15168 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices 

be on duty and conducting visual 

observations at all times during daylight 

hours (i.e., from 30 minutes prior to 

sunrise through 30 minutes following 

sunset). Two PSOs will be on watch 

during nighttime operations; 

• Pre-Operation Clearance Protocols: 

Prior to initiating HRG survey activities, 

BPW would implement a 30-minute preoperation clearance period. If any 

marine mammals are detected within 

the Exclusion Zones prior to or during 

ramp-up, the HRG equipment would be 

shut down (as described below); 

• Shutdown Zones: If an HRG source 

is active and a marine mammal is 

observed within or entering a relevant 

shutdown zone, an immediate 

shutdown of the HRG survey equipment 

would be required. Note this shutdown 

requirement would be waived for 

certain genera of small delphinids and 

pinnipeds; 

• Vessel Strike Avoidance Measures: 

Separation distances for large whales 

(500 m for North Atlantic right whales; 

100 m for sperm whales and all other 

baleen whales; 50 m for all other marine 

mammals); restricted vessel speeds and 

operational maneuvers; and 

• Reporting: BPW will submit a 

marine mammal report within 90 days 

following completion of the surveys. 

Comments and Responses 

A notice of NMFS’ proposal to issue 

a renewal IHA to BPW was published in 

the Federal Register on January 31, 

2024 (89 FR 6092). That notice either 

described, or referenced descriptions of, 

BPW’s activity, the marine mammal 

species that may be affected by the 

activity, the anticipated effects on 

marine mammals and their habitat, 

estimated amount and manner of take, 

and proposed mitigation, monitoring 

and reporting measures. NMFS received 

no public comments. 

Determinations 

BPW’s activities consist of a subset of 

activities analyzed in the initial IHA. In 

analyzing the effects of the activities for 

the initial IHA, NMFS determined that 

BPW’s activities would have a negligible 

impact on the affected species or stocks 

and that authorized take numbers of 

each species or stock were small relative 

to the relevant stocks (e.g., less than 

one-third the abundance of all stocks). 

The mitigation measures and 

monitoring and reporting requirements 

as described above are identical to the 

initial IHA. 

NMFS has concluded that there is no 

new information suggesting that our 

analysis or findings should change from 

those reached for the initial IHA. Based 

on the information and analysis 

contained here and in the referenced 

documents, NMFS has determined the 

following: (1) the required mitigation 

measures will effect the least practicable 

adverse impact on marine mammal 

species or stocks and their habitat; (2) 

the authorized takes will have a 

negligible impact on the affected marine 

mammal species or stocks; (3) the 

authorized takes represent small 

numbers of marine mammals relative to 

the affected stock abundances; (4) 

BPW’s activities will not have an 

unmitigable adverse impact on taking 

for subsistence purposes as no relevant 

subsistence uses of marine mammals are 

implicated by this action; and (5) 

appropriate monitoring and reporting 

requirements are included. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

This action is consistent with 

categories of activities identified in 

Categorical Exclusion B4 (incidental 

take authorizations 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 

determined that the issuance of the 

initial IHA qualified for categorical 

exclusion from further NEPA review. 

NMFS has determined that the 

application of this categorical exclusion 

remains appropriate for this renewal 

IHA. 

Endangered Species Act 

Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 

1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal 

agency insure that any action it 

authorizes, funds, or carries out is not 

likely to jeopardize the continued 

existence of any endangered or 

threatened species or result in the 

destruction or adverse modification of 

designated critical habitat. To ensure 

ESA compliance for the issuance of 

IHAs, NMFS consults internally, in this 

case with the NMFS Greater Atlantic 

Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO), 

whenever we propose to authorize take 

for endangered or threatened species. 

