Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 8, 2024 / Notices 81473 

of individuals taken to the most 

appropriate estimation of abundance of 

the relevant species or stock in our 

determination of whether an 

authorization is limited to small 

numbers of marine mammals. When the 

predicted number of individuals to be 

taken is fewer than one-third of the 

species or stock abundance, the take is 

considered to be of small numbers. 

Additionally, other qualitative factors 

may be considered in the analysis, such 

as the temporal or spatial scale of the 

activities. 

The amount of take NMFS has 

authorized is below one-third of the 

estimated stock abundance for all 

species (in fact, take of individuals is 

less than 5 percent of the abundance of 

the affected stocks for these species, see 

table 6). The figures presented in table 

6 are likely conservative estimates as 

they assume all takes are of different 

individual animals which is likely not 

to be the case. Some individuals may 

return multiple times in a day, but PSOs 

would count them as separate takes if 

they cannot be individually identified. 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of the activity (including the 

mitigation and monitoring measures) 

and the anticipated take of marine 

mammals, NMFS finds that small 

numbers of marine mammals will be 

taken relative to the population size of 

the affected species or stocks. 

Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis 

and Determination 

There are no relevant subsistence uses 

of the affected marine mammal stocks or 

species implicated by this action. 

Therefore, NMFS has determined that 

the total taking of affected species or 

stocks will not have an unmitigable 

adverse impact on the availability of 

such species or stocks for taking for 

subsistence purposes. 

Endangered Species Act 

Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA of 1973 (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 OPR consults internally 

whenever we propose to authorize take 

for endangered or threatened species. 

NMFS OPR proposed to authorize the 

incidental take of four species of marine 

mammals which are listed under the 

ESA, including 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). 

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 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 NAO 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. 

Authorization 

NMFS has issued an IHA to Bay State 

Wind for the potential harassment of 

small numbers of 17 marine mammal 

species incidental to conducting site 

characterization surveys off the coast of 

Rhode Island and Massachusetts that 

includes the previously explained 

mitigation, monitoring and reporting 

requirements. 

Dated: October 3, 2024. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23259 Filed 10–7–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

[Transmittal No. 23–45] 

Arms Sales Notification 

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation 

Agency, Department of Defense (DoD). 

ACTION: Arms sales notice. 

SUMMARY: The DoD is publishing the 

unclassified text of an arms sales 

notification. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Pamela Young at (703) 953–6092, 

pamela.a.young14.civ@mail.mil, or 

dsca.ncr.rsrcmgmt.list.cns-mbx@

mail.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

36(b)(1) arms sales notification is 

published to fulfill the requirements of 

section 155 of Public Law 104–164 

dated July 21, 1996. The following is a 

copy of a letter to the Speaker of the 

House of Representatives with attached 

Transmittal 23–45, Policy Justification, 

and Sensitivity of Technology. 

Dated: October 2, 2024. 

Aaron T. Siegel, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
81474 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 8, 2024 / Notices 

BILLING CODE 6001–FR–C 

Transmittal No. 23–45 

Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of 

Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the 

Arms Export Control Act, as amended 

(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government 

of The Netherlands 

(ii) Total Estimated Value: 

Major Defense Equipment * $173 million 

Other ................................... $438 million 

TOTAL ............................. 611 million 

(iii) Description and Quantity or 

Quantities of Articles or Services under 

Consideration for Purchase: 

Major Defense Equipment (MDE): 

Up to four (4) MQ–9A Block 5 Aircraft 

Up to three (3) Unmanned Aircraft 

Systems (UAS) MQ–9 Mobile 

Ground Control Systems (MGCS) 

Up to thirty (30) Embedded Global 

Positioning System/Internal 

Navigation System (EGI) Devices, 

Airborne, with Selective 

Availability Anti-Spoofing Module 

(SAASM) or M-Code 

Up to eight (8) AN/DAS–4 MultiSpectral Targeting Systems 

Up to twenty (20) Lynx AN/APY–8 

Synthetic Aperture Radars 

Non-MDE: 

Also included are Reaper engines; 

