36560 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices 

importance for migration for the North 

Atlantic right whale BIA 

• Similarly, due to the small overlap 

of the survey activities with the 

biologically important area for fin 

whales, along with the size of the 

required shutdown, which should avoid 

the majority of impacts, the survey 

activities are not expected to affect 

foraging behavior of this species. 

• For all species, the percentage of 

stocks affected are less than 9 percent of 

the stock. This represents the total 

instances of take and does not consider 

that there are likely repeat exposures of 

the same individuals, which would 

mean that the percentage of individuals 

are likely lower. In addition, these takes 

are anticipated to be Level B harassment 

takes in the form of short-term startle or 

avoidance reactions that would not 

affect the species or stock. 

NMFS concludes that exposures to 

marine mammal species and stocks due 

to Bay State Wind’s HRG survey 

activities would result in only shortterm (temporary and short in duration) 

and relatively infrequent effects to 

individuals exposed, and not of the type 

or severity that would be expected to be 

additive for the very small portion of the 

stocks and species likely to be exposed. 

Animals may temporarily avoid the 

immediate area, but are not expected to 

permanently abandon the area. Major 

shifts in habitat use, distribution, or 

foraging success, are not expected. For 

the reasons described herein, NMFS 

does not anticipate the authorized take 

to impact annual rates of recruitment or 

survival. 

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 

required monitoring and mitigation 

measures, NMFS finds that the total 

marine mammal take from Bay State 

Wind’s proposed HRG survey activities 

will have a negligible impact on the 

affected marine mammal species or 

stocks. 

Small Numbers 

The takes authorized for the HRG 

survey represent 2.07 percent of the 

Gulf of Maine stock of humpback whale 

(West Indies Distinct Population 

Segment); 1.92 percent of the WNA 

stock of fin whale; 0.77 percent of the 

Canadian East Coast stock of minke 

whale; 0.22 percent of the North 

Atlantic stock of sperm whales; 8.66 

percent of the Western North Atlantic 

stock of bottlenose dolphins; 0.16 

percent of the WNA stock of Risso’s 

dolphins; 0.11 percent of the WNA 

stock of Atlantic spotted dolphins; 0.05 

percent of the WNA stock of long-finned 

pilot whales; 2.85 percent of the WNA 

stock of common dolphin; 1.02 percent 

of the WNA stock of Atlantic whitesided dolphin; 1.09 percent of the Gulf 

of Maine/Bay of Fundy stock of harbor 

porpoise; 2.16 percent of the WNA stock 

of harbor seal; and 0.56 percent of the 

North Atlantic stock of gray seal. These 

take estimates represent the percentage 

of each species or stock that could be 

taken and are small numbers relative to 

the affected species or stock sizes. 

Further, the authorized take numbers 

are the maximum numbers of animals 

that are expected to be harassed during 

the project; it is possible that some of 

these exposures may occur to the same 

individual, which would mean the 

percentage of stock taken would be 

smaller as it would not take into 

account these multiple exposures of the 

same individual(s). Therefore, NMFS 

finds that small numbers of marine 

mammals will be taken relative to the 

populations of the affected species or 

stocks. 

Impact on Availability of Affected 

Species 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 would not 

have an unmitigable adverse impact on 

the availability of such species or stocks 

for taking for subsistence purposes. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) 

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management (BOEM) prepared an 

Environmental Assessment (EA) in 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to 

evaluate the issuance of wind energy 

leases covering the entirety of the 

Massachusetts Wind Energy Area 

(including the OCS–A 0500 Study 

Area), and the approval of site 

assessment activities within those leases 

(BOEM, 2014). NMFS previously 

adopted BOEM’s EA and issued a 

Finding of No Significant Effect (FONSI) 

for similar work in 2016 (81 FR 56589, 

August 22, 2016). 

NMFS has reviewed the BOEM EA 

and our previous FONSI and has 

determined that this action is consistent 

with categories of activities identified in 

CE B4 of the Companion Manual for 

NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A, 

which do not individually or 

cumulatively have the potential for 

significant impacts on the quality of the 

human environment and for which we 

have not identified any extraordinary 

circumstances that would preclude this 

categorical exclusion. Accordingly, 

NMFS has determined that the issuance 

of the IHA qualifies to be categorically 

excluded from further NEPA review. We 

have reviewed all comments submitted 

in response to the proposed IHA notice 

prior to concluding our NEPA process 

and making a final decision on the IHA 

request. 

Endangered Species Act 

The NMFS Office of Protected 

Resources is authorizing the incidental 

take fin whales, which are listed under 

the ESA. BOEM consulted with NMFS 

GARFO under section 7 of the ESA on 

commercial wind lease issuance and 

site assessment activities on the Atlantic 

Outer Continental Shelf in 

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York 

and New Jersey Wind Energy Areas. The 

NMFS GARFO issued a Biological 

Opinion concluding that these activities 

may adversely affect but are not likely 

to jeopardize the continued existence of 

the North Atlantic right, fin, and sperm 

whale. The Biological Opinion can be 

found online at: 

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-other-energyactivities-renewable. Upon request from 

the NMFS Office of Protected Resources, 

the NMFS GARFO will issue an 

amended incidental take statement 

associated with this Biological Opinion 

to include the takes of the ESA-listed fin 

whale authorized through this IHA. 

