Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 91693 

2022, to July 15, 2023, for year 1 and 

from July 16, 2023, to July 15, 2024, for 

year 2. On August 3, 2023, BNSF 

informed NMFS that the project would 

be delayed by one year and requested a 

reissuance of the initial IHAs. None of 

the work identified in the initial IHAs 

(e.g., pile driving and removal) had 

occurred. Therefore, reissuance of the 

two consecutive IHAs was appropriate. 

The IHAs were effective from September 

28, 2023, through July 15, 2024, for year 

1 and from July 16, 2024, to July 15, 

2025, for year 2 (88 FR 70932, October 

13, 2023). On September 20, 2024, 

NMFS received a notice from BNSF 

indicating that work had been delayed 

and requesting the reissuance of 

identical IHAs to be effective from July 

16, 2025, to July 15, 2026, for year 1 and 

from July 16, 2026, to July 15, 2027, for 

year 2. There is no new information that 

would affect the authorized take 

numbers or required mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

and, therefore, reissuance is 

appropriate. The only change is to the 

effective dates. 

Summary of Specified Activity and 

Anticipated Impacts 

The planned activities, mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements, 

authorized incidental take, and 

anticipated impacts on the affected 

stocks are the same as those analyzed 

for the previously issued IHAs. 

The purpose of BNSF’s Railway 

Bridge 6.3 Heavy Maintenance Project is 

to extend the service life of the existing 

structure by replacing several 

components of the existing movable 

span. The location, timing, and nature 

of the activities, including the types of 

equipment planned for use, are identical 

to those described in the initial IHAs. 

The mitigation and monitoring are also 

as prescribed in the initial IHAs. 

Species that are expected to be taken 

by the planned activity include minke 

whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), 

common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops 

truncatus), long-beaked common 

dolphin (Delphinus capensis), harbor 

porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), 

California sea lion (Zalophus 

californianus), Steller sea lion 

(Eumetopias jubatus) and harbor seal 

(Phoca vitulina). A description of the 

methods and inputs used to estimate 

take anticipated to occur and, 

ultimately, the take that was authorized 

is found in the documents referenced 

below. The data inputs and methods of 

estimating take are identical to those 

used in the initial IHAs. NMFS has 

reviewed recent Stock Assessment 

Reports, information on relevant 

Unusual Mortality Events, and recent 

scientific literature, and determined that 

no new information affects our original 

analysis of impacts or take estimate 

under the initial IHAs. 

We refer to the documents related to 

the previously issued IHAs, which 

include the Federal Register notice of 

the issuance of the initial IHAs for 

BNSF’s construction work (87 FR 22506, 

April 15, 2022), BNSF’s application, the 

Federal Register notice of the proposed 

IHAs (87 FR 4844, January 31, 2022), 

and all associated references and 

documents. These documents may be 

obtained by visiting: https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ 

incidental-take-authorization-bnsfrailway-railway-bridge-heavymaintenance-project-king. 

Determinations 

BNSF will conduct activities as 

analyzed in the initial IHAs. As 

described above, the number of 

authorized takes of the same species and 

stocks of marine mammals are identical 

to the numbers that were found to meet 

the negligible impact and small 

numbers standards and authorized 

under the initial IHA and no new 

information has emerged that would 

change those findings. The two 

consecutive, reissued IHAs include 

identical required mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting measures as 

the initial IHAs, and there is no new 

information suggesting that our analysis 

or findings should change. 

Based on the information contained 

here and in the referenced documents, 

NMFS has determined the following: (1) 

the required mitigation measures will 

effect the least practicable 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; and (4) BNSF’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. 

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 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 

determined at the time of issuance that 

the IHAs qualify to be categorically 

excluded from further NEPA review, 

and there is no new information that 

would affect this determination. 

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 

whenever we propose to authorize take 

for endangered or threatened species. 

However, no incidental take of ESAlisted species is authorized or expected 

to result from this activity. Therefore, 

NMFS has determined that formal 

consultation under section 7 of the ESA 

is not required for this action. 

Authorization 

NMFS has issued two consecutive 

IHAs to BNSF for in-water construction 

activities associated with the specified 

activity from July 16, 2025, to July 15, 

2026, for year 1 and from July 16, 2026, 

to July 15, 2027, for year 2. All 

previously described mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

from the initial IHAs are incorporated. 

Dated: November 15, 2024. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–27122 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE394] 

Caribbean Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
91694 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 

ACTION: Notice of virtual meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery 

Management Council (CFMC) will hold 

an Administrative Committee Virtual 

Meeting to address the items contained 

in the tentative agenda included in the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

DATES: The CFMC Administrative 

Committee Virtual Meeting will be held 

on November 25, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 

12 noon, AST. 

