[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 79777-79778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22307]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 217

[Docket No. 240524-0146]
RIN 0648-BL96


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the New England Wind Project, 
Offshore Massachusetts; Correction

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 79778]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: This document contains corrections to a final rule. The 
document being corrected is the regulations governing the Takes of 
Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine 
Mammals Incidental to the New England Wind Project, Offshore 
Massachusetts, published on June 21, 2024.

DATES: Effective on March 27, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karolyn Lock, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 21, 
2024 (89 FR 52222) announcing the promulgation of regulations governing 
the incidental take of marine mammals incidental to Avangrid 
Renewables, LLC's (Avangrid), construction of the New England Wind 
Project in Federal and State waters offshore Massachusetts, 
specifically within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) 
Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on 
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Areas (OCS-A 0534 and OCS-A 
0561) and the southwest (SW) portion of Lease Area OCS-A 0501 
(collectively referred to as the Lease Area), and along an export cable 
routes to sea-to-shore transition points (collectively, the Project 
Area), valid for 5 years from the date of effectiveness.
    The regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of 
Authorization to Avangrid for the incidental take of marine mammals 
during the specified activities within the specified geographical 
region during the effective dates of the regulations, prescribe the 
permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least 
practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their 
habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and 
reporting of such taking. NMFS refers the reader to the final rule (89 
FR 52222, June 21, 2024) for background information concerning the 
regulations.
    The following corrections are being made:
    <bullet> The regulations contained an inconsistency between the 
headings for 50 CFR 217.325 wherein the heading in the table of 
contents did not agree with the text of the section, necessitating 
relabeling.
    <bullet> 50 CFR 217.324(c)(15)(xiv) was promulgated twice (i.e., 
two different measures were both designated as 50 CFR 
217.324(c)(15)(xiv), necessitating renumbering).

Correction

Subpart GG [Corrected]

0
1. In rule document 2024-12085 at 89 FR 52222 in the issue of June 21, 
2024, on page 52301, in the first column, in the table of contents for 
Subpart GG, correct the entry for 50 CFR 217.325 to read as 50 CFR 
217.325 Monitoring and reporting requirements.


Sec.  217.324   [Corrected]

0
2. On page 52308, in the first column, the second paragraph 
(c)(15)(xiv) is corrected to read as follows: (xv) LOA Holder must 
conduct SFV measurements during turbine operations to estimate turbine 
operational source levels and transmission loss rates, in accordance 
with a NMFS-approved SFV Plan.

    Dated: September 24, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22307 Filed 9-30-24; 8:45 am]
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