Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2025 / Notices 603 

6The term ‘‘shape’’ includes, but is not limited 

to profiles, which are flexible magnets with a nonrectangular cross-section. 

7Packaging includes retail or specialty packaging 

such as digital printer cartridges. 8See ITC Final Determination. 

shape,6 color, or packaging.7 Subject 

flexible magnets are bonded magnets 

composed (not necessarily exclusively) 

of (i) any one or combination of various 

flexible binders (such as polymers or copolymers, or rubber) and (ii) a magnetic 

element, which may consist of a ferrite 

permanent magnet material (commonly, 

strontium or barium ferrite, or a 

combination of the two), a metal alloy 

(such as NdFeB or Alnico), any 

combination of the foregoing with each 

other or any other material, or any other 

material capable of being permanently 

magnetized. Subject flexible magnets 

may be in either magnetized or 

unmagnetized (including demagnetized) 

condition, and may or may not be fully 

or partially laminated or fully or 

partially bonded with paper, plastic, or 

other material, of any composition and/ 

or color. Subject flexible magnets may 

be uncoated or may be coated with an 

adhesive or any other coating or 

combination of coatings. 

Specifically excluded from the scope 

of these Orders are printed flexible 

magnets, defined as flexible magnets 

(including individual magnets) that are 

laminated or bonded with paper, 

plastic, or other material if such paper, 

plastic, or other material bears printed 

text and/or images, including but not 

limited to business cards, calendars, 

poetry, sports event schedules, business 

promotions, decorative motifs, and the 

like. This exclusion does not apply to 

such printed flexible magnets if the 

printing concerned consists of only the 

following: a trade mark or trade name; 

country of origin; border, stripes, or 

lines; any printing that is removed in 

the course of cutting and/or printing 

magnets for retail sale or other 

disposition from the flexible magnet; 

manufacturing or use instructions (e.g., 

‘‘print this side up,’’ ‘‘this side up,’’ 

‘‘laminate here’’); printing on adhesive 

backing (that is, material to be removed 

in order to expose adhesive for use such 

as application of laminate) or on any 

other covering that is removed from the 

flexible magnet prior or subsequent to 

final printing and before use; nonpermanent printing (that is, printing in 

a medium that facilitates easy removal, 

permitting the flexible magnet to be reprinted); printing on the back (magnetic) 

side; or any combination of the above. 

All products meeting the physical 

description of subject merchandise that 

are not specifically excluded are within 

the scope of these Orders. The products 

subject to the Orders are currently 

classifiable principally under 

subheadings 8505.19.10 and 8505.19.20 

of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 

the United States (HTSUS). The HTSUS 

subheadings are provided only for 

convenience and customs purposes; the 

written description of the scope of the 

Orders is dispositive. 

Continuation of the Orders 

As a result of the determinations by 

Commerce and the ITC that revocation 

of the Orders would likely lead to 

continuation or recurrence of dumping, 

countervailable subsidies, and material 

injury to an industry in the United 

States, pursuant to section 751(d)(2) of 

the Act, Commerce hereby orders the 

continuation of the Orders. U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection will 

continue to collect AD and CVD cash 

deposits at the rates in effect at the time 

of entry for all imports of subject 

merchandise. 

The effective date of the continuation 

of the Orders is December 27, 2024.8

Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act 

and 19 CFR 351.218(c)(2), Commerce 

intends to initiate the next five-year 

reviews of the Orders not later than 30 

days prior to fifth anniversary of the 

date of the last determination by the 

ITC. 

Administrative Protective Order (APO) 

This notice also serves as a final 

reminder to parties subject to an APO of 

their responsibility concerning the 

return or destruction of proprietary 

information disclosed under APO in 

accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), 

which continues to govern business 

proprietary information in this segment 

of the proceeding. Timely written 

notification of the return or destruction 

of APO materials, or conversion to 

judicial protective order, is hereby 

requested. Failure to comply with the 

regulations and terms of an APO is a 

violation which is subject to sanction. 