Selex Seaspray Synthetic Aperture 

Radars; SeaVue maritime radars; 

M299 Hellfire Longbow missile 

launchers; AN/ARC–210 radios; 

Line-of-Site (LOS) Ground Data 

Terminals; Ruggedized Aircraft 

Maintenance Test Stations 

(RAMTS); AN/APX–119 and other 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1EN08OC24.013</GPH>

DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGENCY 

2800Det.n .. Penta1on 

Watlllngton,CC:: 20301•2800 

·nie Honorable Kevin McCarthy 

Speaker of the-House 

u~s.House of Representatives•· 

B;-209. The CapilOI 

Washii'lftMft DC 2osts . -.-.... 

Dear Mr~ Speaker. 

June 16. 2023 

Pursuantto5~·reqwrementsofSeetion36(b)(l)ofthe.AmtsExponControl·· 

• Ac~u·amended.-weare forwarding herewi1hTrimsmittal.No .. 234S; concerning the Air Force's 

proposed.Letter(s)ofOffer and Acceptance·tothe Oovemmentofthe Netherlands for defense 

·artidesandsenicesestimaiedtocost$61lmillion,· Wewillissuea11ews·reteasetonotifytho 

piblic of this pr()pOsed·sale·upondelivery of1his lettertoyoutomce~ 

&ctosurel: 

1. Transmittal . . . •....... ··-

2. Policy Justifioation 

3. Sensitivity of Technology 
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 8, 2024 / Notices 81475 

Identification Friend or Foe 

transponders; KIV–77 

Cryptographic Appliques; KY– 

100M narrowband/wideband 

terminals; AN/PYQ–10 Simple Key 

Loaders; Satellite Communications 

(SATCOM) Earth Terminal 

Subsystems (SETSS); spare parts, 

consumables, accessories, and 

repair and return support; secure 

communication equipment and 

cryptographic devices; major/minor 

modifications, maintenance, and 

maintenance support; munitions 

support and support equipment; 

unclassified software delivery and 

support; transportation support; 

unclassified publications and 

technical documentation; studies 

and surveys; U.S. Government and 

contractor engineering, technical, 

and logistics support services; and 

other related elements of logistical 

and program support. 

(iv) Military Department: Air Force 

(NE–D–SAA) 

(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: NE–D– 

SMQ 

(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, 

Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None 

known at this time 

(vii) Sensitivity of Technology 

Contained in the Defense Article or 

Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: 

See Attached Annex 

(viii) Date Report Delivered to 

Congress: June 16, 2023 

* As defined in Section 47(6) of the 

Arms Export Control Act. 

POLICY JUSTIFICATION 

The Netherlands—MQ–9A Block 5 

Aircraft 

The Government of the Netherlands 

has requested to buy up to four (4) MQ– 

9A Block 5 aircraft; up to three (3) 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) MQ– 

9 Mobile Ground Control Systems 

(MGCS); up to thirty (30) Embedded 

Global Positioning Systems/Internal 

Navigation Systems (EGI) devices, 

Airborne, with Selective Availability 

Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or MCode; up to eight (8) AN/DAS–4 MultiSpectral Targeting Systems; and up to 

twenty (20) Lynx AN/APY–8 Synthetic 

Aperture Radars. Also included are 

Reaper Engines; Selex Seaspray 

Synthetic Aperture Radars; SeaVue 

Maritime Radars; M299 Hellfire 

Longbow missile launchers; AN/ARC– 

210 radios; Line-of-Site (LOS) Ground 

Data Terminals; Ruggedized Aircraft 

Maintenance Test Stations (RAMTS); 

AN/APX–119 and other Identification 

Friend or Foe transponders; KIV–77 

Cryptographic Appliques; KY–100M 

narrowband/wideband terminals; AN/ 

PYQ–10 Simple Key Loaders; Satellite 

Communications (SATCOM) Earth 

Terminal Subsystems (SETSS); spare 

parts, consumables, accessories, and 

repair and return support; secure 

communication equipment and 

cryptographic devices; major/minor 

modifications, maintenance, and 

maintenance support; munitions 

support and support equipment; 

unclassified software delivery and 

support; transportation support; 

unclassified publications and technical 

documentation; studies and surveys; 

U.S. Government and contractor 

engineering, technical, and logistics 

support services; and other related 

elements of logistical and program 

support. The estimated total cost is $611 

million. 

