Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2023 / Notices 82835 

installation and subsequent removal of 

nearshore temporary cofferdams and 

goal posts by vibratory pile driving or 

two casing pipes using pneumatic 

hammering at the cable landfall sites at 

Quonset Point in North Kingstown, 

Rhode Island; high-resolution 

geophysical (HRG) marine site 

characterization surveys using active 

acoustic sources; the detonation of up to 

13 unexploded ordnance or munitions 

and explosives of concern (UXO/MECs) 

of different charge weights; fishery and 

ecological monitoring surveys; the 

placement of scour protection; the 

installation of the export cable route 

from OSSs to shore-based converter 

stations and inter-array cables between 

turbines by trenching, laying, and burial 

activities; vessel transits within the 

specified geographical region to 

transport crew, supplies, and materials 

to support construction and operation. 

Marine mammals exposed to elevated 

noise levels during impact driving or 

UXO/MEC detonations may be taken by 

Level A harassment, and marine 

mammals exposed to elevated noise 

levels during impact and vibratory pile 

driving, site characterization surveys, or 

UXO/MEC detonations may be taken by 

Level B harassment. No Level A 

harassment of North Atlantic right 

whales, blue whales, sperm whales, 

Atlantic spotted dolphins, long-finned 

pilot whales, or Risso’s dolphins is 

anticipated or authorized. No mortality 

or serious injury of any marine mammal 

is anticipated or authorized. 

Authorization 

In accordance with the final rule (88 

FR 72562, October 20, 2023, see 50 CFR 

217.276), we have issued a LOA to 

Revolution Wind authorizing the take, 

by harassment, of marine mammals 

incidental to specified construction 

activities within the specified 

geographical region. No mortality or 

serious injury of any marine mammal 

species is anticipated or authorized. The 

incidental takes authorized herein are 

the same as those analyzed and 

authorized in the final rule (88 FR 

72562, October 20, 2023). Takes of 

marine mammals will be minimized 

through the following planned 

mitigation and monitoring measures, as 

applicable for each specified activity: (1) 

implementation of seasonal/time of day 

work restrictions; (2) use of multiple 

NMFS-approved Protected Species 

Observers (PSOs) to visually observe for 

marine mammals (with any detection 

within specifically designated zones 

triggering a delay or shutdown, as 

applicable); (3) use of NMFS-approved 

passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) 

operators to acoustically detect marine 

mammals, with a focus on detecting 

baleen whales (with any detection 

within designated zones triggering a 

delay or shutdown, as applicable); (4) 

implementation of clearance and 

shutdown zones; (5) use of soft-start 

prior to the start of impact pile driving; 

(6) use of noise attenuation technology 

during impact pile driving and UXO/ 

MEC detonations; (7) use of situational 

awareness monitoring for marine 

mammal presence; (8) use of sound field 

verification monitoring; (9) use of softstart impact pile driving and ramp-up 

acoustic sources during HRG surveys; 

(10) implementation of vessel separation 

zones between marine mammals and 

project vessels; (11) use of PAM within 

the vessel transit corridor for Project 

vessels to travel over 10 knots (11.5 

miles per hour); and (12) 

implementation of Vessel Strike 

Avoidance measures to reduce the risk 

of a vessel collision with a marine 

mammals. Additionally, NMFS may 

modify the LOA’s mitigation, 

monitoring, or reporting measures, 

based on new information, when 

appropriate (see 50 CFR 217.277(c)). 

Revolution Wind is also required to 

submit reports, as specified in the final 

rule. 

Based on the findings and information 

discussed in the preamble of the final 

rule, the take authorized in the LOA 

will have a negligible impact on marine 

mammal stocks, will not have an 

unmitigable adverse impact on the 

availability of the affected marine 

mammal stock for subsistence uses, and 

the mitigation measures provide a 

means of affecting the least practicable 

adverse impact on the affected stocks 

and their habitat. 

Dated: November 21, 2023. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26077 Filed 11–24–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Ocean Research Advisory Panel 

(ORAP) 

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Department of Commerce (DOC). 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the 

schedule and proposed agenda of a 

meeting of the Ocean Research Advisory 

Panel (ORAP). The members will 

discuss issues outlined in the section on 

matters to be considered. 

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for 

December 13, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 

p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 

December 14, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 

p.m. EST. These times and the agenda 

topics described below are subject to 

change. For the latest agenda please 

refer to the ORAP website: https://

www.noaa.gov/ocean-research-advisorypanel/orap-public-meetings. 

ADDRESSES: The December 13–14, 2023 

meeting will be at the AGU Conference 

Center, 2000 Florida Ave NW, 

Washington, DC 20009. The link for the 

webinar registration will be posted, 

when available, on the ORAP website: 

https://www.noaa.gov/ocean-researchadvisory-panel/orap-public-meetings. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Viviane Silva, ORAP Designated Federal 

Officer (DFO), SSMC3, Room 11320, 

1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 

20910; Phone Number: 240–624–0656; 

Email: DFO.orap@noaa.gov; or visit the 

ORAP website at https://www.noaa.gov/ 

ocean-research-advisory-panel/orappublic-meetings. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ocean 

Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) 

advises the Ocean Policy Committee 

(OPC) and provides independent 

recommendations to the Federal 

Government on matters of ocean policy. 

Congress directed the establishment 

of the ORAP in section 1055(c) of the 

William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116–283), 10 U.S.C. 

8933. 