Notification to Interested Parties 

These five-year (sunset) reviews and 

this notice are in accordance with 

sections 751(c) and 751(d)(2) of the Act 

and published in accordance with 

section 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 

351.218(f)(4). 

Dated: December 30, 2024. 

Abdelali Elouaradia, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement 

and Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2024–31724 Filed 1–3–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE545] 

Taking and Importing Marine 

Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 

Incidental to Geophysical Surveys 

Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the 

Gulf of Mexico 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of issuance of letter of 

authorization. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act 

(MMPA), as amended, its implementing 

regulations, and NMFS’ MMPA 

Regulations for Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Geophysical 

Surveys Related to Oil and Gas 

Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 

notification is hereby given that NMFS 

has issued a Letter of Authorization 

(LOA) to LLOG Exploration Offshore, 

L.L.C. (LLOG) for the take of marine 

mammals incidental to geophysical 

survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico 

(GOM). 

DATES: The LOA is effective from 

December 31, 2024 through April 19, 

2026. 

ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and 

supporting documentation are available 

online at: https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ 

incidental-take-authorization-oil-andgas-industry-geophysical-surveyactivity-gulf-mexico. In case of problems 

accessing these documents, please call 

the contact listed below (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jenna Harlacher, Office of Protected 

Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the 

MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct 

the Secretary of Commerce to allow, 

upon request, the incidental, but not 

intentional, taking of small numbers of 

marine mammals by U.S. citizens who 

engage in a specified activity (other than 

commercial fishing) within a specified 

geographical region if certain findings 

are made and either regulations are 

issued or, if the taking is limited to 

harassment, a notice of a proposed 

authorization is provided to the public 

for review. 


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604 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2025 / Notices 

1For purposes of acoustic exposure modeling, the 

GOM was divided into seven zones. Zone 1 is not 

included in the geographic scope of the rule. 

2Acoustic propagation modeling was performed 

for two seasons: winter (December–March) and 

summer (April–November). Marine mammal 

density data is generally available on a monthly 

basis, and therefore further refines take estimates 

temporally. 

An authorization for incidental 

takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 

that the taking will have a negligible 

impact on the species or stock(s), will 

not have an unmitigable adverse impact 

on the availability of the species or 

stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 

relevant), and if the permissible 

methods of taking and requirements 

pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring 

and reporting of such takings are set 

forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible 

impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact 

resulting from the specified activity that 

cannot be reasonably expected to, and is 

not reasonably likely to, adversely affect 

the species or stock through effects on 

annual rates of recruitment or survival. 

Except with respect to certain 

activities not pertinent here, the MMPA 

defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: any act of 

pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) 

has the potential to injure a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has 

the potential to disturb a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild by causing disruption of behavioral 

patterns, including, but not limited to, 

migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, 

feeding, or sheltering (Level B 

harassment). 

On January 19, 2021, we issued a final 

rule with regulations to govern the 

unintentional taking of marine 

mammals incidental to geophysical 

survey activities conducted by oil and 

gas industry operators, and those 

persons authorized to conduct activities 

on their behalf (collectively ‘‘industry 

operators’’), in U.S. waters of the GOM 

over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322, 

January 19, 2021). The rule was based 

on our findings that the total taking 

from the specified activities over the 5- 

year period will have a negligible 

impact on the affected species or 

stock(s) of marine mammals and will 

not have an unmitigable adverse impact 

on the availability of those species or 

stocks for subsistence uses, and became 

effective on April 19, 2021. 

The regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et 

seq. allow for the issuance of LOAs to 

industry operators for the incidental 

take of marine mammals during 

geophysical survey activities and 

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 (often referred to as 

mitigation), as well as requirements 

pertaining to the monitoring and 

reporting of such taking. Under 

§ 217.186 (e), issuance of an LOA shall 

be based on a determination that the 

level of taking will be consistent with 

the findings made for the total taking 

allowable under these regulations and a 

determination that the amount of take 

authorized under the LOA is of no more 

than small numbers. 