This proposed sale will support the 

foreign policy goals and national 

security objectives of the United States 

by improving the security of a NATO 

Ally that is a force for political stability 

and economic progress in Europe. 

The proposed sale will improve the 

Netherlands’ capability to meet current 

and future threats. The MQ–9A aircraft 

will support Intelligence, Surveillance, 

Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance 

(ISTAR) missions as well as Air Attack 

and Counter Maritime Operation tasks. 

The Netherlands already has MQ–9A 

aircraft in its inventory and will have no 

difficulty absorbing these articles and 

services into its armed forces. 

The proposed sale of this equipment 

and support will not alter the basic 

military balance in the region. 

The principal contractor will be 

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, 

Poway, CA. There are no known offset 

agreements proposed in connection 

with this potential sale. 

Implementation of this proposed sale 

will not require the assignment of 

additional contractor or government 

representatives. 

There will be no adverse impact on 

U.S. defense readiness as a result of this 

proposed sale. 

Transmittal No. 23–45 

Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of 

Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the 

Arms Export Control Act 

Annex 

Item No. vii 

(vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 

1. The MQ–9A Block 5 Unmanned 

Aerial System (UAS) is a Medium 

Altitude, long-endurance (MALE) 

remotely piloted aircraft that can be 

used for surveillance, military 

reconnaissance, and targeting missions. 

Real-time missions are flown under the 

control of a pilot in a Ground Control 

Station (GCS). A datalink is maintained 

that uplinks control commands and 

downlinks video with telemetry data. 

Line-of-Sight (LOS) communication is 

enabled through C-Band datalink and 

Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) 

communication is enabled through KuBand Satellite Communication 

(SATCOM). Control of the aircraft and 

control of the payload are managed 

through direct manual inputs by the 

crew or by preprogramming the mission. 

Preprogrammed missions are planned 

and uploaded by the pilots via the GCS 

and are executed through the control of 

an onboard suite of redundant 

computers and sensors. Payload imagery 

and data are downlinked to the GCS. 

The pilot may initiate preprogrammed 

missions once the aircraft is airborne 

and land the aircraft when the mission 

is completed. Pilots can change 

preprogrammed mission parameters as 

often as required. When operated BLOS, 

aircraft control is given to other 

strategically placed Ground Control 

Stations—permitting remote split 

operations (RSO). The MQ–9A Block 5 

is designed to carry 850 pounds of 

internal payload with maximum fuel 

and can carry multiple mission 

payloads aloft. The MQ–9A Block 5 will 

be configured for the following 

payloads: Electro-Optical/Infrared (E.O./ 

IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), 

Electronic Support Measures (ESM), 

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), laser 

designators, and various weapons 

packages. 

a. The GCS can be either fixed or 

mobile. Both versions incorporate 

workstations that allow operators to 

control and monitor the aircraft, as well 

as record and exploit downlinked 

payload data. 

b. The Embedded Global Positioning 

System/Inertial Navigation System 

(GPS/INS) (EGI) with Selective 

Availability Anti-Spoofing Module 

(SAASM)—or M-Code receiver when 

available—and Precise Positioning 

Service (PPS) is a self-contained 

navigation system that provides the 

following information: acceleration, 

velocity, position, attitude, platform 

azimuth, magnetic and true heading, 

altitude, body angular rates, time tags, 

and coordinated universal time (UTC) 

synchronized time. SAASM or M-Code 

enables the GPS receiver to access the 

encrypted P (Y or M) signal, providing 

protection against active spoofing 

attacks. 

c. LOS Ground Data terminals and 

Ku-Band SATCOM GA–ASI 

Transportable Earth Stations (GATES) 

provide command, control, and data 

acquisition. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
81476 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 8, 2024 / Notices 

2. The Raytheon Multi-Spectral 

Targeting System-D (MTS–D) AN/DAS– 

4 integrates electro-optical (EO), 

infrared (IR), laser designation and laser 

illumination capabilities to provide 

detection, ranging, and tracking 

capabilities specifically for high-altitude 

applications. This advanced EO and IR 

system provides long-range 

surveillance, high altitude target 

acquisition, tracking, range finding, and 

laser designation for the Hellfire missile 

and for all tri-service and NATO laserguided munitions. The MTS–D provides 

greater target location accuracy than the 

MTS–B. 