ORAP’s responsibilities are (1) to 

advise the OPC on policies and 

procedures to implement the National 

Oceanographic Partnership Program; (2) 

to advise the OPC on matters relating to 

national oceanographic science, 

engineering, facilities, or resource 

requirements; (3) to advise the OPC on 

improving diversity, equity, and 

inclusion in the ocean sciences and 

related fields; (4) to advise the OPC on 

national ocean research priorities; and 

(5) any additional responsibilities that 

the OPC considers appropriate. 

Status: The December 13, 2023 

meeting will be open to public 

participation with a 15-minute public 

comment period at 3:15 p.m. EST. The 

ORAP expects that public statements 

presented at its meetings will not be 

repetitive of previously submitted 

verbal or written statements. In general, 

each individual or group making a 

verbal presentation will be limited to a 

total time of three minutes. Written 

comments for the December 13–14, 2023 

meeting should be received by 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
82836 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2023 / Notices 

December 1, 2023 by the ORAP DFO 

(DFO.orap@noaa.gov) to provide 

sufficient time for ORAP review. 

Written comments received by the 

ORAP DFO after this date will be 

distributed to the ORAP, but may not be 

reviewed prior to the meeting date. 

Special Accommodations: These 

meetings are physically accessible to 

people with disabilities. Requests for 

special accommodations may be 

directed to the ORAP DFO no later than 

12 p.m. EST on December 1, 2023. 

Matters To Be Considered: The 

December 13–14, 2023 meeting, will 

explore the Ocean Policy Committee 

(OPC) Action Plan and identify areas for 

ORAP focus. Additionally, as the first 

meeting of ORAP advising OPC, it will 

allow ORAP to organize internally to 

conduct work. The expected outcomes 

are a shared understanding between 

ORAP and OPC on interests, capacities, 

opportunities, and expectations 

regarding ORAP efforts, and 

identification of initial topics for ORAP 

to address. 

Meeting materials, including work 

products, will be made available on the 

ORAP website: https://www.noaa.gov/ 

ocean-research-advisory-panel/orappublic-meetings. 

Dated: November 14, 2023. 

David Holst, 

Director Chief Financial Officer/CAO, Office 

of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26076 Filed 11–24–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD458] 

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to 

Specified Activities; Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Pacific Gas & 

Electric Sediment Remediation Project, 

San Francisco Bay 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental 

harassment authorization; request for 

comments on proposed authorization 

and possible renewal. 

SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request 

from Pacific Gas & Electric Company 

(PG&E) for authorization to take marine 

mammals incidental to construction 

associated with a sediment remediation 

project in San Francisco Bay, California. 

Pursuant to the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is 

requesting comments on its proposal to 

issue an incidental harassment 

authorization (IHA) to incidentally take 

marine mammals during the specified 

activities. NMFS is also requesting 

comments on a possible one-time, oneyear renewal that could be issued under 

certain circumstances and if all 

requirements are met, as described in 

Request for Public Comments at the end 

of this notice. NMFS will consider 

public comments prior to making any 

final decision on the issuance of the 

requested MMPA authorization and 

agency responses will be summarized in 

the final notice of our decision. 

DATES: Comments and information must 

be received no later than December 27, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should be 

addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, 

Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service and should be 

submitted via email to ITP.jacobus@

noaa.gov. Electronic copies of the 

application and supporting documents, 

as well as a list of the references cited 

in this document, may be obtained 

online at: https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-constructionactivities. In case of problems accessing 

these documents, please call the contact 

listed above. 

Instructions: NMFS is not responsible 

for comments sent by any other method, 

to any other address or individual, or 

received after the end of the comment 

period. Comments, including all 

attachments, must not exceed a 25- 

megabyte file size. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted online at 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

incidental-take-authorizationsconstruction-activities without change. 

All personal identifying information 

(e.g., name, address) voluntarily 

submitted by the commenter may be 

publicly accessible. Do not submit 

confidential business information or 

otherwise sensitive or protected 

information. 

Electronic copies of the application 

and supporting documents, as well as a 

list of the references cited in this 

document, may be obtained online at: 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

incidental-take-authorizationsconstruction-activities. In case of 

problems accessing these documents, 

please call the contact listed below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kristy Jacobus, Office of Protected 

Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of 

marine mammals, with certain 

exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and 

(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 

seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce 

(as delegated to NMFS) 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 

proposed or, if the taking is limited to 

harassment, a notice of a proposed IHA 

is provided to the public for review. 

Authorization for incidental takings 

shall be granted if NMFS finds that the 

taking will have a negligible impact on 

the species or stock(s) and will not have 

an unmitigable adverse impact on the 

availability of the species or stock(s) for 

taking for subsistence uses (where 

relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe 

the permissible methods of taking and 

other ‘‘means of effecting the least 

practicable adverse impact’’ on the 

affected species or stocks and their 

habitat, paying particular attention to 

rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of 

similar significance, and on the 

availability of the species or stocks for 

taking for certain subsistence uses 

(referred to in shorthand as 

‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements 

pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring 

and reporting of the takings are set forth. 

The definitions of all applicable MMPA 

statutory terms cited above are included 

in the relevant sections below. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

To comply with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 

NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 

216–6A, NMFS must review our 

proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an 

IHA) with respect to potential impacts 

on the human environment. 

This action is consistent with 

categories of activities identified in 

Categorical Exclusion B4 (IHAs with no 

anticipated serious injury or mortality) 

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 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES