9810 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 43 / Friday, March 6, 2009 / Notices 

that the construction and operation of 

the Northeast Gateway LNG terminal 

may adversely affect, but is not likely to 

jeopardize, the continued existence of 

northern right, humpback, and fin 

whales, and is not likely to adversely 

affect sperm, sei, or blue whales. 

Currently, NMFS is consulting with 

NMFS NER on to determine whether the 

modified activities with the inclusion of 

Algonquin Pipeline Lateral O&M 

activities would have any adverse 

impact to listed species. 

NEPA 

MARAD and the USCG released a 

Final EIS/Environmental Impact Report 

(EIR) for the proposed Northeast 

Gateway Port and Pipeline Lateral. A 

notice of availability was published by 

MARAD on October 26, 2006 (71 FR 

62657). The Final EIS/EIR provides 

detailed information on the proposed 

project facilities, construction methods 

and analysis of potential impacts on 

marine mammal. 

NMFS was a cooperating agency (as 

defined by the Council on 

Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1501.6)) 

in the preparation of the Draft and Final 

EISs. NMFS has reviewed the Final EIS 

and has adopted it. Therefore, the 

preparation of another EIS or EA is not 

warranted. 

Preliminary Determinations 

NMFS has preliminarily determined 

that the impact of operation of the 

Northeast Gateway LNG Port facility 

and the Algonquin Pipeline Lateral 

O&M activities may result, at worst, in 

a temporary modification in behavior of 

small numbers of certain species of 

marine mammals that may be in close 

proximity to the Northeast Gateway 

LNG facility and associated pipeline 

during its operation, maintenance, and 

repair. These activities are expected to 

result in some local short-term 

displacement and will have no more 

than a negligible impact on the affected 

species or stocks of marine mammals. 

This preliminary determination is 

supported by proposed mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting measures 

described in this document on this 

action. 

As a result of the described proposed 

mitigation and monitoring measures, no 

take by injury or death would be 

requested, anticipated or authorized, 

and the potential for temporary or 

permanent hearing impairment is very 

unlikely due to the relatively low noise 

levels (and consequently small zone of 

impact). 

While the number of marine 

mammals that may be harassed will 

depend on the distribution and 

abundance of marine mammals in the 

vicinity of the LNG Port facility and the 

Pipeline Lateral, the estimated numbers 

of marine mammals to be harassed is 

small relative to the affected species or 

stock sizes. Please see Estimate of Take 

by Harassment section below for the 

calculation of these take numbers. 

Proposed Authorization 

NMFS proposes to issue an IHA to 

Northeast Gateway and Algonquin for 

conducting LNG Port facility and 

Pipeline Lateral operations and 

maintenance in Massachusetts Bay, 

provided the previously mentioned 

mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 

requirements are incorporated. 

Information Solicited 

NMFS requests interested persons to 

submit comments and information 

concerning this proposed IHA and 

Northeast Gateway and Algonquin’s 

application for incidental take 

regulations (see ADDRESSES). NMFS 

requests interested persons to submit 

comments, information, and suggestions 

concerning both the request and the 

structure and content of future 

regulations to allow this taking. NMFS 

will consider this information in 

developing proposed regulations to 

govern the taking. 

Dated: February 26, 2009. 

James H Lecky, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–4799 Filed 3–5–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS 

Notice of Meeting 

Established By Congress 17 May 1910: 

National Building Museum, 401 F 

Street, NW., Suite 312, Washington, DC 

20001–2728, 202–504–2200, 202–504– 

2195 fax. 

BAC: 6330–01. 

Commission of Fine Arts 

The next meeting of the U.S. 

Commission of Fine Arts is scheduled 

for 19 March 2009, at 10 a.m. in the 

Commission offices at the National 

Building Museum, Suite 312, Judiciary 

Square, 401 F Street, NW., Washington 

DC, 2000 1–2728. Items of discussion 

may include buildings, parks and 

memorials. 

Draft agendas and additional 

information regarding the Commission 

are available on our Web site: http:// 

www.cfa.gov. Inquiries regarding the 

agenda and requests to submit written 

or oral statements should be addressed 

to Thomas Luebke, Secretary, U.S. 

Commission of Fine Arts, at the above 

address or call 202–504–2200. 

Individuals requiring sign language 

interpretation for the hearing impaired 

should contact the Secretary at least 10 

days before the meeting date. 

Dated: February 23, 2009 in Washington, 

DC. 

Thomas Luebke, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E9–4578 Filed 3–5–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6330–01–M 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Office of the Secretary 

Meeting of the Defense Department 

Advisory Committee on Women in the 

Services (DACOWITS) 

AGENCY: Department of Defense. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 10(a), 

Public Law 92–463, as amended, notice 

is hereby given of a forthcoming 

meeting of the Defense Department 

Advisory Committee on Women in the 

Services (DACOWITS). The purpose of 

the Committee meeting is to receive 

briefings and hear panels on women’s 

roles in deployment, review 2009 

topics, and develop protocols. The 

meeting is open to the public, subject to 

the availability of space. 

DATES: March 23–24, 2009, 8:30 a.m.–5 

p.m. 

ADDRESSES: Double Tree Hotel Crystal 

City National Airport, 300 Army Navy 

Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

MSgt Robert Bowling, USAF, 

DACOWITS, 4000 Defense Pentagon, 

Room 2C548A, Washington, DC 20301– 

4000. Robert.bowling@osd.mil; 

Telephone (703) 697–2122; Fax (703) 

614–6233. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Meeting Agenda 

Monday, March 23, 2009 8:30 a.m.– 

5 p.m. 

—Welcome and announcements 

—Women’s roles in deployment panels 

—Briefings 

—Public Forum 

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 8:30 a.m.– 

5 p.m. 

—Review research questions 

—Develop Protocol questions 

—Discuss 2009 topics and schedule 

Interested persons may submit a 

written statement for consideration by 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES