Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 5815 

There are four existing ROPs: the Gulf 

of Mexico Alliance, the Northeast 

Regional Ocean Council, the MidAtlantic Regional Council on the Ocean, 

and the West Coast Ocean Alliance. 

Section 10102(b)(3) of the NDAA, 

codified at 16 U.S.C. 1468(b)(3), 

designates these four entities as regional 

ocean partnerships; as such, the 

designation guidance and application 

process for new partnerships does not 

apply to them. 

The final designation guidance 

includes elements, specified in the 

NDAA, that must be included in an 

application for a new ROP; the manner 

in which the application must be 

submitted to NOAA; and funding 

eligibility for new ROPs. Applications 

for new ROPs must identify the 

members that will comprise the new 

ROP, identify the governing body of the 

new ROP, identify the purposes and 

functions of the new ROP, and be 

formally submitted by all state 

governors and Tribal government 

leaders. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1468. 

Jeffrey L. Payne, 

Director, Office for Coastal Management, 

National Ocean Service, National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01163 Filed 1–16–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–08–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE594] 

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to 

Specified Activities; Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to a Marine 

Geophysical Survey in the Northwest 

Gulf of Mexico 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental 

harassment authorization. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

regulations implementing the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as 

amended, notification is hereby given 

that NMFS has issued an incidental 

harassment authorization (IHA) to the 

University of Texas at Austin (UT) to 

incidentally harass marine mammals 

during survey activities associated with 

a marine geophysical survey in coastal 

waters off Texas in the northwest (NW) 

Gulf of Mexico (GOM). 

DATES: This authorization is effective 

from January 13, 2025 through January 

12, 2026. 

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the 

application and supporting documents, 

as well as a list of the references cited 

in this document, may be obtained 

online at: https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-research-and-otheractivities. In case of problems accessing 

these documents, please call the contact 

listed below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rachel Wachtendonk, Office of 

Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427– 

8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of 

marine mammals, with certain 

exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and 

(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 

seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce 

(as delegated to NMFS) 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 

proposed or, if the taking is limited to 

harassment, a notice of a proposed IHA 

is provided to the public for review. 

Authorization for incidental takings 

shall be granted if NMFS finds that the 

taking will have a negligible impact on 

the species or stock(s) and will not have 

an unmitigable adverse impact on the 

availability of the species or stock(s) for 

taking for subsistence uses (where 

relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe 

the permissible methods of taking and 

other ‘‘means of effecting the least 

practicable adverse impact’’ on the 

affected species or stocks and their 

habitat, paying particular attention to 

rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of 

similar significance, and on the 

availability of the species or stocks for 

taking for certain subsistence uses 

(referred to in shorthand as 

‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements 

pertaining to the monitoring and 

reporting of the takings. The definitions 

of all applicable MMPA statutory terms 

used above are included in the relevant 

sections below and can be found in 

section 3 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1362) 

and NMFS regulations at 50 CFR 

216.103. 

Summary of Request 

On July 25, 2024, NMFS received a 

request from UT for an IHA to take 

marine mammals incidental to a marine 

geophysical survey in coastal waters off 

Texas in the NW GOM. The application 

was deemed adequate and complete on 

September 24, 2024. UT’s request is for 

take of bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic 

spotted dolphins, and rough-toothed 

dolphins, by Level B harassment only. 

Neither UT nor NMFS expect serious 

injury or mortality to result from this 

activity and, therefore, an IHA is 

appropriate. There are no changes from 

the proposed IHA to the final IHA. 

Description of Activity 

Researchers from UT plan to conduct 

a low-energy marine seismic survey 

using airguns as the acoustic source 

from the research vessel (R/V) Brooks 

McCall (McCall) or similar vessel 

operated by TDI-Brooks International. 

The planned survey will occur within 

Texas State waters in the NW GOM from 

approximately January to April 2025. 

The planned survey will occur within 

the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 

the United States and in Texas State 

waters, in water depths less than 30 

meters (m). To complete this high 

resolution 3D (HR3D) seismic survey, 

the McCall will tow a 2-airgun array 

with a total discharge volume of ∼210 

cubic inches (in3) at a depth of 3–4 

meters (m), with a shot interval of 12.5 

m (5–10 seconds (s)) as the primary 

acoustic source. The airgun array 

receiver will consist of four 25-m-long 

solid-state hydrophone streamers, 

spaced 10 m apart. Approximately 4,440 

km of seismic acquisition is planned. 

The airgun array will introduce 

underwater sounds that may result in 

take, by Level B harassment only, of 

marine mammals. 

A detailed description of the planned 

marine geophysical survey is provided 

in the Federal Register notice for the 

proposed IHA (89 FR 91340, November 

19, 2024). Since that time, no changes 

have been made to the planned 

activities. Therefore, a detailed 

description is not provided here. Please 

refer to that Federal Register notice for 

a detailed description of the specific 

activity. 

Comments and Responses 

A notice of NMFS’ proposal to issue 

an IHA to UT was published in the 

Federal Register on November 19, 2024 

(89 FR 91340). That notice described, in 

detail, UT’s activity, the marine 

mammal species that may be affected by 

the activity, and the anticipated effects 

on marine mammals. In that notice, we 

requested public input on the request 

for authorization described therein, our 

analyses, the proposed authorization, 

and any other aspect of the notice of 


KHAMMOND on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
5816 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 

proposed IHA, and requested that 

interested persons submit relevant 

information, suggestions, and 

comments. The proposed notice was 

available for a 30-day public comment 

period. NMFS received no public 

comments. 

Description of Marine Mammals in the 

Area of Specified Activities 

Sections 3 and 4 of the application 

summarize available information 

regarding status and trends, distribution 

and habitat preferences, and behavior 

and life history of the potentially 

affected species. NMFS fully considered 

all of this information, and we refer the 

reader to these descriptions, instead of 

reprinting the information. Additional 

information regarding population trends 

and threats may be found in NMFS’ 

Stock Assessment Reports (SARs; 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

marine-mammal-stock-assessments) 

and more general information about 

these species (e.g., physical and 

behavioral descriptions) may be found 

on NMFS’ website (https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/find-species). 

Table 1 lists all species or stocks for 

which take is expected and may be 

taken as a result of the planned survey 

and summarizes information related to 

the population or stock, including 

regulatory status under the MMPA and 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) and 

potential biological removal (PBR), 

where known. PBR is defined by the 

MMPA as the maximum number of 

animals, not including natural 

mortalities, that may be removed from a 

marine mammal stock while allowing 

that stock to reach or maintain its 

optimum sustainable population (as 

described in NMFS’ SARs). While no 

serious injury or mortality is anticipated 

or authorized here, PBR and annual 

serious injury and mortality (M/SI) from 

anthropogenic sources are included here 

as gross indicators of the status of the 

species or stocks and other threats. 

Marine mammal abundance estimates 

presented in this document represent 

the total number of individuals that 

make up a given stock or the total 

number estimated within a particular 

study or survey area. NMFS’ stock 

abundance estimates for most species 

represent the total estimate of 

individuals within the geographic area, 

if known, that comprises that stock. For 

some species, this geographic area may 

extend beyond U.S. waters. All managed 

stocks in this region are assessed in 

NMFS’ U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 

SARs. All values presented in table 1 

are the most recent available at the time 

of publication and are available online 

at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

marine-mammal-stock-assessments. 

TABLE 1—SPECIES 1 LIKELY AFFECTED BY THE SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES

Common name Scientific name Stock 

ESA/ 

MMPA 

status; 

strategic 

(Y/N) 2

Stock abundance 

(CV, Nmin, most recent 

abundance survey) 3

PBR Annual 

M/SI 4

GOM 

population 

abundance 5

Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises) 

Family Delphinidae 

Atlantic spotted dolphin ... Stenella frontalis ............. GOM ................................ -/-; N 21,506 (0.26; 

17,339; 2018).

166 .......................... 6 36 7 12,240 

Rough-toothed dolphin .... Steno bredanensis .......... GOM ................................ -/-; N unk (n/a; unk; 2018) undetermined .......... 39 4,853 

Bottlenose dolphin ........... Tursiops truncatus .......... GOM Western Coastal .... -/-; N 20,759 (0.13; 

18,585; 2018).

167 .......................... 36 7 151,886 

Northern GOM Continental Shelf.-/-; N 63,280 (0.11; 

57,917; 2018).