NMFS Office of Protected Resources 

has authorized the incidental take of 

four species of marine mammals which 

are listed under the ESA (the North 

Atlantic right, fin, sei, and sperm whale) 

and has determined that these activities 

fall within the scope of activities 

analyzed in GARFO’s programmatic 

consultation regarding geophysical 

surveys along the U.S. Atlantic coast in 

the three Atlantic Renewable Energy 

Regions (completed June 29, 2021; 

revised September 2021). The Renewal 

IHA provides no new information about 

the effects of the action, nor does it 

change the extent of effects of the 

action, or any other basis to require 

reinitiation of consultation with NMFS 

GARFO; therefore, the ESA consultation 

has been satisfied for the initial IHA and 

remains valid for the Renewal IHA. 

Renewal 

NMFS has issued a renewal IHA to 

BPW for the take of marine mammals 

incidental to conducting marine site 

characterization surveys in coastal 

waters off of New York and New Jersey 

in the New York Bight, from March 1, 

2024, through February 28, 2025. 

Dated: February 27, 2024. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–04391 Filed 2–29–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD762] 

Endangered and Threatened Species: 

Expiration of Nonessential 

Experimental Population Designation 

for Middle Columbia River Steelhead 

Upstream of Round Butte Dam, 

Deschutes River Basin, Oregon 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: NMFS hereby gives notice 

that the nonessential experimental 

population (NEP) designation and 

accompanying protective measures for 

Middle Columbia River (MCR) steelhead 

occurring in all accessible reaches 

upstream of Round Butte Dam on the 

Deschutes River, Oregon, shall expire at 

midnight (00:00 hours; Pacific Standard 

Time) on January 15, 2025. Upon 

expiration, all steelhead that occur 

upstream of Round Butte Dam will be 

designated as threatened under the 

Endangered Species Act (ESA). This 

notice does not extend the upstream 

limit of existing critical habitat for MCR 

steelhead in the Deschutes River, nor 

does it designate new critical habitat. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Scott Carlon, Portland, Oregon, (971) 

322–7436, email: scott.carlon@noaa.gov. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices 15169 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 

25, 1999, we listed the MCR steelhead 

distinct population segment (DPS) as 

threatened under the ESA (64 FR 

14517). The MCR steelhead DPS range 

covers approximately 35,000 square 

miles (90,650 square kilometers (km)) of 

the Columbia plateau in eastern Oregon 

and eastern Washington. The Deschutes 

River in central Oregon is one of six 

major river basins supporting steelhead 

in this distinct population segment. 

Since about 1968, the Pelton Round 

Butte Hydroelectric Project (Pelton 

Round Butte Project) on the Deschutes 

River entirely blocked MCR steelhead 

from accessing nearly 200 miles (322 

km) of historical spawning and rearing 

habitat. In 2005, the Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission issued a new 

50-year license for the Pelton Round 

Butte Project. The new license required 

fish passage and the ensuing 

reintroduction of anadromous fish to 

historic habitat upstream of the Pelton 

Round Butte Project. 

The specific stock chosen to initiate 

steelhead reintroduction was from the 

Round Butte Hatchery, a stock that was 

not included in the original 1999 ESA 

listing. After the new license was issued 

in June 2005 and reintroduction 

planning was largely completed, we 

included the Round Butte Hatchery 

steelhead stock as part of the threatened 

group of steelhead (71 FR 834, January 

5, 2007), thus the reintroduction 

introduced ESA take liabilities to land 

and water users upstream of the Pelton 

Round Butte Project. We subsequently 

issued a final rule for the NEP 

designation that had an expiration date 

12 years from the effective date of the 

final rule (78 FR 2893, January 15, 

2013). More information about this 

designation, including the additional 

protective measures can be found in the 

Federal Register notice for that final 

rule. 

The purpose of the NEP designation 

was to temporarily lift certain take 

liabilities and consultation requirements 

to allow time for local landowners and 

municipalities to develop well-informed 

conservation measures to support the 

reintroduction effort in the Upper 

Deschutes River basin. Subsequent to 

the NEP designation, eight irrigation 

districts and one municipality 

completed a large habitat conservation 

plan containing measures that address 

potential impacts to anadromous fish 

species including MCR steelhead. The 

habitat conservation plan addresses 

nearly all the waters that support MCR 

steelhead, and we recently issued an 

incidental take permit to the eight 

irrigation districts and municipality 

under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA (88 

FR 3392, January 19, 2023). 

