58804 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 193 / Thursday, October 5, 2006 / Notices 

implemented, that the impact of 

conducting an acoustic calibration and 

seismic testing program in the Gulf of 

Mexico may result, at worst, in a 

temporary modification in behavior 

and/or low-level physiological effects 

(Level B Harassment) of small numbers 

of certain species of marine mammals. 

While behavioral and avoidance 

reactions may be made by these species 

in response to the resultant noise from 

the airguns, these behavioral changes 

are expected to have a negligible impact 

on the affected species and stocks of 

marine mammals. 

While the number of potential 

incidental harassment takes will depend 

on the distribution and abundance of 

marine mammals in the area of seismic 

operations, the number of potential 

harassment takings is estimated to be 

relatively small in light of the 

population size (see Table 3). NMFS 

anticipates the actual take of individuals 

to be lower than the numbers depicted 

in the table, because those numbers do 

not reflect either the implementation of 

the mitigation numbers or the fact that 

some animals will avoid the sound at 

levels lower than those expected to 

result in harassment. Additionally, 

mitigation measures requires that the 

Langseth avoid any areas where marine 

mammals are concentrated. 

In addition, no take by death and/or 

serious injury is anticipated, and the 

potential for temporary or permanent 

hearing impairment will be avoided 

through the incorporation of the 

required mitigation measures described 

in this document. This determination is 

supported by (1) the likelihood that, 

given sufficient notice through slow 

ship speed and ramp-up of the seismic 

array, marine mammals are expected to 

move away from a noise source that it 

is annoying prior to its becoming 

potentially injurious; (2) TTS is unlikely 

to occur, especially in odontocetes, until 

levels above 180 dB re 1 μPa are 

reached; (3) the fact that injurious levels 

of sound are only likely very close to the 

vessel; and (4) the likelihood that 

marine mammal detection ability by 

trained observers is close to 100 percent 

during daytime (in good weather) and 

remains high at night close to the vessel. 

Endangered Species Act 

Under section 7 of the ESA, the 

National Science Foundation (NSF) has 

begun consultation on this proposed 

seismic survey. NMFS will also consult 

on the issuance of an IHA under section 

101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA for this 

activity. Consultation will be concluded 

prior to a determination on the issuance 

of an IHA. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) 

In 2003, NSF prepared an 

Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 

marine seismic survey by the R/V 

Maurice Ewing in the Northern Gulf of 

Mexico. This EA addressed the potential 

effects of a different combination of 

airgun arrays, but with a higher total 

output (20 airguns, total volume 8580 

in3) being operated in the same part of 

the ocean as is proposed for the 

Langseth in this application. NMFS will 

either adopt NSF’s EA or prepare its 

own supplemental NEPA document 

before making a determination on the 

issuance of an IHA. NSF’s EA has been 

posted on NMFS’ website. 

Preliminary Conclusions 

Based on the preceding information, 

and provided that the proposed 

mitigation and monitoring are 

incorporated, NMFS has preliminarily 

concluded that the proposed activity 

will incidentally take, by Level B 

harassment only, small numbers of 

marine mammals. NMFS has further 

preliminarily determined that the 

proposed activity will have a negligible 

impact on the affected species or stocks 

of marine mammals. 

Proposed Authorization 

NMFS proposes to issue an IHA to LDEO for an acoustic calibration and 

seismic testing program in the northern 

Gulf of Mexico in Fall, 2006 provided 

the previously mentioned mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

are incorporated. 

Dated: September 27, 2006. 

James H. Lecky, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E6–16412 Filed 10–4–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Publication of North American Datum 

of 1983 State Plane Coordinates in 

Feet in Idaho 

AGENCY: National Geodetic Survey 

(NGS), National Ocean Service (NOS), 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, Department of 

Commerce 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Geodetic Survey 

(NGS) will publish North American 

Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) State Plane 

Coordinate (SPC) grid values in both 

meters and U.S. Survey Feet (1 ft = 

1200/3937 m) in Idaho, for all welldefined geodetic survey control 

monuments maintained by NGS in the 

National Spatial Reference System 

(NSRS) and computed from various 

geodetic positioning utilities. The 

adoption of this standard is 

implemented in accordance with NGS 

policy and a request from the Idaho 

Transportation Department, the Idaho 

Society of Professional Land Surveyors, 

and the Idaho Department of 

Administration GIS Coordinator. 

DATES: Individuals or organizations 

wishing to submit comments on the 

Publication of North American Datum of 

1983 State Plan Coordinates in feet in 

Idaho, should do by November 6, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments should 

be sent to the attention of David Doyle, 

Chief Geodetic Surveyor, Office of the 

National Geodetic Survey, National 

Ocean Service (N/NGS2), 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 

20910; fax 301–7313–4324, or via e-mail 

Dave.Doyle@noaa.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information 

should be directed to David Doyle, Chief 

Geodetic Surveyor, National Geodetic 

Survey (N/NGS2), 1315 East-West 

Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910; 

Phone: (301) 713–3178. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Abstract 

In 1991, NGS adopted a policy that 

defines the conditions under which 

NAD 83 State Plane Coordinates (SPCs) 

would be published in feet in addition 

to meters. As outlined in that policy, 

each State or territory must adopt NAD 

83 legislation (typically referenced as 

Codes, Laws or Statutes), which 

specifically defines a conversion to 

either U.S. Survey or International Feet 

as defined by the U.S. Bureau of 

Standards in Federal Register notice 59–

5442. To date, 48 States have adopted 

the NAD 83 legislation however, for 

various reasons, only 33 included a 

specific definition of the relationship 

between meters and feet. This lack of 

uniformity has led to confusion and 

misuse of SPCs as provided in various 

NGS products, services and tools, and 

created errors in mapping, charting and 

surveying programs in numerous States 

due to inconsistent coordinate 

conversions. 

Dated: September 29, 2006. 

David B. Zilkoski, 

Director, Office of National Geodetic Survey, 

National Ocean Service, National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration. 

[FR Doc. 06–8512 Filed 10–4–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–JE–M 

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