556 .......................... 5 65 

1 Information on the classification of marine mammal species can be found on the web page for The Society for Marine Mammalogy’s Committee on Taxonomy 

(https://marinemammalscience.org/science-and-publications/list-marine-mammal-species-subspecies/). 2ESA status: Endangered (E), Threatened (T)/MMPA status: Depleted (D). A dash (-) indicates that the species is not listed under the ESA or designated as depleted under the MMPA. Under the MMPA, a strategic stock is one for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds PBR or which is determined to be 

declining and likely to be listed under the ESA within the foreseeable future. Any species or stock listed under the ESA is automatically designated under the MMPA 

as depleted and as a strategic stock. 3 NMFS marine mammal stock assessment reports online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-stock-assessmentreports-region. CV is coefficient of variation; Nmin is the minimum estimate of stock abundance. In some cases, CV is not applicable. 4These values, found in NMFS’s SARs, represent annual levels of human-caused mortality plus serious injury from all sources combined (e.g., commercial fisheries, ship strike). Annual M/SI often cannot be determined precisely and is in some cases presented as a minimum value or range. A CV associated with estimated 

mortality due to commercial fisheries is presented in some cases. 5 Model-predicted stock abundance for Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins from the most recent GOM density models (Garrison et al., 2023). Stock 

abundance for rough-toothed dolphins was taken from Roberts et al. (2016) density models, as Garrison et al. (2023) did not create a model for this species. 6 M/SI is a minimum count and does not include projected mortality estimates for 2015–2019 due to the DWH oil spill. 

7This estimate includes both coastal and continental shelf bottlenose dolphins from other stocks. 

As indicated above, all three species 

(with four managed stocks) in table 1 

temporally and spatially co-occur with 

the activity to the degree that take is 

reasonably likely to occur. All species 

that could potentially occur in the 

planned survey areas are included in 

table 2 of the IHA application. 

A detailed description of the species 

likely to be affected by the marine 

geophysical survey, including brief 

introductions to the species and 

relevant stocks as well as available 

information regarding population trends 

and threats, and information regarding 

local occurrence, were provided in the 

Federal Register notice for the proposed 

IHA (89 FR 91340, November 19, 2024); 

since that time, we are not aware of any 

changes in the status of these species 

and stocks; therefore, detailed 

descriptions are not provided here. 

Please refer to that Federal Register 

notice for these descriptions. Please also 

refer to NMFS’ website (https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/find-species) for 

generalized species accounts. 

Marine Mammal Hearing 

Hearing is the most important sensory 

modality for marine mammals 

underwater, and exposure to 

anthropogenic sound can have 

deleterious effects. To appropriately 

assess the potential effects of exposure 

to sound, it is necessary to understand 

the frequency ranges marine mammals 

are able to hear. Not all marine mammal 

species have equal hearing capabilities 

(e.g., Richardson et al., 1995; Wartzok 

and Ketten, 1999; Au and Hastings, 

2008). To reflect this, Southall et al., 

(2007, 2019) recommended that marine 

mammals be divided into hearing 

groups based on directly measured 

(behavioral or auditory evoked potential 

techniques) or estimated hearing ranges 

(behavioral response data, anatomical 


KHAMMOND on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 5817 

modeling, etc.). On October 24, 2024, 

NMFS published (89 FR 84872) the final 

Updated Technical Guidance, which 

includes updated thresholds and 

weighting functions to inform auditory 

injury estimates, and has replaced the 

2018 Technical Guidance used 

previously (NMFS 2018). The updated 

hearing groups are presented below 

(table 2). The references, analysis, and 

methodology used in the development 

of the hearing groups are described in 

NMFS’ 2024 Technical Guidance, which 

may be accessed at: https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/marinemammal-acoustic-technical-guidance. 

TABLE 2—MARINE MAMMAL HEARING GROUPS

[NMFS, 2024] 

Hearing group Generalized hearing 

range * 

Underwater: 

Low-frequency (LF) cetaceans (baleen whales) .................................................................................................................. 7 Hz to 36 * kHz. 

High-frequency (HF) cetaceans (dolphins, toothed whales, beaked whales, bottlenose whales) ...................................... 150 Hz to 160 kHz. 

Very High-frequency (VHF) cetaceans (true porpoises, Kogia, river dolphins, Cephalorhynchid, Lagenorhynchus 

cruciger & L. australis).

200 Hz to 165 kHz. 

Phocid pinnipeds (PW) (underwater) (true seals) ............................................................................................................... 40 Hz to 90 kHz. 

Otariid pinnipeds (OW) (underwater) (sea lions and fur seals) ........................................................................................... 60 Hz to 68 kHz. 

* Represents the generalized hearing range for the entire group as a composite (i.e., all species within the group), where individual species’ 

hearing ranges may not be as broad. Generalized hearing range chosen based on ∼65 dB threshold from composite audiogram, previous analysis in NMFS 2018, and/or data from Southall et al., 2007; Southall et al., 2019. Additionally, animals are able to detect very loud sounds above 

and below that ‘‘generalized’’ hearing range. 

Potential Effects of Specified Activities 

on Marine Mammals and Their Habitat 

The effects of underwater noise from 

UT’s survey activities have the potential 

to result in behavioral harassment of 

marine mammals in the vicinity of the 

survey area. The notice of proposed IHA 

(89 FR 91340, November 19, 2024) 

included a discussion of the effects of 

anthropogenic noise on marine 

mammals and the potential effects of 

underwater noise from UT’s survey 

activity on marine mammals and their 

habitat. That information and analysis is 

referenced in this final IHA 

determination and is not repeated here; 

please refer to the notice of proposed 

IHA (89 FR 91340, November 19, 2024). 

Estimated Take of Marine Mammals 

This section provides an estimate of 

the number of incidental takes 

authorized through the IHA, which will 

inform NMFS’ consideration of ‘‘small 

numbers,’’ the negligible impact 

determinations, and impacts on 

subsistence uses. 

Harassment is the only type of take 

expected to result from these activities. 

Except with respect to certain activities 

not pertinent here, section 3(18) of 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). 

Authorized takes will be by Level B 

harassment only, in the form of 

disruption of behavioral patterns for 

individual marine mammals resulting 

from exposure to sound from low energy 

seismic airguns. Based on the nature of 

the activity, i.e., use of a low energy 2- 

airgun array, auditory injury (Level A 

harassment) is neither anticipated nor 

authorized. As described previously, no 

serious injury or mortality is anticipated 

or authorized for this activity. Below we 

describe how the authorized take 

numbers are estimated. 

For acoustic impacts, generally 

speaking, we estimate take by 

considering: (1) acoustic thresholds 

above which NMFS believes the best 

available science indicates marine 

mammals will likely be behaviorally 

harassed or incur some degree of 

permanent hearing impairment; (2) the 

area or volume of water that will be 

ensonified above these levels in a day; 

(3) the density or occurrence of marine 

mammals within these ensonified areas; 

and, (4) the number of days of activities. 

We note that while these factors can 

contribute to a basic calculation to 

provide an initial prediction of potential 

takes, additional information that can 

qualitatively inform take estimates is 

also sometimes available (e.g., previous 

monitoring results or average group 

size). Below, we describe the factors 

considered here in more detail and 

present the take estimates. 

Acoustic Thresholds 

NMFS recommends the use of 

acoustic thresholds that identify the 

received level of underwater sound 

above which exposed marine mammals 

would be reasonably expected to be 

behaviorally harassed (equated to Level 

B harassment) or to incur auditory 

injury of some degree (equated to Level 

A harassment). 

Level B Harassment—Though 

significantly driven by received level, 

the onset of behavioral disturbance from 

anthropogenic noise exposure is also 

informed to varying degrees by other 

factors related to the source or exposure 

context (e.g., frequency, predictability, 

duty cycle, duration of the exposure, 

signal-to-noise ratio, distance to the 

source), the environment (e.g., 

bathymetry, other noises in the area, 

predators in the area), and the receiving 

animals (hearing, motivation, 

experience, demography, life stage, 

depth) and can be difficult to predict 

(e.g., Southall et al., 2007, 2021, Ellison 

et al., 2012). Based on what the 

available science indicates and the 

practical need to use a threshold based 

on a metric that is both predictable and 

measurable for most activities, NMFS 

typically uses a generalized acoustic 

threshold based on received level to 

estimate the onset of behavioral 

harassment. NMFS generally predicts 

that marine mammals are likely to be 

behaviorally harassed in a manner 

considered to be Level B harassment 

when exposed to underwater 

anthropogenic noise above root-meansquared pressure received levels (RMS 

SPL) of 120 decibels (dB) (referenced to 

1 micropascal (re 1 mPa)) for continuous 

(e.g., vibratory pile driving, drilling) and 

above RMS SPL 160 dB re 1 mPa for nonexplosive impulsive (e.g., seismic 

airguns) or intermittent (e.g., scientific 

sonar) sources. Generally speaking, 

Level B harassment take estimates based 

on these behavioral harassment 


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5818 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 

thresholds are expected to include any 

likely takes by temporary threshold shift 

(TTS) as, in most cases, the likelihood 

of TTS occurs at distances from the 

source less than those at which 

behavioral harassment is likely. TTS of 

a sufficient degree can manifest as 

behavioral harassment, as reduced 

hearing sensitivity and the potential 

reduced opportunities to detect 

important signals (conspecific 

communication, predators, prey) may 

result in changes in behavior patterns 

that would not otherwise occur. 

UT’s planned survey includes the use 

of impulsive seismic sources (e.g., GIairguns) and therefore, the 160 dB re 1 

mPa (rms) criteria is applicable for 

analysis of Level B harassment. 

