 16-CS-01 mooring anchors in the Chukchi Sea. Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC............ Exploration........................... Post Shell drillsite 16-CS-02 monitoring. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authority: We issue this notice under the authority of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). Dated: January 4, 2018. Gregory E. Siekaniec, Regional Director, Alaska Region. Editorial note: This document was received for publication by the Office of the Federal Register on April 23, 2018. [FR Doc. 2018-08759 Filed 4-25-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 433-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Notices 18329
B. Solicitation of Public Comment DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
5, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
This notice is soliciting comments Fish and Wildlife Service Service published in the Federal
from members of the public and affected Register a final rule (81 FR 52276)
[FWS–R7–ES–2017–N181; FF07CAMM00–
parties concerning the collection of FX–ES111607MRG01] establishing regulations that allow us to
information described in Section A on authorize the nonlethal, incidental,
the following: Marine Mammals; Letters of unintentional take of small numbers of
(1) Whether the proposed collection Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and
of information is necessary for the and Polar Bears in the Beaufort and Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus
proper performance of the functions of Chukchi Seas, Alaska divergens) during year-round oil and gas
the agency, including whether the industry exploration, development, and
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, production activities in the Beaufort Sea
information will have practical utility; Interior. and adjacent northern coast of Alaska.
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s ACTION: Notice of issuance. The rule established subpart J in part 18
estimate of the burden of the proposed of title 50 of the Code of Federal
collection of information; SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Regulations (CFR) and is effective
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, through August 5, 2021. The rule
as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
utility, and clarity of the information to prescribed a process under which we
Service has issued Letters of
be collected; and issue Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to
Authorization for the nonlethal take of
applicants conducting activities as
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of polar bears and Pacific walruses
described under the provisions of the
the collection of information on those incidental to oil and gas industry
regulations. This rule replaced a similar
who are to respond; including through exploration, development, and
rule, published on August 3, 2011 (76
the use of appropriate automated production activities in the Beaufort Sea
FR 47010), which expired on August 3,
collection techniques or other forms of and the adjacent northern coast of
2016, and likewise prescribed a process
information technology, e.g., permitting Alaska and incidental to oil and gas
under which we issued such LOAs.
electronic submission of responses. industry exploration activities in the
Each LOA stipulates conditions or
Chukchi Sea and the adjacent western
HUD encourages interested parties to methods that are specific to the activity
coast of Alaska. These Letters of
submit comment in response to these and location. Holders of LOAs must use
Authorization stipulate conditions and
questions. methods and conduct activities in a
methods that minimize impacts to polar
manner that minimizes to the greatest
Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork bears and Pacific walruses from these
extent practicable adverse impacts on
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. activities.
Pacific walruses and polar bears and
Dated: April 19, 2018. ADDRESSES: These letters of their habitat, and on the availability of
Anna P. Guido, authorization are available these marine mammals for subsistence
Department Reports Management Officer, electronically at the following location: purposes. Intentional take and lethal
Office of the Chief Information Officer. http://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/ incidental take are prohibited.
[FR Doc. 2018–08779 Filed 4–25–18; 8:45 am]
mmm/itr.htm. In accordance with section
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal
Christopher Putnam at the U.S. Fish and Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361
Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals et seq.) and our regulations at 50 CFR
Management Office, 1011 East Tudor part 18, subpart J, we issued LOAs to
Road, MS 341, Anchorage, Alaska each of the following companies in the
99503; (800) 362–5148 or (907) 786– Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern
3844. coast of Alaska:
BEAUFORT SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION
Company Activity Project LOA No.
Shell Exploration and Production Com- Support services ............ Ice surveys and helicopter search and 15–01
pany, Inc. rescue training.
Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation .. Development .................. 2015 Mustang Development Program .. 15–02
Global Geophysical Services, Inc ......... Exploration ..................... Winter seismic work .............................. 15–03
Geokinetics, Inc .................................... Exploration ..................... Winter seismic work .............................. 15–04
Repsol E and P USA, Inc ..................... Exploration ..................... Exploration drilling in the Colville River 15–05
Delta.
BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc ................. Exploration ..................... Winter seismic work .............................. 15–06
ExxonMobil Development Company ..... Development .................. Point Thomson Project ......................... 15–07, 16–06, 16–17
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC .............................. Exploration ..................... Liberty Geotech and Shallow Hazard 15–08
Survey.
Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC .................. Development .................. Nuna Project ......................................... 15–09, 16–01, 16–12, 17–06
Olgoonik Specialty Contractors, LLC .... Remediation ................... Point Lonely, Oliktok Point, and Bullen 15–10
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Point DEW line sites.
North Slope Borough ............................ Production ...................... Barrow pipeline upgrades ..................... 15–12, 17–08
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Exploration ..................... Greater Moose’s Tooth ......................... 15–15
ARSC Exploration, LLC ........................ Exploration ..................... Placer Unit exploratory drilling .............. 15–16
Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC ... Support services ............ Transportation activities on the North 15–17, 17–01
Slope.