NMFS subsequently discovered that 

the 2021 rule was based on erroneous 

take estimates. We conducted another 

rulemaking using correct take estimates 

and other newly available and pertinent 

information relevant to the analyses 

supporting some of the findings in the 

2021 final rule and the taking allowable 

under the regulations. We issued a final 

rule in April 2024, effective May 24, 

2024 (89 FR 31488, April 24, 2024). 

The 2024 final rule made no changes 

to the specified activities or the 

specified geographical region in which 

those activities would be conducted, nor 

to the original 5-year period of 

effectiveness. In consideration of the 

new information, the 2024 rule 

presented new analyses supporting 

affirmance of the negligible impact 

determinations for all species, and 

affirmed that the existing regulations, 

which contain mitigation, monitoring, 

and reporting requirements, are 

consistent with the ‘‘least practicable 

adverse impact’’ standard of the MMPA. 

Summary of Request and Analysis 

LLOG’s new survey plans include 

conducting survey effort at multiple 

platform locations in the GOM. Survey 

effort could be conducted as Zero Offset, 

Offset, or Walkaway vertical seismic 

profile (VSP), Salt Proximity Survey, 

and/or Checkshot survey. Water depths 

at the locations where LLOG plans to 

conduct survey effort range from 

approximately 366 to 2,300 meters (m). 

LLOG plans to use either a 12-element, 

2,400 cubic inch (in3) airgun array, or a 

6-element, 1,500 in3 airgun array. 

LLOG currently has 7 active LOAs 

associated with similar survey activities 

as described above: 3 in zone 7, effective 

January 1, 2023 through December 31, 

2024 (87 FR 78652, December 22, 2022), 

effective May 12, 2023 through 

December 31, 2024 (88 FR 31715, May 

18, 2023), and effective March 1, 2022 

through April 19, 2026 (89 FR 751, 

January 5, 2024); 2 in zone 5, effective 

September 21, 2023 through December 

31, 2025 (88 FR 66409, September 27, 

2023) and effective March 1, 2022 

through April 19, 2026 (89 FR 14056, 

February 26, 2024); and 2 in zone 6, 

effective July 1, 2023 through July 5, 

2025 (88 FR 41909, June 28, 2023) and 

effective September 16, 2024 through 

April 19, 2026 (89 FR 77475, September 

23, 2024). 

The purpose of the newly issued LOA 

is to combine all LLOG survey activities, 

including remaining survey activity 

associated with the seven existing LOAs 

as well as newly planned survey 

activity, under a single LOA. This newly 

issued LOA would reduce workload for 

both LLOG and NMFS and streamline 

reporting. The new activity includes 

additional areas not covered under any 

active LLOG survey LOAs. As such, the 

seven active LOAs will expire to 

coincide with this new LOA that covers 

all of LLOGs survey activity. All 

currently active LOAs issued to LLOG 

were superseded by this new LOA, and 

all survey activity covered under 

previously active LOAs is now covered 

under this LOA. 

Consistent with the preamble to the 

final rule, the new survey effort 

proposed by LLOG in its LOA request 

was used to develop LOA-specific take 

estimates based on the acoustic 

exposure modeling results described in 

the preamble (89 FR 31488, April 24, 

2024). In order to generate the 

appropriate take number for 

authorization, the following information 

was considered: (1) survey type; (2) 

location (by modeling zone 1); (3) 

number of days; (4) source; and (5) 

month.2 In this case, the 4,130 in3

airgun array was selected. This proxy 

selection represents the least impactful 

modeled airgun array, but remains 

conservative for purposes of evaluating 

LLOG’s planned survey effort (i.e., 

maximum 12-element, 2,400 in3 array). 

The acoustic exposure modeling 

performed in support of the rule 

provides 24-hour exposure estimates for 

each species, specific to each modeled 

source and survey type in each zone and 

month. 