Level A harassment—NMFS’ Updated 

Technical Guidance for Assessing the 

Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on 

Marine Mammal Hearing (NMFS, 2024 

(2024 Updated Technical Guidance)) 

identifies dual criteria to assess auditory 

injury (Level A harassment) to five 

different marine mammal groups (based 

on hearing sensitivity) as a result of 

exposure to noise from two different 

types of sources (impulsive or nonimpulsive). NMFS defines auditory 

injury as ‘‘damage to the inner ear that 

can result in destruction of tissue . . . 

which may or may not result in 

permanent threshold shift (PTS)’’ 

(NMFS, 2024). NMFS defines PTS as a 

permanent, irreversible increase in the 

threshold of audibility at a specified 

frequency or portion of an individual’s 

hearing range above a previously 

established reference level (NMFS, 

2024). PTS does not generally affect 

more than a limited frequency range, 

and an animal that has incurred PTS has 

incurred some level of hearing loss at 

the relevant frequencies; typically, 

animals with PTS are not functionally 

deaf (Au and Hastings, 2008; Finneran, 

2016). UT’s planned survey includes the 

use of impulsive seismic sources (i.e., 

airguns). 

UT previously used modeling based 

on NMFS’ 2018 technical guidance in 

order to calculate their isopleths. Based 

on the outcome of these comparisons/ 

analyses using the Updated 2024 

Technical Guidance, the low-frequency 

and high-frequency (now very highfrequency) cetacean isopleths are 

slightly larger using the updated 

guidance, and the mid-frequency (now 

high-frequency) cetacean isopleth is the 

same as those calculated using the 2018 

Technical Guidance. As NMFS is only 

authorizing takes of mid-frequency (now 

high-frequency) cetaceans, the isopleths 

based on the 2018 Technical Guidance 

will be used as the basis for take 

numbers and mitigation zones for this 

IHA. 

The 2018 and 2024 thresholds are 

provided in the tables below. The 

references, analysis, and methodology 

used in the development of the 

thresholds are described in NMFS’ 2018 

Technical Guidance and in NMFS’ 2024 

Updated Technical Guidance, which 

may be accessed at: https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/marinemammal-acoustic-technical-guidance. 

TABLE 3—NMFS’ 2018 THRESHOLDS IDENTIFYING THE ONSET OF PERMANENT THRESHOLD SHIFT

[PTS] 

Hearing group 

PTS onset acoustic thresholds * 

(received level) 

Impulsive Non-impulsive 

Low-Frequency (LF) Cetaceans .................................................... Cell 1: Lpk,flat: 219 dB; LE,LF,24h: 183 dB ...................................... Cell 2: LE,LF,24h: 199 dB. 

Mid-Frequency (MF) Cetaceans ................................................... Cell 3: Lpk,flat: 230 dB; LE,MF,24h: 185 dB ..................................... Cell 4: LE,MF,24h: 198 dB. 

High-Frequency (HF) Cetaceans .................................................. Cell 5: Lpk,flat: 202 dB; LE,HF,24h: 155 dB ...................................... Cell 6: LE,HF,24h: 173 dB. 

Phocid Pinnipeds (PW) (Underwater) ........................................... Cell 7: Lpk,flat: 218 dB; LE,PW,24h: 185 dB ..................................... Cell 8: LE,PW,24h: 201 dB. 

Otariid Pinnipeds (OW) (Underwater) ........................................... Cell 9: Lpk,flat: 232 dB; LE,OW,24h: 203 dB ..................................... Cell 10: LE,OW,24h: 219 dB. 

* Dual metric acoustic thresholds for impulsive sounds: Use whichever results in the largest isopleth for calculating PTS onset. If a non-impulsive sound has the potential of exceeding the peak sound pressure level thresholds associated with impulsive sounds, these thresholds should also be considered. 

Note: Peak sound pressure (Lpk) has a reference value of 1 μPa, and cumulative sound exposure level (LE) has a reference value of 1μPa2s. In this table, thresholds are abbreviated to reflect American National Standards Institute standards (ANSI, 2013). However, peak sound pressure is defined by ANSI as incorporating frequency weighting, which is not the intent for this Technical Guidance. Hence, the subscript ‘‘flat’’ is being included to indicate peak sound pressure should be flat 

weighted or unweighted within the generalized hearing range. The subscript associated with cumulative sound exposure level thresholds indicates the designated marine mammal auditory weighting function (LF, MF, and HF cetaceans, and PW and OW pinnipeds) and that the recommended accumulation period is 24 hours. The 

cumulative sound exposure level thresholds could be exceeded in a multitude of ways (i.e., varying exposure levels and durations, duty cycle). When possible, it is 

valuable for action proponents to indicate the conditions under which these acoustic thresholds will be exceeded. 

TABLE 4—NMFS’ 2024 THRESHOLDS IDENTIFYING THE ONSET OF AUDITORY INJURY

[AUD INJ] 

Hearing group 

AUD INJ onset acoustic thresholds * 

(received level) 

Impulsive Non-impulsive 

Low-Frequency (LF) Cetaceans .................................................... Cell 1: Lpk,flat: 222 dB; LE,LF,24h: 183 dB ...................................... Cell 2: LE,LF,24h: 197 dB. 

High-Frequency (HF) Cetaceans .................................................. Cell 3: Lpk,flat: 230 dB; LE,HF,24h: 193 dB ...................................... Cell 4: LE,HF,24h: 201 dB. 

Very High-Frequency (VHF) Cetaceans ....................................... Cell 5: Lpk,flat: 202 dB; LE,VHF,24h: 159 dB .................................... Cell 6: LE,VHF,24h: 181 dB. 

Phocid Pinnipeds (PW) (Underwater) ........................................... Cell 7: Lpk,flat: 223 dB; LE,PW,24h: 185 dB ..................................... Cell 8: LE,PW,24h: 195 dB. 

Otariid Pinnipeds (OW) (Underwater) ........................................... Cell 9: Lpk,flat: 230 dB; LE,OW,24h: 185 dB ..................................... Cell 10: LE,OW,24h: 199 dB. 

* Dual metric criteria for impulsive sounds: Use whichever criteria results in the larger isopleth for calculating AUD INJ onset. If a non-impulsive sound has the potential of exceeding the peak sound pressure level criteria associated with impulsive sounds, the PK SPL criteria are recommended for consideration for non-impulsive sources. 

Note: Peak sound pressure level (Lp,0-pk) has a reference value of 1 μPa (underwater) and 20 μPa (in air), and weighted cumulative sound exposure level (LE,p) 

has a reference value of 1 μPa2s (underwater) and 20 μPa2s (in air). In this table, criteria are abbreviated to be more reflective of International Organization for 

Standardization standards (ISO 2017; ISO 2020). The subscript ‘‘flat’’ is being included to indicate peak sound pressure are flat weighted or unweighted within the 

generalized hearing range of marine mammals underwater (i.e., 7 Hz to 165 kHz) or in air (i.e., 42 Hz to 52 kHz). The subscript associated with cumulative sound exposure level criteria indicates the designated marine mammal auditory weighting function (LF, HF, and VHF cetaceans, and PW, OW, PA, and OA pinnipeds) and that 

the recommended accumulation period is 24 hours. The weighted cumulative sound exposure level criteria could be exceeded in a multitude of ways (i.e., varying exposure levels and durations, duty cycle). When possible, it is valuable for action proponents to indicate the conditions under which these criteria will be exceeded. 


KHAMMOND on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 5819 

Ensonified Area 

Here, we describe operational and 

environmental parameters of the activity 

that are used in estimating the area 

ensonified above the acoustic 

thresholds, including source levels and 

transmission loss coefficient. 

When the Technical Guidance was 

initially published (NMFS, 2016), in 

recognition of the fact that ensonified 

area/volume could be more technically 

challenging to predict because of the 

duration component in the new 

thresholds, we developed a user 

spreadsheet that includes tools to help 

predict a simple isopleth that can be 

used in conjunction with marine 

mammal density or occurrence to help 

predict takes. We note that because of 

some of the assumptions included in the 

methods used for these tools, we 

anticipate that isopleths produced are 

typically going to be overestimates of 

some degree, which may result in some 

degree of overestimation of Level A 

harassment take. However, these tools 

offer the best way to predict appropriate 

isopleths when more sophisticated 3D 

modeling methods are not available, and 

NMFS continues to develop ways to 

quantitatively refine these tools and will 

qualitatively address the output where 

appropriate. 

The planned survey will entail the 

use up to two 105 in3 airguns with a 

maximum total discharge of 210 in3 at 

a tow depth of 3–4 m. UT used 

modeling by Lamont-Doherty Earth 

Observatory (L–DEO), which determines 

the 160 dBrms radius for the airgun 

source down to a maximum depth of 

2,000 m. Received sound levels have 

been predicted by L–DEO’s model 

(Diebold et al., 2010) as a function of 

distance from the 2-airgun array. This 

modeling approach uses ray tracing for 

the direct wave traveling from the array 

to the receiver and its associated source 

ghost (reflection at the air-water 

interface in the vicinity of the array), in 

a constant-velocity half-space (infinite 

homogeneous ocean layer, unbounded 

by a seafloor). 