Authorization 

NMFS has issued an IHA to Bay State 

Wind for conducting marine site 

characterization surveys offshore of 

Massachusetts and along potential 

submarine cable routes for a period of 

one year, provided the previously 

mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and 

reporting requirements are incorporated. 

Dated: July 24, 2018. 

Donna S. Wieting, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16200 Filed 7–27–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Telecommunications and 

Information Administration 

Virginia Broadband Summit 

AGENCY: National Telecommunications 

and Information Administration, U.S. 

Department of Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of open meeting. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices 36561 

SUMMARY: The National 

Telecommunications and Information 

Administration’s (NTIA) 

BroadbandUSA Program, in partnership 

with the Center for Innovative 

Technology (CIT), will host the Virginia 

Broadband Summit in Roanoke, Virginia 

on October 30, 2018. The purpose of the 

Summit is to engage the public and 

stakeholders with information to 

accelerate broadband connectivity, 

improve digital inclusion, and support 

local priorities. The Summit will 

provide information on topics including 

local broadband planning, funding and 

engagement with service providers. 

Speakers and attendees from Virginia, 

federal agencies and across the country 

will come together to explore ways to 

facilitate the expansion of broadband 

capacity, access, and utilization. 

DATES: The Broadband Summit will be 

held on October 30, 2018, from 8:30 

a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. 

ADDRESSES: The Virginia Broadband 

Summit will be held in Roanoke, 

Virginia at the Roanoke South County 

Library, 6303 Merriman Road, Roanoke, 

VA 24018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Janice Wilkins, National 

Telecommunications and Information 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, Room 4678, 1401 

Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 

DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–5791; 

email: broadbandusaevents@

ntia.doc.gov. Please direct media 

inquiries to NTIA’s Office of Public 

Affairs, (202) 482–7002; email: press@

ntia.doc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program 

promotes innovation and economic 

growth by supporting efforts to expand 

broadband access and meaningful use 

across America. The CIT provides 

broadband support to Virginia localities, 

elected officials, state and federal 

agencies, and broadband providers to 

accelerate Virginia’s economic growth 

through the application and use of 

broadband telecommunications. 

The Virginia Broadband Summit is 

open to the public. Pre-registration is 

requested because space may be limited. 

NTIA asks registrants to provide their 

first and last names and email address 

for registration purposes and to receive 

any updates on the workshop and other 

BroadbandUSA news and events. 

Registration information, meeting 

updates, including changes in the 

agenda, and relevant documents will be 

available on NTIA’s website at https:// 

broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/Virginia

BroadbandSummit2018. 

The public meeting is physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Individuals requiring accommodations, 

such as language interpretation or other 

ancillary aids, should notify Janice 

Wilkins at the contact information listed 

above at least five (5) business days 

before the meeting so that 

accommodations can be made. 

Dated: July 24, 2018. 

Kathy D. Smith, 

Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications 

and Information Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16157 Filed 7–27–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–60–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army 

[Docket ID: USA–2018–HQ–0010] 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Department of the Army Corps 

of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: 30-Day information collection 

notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Defense 

has submitted to OMB for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 

information under the provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act. 

DATES: Consideration will be given to all 

comments received by August 29, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: Comments and 

recommendations on the proposed 

information collection should be 

emailed to Mr. Vlad Dorjets, DoD Desk 

Officer, at oira_submission@

omb.eop.gov. Please identify the 

proposed information collection by DoD 

Desk Officer, Docket ID number, and 

title of the information collection. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred 

Licari, 571–372–0493, or whs.mcalex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-informationcollections@mail.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title; Associated Form; and OMB 

Number: Application for Department of 

the Army Permit and Nationwide Permit 

Pre-Construction Notification Forms; 

ENG Form 4345; ENG Form 6082; OMB 

Control Number 0710–0003. 

Type of Request: Reinstatement. 

Number of Respondents: 80,000. 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Annual Responses: 80,000. 

Average Burden per Response: 11 

hours. 

Annual Burden Hours: 880,000. 

Needs and Uses: Information 

collected is used to evaluate, as required 

by law, proposed construction or filing 

in waters of the United States that result 

in impacts to the aquatic environment 

and nearby properties, and to determine 

which type of permit would be required 

if one was needed. Respondents are 

private landowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government 

agencies. Respondents also include 

sponsors of proposed and approved 

mitigation banks and in-lieu fee 

programs. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit; individuals or households. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. 

OMB Desk Officer: Mr. Vlad Dorjets. 

You may also submit comments and 

recommendations, identified by Docket 

ID number and title, by the following 

method: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the agency name, Docket 

ID number, and title for this Federal 

Register document. The general policy 

for comments and other submissions 

from members of the public is to make 

these submissions available for public 

viewing on the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov as they are 

received without change, including any 

personal identifiers or contact 

information. 

DoD Clearance Officer: Mr. Frederick 

Licari. 

Requests for copies of the information 

collection proposal should be sent to 

Mr. Licari at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dddod-information-collections@mail.mil. 

Dated: July 25, 2018. 

Aaron T. Siegel, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16235 Filed 7–27–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

Board of Regents, Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences; 

Notice of Federal Advisory Committee 

Meeting 

AGENCY: Under Secretary of Defense for 

Personnel and Readiness, Board of 

Regents (Board), Uniformed Services 

University of the Health Sciences 

(USU), Department of Defense (DoD). 

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory 

Committee Meeting. 

SUMMARY: The DoD is publishing this 

notice to announce that the following 

Federal Advisory Committee meeting of 


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