No VSP surveys were included in the 

modeled survey types, and use of 

existing proxies (i.e., two-dimensional 

(2D), three-dimensional (3D) (narrowazimuth) NAZ, 3D (wide-azimuth) 

WAZ, Coil) is generally conservative for 

use in evaluation of VSP survey effort, 

largely due to the greater area covered 

by the modeled proxies. Summary 

descriptions of these modeled survey 

geometries are available in the preamble 

to the 2018 proposed rule (83 FR 29212, 

29220, June 22, 2018). Coil was selected 

as the best available proxy survey type 

in this case because the spatial coverage 

of the new survey activity is most 

similar to the coil survey pattern. 

For the new survey activity, the 

seismic source array will be deployed in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2025 / Notices 605 

one of the following forms: Zero Offset 

VSP—deployed from a drilling rig at or 

near the borehole, with the seismic 

receivers (i.e., geophones) deployed in 

the borehole on wireline at specified 

depth intervals; Offset VSP—in a fixed 

position deployed from a supply vessel 

on an offset position; Walkaway VSP— 

attached to a line, or a series of lines, 

towed by a supply vessel; 3D VSP— 

source moves along a spiral or line 

swaths towed by a supply vessel; SaltProximity—consists typically of a 

combination of both Zero Offset VSP 

plus a fixed Offset VSP; or Checkshot— 

similar to Zero Offset VSP, typically 

hung from a platform and a sensor 

placed at a few depths in the well, 

where only the first energy arrival is 

recorded. The coil survey pattern in the 

model was assumed to cover 

approximately 144 kilometers squared 

(km2) per day (compared with 

approximately 795 km2, 199 km2, and 

845 km2 per day for the 2D, 3D NAZ, 

and 3D WAZ survey patterns, 

respectively). Among the different 

parameters of the modeled survey 

patterns (e.g., area covered, line spacing, 

number of sources, shot interval, total 

simulated pulses), NMFS considers area 

covered per day to be most influential 

on daily modeled exposures exceeding 

Level B harassment criteria. Because 

LLOG’s planned survey is expected to 

cover no additional area as a stationary 

source, the coil proxy is most 

representative of the effort planned by 

LLOG in terms of predicted Level B 

harassment. 

The survey will take place over 

approximately 61 days total, including 

19 days in zone 5, 19 days in zone 6, 

and 23 days in zone 7. The monthly 

distribution of survey days is not known 

in advance. Take estimates for each 

species are based on the month that 

produces the greatest value. 

For the Rice’s whale, take estimates 

based on the modeling yielded results 

that are not realistically likely to occur 

when considered in light of other 

relevant information concerning Rice’s 

whale habitat preferences considered 

during the rulemaking process. NMFS’ 

2024 final rule provided detailed 

discussion regarding Rice’s whale 

habitat (see, e.g., 89 FR 31508, 31519). 

In summary, recent survey data, 

sightings, and acoustic data support 

Rice’s whale occurrence in waters 

throughout the GOM between 

approximately 100 m and 400 m depth 

along the continental shelf break, and 

associated habitat-based density 

modeling has identified similar habitat 

(i.e., approximately 100 to 400 m water 

depths along the continental shelf 

break) as being Rice’s whale habitat 

(Garrison et al., 2023; Soldevilla et al., 

2022, 2024). 

Although Rice’s whales may occur 

outside of the general depth range 

expected to provide suitable habitat, we 

expect that any such occurrence would 

be rare. LLOG’s planned activities will 

occur in water depths of approximately 

366 to 2,300 m in the central GOM. 

Although there is some minimal habitat 

depth overlap, the majority of LLOG’s 

survey would occur in deeper water, 

and the modeling results indicate only 

1 take of Rice’s whale (even without 

considering whether there is overlap 

with Rice’s whale habitat). Thus, NMFS 

does not expect there to be the 

reasonable potential for take of Rice’s 

whale in association with this survey 

and, accordingly, does not authorize 

take of Rice’s whale through the LOA. 

Based on the results of our analysis 

here and in the other previously issued 

LOAs, NMFS has determined that the 

level of taking expected for the newly 

combined survey activities and 

authorized through the LOA is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

regulations. See table 1 in this notice 

and table 6 of the rule (89 FR 31488, 

April 24, 2024). 