The planned low-energy survey will 

acquire data with up to two 105-in3 GI 

guns, towed in-line, at a depth of 3–4 m. 

The shallow-water radii are obtained by 

scaling the empirically derived 

measurements from the GOM 

calibration survey to account for the 

differences in volume and tow depth 

between the calibration survey (6,600 

in3 at 6 m tow depth) and the planned 

survey (210 in3 at 4 m tow depth). A 

simple scaling factor is calculated from 

the ratios of the isopleths calculated by 

the deep-water L–DEO model, which are 

essentially a measure of the energy 

radiated by the source array. 

L–DEO’s methodology is described in 

greater detail in UT’s IHA application. 

The estimated distances to the Level B 

harassment isopleth for the planned 

airgun configuration are shown in table 

5. 

TABLE 5—PREDICTED RADIAL DISTANCES FROM THE R/V MCCALL SEISMIC SOURCE TO ISOPLETH CORRESPONDING TO

LEVEL B HARASSMENT THRESHOLD

Airgun configuration Max tow depth 

(m) 

Water depth 

(m) 

Predicted 

distances 

(in m) to the 

Level B 

harassment 

threshold 

2 105-in3 airguns ......................................................................................................................... 4 <100 1,750 

TABLE 6—MODELED RADIAL DISTANCE

TO ISOPLETHS CORRESPONDING TO

LEVEL A HARASSMENT THRESHOLDS

[NMFS 2018] 

Mid 

frequency 

cetaceans 

PTS SELcum ......................... 0 

PTS Peak ............................. * 1.5 

* The largest distance of the dual criteria 

(cumulative SEL (SELcum) or Peak) was used 

to estimate threshold distances and potential 

takes by Level A harassment. 

Table 6 presents the modeled Level A 

harassment isopleths for the dolphin 

species considered here based on L– 

DEO modeling incorporated in the 

companion user spreadsheet, for the 

low-energy surveys with the shortest 

shot interval (i.e., greatest potential to 

cause auditory injury or PTS based on 

accumulated sound energy) (NMFS 

2018). Although NMFS’ 2024 Updated 

Technical Guidance was finalized on 

October 24, 2024 (89 FR 84872), a 

similar survey using four 105-in3 GI 

guns showed no difference in the 

auditory injury (Level A harassment) 

isopleths for delphinid species in the 

same hearing group (89 FR 81429, 

October 8, 2024; 89 FR 101555, 

December 16, 2024), so the values based 

on the 2018 guidance were used here. 

Predicted distances to Level A 

harassment isopleths, which vary based 

on marine mammal hearing groups, 

were calculated based on modeling 

performed by L–DEO using the Nucleus 

software program and the NMFS user 

spreadsheet, described below. The 

acoustic thresholds for impulsive 

sounds contained in the NMFS 

Technical Guidance were presented as 

dual metric acoustic thresholds using 

both SELcum and peak sound pressure 

metrics (NMFS, 2024). As dual metrics, 

NMFS considers onset of PTS (Level A 

harassment) to have occurred when 

either one of the two metrics is 

exceeded (i.e., metric resulting in the 

largest isopleth). The SELcum metric 

considers both level and duration of 

exposure, as well as auditory weighting 

functions by marine mammal hearing 

group. 

The SELcum for the 2-airgun array is 

derived from calculating the modified 

farfield signature. The farfield signature 

is often used as a theoretical 

representation of the source level. To 

compute the farfield signature, the 

source level is estimated at a large 

distance (right) below the array (e.g., 9 

km), and this level is back projected 

mathematically to a notional distance of 

1 m from the array’s geometrical center. 

However, it has been recognized that the 

source level from the theoretical farfield 

signature is never physically achieved at 

the source when the source is an array 

of multiple airguns separated in space 

(Tolstoy et al., 2009). Near the source (at 

short ranges, distances <1 km), the 

pulses of sound pressure from each 

individual airgun in the source array do 

not stack constructively as they do for 

the theoretical farfield signature. The 

pulses from the different airguns spread 

out in time such that the source levels 

observed or modeled are the result of 

the summation of pulses from a few 

airguns, not the full array (Tolstoy et al., 

2009). At larger distances, away from 

the source array center, sound pressure 

of all the airguns in the array stack 

coherently, but not within one time 

sample, resulting in smaller source 

levels (a few dB) than the source level 

derived from the farfield signature. 

Because the farfield signature does not 

take into account the large array effect 


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near the source and is calculated as a 

point source, the farfield signature is not 

an appropriate measure of the sound 

source level for large arrays. See UT’s 

application for further detail on acoustic 

modeling. 

Auditory injury is unlikely to occur 

for the dolphin species considered here, 

given the very small modeled zones of 

injury for those species (all estimated 

zones are less than 10 m), in the context 

of distributed source dynamics. 

In consideration of the received sound 

levels in the near-field as described 

above, we expect the potential for Level 

A harassment to be de minimis, even 

before the likely moderating effects of 

aversion and/or other compensatory 

behaviors (e.g., Nachtigall et al., 2018) 

are considered. We do not anticipate 

that Level A harassment is a likely 

outcome for any of the dolphin species 

considered here and do not authorize 

any take by Level A harassment for 

these species. 

The Level A and Level B harassment 

estimates are based on a consideration 

of the number of marine mammals that 

could be within the area around the 

operating airgun array where received 

levels of sound ≥160 dB re 1 mPa rms 

are predicted to occur. The estimated 

numbers are based on the densities 

(numbers per unit area) of marine 

mammals expected to occur in the area 

in the absence of seismic surveys. To 

the extent that marine mammals tend to 

move away from seismic sources before 

the sound level reaches the criterion 

level and tend not to approach an 

operating airgun array, these estimates 

likely overestimate the numbers actually 

exposed to the specified level of sound. 

Marine Mammal Occurrence 

In this section we provide information 

about the occurrence of marine 

mammals, including density or other 

relevant information which will inform 

the take calculations. 

For the planned survey area in the 

NW GOM, UT determined that the best 

source of density data for marine 

mammal species that might be 

encountered in the project area was 

habitat-based density modeling 

conducted by Garrison et al., (2023). 

The Garrison et al., (2023) data provides 

abundance estimates for marine 

mammal species in the GOM within 40 

km2 hexagons (∼3.9 km sides and ∼7 km 

across from each side) on a monthly 

basis. To calculate expected densities 

specific to the survey area, UT 

calculated the mean of the predicted 

densities from the cells within the 

combined survey area (primary and 

alternate survey area) for each species 

and month. The highest mean monthly 

density was chosen for each species 

from the months of January to April (i.e., 

the months within which the survey is 

expected to occur). 

Rough-toothed dolphins were not 

modeled by Garrison et al., (2023) due 

to a lack of sightings, so habitat-based 

marine mammal density estimates from 

Roberts et al., (2016) were used. The 

Roberts et al., (2016) models consisted 

of 10 km x 10 km grid cells containing 

average annual densities for U.S. waters 

in the GOM. The combined survey area 

was used to select grid cells from the 

Roberts et al., (2016) dataset, and the 

mean of the selected grid cells for 

rough-toothed dolphins was calculated 

to estimate the annual average density 

of the species in the survey area. 

Estimated densities used and Level B 

harassment ensonified areas to inform 

take estimates are presented in table 7. 

TABLE 7—MARINE MAMMAL DENSITIES AND TOTAL ENSONIFIED AREA OF ACTIVITIES IN THE PLANNED SURVEY AREA

Species 

Estimated 

density 

(#/km2) 

Level B 

ensonified 

area 

(km2) 

Atlantic spotted dolphin ........................................................................................................................................... b 0.0043 1,522 

Bottlenose dolphin a ................................................................................................................................................. b 0.8596 1,522 

Rough-toothed dolphin ............................................................................................................................................ c 0.0037 1,522 

aBottlenose dolphin density estimate does not differentiate between coastal and shelf stocks. 

b Density calculated from Garrison et al., (2023). c Density calculated from Roberts et al., (2016). 

Take Estimation 

Here we describe how the information 

provided above is synthesized to 

produce a quantitative estimate of the 

take that is reasonably likely to occur 

and authorized. In order to estimate the 

number of marine mammals predicted 

to be exposed to sound levels that 

would result in Level B harassment, 

radial distances from the airgun array to 

the predicted isopleth corresponding to 

the Level B harassment threshold was 

calculated, as described above. Those 

radial distances were then used to 

calculate the area(s) around the airgun 

array predicted to be ensonified to 

sound levels that exceed the harassment 

thresholds. The area expected to be 

ensonified on 1 day was determined by 

multiplying the number of line km 

possible in 1 day by two times the 160- 

dB radius plus adding endcaps to the 

start and beginning of the line. The 

daily ensonified area was then 

multiplied by the number of survey 

days (20 days). The highest mean 

monthly density for each species was 

then multiplied by the total ensonified 

area to calculate the estimated takes of 

each species. 