3. The AN/APY–8 Lynx Synthetic 

Aperture Radar (SAR) and Ground 

Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) system 

provides all-weather surveillance, 

tracking, and targeting for military and 

commercial customers from manned 

and unmanned vehicles. 

4. The Selex Seaspray is an Active 

Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) 

surveillance radar suitable for a range of 

capabilities from long-range search to 

small target detection. 

5. The SeaVue Maritime Multi-Role 

Patrol Radar is a synthetic aperture Xband radar that provides small-target 

maritime detection in high seas, 

maritime search (including submarine 

periscopes and semi-submersibles), 

radar imaging of ocean targets, and 

weather detection and avoidance. 

6. The M299 launcher provides 

mechanical and electrical interface 

between the Hellfire missile and 

aircraft. 

7. ARC–210 radios are voice 

communications radio systems 

equipped with HAVE QUICK II and 

Second Generation Antijam Tactical 

UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), which 

employ cryptographic technology. Other 

waveforms may be included as needed. 

8. The Ruggedized Aircraft 

Maintenance Test Station (RAMTS) is a 

mobile test station used to perform 

diagnostic and operational checks on 

the MQ–9. 

9. The AN/APX–119 is an 

Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) 

transponder that provides military 

aircraft with a secure combat 

identification capability to help reduce 

fratricide and enhance battlespace 

awareness, while providing safe access 

to civilian airspace. 

10. The KIV–77 is a cryptographic 

applique for IFF. It can be loaded with 

Mode 5 classified elements. 

11. The KY–100M is a lightweight 

terminal for secure voice and data 

communications. The KY–100M 

provides wideband/narrowband halfduplex communication. Operating in 

tactical ground, marine, and airborne 

applications, the KY–100M enables 

secure communication with a broad 

range of radio and satellite equipment. 

12. The AN/PYQ–10 Simple Key 

Loader is a handheld device used for 

securely receiving, storing, and 

transferring data between compatible 

cryptographic and communications 

equipment. 

13. The highest level of classification 

of defense articles, components, and 

services included in this potential sale 

is SECRET. 

14. If a technologically advanced 

adversary were to obtain knowledge of 

the specific hardware and software 

elements, the information could be used 

to develop countermeasures that might 

reduce weapon system effectiveness or 

be used in the development of a system 

with similar or advanced capabilities. 

15. A determination has been made 

that the Netherlands can provide 

substantially the same degree of 

protection for the sensitive technology 

being released as the U.S. Government. 

This sale is necessary in furtherance of 

the U.S. foreign policy and national 

security objectives outlined in the 

Policy Justification. 

16. All defense articles and services 

listed in this transmittal have been 

authorized for release and export to the 

Netherlands. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23193 Filed 10–7–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

[Transmittal No. 23–0L] 

Arms Sales Notification 

AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation 

Agency, Department of Defense (DoD). 

ACTION: Arms sales notice. 

SUMMARY: The DoD is publishing the 

unclassified text of an arms sales 

notification. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Pamela Young at (703) 953–6092, 

pamela.a.young14.civ@mail.mil, or 

dsca.ncr.rsrcmgmt.list.cns-mbx@

mail.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

36(b)(5)(C) arms sales notification is 

published to fulfill the requirements of 

section 155 of Public Law 104–164 

dated July 21, 1996. The following is a 

copy of a letter to the Speaker of the 

House of Representatives with attached 

Transmittal 23–0L. 

Dated: October 2, 2024. 

Aaron T. Siegel, 

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 

Officer, Department of Defense. 

BILLING CODE 6001–FR–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1