### 4022 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 17 / Thursday, January 26, 2012 / Notices

may be made by these species to avoid the resultant acoustic disturbance, the availability of alternate areas within these areas and the short and sporadic duration of the research activities, have led NMFS to determine that this action will have a negligible impact on the species in the specified geographic region.

Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into consideration the implementation of the mitigation and monitoring measures, NMFS finds that the Navy’s planned research activities (and the resulting total taking from the survey): (1) Will result in the incidental take of small numbers of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only; (2) will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stocks; and (3) will have mitigated impacts to affected species or stocks of marine mammals to the lowest level practicable. Impact on Availability of Affected Species or Stock for Taking for Subsistence Uses

There are no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals implicated by this action. Therefore, NMFS has determined that the total taking of affected species or stocks will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for subsistence purposes. Endangered Species Act

Of the species of marine mammals that may occur in the proposed survey area, six are listed as endangered under the ESA, including the blue, fin, humpback, sei, southern right, and sperm whales. Under section 7 of the ESA, the Navy initiated formal consultation with NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species Act Interagency Cooperation Division, on this survey. NMFS’ Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division, also initiated formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA with NMFS’ Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species Act Interagency Cooperation Division, to obtain a Biological Opinion evaluating the effects of issuing the IHA on threatened and endangered marine mammals and, if appropriate, authorizing incidental take.

The Biological Opinion was issued on January 20, 2012, and concluded that the specified activity and issuance of the IHA are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of blue, fin, humpback, sei, southern right, or sperm whales. The Biological Opinion also concluded that designated critical habitat for these species does not occur in the survey area and would not be affected by the survey. The Navy, in addition to the mitigation and monitoring requirements included in the IHA, will be required to comply with the Terms and Conditions of the Incidental Take Statement corresponding to NMFS’ Biological Opinion issued to both the Navy and NMFS’ Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

To meet NMFS’ NEPA requirements for the issuance of an IHA to the Navy, NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), titled ‘‘Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to the Navy to Take Marine Mammals by Harassment Incidental to a Physical Oceanographic Survey in the Southwest Indian Ocean.’’ NMFS provided relevant environmental information to the public through the notice for the proposed IHA (76 FR 71940, November 21, 2011) and has considered public comments received in response prior to finalizing the EA and deciding whether or not to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

NMFS concluded that issuance of an IHA would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and has issued a FONSI. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the issuance of an IHA to the Navy for this activity. The EA and FONSI for this activity can be viewed on NMFS’ Web site (http:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm#applications).

Authorization

As a result of these determinations, NMFS has issued an IHA to the Navy for conducting a physical oceanographic survey off the southern coast of Africa, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated.

Dated: January 20, 2012. James H. Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–1708 Filed 1–25–12; 8:45 a.m.]

**BILLING CODE 3510–22–P**

**COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION** 
**Sunshine Act Meetings**

**AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING :**  Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Sunshine Act Meetings. **TIME AND DATE :**  10 a.m., Friday February 17, 2012.
**PLACE :**  1155 21st St. NW., Washington, DC, 9th Floor Commission Conference Room.

**STATUS :**  Closed.

**MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED :**  Surveillance and Enforcement Matters. In the event that the times or dates of these or any future meetings change, an announcement of the change, along with the new time and place of the meeting will be posted on the Commission’s Web site at http://www.cftc.gov.

**CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION :**  Sauntia S. Warfield, (202) 418–5084.

Sauntia S. Warfield, Assistant Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2012–1769 Filed 1–24–12; 4:15 pm]

**BILLING CODE 6351–01–P**

**COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION** 
**Sunshine Act Meetings**

**AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING :**  Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Sunshine Act Meetings.

**TIME AND DATE :**  10 a.m., Friday February 24, 2012.
**PLACE :**  1155 21st St. NW., Washington, DC, 9th Floor Commission Conference Room.

**STATUS :**  Closed.

**MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED :**  Surveillance and Enforcement Matters. In the event that the times or dates of these or any future meetings change, an announcement of the change, along with the new time and place of the meeting will be posted on the Commission’s Web site at http://www.cftc.gov.

**CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION :**  Sauntia S. Warfield, (202) 418–5084.

Sauntia S. Warfield, Assistant Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2012–1771 Filed 1–24–12; 4:15 pm]

**BILLING CODE 6351–01–P**

**COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION** 
**Sunshine Act Meetings**

**AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING :**  Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

**TIME AND DATE :**  10 a.m., Friday February 10, 2012.
**PLACE :**  1155 21st St., NW., Washington, DC, 9th Floor Commission Conference Room.

**STATUS :**  Closed.