Small Numbers Determination 

Under the GOM rule, NMFS may not 

authorize incidental take of marine 

mammals in an LOA if it will exceed 

‘‘small numbers.’’ In short, when an 

acceptable estimate of the individual 

marine mammals taken is available, if 

the estimated number of individual 

animals taken is up to, but not greater 

than, one-third of the best available 

abundance estimate, NMFS will 

determine that the numbers of marine 

mammals taken of a species or stock are 

small (89 FR 31535, May 24, 2024). For 

more information please see NMFS’ 

discussion of small numbers in the 2021 

final rule (86 FR 5438, January 19, 

2021). 

The take numbers for authorization 

are determined as described above in 

the Summary of Request and Analysis 

section. In addition, we are adding the 

previously analyzed take from LLOG’s 7 

active LOAs. Subsequently, the total 

incidents of harassment for each species 

are multiplied by scalar ratios to 

produce a derived product that better 

reflects the number of individuals likely 

to be taken within a survey (as 

compared to the total number of 

instances of take), accounting for the 

likelihood that some individual marine 

mammals may be taken on more than 1 

day (86 FR 5404, January 19, 2021; 89 

FR 31535, May 24, 2024). The output of 

this scaling, where appropriate, is 

incorporated into adjusted total take 

estimates that are the basis for NMFS’ 

small numbers determinations, as 

depicted in table 1. 

This product is used by NMFS in 

making the necessary small numbers 

determinations through comparison 

with the best available abundance 

estimates (see discussion at 86 FR 5391, 

January 19, 2021). For this comparison, 

NMFS’ approach is to use the maximum 

theoretical population, determined 

through review of current stock 

assessment reports (SAR; https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/marinemammal-stock-assessments) and modelpredicted abundance information 

(https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/ 

Duke/GOM/). Information supporting 

the small numbers determinations is 

provided in table 1. 

TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS 1

Species Authorized 

take Scaled take Abundance 2 Percent abundance 

Rice’s whale ..................................................................................................... 0 n/a 51 n/a 

Sperm whale .................................................................................................... 443 187 3,007 6.2 

Kogia spp ......................................................................................................... 3 207 62.3 980 7.7 

Beaked whales ................................................................................................ 743 75 803 9.3 

Rough-toothed dolphin .................................................................................... 1,134 325 4,853 6.7 

Bottlenose dolphin ........................................................................................... 1,156 332 165,125 0.2 

Clymene dolphin .............................................................................................. 1,674 480 4,619 10.4 

Atlantic spotted dolphin ................................................................................... 1,111 319 21,506 1.5

Pantropical spotted dolphin ............................................................................. 11,871 3407 67,225 5.1 

Spinner dolphin ................................................................................................ 156 45 5,548 0.8


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606 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2025 / Notices 

TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS 1—Continued 

Species Authorized 

take Scaled take Abundance 2 Percent abundance 

Striped dolphin ................................................................................................. 3,185 914 5,634 16.2 

Fraser’s dolphin ............................................................................................... 457 131 1,665 7.9 

Risso’s dolphin ................................................................................................. 315 93 1,974 4.7 

Blackfish 4 ......................................................................................................... 3,233 954 6,113 15.6 

Short-finned pilot whale ................................................................................... 803 237 2,741 8.6 

1Scalar ratios were applied to ‘‘Authorized Take’’ values as described at 86 FR 5322, 5404 (January 19, 2021) to derive scaled take numbers 

shown here. 2Best abundance estimate. For most taxa, the best abundance estimate for purposes of comparison with take estimates is considered here to 

be the model-predicted abundance (Garrison et al., 2023). For Rice’s whale, Atlantic spotted dolphin, and Risso’s dolphin, the larger estimated 

SAR abundance estimate is used. 3 Includes 13 take by Level A harassment and 194 takes by Level B harassment. Small numbers determination made on basis of scaled Level 

B harassment take plus authorized Level A harassment take. 4The ‘‘blackfish’’ guild includes melon-headed whales, false killer whales, pygmy killer whales, and killer whales. 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of LLOG’s proposed survey 

activity described in its LOA 

application, the previous analysis from 

the 7 active LOAs, and the anticipated 

take of marine mammals, NMFS finds 

that small numbers of marine mammals 

will be taken relative to the affected 

species or stock sizes (i.e., less than onethird of the best available abundance 

estimate) and therefore the taking is of 

no more than small numbers. 