No takes by Level A harassment are 

expected or authorized. Estimated 

exposures and authorized take numbers 

are shown in table 8. 

TABLE 8—AUTHORIZED TAKE

Common name Stock Estimated 

Level B take 

Authorized 

Level B take 

Stock 

abundance 1

Percent of 

stock 

Atlantic spotted dolphin ..................... GOM ................................................. 7 2 26 21,506 0.12 

Bottlenose dolphin 3 .......................... GOM Western Coastal ..................... 1,309 1,309 20,759 6.31 

Northern GOM Continental Shelf ..... 63,280 2.07 

Rough-toothed dolphin ...................... GOM ................................................. 6 2 14 4,853 0.29 

1Stock abundance for Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins was taken from Garrison et al., (2023). Stock abundance for roughtoothed dolphins was taken from Roberts et al., (2016), as Garrison et al., (2023) did not create a model for this species. 


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2Authorized take increased to mean group size from Maze-Foley and Mullin (2006). 

3Estimated take for bottlenose dolphins is not apportioned to stock, as density information does not differentiate between coastal and shelf 

dolphins. However, based on the planned survey depths, we expect that most of the takes would be from the coastal stock, but some takes 

could be from the shelf stock. Percent of stock was calculated as if all takes authorized accrued to the single stock with the lowest population 

abundance. 

Mitigation 

In order to issue an IHA under section 

101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA, NMFS must 

set forth the permissible methods of 

taking pursuant to the activity, and 

other means of effecting the least 

practicable impact on the species or 

stock and its habitat, paying particular 

attention to rookeries, mating grounds, 

and areas of similar significance, and on 

the availability of the species or stock 

for taking for certain subsistence uses 

(latter not applicable for this action). 

NMFS regulations require applicants for 

incidental take authorizations to include 

information about the availability and 

feasibility (economic and technological) 

of equipment, methods, and manner of 

conducting the activity or other means 

of effecting the least practicable adverse 

impact upon the affected species or 

stocks, and their habitat (50 CFR 

216.104(a)(11)). 

In evaluating how mitigation may or 

may not be appropriate to ensure the 

least practicable adverse impact on 

species or stocks and their habitat, as 

well as subsistence uses where 

applicable, NMFS considers two 

primary factors: 

(1) The manner in which, and the 

degree to which, the successful 

implementation of the measure(s) is 

expected to reduce impacts to marine 

mammals, marine mammal species or 

stocks, and their habitat. This considers 

the nature of the potential adverse 

impact being mitigated (likelihood, 

scope, range). It further considers the 

likelihood that the measure will be 

effective if implemented (probability of 

accomplishing the mitigating result if 

implemented as planned), the 

likelihood of effective implementation 

(probability implemented as planned); 

and, 

(2) The practicability of the measures 

for applicant implementation, which 

may consider such things as cost, and 

impact on operations. 

Vessel-Visual Based Mitigation 

Monitoring 

Visual monitoring requires the use of 

trained observers (herein referred to as 

visual protected species observers 

(PSOs)) to scan the ocean surface 

visually for the presence of marine 

mammals. PSOs shall establish and 

monitor a pre-start clearance zone and, 

to the extent practicable, a Level B 

harassment zone (table 5). These zones 

shall be based upon the radial distance 

from the edges of the acoustic source 

(rather than being based on the center of 

the array or around the vessel itself). 

During pre-start clearance (i.e., before 

ramp-up begins), the pre-start clearance 

zone is the area in which observations 

of marine mammals within the zone 

will prevent airgun operations from 

beginning (i.e., ramp-up). The pre-start 

clearance zone encompasses the area at 

and below the sea surface out to a radius 

of 200 m from the edges of the airgun 

array. 

During survey operations (e.g., any 

day on which use of the acoustic source 

is planned to occur, and whenever the 

acoustic source is in the water, whether 

activated or not), a minimum of two 

PSOs must be on duty and conducting 

visual observations at all times during 

daylight hours (i.e., from 30 minutes 

prior to sunrise through 30 minutes 

following sunset). Visual monitoring 

must begin no less than 30 minutes 

prior to ramp-up and must continue 

until 1 hour after use of the acoustic 

source ceases or until 30 minutes past 

sunset. Visual PSOs must coordinate to 

ensure 360 degree visual coverage 

around the vessel from the most 

appropriate observation posts, and must 

conduct visual observations using 

binoculars and the naked eye while free 

from distractions and in a consistent, 

systematic, and diligent manner. 

PSOs shall establish and monitor a 

pre-start clearance zone and to the 

extent practicable, a Level B harassment 

zone. These zones shall be based upon 

the radial distance from the edges of the 

acoustic source (rather than being based 

on the center of the array or around the 

vessel itself). Any observations of 

marine mammals by crew members 

shall be relayed to the PSO team. During 

good conditions (e.g., daylight hours, 

Beaufort sea state (BSS) 3 or less), visual 

PSOs shall conduct observations when 

the acoustic source is not operating for 

comparison of sightings rates and 

behavior with and without use of the 

acoustic source and between acquisition 

periods, to the maximum extent 

practicable. 

Visual PSOs may be on watch for a 

maximum of 4 consecutive hours 

followed by a break of at least 1 hour 

between watches and may conduct a 

maximum of 12 hours of observation per 

24-hour period. 

Pre-Start Clearance and Ramp-Up 

Ramp-up (sometimes referred to as 

‘‘soft start’’) means the gradual and 

systematic increase of emitted sound 

levels from an airgun array. The intent 

of pre-start clearance observation (30 

minutes) is to ensure no marine 

mammals are observed within the prestart clearance zone prior to the 

beginning of ramp-up. The intent of the 

ramp-up is to warn marine mammals of 

pending seismic survey operations and 

to allow sufficient time for those 

animals to leave the immediate vicinity 

prior to the sound source reaching full 

intensity. A ramp-up procedure, 

involving a stepwise increase in the 

number of airguns firing and total array 

volume until all operational airguns are 

activated and the full volume is 

achieved, is required at all times as part 

of the activation of the airgun array. All 

operators must adhere to the following 

pre-start clearance and ramp-up 

requirements: 

• The operator must notify a 

designated PSO of the planned start of 

ramp-up as agreed upon with the lead 

PSO; the notification time should not be 

less than 60 minutes prior to the 

planned ramp-up in order to allow PSOs 

time to monitor the pre-start clearance 

zone for 30 minutes prior to the 

initiation of ramp-up (pre-start 

clearance). 

• Ramp-ups shall be scheduled so as 

to minimize the time spent with the 

source activated prior to reaching the 

designated run-in. 

• One of the PSOs conducting prestart clearance observations must be 

notified again immediately prior to 

initiating ramp-up procedures and the 

operator must receive confirmation from 

the PSO to proceed. 

• Ramp-up may not be initiated if any 

marine mammal is within the pre-start 

clearance zone. If a marine mammal is 

observed within the pre-start clearance 

zone during the 30 minutes preclearance period, ramp-up may not 

begin until the animal(s) has been 

observed exiting the zone or until an 

additional time period has elapsed with 

no further sightings (15 minutes for 

small delphinids and 30 minutes for all 

other species). 

• Ramp-up must begin by activating 

one GI airgun for no less than 5 minutes 

and then activating the second airgun. 

The operator must provide information 

to the PSO documenting that 

appropriate procedures were followed. 


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• PSOs must monitor the pre-start 

clearance zone during ramp-up, and 

ramp-up must cease and the source 

must be shut down upon detection of a 

marine mammal within the pre-start 

clearance zone. Once ramp-up has 

begun, observations of marine mammals 

for which take authorization is granted 

within the pre-start clearance zone does 

not require shutdown. 

• If the acoustic source is shut down 

for brief periods (i.e., less than 30 

minutes) for reasons other than 

implementation of prescribed mitigation 

(e.g., mechanical difficulty), it may be 

activated again without ramp-up if PSOs 

have maintained constant observation 

and no detections of marine mammals 

have occurred within the pre-start 

clearance zone. For any longer 

shutdown, pre-start clearance 

observation and ramp-up are required. 

Ramp-up may occur at times of poor 

visibility (e.g., BSS 4 or greater), 

including nighttime, if appropriate 

visual monitoring has occurred with no 

detections of marine mammals in the 30 

minutes prior to beginning ramp-up. 

Acoustic source activation may only 

occur at night where operational 

planning cannot reasonably avoid such 

circumstances. 

• Testing of the acoustic source 

involving all elements requires rampup. Testing limited to individual source 

elements or strings does not require 

ramp-up but does require a 30-minute 

pre-start clearance period. 