Dated: February 26, 2024. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office 

of Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–04311 Filed 2–29–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM 

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR 

SEVERELY DISABLED 

Procurement List; Proposed Deletions 

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From 

People Who Are Blind or Severely 

Disabled. 

ACTION: Proposed deletions from the 

Procurement List. 

SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing 

to delete product(s) and service(s) from 

the Procurement List that were 

furnished by nonprofit agencies 

employing persons who are blind or 

have other severe disabilities. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before: March 31, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase 

From People Who Are Blind or Severely 

Disabled, 355 E Street SW, Suite 325, 

Washington, DC 20024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information or to submit 

comments contact: Michael R. 

Jurkowski, Telephone: (703) 785–6404, 

or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice is published pursuant to 41 

U.S.C. 8503(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its 

purpose is to provide interested persons 

an opportunity to submit comments on 

the proposed actions. 

Deletions 

The following product(s) and 

service(s) are proposed for deletion from 

the Procurement List: 

Product(s) 

NSN(s)—Product Name(s): 

5350–00–187–6272—Cloth, Abrasive, 

Aluminum-oxide, 100 Grit, Jean Back, 

Grey, 50 Yard, 1′′, BX/10 

5350–00–187–6283—Cloth, Abrasive, 

Aluminum-oxide, 100 Grit, Jean Back, 

Grey, 50 Yard, 11⁄2′′, BX/10 

5350–00–187–6281—Cloth, Abrasive, 

Aluminum-oxide, 150 Grit, Jean Back, 

Grey, 50 Yard, 11⁄2′′, BX/10 

5350–00–229–3080—Cloth, Abrasive, 

Aluminum-oxide, 240 Grit, Jean Back, 

Grey, 50 Yard, 3′′, BX/10 

5350–00–229–3094—Cloth, Abrasive, 

Aluminum-oxide, 150 Grit, Jean Back, 

Grey, 50 Yard, 3′′ 

Authorized Source of Supply: Louisiana 

Association for the Blind, Shreveport, 

LA 

Contracting Activity: GSA/FSS GREATER 

SOUTHWEST ACQUISITI, FORT 

WORTH, TX 

NSN(s)—Product Name(s): 

8410–01–456–5800—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 18JR 

8410–01–456–5766—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 22WT 

8410–01–456–5769—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 24JP 

8410–01–456–5780—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 18JP 

8410–01–456–5771—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 24JR 

8410–01–456–5774—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 24P 

8410–01–456–5784—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 24WR 

8410–01–456–5786—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 24WT 

8410–01–456–5790—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 26JP 

8410–01–456–5794—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 26JR 

8410–01–456–5803—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 18WT 

8410–01–456–5806—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 20JP 

8410–01–456–5808—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 20JR 

8410–01–456–5809—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 20P 

8410–01–456–5812—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 20WT 

8410–01–456–5814—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 22JP 

8410–01–456–5815—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 22JR 

8410–01–456–5817—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 22P 

8410–01–456–5820—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 22R 

8410–01–456–6281—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 26MP 

8410–01–456–6286—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 26R 

8410–01–456–6290—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 26MT 

8410–01–456–6292—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 26WR 

8410–01–456–6295—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 26WT 

8410–01–456–6302—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 22MT 

8410–00–0SL–K608—Slacks, Dress, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, Special Measurement 

8410–01–373–4404—Slacks, 

Commissioned and Enlisted, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 4P 

8410–01–373–4405—Slacks, 

Commissioned and Enlisted, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 6MP 

8410–01–373–4406—Slacks, 

Commissioned and Enlisted, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 6WP 

8410–01–373–4407—Slacks, 

Commissioned and Enlisted, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 6WR 

8410–01–373–4408—Slacks, 

Commissioned and Enlisted, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 8P 

8410–01–373–4409—Slacks, 

Commissioned and Enlisted, Navy, 

Women’s, Blue, 8MT 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1