Authorization 

NMFS has determined that the level 

of taking for this LOA request is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

incidental take regulations and that the 

amount of take authorized under the 

LOA is of no more than small numbers. 

Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to 

LLOG authorizing the take of marine 

mammals incidental to its geophysical 

survey activity, as described above. 

Dated: December 31, 2024. 

Catherine Marzin, 

Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–31750 Filed 1–3–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Notice of Cashes Ledge Site Added to 

the Inventory of Areas for Possible 

Designation as National Marine 

Sanctuaries 

AGENCY: Office of National Marine 

Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 

Service (NOS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Department of Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: On June 13, 2014, NOAA 

published a final rule establishing the 

Sanctuary Nomination Process, allowing 

communities to submit nominations to 

NOAA for consideration as new 

national marine sanctuaries. The rule 

outlined the review process, national 

significance criteria, and management 

considerations that NOAA uses to 

evaluate nominations for inclusion in 

the inventory of areas that could 

eventually be considered for 

designation. The rule also states that 

NOAA will publish a Federal Register 

notice when areas have been added to 

the inventory of successful nominations. 

This notice announces that NOAA has 

added the Cashes Ledge area to the 

inventory; the agency is not moving 

forward with a designation at this time. 

DATES: Applicable January 3, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: Matt Brookhart, Eastern 

Regional Director, NOAA Office of 

National Marine Sanctuaries, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 

20910, and at https://nominate.

noaa.gov/nominations/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt 

Brookhart, Eastern Regional Director, 

NOAA Office of National Marine 

Sanctuaries, matt.brookhart@noaa.gov, 

or at 301–452–4177. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act 

(NMSA) (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) 

authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to 

identify and designate as national 

marine sanctuaries areas of the marine 

environment, including the Great Lakes, 

which are of special national 

significance; to manage these areas as 

the National Marine Sanctuary System; 

and to provide for the comprehensive 

and coordinated conservation and 

management of these areas and the 

activities affecting them in a manner 

which complements existing regulatory 

authorities. Section 303 of the NMSA, 

16 U.S.C. 1433, provides national 

marine sanctuary designation standards 

and factors required in determining 

whether an area qualifies for 

consideration as a potential national 

marine sanctuary, and section 304, 16 

U.S.C. 1434, establishes procedures for 

national marine sanctuary designation 

and implementation. Regulations 

implementing the NMSA and each 

national marine sanctuary are codified 

in part 922 of title 15 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations. 

On June 13, 2014, NOAA issued a 

final rule that established the Sanctuary 

Nomination Process and finalized the 

national significance criteria and 

management considerations it will use 

to review new national marine 

sanctuary nominations (79 FR 33851). If 

NOAA determines a nomination 

adequately meets the final criteria and 

considerations, it may place that 

nomination in an inventory of areas to 

consider for designation as a national 

marine sanctuary. NOAA also stated 

that it would send a letter of notification 

to the nominator and publish a Federal 

Register notice identifying areas that 

have been added to the inventory of 

successful nominations. This notice 

documents that NOAA is adding the 

Cashes Ledge area to the inventory. 

NOAA is not designating any new 

national marine sanctuaries with this 

action. Any proposed designations of 

areas on the inventory would be 

conducted by NOAA as a separate 

process under the NMSA, 

Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 

Subchapter II), National Environmental 

Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and 

other applicable authorities. 

II. Cashes Ledge Sanctuary Nomination 

Added to the Inventory 

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) 

nominated the Cashes Ledge area to be 

considered for designation as a national 

marine sanctuary on July 29, 2024. CLF 

identified a 766 mi2 area around Cashes 


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