Shutdown Procedures 

The shutdown of an airgun array 

requires the immediate de-activation of 

all individual airgun elements of the 

array. Any PSO on duty will have the 

authority to call for shutdown of the 

airgun array. The operator must also 

establish and maintain clear lines of 

communication directly between PSOs 

on duty and crew controlling the airgun 

array to ensure that shutdown 

commands are conveyed swiftly while 

allowing PSOs to maintain watch. The 

shutdown requirement will be waived 

for small dolphins. As defined here, the 

small dolphin group is intended to 

encompass those members of the Family 

Delphinidae most likely to voluntarily 

approach the source vessel for purposes 

of interacting with the vessel and/or 

airgun array (e.g., bow riding). This 

exception to the shutdown requirement 

applies solely to specific genera of small 

dolphins- Steno, Stenella, and Tursiops. 

As Tursiops, Stenella, and Steno are the 

only species expected to potentially be 

encountered, there is no shutdown 

requirement included in the issued IHA 

for species for which take is authorized. 

UT must implement shutdown if a 

marine mammal species for which take 

was not authorized or a species for 

which authorization was granted but the 

authorized takes have been met 

approaches the Level B harassment 

zone. 

We include this small dolphin 

exception because shutdown 

requirements for these species under all 

circumstances represent practicability 

concerns without likely commensurate 

benefits for the animals in question. 

Small dolphins are generally the most 

commonly observed marine mammals 

in the specific geographic region and 

would typically be the only marine 

mammals likely to intentionally 

approach the vessel. As described 

above, auditory injury is extremely 

unlikely to occur for the dolphin species 

considered here, as they are relatively 

insensitive to sound produced at the 

predominant frequencies in an airgun 

pulse while also having a relatively high 

threshold for the onset of auditory 

injury (i.e., permanent threshold shift). 

A large body of anecdotal evidence 

indicates that small dolphins commonly 

approach vessels and/or towed arrays 

during active sound production for 

purposes of bow riding with no 

apparent effect observed (e.g., Barkaszi 

et al., 2012; Barkaszi and Kelly, 2018). 

The potential for increased shutdowns 

resulting from such a measure would 

require the McCall to revisit the missed 

track line to reacquire data, resulting in 

an overall increase in the total sound 

energy input to the marine environment 

and an increase in the total duration 

over which the survey is active in a 

given area. 

Vessel Strike Avoidance Mitigation 

Measures 

Vessel personnel should use an 

appropriate reference guide that 

includes identifying information on all 

marine mammals that may be 

encountered. Vessel operators must 

comply with the below measures except 

under extraordinary circumstances 

when the safety of the vessel or crew is 

in doubt or the safety of life at sea is in 

question. These requirements do not 

apply in any case where compliance 

would create an imminent and serious 

threat to a person or vessel or to the 

extent that a vessel is restricted in its 

ability to maneuver and, because of the 

restriction, cannot comply. 

Vessel operators and crews must 

maintain a vigilant watch for all marine 

mammals and slow down, stop their 

vessel, or alter course, as appropriate 

and regardless of vessel size, to avoid 

striking any marine mammal. A single 

marine mammal at the surface may 

indicate the presence of submerged 

animals in the vicinity of the vessel; 

therefore, precautionary measures 

should always be exercised. A visual 

observer aboard the vessel must monitor 

a vessel strike avoidance zone around 

the vessel (separation distances stated 

below). Visual observers monitoring the 

vessel strike avoidance zone may be 

third-party observers (i.e., PSOs) or crew 

members, but crew members 

responsible for these duties must be 

provided sufficient training to (1) 

distinguish marine mammals from other 

phenomena and (2) broadly to identify 

a marine mammal as a whale (defined 

in this context as sperm whales or 

baleen whales), or other marine 

mammals. 

Vessel speeds must be reduced to 10 

knots (kn) (18.5 kph) or less when 

mother/calf pairs, pods, or large 

assemblages of cetaceans are observed 

near a vessel. The vessel must maintain 

a minimum separation distance of 500 

m from baleen whales. If a baleen whale 

is sighted within the relevant separation 

distance, the vessel must steer a course 

away at 10 kn (18.5 kph) or less until 

the 500-m separation distance is 

established. If a whale is observed but 

cannot be confirmed as a species other 

than a baleen whale, the vessel operator 

must assume that it is a baleen whale 

and take appropriate action. All vessels 

must maintain a minimum separation 

distance of 100 m from sperm whales. 

All vessels must, to the maximum 

extent practicable, attempt to maintain a 

minimum separation distance of 50 m 

from all other marine mammals, with an 

understanding that at times this may not 

be possible (e.g., for animals that 

approach the vessel). 

When marine mammals are sighted 

while a vessel is underway, the vessel 

shall take action as necessary to avoid 

violating the relevant separation 

distance (e.g., attempt to remain parallel 

to the animal’s course, avoid excessive 

speed or abrupt changes in direction 

until the animal has left the area). If 

marine mammals are sighted within the 

relevant separation distance, the vessel 

must reduce speed and shift the engine 

to neutral, not engaging the engines 

until animals are clear of the area. This 

does not apply to any vessel towing gear 

or any vessel that is navigationally 

constrained. 

Based on our evaluation of the 

applicant’s planned measures, as well as 

other measures considered by NMFS, 

NMFS has determined that the 

mitigation measures provide the means 

of effecting the least practicable impact 

on the affected species or stocks and 

their habitat, paying particular attention 

to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas 

of similar significance. 


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Monitoring and Reporting 

In order to issue an IHA for an 

activity, section 101(a)(5)(D) of the 

MMPA states that NMFS must set forth 

requirements pertaining to the 

monitoring and reporting of such taking. 

The MMPA implementing regulations at 

50 CFR 216.104(a)(13) indicate that 

requests for authorizations must include 

the suggested means of accomplishing 

the necessary monitoring and reporting 

that will result in increased knowledge 

of the species and of the level of taking 

or impacts on populations of marine 

mammals that are expected to be 

present while conducting the activities. 

Effective reporting is critical both to 

compliance as well as ensuring that the 

most value is obtained from the required 

monitoring. 

Monitoring and reporting 

requirements prescribed by NMFS 

should contribute to improved 

understanding of one or more of the 

following: 

• Occurrence of marine mammal 

species or stocks in the area in which 

take is anticipated (e.g., presence, 

abundance, distribution, density); 

• Nature, scope, or context of likely 

marine mammal exposure to potential 

stressors/impacts (individual or 

cumulative, acute or chronic), through 

better understanding of: (1) action or 

environment (e.g., source 

characterization, propagation, ambient 

noise); (2) affected species (e.g., life 

history, dive patterns); (3) co-occurrence 

of marine mammal species with the 

activity; or (4) biological or behavioral 

context of exposure (e.g., age, calving or 

feeding areas); 

• Individual marine mammal 

responses (behavioral or physiological) 

to acoustic stressors (acute, chronic, or 

cumulative), other stressors, or 

cumulative impacts from multiple 

stressors; 

• How anticipated responses to 

stressors impact either: (1) long-term 

fitness and survival of individual 

marine mammals; or (2) populations, 

species, or stocks; 

• Effects on marine mammal habitat 

(e.g., marine mammal prey species, 

acoustic habitat, or other important 

physical components of marine 

mammal habitat); and, 

• Mitigation and monitoring 

effectiveness. 

Vessel-Based Visual Monitoring 

As described above, PSO observations 

will take place during daytime airgun 

operations. During seismic survey 

operations, two visual PSOs will be on 

duty at all times during daytime hours. 

The operator will work with the 

selected third-party observer provider to 

ensure PSOs have all equipment 

(including backup equipment) needed 

to adequately perform necessary tasks, 

including accurate determination of 

distance and bearing to observed marine 

mammals. UT must use dedicated, 

trained, and NMFS-approved PSOs. At 

least one visual PSO aboard the vessel 

must have a minimum of 90 days at-sea 

experience working in those roles, 

respectively, with no more than 18 

months elapsed since the conclusion of 

the at-sea experience. One visual PSO 

with such experience shall be 

designated as the lead for the entire 

protected species observation team. The 

lead PSO shall serve as primary point of 

contact for the vessel operator and 

ensure all PSO requirements per the 

IHA are met. To the maximum extent 

practicable, the experienced PSOs 

should be scheduled to be on duty with 

those PSOs with appropriate training 

but who have not yet gained relevant 

experience. The PSOs must have no 

tasks other than to conduct 

observational effort, record 

observational data, and communicate 

with and instruct relevant vessel crew 

with regard to the presence of marine 

mammals and mitigation requirements. 

PSO resumes shall be provided to 

NMFS for approval. Monitoring shall be 

conducted in accordance with the 

following requirements: 

• PSOs shall be independent, 

dedicated, trained visual PSOs and must 

be employed by a third-party observer 

provider. 

• PSOs shall have no tasks other than 

to conduct observational effort, collect 

data, and communicate with and 

instruct relevant vessel crew with regard 

to the presence of protected species and 

mitigation requirements (including brief 

alerts regarding maritime hazards). 

• PSOs shall have successfully 

completed an approved PSO training 

course appropriate for their designated 

task. 