ADDRESSES: You may join the CFMC 

Administrative Committee Virtual 

Meeting via Zoom, from a computer, 

tablet or smartphone by entering the 

following address: 

Join Zoom Meeting 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/830606

85915?pwd=VmVsc1orSUtKck8x

Yk1XOXNDY1ErZz09 

Meeting ID: 830 6068 5915 

Passcode: 995658 

One tap mobile: 

+17879451488,,83060685915#,,

,,,,0#,,995658# Puerto Rico 

+17879667727,,83060685915#,,,

,,,0#,,995658# Puerto Rico 

Dial by your location: 

+1 787 945 1488 Puerto Rico 

+1 787 966 7727 Puerto Rico 

+1 939 945 0244 Puerto Rico 

Meeting ID: 830 6068 5915 

Passcode: 995658 

In case there are problems, and we 

cannot reconnect via Zoom, the meeting 

will continue using GoToMeeting. 

You can join the meeting from your 

computer, tablet, or smartphone at 

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/ 

971749317. You can also dial in using 

your phone. United States: +1 (408) 

650–3123 Access Code: 971–749–317. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Miguel A. Rolo ́n, Executive Director, 

Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 

270 Mun ̃oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918–1903, 

telephone: (787) 398–3717. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

following items included in the 

tentative agenda will be discussed: 

—Presentation on Approved IRA Funds 

Projects 

—Budget Petition CFMC for 2025–2029 

—Other Administrative Business 

—Adjourn 

NOTE (1): Other than starting time and 

dates of the meetings, the established times 

for addressing items on the agenda may be 

adjusted as necessary to accommodate the 

timely completion of discussion relevant to 

the agenda items. To further accommodate 

discussion and completion of all items on the 

agenda, the meeting may be extended from or 

completed before the date established in this 

notice. Changes in the agenda will be posted 

to the CFMC website, Facebook, Twitter and 

Instagram as practicable. 

NOTE (2): Financial disclosure forms are 

available for inspection at this meeting, as 

per 50 CFR part 601. 

The order of business may be adjusted 

as necessary to accommodate the 

completion of agenda items. The 

meeting will begin on November 25, 

2024, at 10 a.m. AST, and will end on 

November 25, 2024, at 12 noon, AST. 

Other than the start time on the first day 

of the meeting, interested parties should 

be aware that discussions may start 

earlier or later than indicated in the 

agenda, at the discretion of the Chair. 

Special Accommodations 

For any additional information on this 

virtual meeting, please contact Diana 

Martino, Caribbean Fishery 

Management Council, 270 Mun ̃oz 

Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, 

Puerto Rico, 00918–1903, telephone: 

(787) 226–8849. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: November 15, 2024. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–27084 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Climate Services Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Department of Commerce (DOC). 

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the 

Climate Services Advisory Committee 

and Solicitation of Nominations for 

Membership. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, as amended 

(FACA), the Under Secretary of 

Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere 

(Under Secretary) announces the 

establishment of the Climate Services 

Advisory Committee (Committee or 

CSAC). The CSAC will advise the Under 

Secretary on the accessibility, 

effectiveness, and use of NOAA’s 

climate services (data, information, 

science, tools, and decision support) in 

preparing our nation for the impacts of 

climate change, consistent with the 

National Science and Technology 

Council’s A Federal Framework and 

Action Plan for Climate Services 

(https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2023/03/ftac_report_

03222023_508.pdf), NOAA’s Equitable 

Climate Services Action Plan (https://

www.noaa.gov/media/file/noaaequitable-climate-service-deliveryaction-plan-050124), as well as other 

related subjects that may be requested 

by the Under Secretary. The CSAC will 

terminate two (2) years from the date of 

its charter’s filing with the standing 

committees of the Senate and House of 

Representatives having legislative 

jurisdiction of the agency unless 

terminated earlier or renewed by the 

proper authority. Therefore, terms of 

appointment are contingent upon the 

Committee’s continuation and the active 

participation of the members. This 

notice also requests nominations for 

membership on the CSAC (see 

‘‘Nominations and Applications’’ below 

for more detail). 

DATES: Nominations and applications 

should be sent to the web address 

specified below and must be received 

on or before December 20, 2024 for 

initial consideration. This solicitation 

notice shall remain open for two years; 

NOAA will continue to accept 

applications after December 20, 2024 in 

case there are vacancies. 

ADDRESSES: Nominations and 

applications may be emailed to 

amanda.mccarty@noaa.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amanda McCarty, Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research, NOAA, at 

amanda.mccarty@noaa.gov or (240)– 

234–0959. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Authority 

The Climate Services Advisory 

Committee (CSAC) is governed by the 

FACA. The CSAC will be established as 

a discretionary Federal advisory 

committee (FAC) under the Secretary’s 

authority pursuant to duties imposed on 

the Department by law, including 15 

U.S.C. 1512, to advise the Under 

Secretary on the accessibility, 

effectiveness, and use of NOAA’s 

climate services in preparing our nation 

for the impacts of climate change, 

consistent with the National Science 

and Technology Council’s Federal 

Framework and Action Plan for Climate 

Services, NOAA’s Equitable Climate 

Services Action Plan, as well as other 

related issues that may be requested by 

the Under Secretary. 

The establishment of the CSAC is 

necessary and in the public interest. The 

Committee will advise the Under 

Secretary on the accessibility, 

effectiveness, and use of NOAA’s 

climate services in support of climate 

action, including preparing our nation’s 

historically underserved and Tribal and 

Indigenous communities for climate 

impacts. 


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