SAExploration, Inc ................................ Exploration ..................... Aklaq seismic surveys on Canning and 15–18, 16–03
Sag River.
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![18330 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 81 / Thursday, April 26, 2018 / Notices
BEAUFORT SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION—Continued
Company Activity Project LOA No.
Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC .................. Exploration ..................... Tulimaniq Exploration Program in 15–19, 16–09_a
Smith Bay.
Geokinetics, Inc .................................... Exploration ..................... ‘‘Great Bear’’ 3d seismic on North 15–20
Slope.
Alaska Frontier Constructors, Inc ......... Development .................. Gravel removal in the Sag River .......... 15–21
ExxonMobil Alaska, LNG, LLC ............. Exploration ..................... Alaska LNG Project surveys ................. 16–02, 16–18
Marsh Creek, LLC ................................. Remediation ................... Legacy wells–Cape Simpson, Iko Bay, 16–04, 16–21
Barrow, and Avak.
ENI U.S. Operating Company, Inc ........ Development .................. Nakaitchuq North at Spy Island ............ 16–05
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Exploration ..................... NPRA seismic exploration .................... 16–08
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Exploration ..................... Exploration drilling ................................ 16–09_b, 17–10
Fairweather, LLC .................................. Exploration ..................... Retrieval of mooring anchors in the 16–10
Beaufort Sea.
Caelus Energy Alaska, LLC .................. Production ...................... Oooguruk Project .................................. 16–11
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Production ...................... CPAI North Slope Alpine and Kuparuk 16–13
BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc ................. Production ...................... Prudhoe Bay ......................................... 16–14
Savant Alaska, LLC .............................. Production ...................... Badami Project ..................................... 16–15
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC .............................. Production ...................... Milne Point, Endicott, and Northstar 16–16
Units.
Olgoonik Construction Services, LLC ... Remediation ................... Barrow legacy wells .............................. 16–19
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Development .................. GMT–1 Construction ............................. 16–20, 17–09
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company ...... Production ...................... TAPS activities ...................................... 16–22
Armstrong Energy, LLC ........................ Exploration ..................... Colville River Delta drilling and geotech 16–23
BEM Systems, Incorporated ................. Remediation ................... Oliktok radar site ................................... 17–03
BEM Systems, Incorporated ................. Remediation ................... Bullen Pt. radar site .............................. 17–04
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc .................... Exploration ..................... ‘‘Bear’’ Winter Seismic East of Colville 17–05
River.
BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc ................. Exploration ..................... 2017 Liberty Bathymetry Survey .......... 17–07
On June 12, 2013, we published in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast above for LOAs issued under 50 CFR
Federal Register a final rule (78 FR of Alaska. The rule established 50 CFR part 18, subpart J.
35364) establishing regulations that part 18 subpart I and is effective until In accordance with section
allow us to authorize the nonlethal, June 11, 2018. The process under which 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our
incidental, unintentional take of small we issue LOAs to applicants and the regulations at 50 CFR 18, subpart I, we
numbers of polar bears and Pacific requirements that the holders of LOAs issued LOAs to the following companies
walruses during year-round oil and gas must follow is the same as described in the Chukchi Sea:
industry exploration activities in the
CHUKCHI SEA LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION
Company Activity Project LOA No.
Shell Exploration and Production Com- Support services ............ 2015/2016 ice overflight surveys .......... 15–CS–01
pany, Inc.
Shell Exploration and Production Com- Exploration ..................... Chukchi Sea exploration drilling ........... 15–CS–02
pany, Inc.
Fairweather, LLC .................................. Exploration ..................... Retrieval of Shell’s mooring anchors in 16–CS–01
the Chukchi Sea.
Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC ................... Exploration ..................... Post Shell drillsite monitoring ............... 16–CS–02
Authority: We issue this notice under the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ACTION: Notice of receipt of application;
authority of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et proposed incidental harassment
seq.). Fish and Wildlife Service authorization; availability of draft
Dated: January 4, 2018. environmental assessment; request for
[FWS–R7–ES–2018–N010;
Gregory E. Siekaniec, FXES111607MRG01–189–FF07CAMM00] comments.
Regional Director, Alaska Region. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Marine Mammals; Incidental Take
Editorial note: This document was During Specified Activities; Proposed Wildlife Service, in response to a
received for publication by the Office of the Incidental Harassment Authorization request under the Marine Mammal
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register on April 23, 2018. for Northern Sea Otters in Cook Inlet, Protection Act of 1972, as amended,
Alaska; Availability of Draft from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, propose to
[FR Doc. 2018–08759 Filed 4–25–18; 8:45 am]
Environmental Assessment; Request authorize nonlethal, incidental take by
BILLING CODE 433–15–P harassment of small numbers of
for Comments
northern sea otters between May 23,
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 2018, and September 30, 2018. The
Interior. applicant has requested this
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Document Created: 2018-11-02 08:19:53
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 08:19:53
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of issuance. | |
| Contact | Mr. Christopher Putnam at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; (800) 362-5148 or (907) 786-3844. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 18329 |
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