• NMFS must review and approve 

PSO resumes accompanied by a relevant 

training course information packet that 

includes the name and qualifications 

(i.e., experience, training completed, or 

educational background) of the 

instructor(s), the course outline or 

syllabus, and course reference material 

as well as a document stating successful 

completion of the course. 

• PSOs must successfully complete 

relevant training, including completion 

of all required coursework and passing 

(80 percent or greater) a written and/or 

oral examination developed for the 

training program. 

• PSOs must have successfully 

attained a bachelor’s degree from an 

accredited college or university with a 

major in one of the natural sciences, a 

minimum of 30 semester hours or 

equivalent in the biological sciences, 

and at least one undergraduate course in 

math or statistics. 

• The educational requirements may 

be waived if the PSO has acquired the 

relevant skills through alternate 

experience. Requests for such a waiver 

shall be submitted to NMFS and must 

include written justification. Requests 

shall be granted or denied (with 

justification) by NMFS within 1 week of 

receipt of submitted information. 

Alternate experience that may be 

considered includes, but is not limited 

to (1) secondary education and/or 

experience comparable to PSO duties; 

(2) previous work experience 

conducting academic, commercial, or 

government-sponsored protected 

species surveys; or (3) previous work 

experience as a PSO; the PSO should 

demonstrate good standing and 

consistently good performance of PSO 

duties. 

• For data collection purposes, PSOs 

shall use standardized electronic data 

collection forms. PSOs shall record 

detailed information about any 

implementation of mitigation 

requirements, including the distance of 

animals to the airgun array and 

description of specific actions that 

ensued, the behavior of the animal(s), 

any observed changes in behavior before 

and after implementation of mitigation, 

and if shutdown was implemented, the 

length of time before any subsequent 

ramp-up of the airgun array. If required 

mitigation was not implemented, PSOs 

should record a description of the 

circumstances. At a minimum, the 

following information must be recorded: 

Æ Vessel name, vessel size and type, 

maximum speed capability of vessel; 

Æ Dates (MM/DD/YYYY) of 

departures and returns to port with port 

name; 

Æ PSO names and affiliations, PSO ID 

(initials or other identifier); 

Æ Date (MM/DD/YYYY) and 

participants of PSO briefings; 

Æ Visual monitoring equipment used 

(description); 

Æ PSO location on vessel and height 

(meters) of observation location above 

water surface; 

Æ Watch status (description); 

Æ Dates (MM/DD/YYYY) and times 

(Greenwich Mean Time/UTC) of survey 

on/off effort and times (GMC/UTC) 

corresponding with PSO on/off effort; 

Æ Vessel location (decimal degrees) 

when survey effort began and ended and 

vessel location at beginning and end of 

visual PSO duty shifts; 


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Æ Vessel location (decimal degrees) at 

30-second intervals if obtainable from 

data collection software, otherwise at 

practical regular interval; 

Æ Vessel heading (compass heading) 

and speed (knots) at beginning and end 

of visual PSO duty shifts and upon any 

change; 

Æ Water depth (meters) (if obtainable 

from data collection software); 

Æ Environmental conditions while on 

visual survey (at beginning and end of 

PSO shift and whenever conditions 

changed significantly), including BSS 

and any other relevant weather 

conditions including cloud cover, fog, 

sun glare, and overall visibility to the 

horizon; 

Æ Factors that may have contributed 

to impaired observations during each 

PSO shift change or as needed as 

environmental conditions changed 

(description) (e.g., vessel traffic, 

equipment malfunctions); and 

Æ Vessel/Survey activity information 

(and changes thereof) (description), 

such as airgun power output while in 

operation, number and volume of 

airguns operating in the array, tow 

depth of the array, and any other notes 

of significance (i.e., pre-start clearance, 

ramp-up, shutdown, testing, shooting, 

ramp-up completion, end of operations, 

streamers, etc.). 

• Upon visual observation of any 

marine mammals, the following 

information must be recorded: 

Æ Sighting ID (numeric); 

Æ Watch status (sighting made by 

PSO on/off effort, opportunistic, crew, 

alternate vessel/platform); 

Æ Location of PSO/observer 

(description); 

Æ Vessel activity at the time of the 

sighting (e.g., deploying, recovering, 

testing, shooting, data acquisition, 

other); 

Æ PSO who sighted the animal/ID; 

Æ Time/date of sighting (GMT/UTC, 

MM/DD/YYYY); 

Æ Initial detection method 

(description); 

Æ Sighting cue (description); 

Æ Vessel location at time of sighting 

(decimal degrees); 

Æ Water depth (meters); 

Æ Direction of vessel’s travel 

(compass direction); 

Æ Speed (knots) of the vessel from 

which the observation was made; 

Æ Direction of animal’s travel relative 

to the vessel (description, compass 

heading); 

Æ Bearing to sighting (degrees); 

Æ Identification of the animal (e.g., 

genus/species, lowest possible 

taxonomic level, or unidentified) and 

the composition of the group if there is 

a mix of species; 

Æ Species reliability (an indicator of 

confidence in identification) (1 = 

unsure/possible, 2 = probable, 3 = 

definite/sure, 9 = unknown/not 

recorded); 

Æ Estimated distance to the animal 

(meters) and method of estimating 

distance; 

Æ Estimated number of animals (high/ 

low/best) (numeric); 

Æ Estimated number of animals by 

cohort (adults, yearlings, juveniles, 

calves, group composition, etc.); 

Æ Description (as many 

distinguishing features as possible of 

each individual seen, including length, 

shape, color, pattern, scars or markings, 

shape and size of dorsal fin, shape of 

head, and blow characteristics); 

Æ Detailed behavior observations 

(e.g., number of blows/breaths, number 

of surfaces, breaching, spyhopping, 

diving, feeding, traveling; as explicit 

and detailed as possible; note any 

observed changes in behavior); 

Æ Animal’s closest point of approach 

(meters) and/or closest distance from 

any element of the airgun array; 

Æ Description of any actions 

implemented in response to the sighting 

(e.g., delays, shutdown, ramp-up) and 

time and location of the action; 

Æ Photos (Yes/No); 

Æ Photo Frame Numbers (List of 

numbers); and 

Æ Conditions at time of sighting 

(Visibility; BSS). 

Reporting 

UT shall submit a draft 

comprehensive report on all activities 

and monitoring results within 90 days 

of the completion of the survey or 

expiration of the IHA, whichever comes 

sooner. The report must describe all 

activities conducted and sightings of 

marine mammals, must provide full 

documentation of methods, results, and 

interpretation pertaining to all 

monitoring, and must summarize the 

dates and locations of survey operations 

and all marine mammal sightings (dates, 

times, locations, activities, associated 

survey activities). The draft report shall 

also include geo-referenced timestamped vessel tracklines for all time 

periods during which airgun arrays 

were operating. Tracklines should 

include points recording any change in 

airgun array status (e.g., when the 

sources began operating, when they 

were turned off, or when they changed 

operational status such as from full 

array to single gun or vice versa). 

Geographic Information System files 

shall be provided in Environmental 

Systems Research Institute shapefile 

format and include the UTC date and 

time, latitude in decimal degrees, and 

longitude in decimal degrees. All 

coordinates shall be referenced to the 

WGS84 geographic coordinate system. 

In addition to the report, all raw 

observational data shall be made 

available. The report must summarize 

data collected as described above in 

Monitoring and Reporting. A final 

report must be submitted within 30 days 

following resolution of any comments 

on the draft report. 

Reporting Injured or Dead Marine 

Mammals 

Discovery of injured or dead marine 

mammals—In the event that personnel 

involved in the survey activities 

discover an injured or dead marine 

mammal, UT shall report the incident to 

the Office of Protected Resources (OPR), 

NMFS and the NMFS, Southeast 

Regional Stranding Coordinator as soon 

as feasible. The report must include the 

following information: 

• Time, date, and location (latitude/ 

longitude) of the first discovery (and 

updated location information if known 

and applicable); 

• Species identification (if known) or 

description of the animal(s) involved; 

• Condition of the animal(s) 

(including carcass condition if the 

animal is dead); 

• Observed behaviors of the 

animal(s), if alive; 

• If available, photographs or video 

footage of the animal(s); and 

• General circumstances under which 

the animal was discovered. 

Vessel strike—In the event of a strike 

of a marine mammal by any vessel 

involved in the activities covered by the 

authorization, UT shall report the 

incident to OPR, NMFS, and the NMFS 

Southeast Regional Stranding 

Coordinator as soon as feasible. The 

report must include the following 

information: 

• Time, date, and location (latitude/ 

longitude) of the incident; 

• Vessel’s speed during and leading 

up to the incident; 

• Vessel’s course/heading and what 

operations were being conducted (if 

applicable); 

• Status of all sound sources in use; 

• Description of avoidance measures/ 

requirements that were in place at the 

time of the strike and what additional 

measure were taken, if any, to avoid 

strike; 

• Environmental conditions (e.g., 

wind speed and direction, BSS, cloud 

cover, visibility) immediately preceding 

the strike; 

• Species identification (if known) or 

description of the animal(s) involved; 

• Estimated size and length of the 

animal that was struck; 


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• Description of the behavior of the 

marine mammal immediately preceding 

and following the strike; 

• If available, description of the 

presence and behavior of any other 

marine mammals present immediately 

preceding the strike; 

• Estimated fate of the animal (e.g., 

dead, injured but alive, injured and 

moving, blood or tissue observed in the 

water, status unknown, disappeared); 

and 

• To the extent practicable, 

photographs or video footage of the 

animal(s). 

Negligible Impact Analysis and 

Determination 

NMFS has defined negligible impact 

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 

(50 CFR 216.103). A negligible impact 

finding is based on the lack of likely 

adverse effects on annual rates of 

recruitment or survival (i.e., populationlevel effects). An estimate of the number 

of takes alone is not enough information 

on which to base an impact 

determination. In addition to 

considering estimates of the number of 

marine mammals that might be ‘‘taken’’ 

through harassment, NMFS considers 

other factors, such as the likely nature 

of any impacts or responses (e.g., 

intensity, duration), the context of any 

impacts or responses (e.g., critical 

reproductive time or location, foraging 

impacts affecting energetics), as well as 

effects on habitat, and the likely 

effectiveness of the mitigation. We also 

assess the number, intensity, and 

context of estimated takes by evaluating 

this information relative to population 

status. Consistent with the 1989 

preamble for NMFS’ implementing 

regulations (54 FR 40338, September 29, 

1989), the impacts from other past and 

ongoing anthropogenic activities are 

incorporated into this analysis via their 

impacts on the baseline (e.g., as 

reflected in the regulatory status of the 

species, population size and growth rate 

where known, ongoing sources of 

human-caused mortality, or ambient 

noise levels). 

To avoid repetition, the discussion of 

our analysis applies to Atlantic spotted 

dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and 

rough-toothed dolphins, given that the 

anticipated effects of this activity on 

these different marine mammal stocks 

are expected to be similar. There is little 

information about the nature or severity 

of the impacts, or the size, status, or 

structure of any of these species or 

stocks that would lead to a different 

analysis for this activity. 

NMFS does not anticipate that serious 

injury or mortality would occur as a 

result of UT’s planned survey, even in 

the absence of mitigation, and no 

serious injury or mortality is authorized. 

As discussed in the Potential Effects of 

Specified Activities on Marine 

Mammals and Their Habitat section 

above, non-auditory physical effects and 

vessel strike are not expected to occur. 

NMFS expects that all potential take 

will be in the form of Level B behavioral 

harassment in the form of temporary 

avoidance of the area or decreased 

foraging (if such activity was occurring), 

responses that are considered to be of 

low severity, and with no lasting 

biological consequences (e.g., Southall 

et al., 2007, 2021). These low-level 

impacts of behavioral harassment are 

not likely to impact the overall fitness 

of any individual or lead to population 

level effects of any species. As described 

above, auditory injury (Level A 

harassment) is not expected to occur 

given the estimated small size of the 

Level A harassment zones. 

In addition, the maximum expected 

Level B harassment zone around the 

survey vessel is 1,750 m. Therefore, the 

ensonified area surrounding the vessel 

is relatively small compared to the 

overall distribution of animals in the 

area and their use of the habitat. 

Feeding behavior is not likely to be 

significantly impacted as prey species 

are mobile and are broadly distributed 

throughout the survey area; therefore, 

marine mammals that may be 

temporarily displaced during survey 

activities are expected to be able to 

resume foraging once they have moved 

away from areas with disturbing levels 

of underwater noise. Because of the 

short duration (20 survey days) and 

temporary nature of the disturbance and 

the availability of similar habitat and 

resources in the surrounding area, the 

impacts to marine mammals and marine 

mammal prey species are not expected 

to cause significant or long-term fitness 

consequences for individual marine 

mammals or their populations. 

Additionally, the acoustic ‘‘footprint’’ 

of the planned survey will be very small 

relative to the ranges of all marine 

mammals that would potentially be 

affected. Sound levels will increase in 

the marine environment in a relatively 

small area surrounding the vessel 

compared to the range of the marine 

mammals within the planned survey 

area. The seismic array will be active 24 

hours per day throughout the duration 

of the planned survey. However, the 

very brief overall duration of the 

planned survey (20 survey days) will 

further limit potential impacts that may 

occur as a result of the planned activity. 

There are no rookeries, mating, or 

calving grounds known to be 

biologically important to marine 

mammals within the planned survey 

area and there are no feeding areas 

known to be biologically important to 

marine mammals within the survey 

area. There is no designated critical 

habitat for any ESA-listed marine 

mammals within the project area. 

In summary and as described above, 

the following factors support our 

determination that the impacts resulting 

from this activity are not expected to 

adversely affect any of the species or 

stocks through effects on annual rates of 

recruitment or survival: 

• No serious injury or mortality is 

anticipated or authorized; 

• No auditory injury (Level A 

harassment) is anticipated or 

authorized; 

• The planned activity is temporary 

and of relatively short duration (23 days 

total with 20 days of planned survey 

activity); 

• The anticipated impacts of the 

planned activity on marine mammals 

will be temporary behavioral changes 

due to avoidance of the ensonified area, 

which is relatively small (see tables 5 

and 6); 

• The availability of alternative areas 

of similar habitat value for marine 

mammals to temporarily vacate the 

survey area during the survey to avoid 

exposure to sounds from the activity is 

readily abundant; 

• The potential adverse effects on fish 

or invertebrate species that serve as prey 

species for marine mammals from the 

planned survey will be temporary and 

spatially limited and impacts to marine 

mammal foraging will be minimal; and 

• The mitigation measures are 

expected to reduce the number and 

severity of takes, to the extent 

practicable, by visually detecting marine 

mammals within the established zones 

and implementing corresponding 

mitigation measures (e.g., delay; rampup). 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of the likely effects of the 

specified activity on marine mammals 

and their habitat, and taking into 

consideration the implementation of the 

monitoring and mitigation measures, 

NMFS finds that the total marine 

mammal take from the planned activity 

will have a negligible impact on all 

affected marine mammal species or 

stocks. 

Small Numbers 

As noted previously, only take of 

small numbers of marine mammals may 


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5826 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 / Notices 

be authorized under sections 

101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA for 

specified activities other than military 

readiness activities. The MMPA does 

not define small numbers and so, in 

practice, where estimated numbers are 

available, NMFS compares the number 

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 number of takes NMFS is 

authorizing is below one-third of the 

modeled abundance for all relevant 

populations (specifically, take of 

individuals is less than 7 percent of the 

most appropriate abundance estimate 

for each stock, see table 7). This is 

conservative because this approach 

assumes all takes are of different 

individual animals, which is likely not 

the case. Some individuals may be 

encountered multiple times in a day, 

but PSOs would count them as separate 

individuals if they cannot be identified. 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of the planned activity (including 

the mitigation and monitoring 

measures) and the anticipated take of 

marine mammals, NMFS finds that 

small numbers of marine mammals 

would 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 would 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 consults internally 

whenever we propose to authorize take 

for endangered or threatened species. 

No incidental take of ESA-listed 

species are 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. 

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 

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 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 UT for 

the potential harassment of small 

numbers of three marine mammal 

species incidental to the marine 

geophysical survey in the NW GOM that 

includes the previously explained 

mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 

requirements. 

Dated: January 14, 2025. 

Catherine Marzin, 

Deputy Director, Office of Protected 

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01143 Filed 1–16–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE611] 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s (Pacific Council) 

Marine Planning Committee will hold a 

webinar, which is open to the public. 

DATES: The online meeting will be held 

on January 30, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 

5 p.m., Pacific standard time. 

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held 

online. Specific meeting information, 

including directions on how to join the 

meeting and system requirements, will 

be provided in the meeting 

announcement on the Pacific Council’s 

website (see www.pcouncil.org). You 

may send an email to Mr. Kris 

Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@

noaa.gov) or contact him at (503) 820– 

2412 for technical assistance. 

Council address: Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, 7700 NE 

Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, 

OR 97220–1384. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kerry Griffin, Staff Officer, Pacific 

Council; telephone: (503) 820–2409. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of this webinar is to consider 

current issues related to offshore wind 

(OSW) energy development off the U.S. 

West Coast and prepare a report for the 

March Council meeting. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in the meeting agenda may be 

discussed, those issues may not be the 

subject of formal action during this 

meeting. Action will be restricted to 

those issues specifically listed in this 

document and any issues arising after 

publication of this document that 

require emergency action under section 

305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, 

provided the public has been notified of 

the intent to take final action to address 

the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

Requests for sign language 

interpretation or other auxiliary aids 

should be directed to Mr. Kris 

Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@

noaa.gov; (503) 820–2412) at least 10 

days prior to the meeting date. 

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

Dated: January 14, 2025. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01147 Filed 1–16–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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