Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 136 / Tuesday, July 20, 2021 / Notices 38295 

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 Endangered 

Species Act 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 is proposed for authorization 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. 

Proposed Authorization 

As a result of these preliminary 

determinations, NMFS proposes to issue 

an IHA to the Navy to begin the Naval 

Base Point Loma Fuel Pier Inboard Pile 

Removal Project in San Diego, California 

on January 15, 2022, provided the 

previously mentioned mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

are incorporated. Once started, the IHA 

would be valid for one year (end 

January 14, 2023). A draft of the 

proposed IHA can be found at https:// 

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/ 

incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. 

Request for Public Comments 

We request comment on our analyses, 

the proposed authorization, and any 

other aspect of this notice of proposed 

IHA for the proposed Naval Base Point 

Loma Fuel Pier Inboard Pile Removal 

Project. We also request at this time 

comment on the potential renewal of 

this proposed IHA as described in the 

paragraph below. Please include with 

your comments any supporting data or 

literature citations to help inform 

decisions on the request for this IHA or 

a subsequent renewal IHA. 

On a case-by-case basis, NMFS may 

issue a one-time, one-year renewal IHA 

following notice to the public providing 

an additional 15 days for public 

comments when (1) up to another year 

of identical or nearly identical, or nearly 

identical, activities as described in the 

Description of Proposed Activities 

section of this notice is planned or (2) 

the activities as described in the 

Description of Proposed Activities 

section of this notice would not be 

completed by the time the IHA expires 

and a renewal would allow for 

completion of the activities beyond that 

described in the Dates and Duration 

section of this notice, provided all of the 

following conditions are met: 

• A request for renewal is received no 

later than 60 days prior to the needed 

renewal IHA effective date (recognizing 

that the renewal IHA expiration date 

cannot extend beyond one year from 

expiration of the initial IHA). 

• The request for renewal must 

include the following: 

(1) An explanation that the activities 

to be conducted under the requested 

renewal IHA are identical to the 

activities analyzed under the initial 

IHA, are a subset of the activities, or 

include changes so minor (e.g., 

reduction in pile size) that the changes 

do not affect the previous analyses, 

mitigation and monitoring 

requirements, or take estimates (with 

the exception of reducing the type or 

amount of take). 

(2) A preliminary monitoring report 

showing the results of the required 

monitoring to date and an explanation 

showing that the monitoring results do 

not indicate impacts of a scale or nature 

not previously analyzed or authorized. 

Upon review of the request for 

renewal, the status of the affected 

species or stocks, and any other 

pertinent information, NMFS 

determines that there are no more than 

minor changes in the activities, the 

mitigation and monitoring measures 

would remain the same and appropriate, 

and the findings in the initial IHA 

remain valid. 

Dated: July 15, 2021. 

Catherine Marzin, 

Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15378 Filed 7–19–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XB255] 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

hold a three-day in-person and virtual 

(hybrid) meeting of its Standing, Reef 

Fish, Socioeconomic, and Ecosystem 

Scientific and Statistical Committees 

(SSC). 

DATES: The meeting will take place 

Monday, August 9 to Wednesday, 

August 11, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 

p.m., EDT daily. 

ADDRESSES: The in-person meeting will 

take place at the Gulf Council office. If 

you are unable to travel, you may attend 

via webinar. Registration information 

will be available on the Council’s 

website by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org 

and clicking on the SSC meeting on the 

calendar. 

Council address: Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 4107 W 

Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 

33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ryan Rindone, Lead Fishery Biologist, 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; ryan.rindone@gulfcouncil.org, 

telephone: (813) 348–1630. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Monday, August 9, 2021; 8:30 a.m.–5 

p.m., EDT 

The meeting will begin with 

Introductions and Adoption of Agenda, 

Approval of Verbatim Minutes and 

Meeting Summary from the May 3–4, 

2021 webinar meeting, Election of Chair 

and Vice Chair and review of Scope of 

Work. The Committees will select an 

SSC Representative for the August 23– 

26, 2021 Gulf Council Meeting and 

review and discuss the SSC’s Best 

Practices and Voting Procedures. 

The Committees will review and hold 

a discussion on the Finalized Great Red 

Snapper Count (GRSC) Project Report, 

including presentations, background 

material on the finalized report and 

independent consultant reports. The 

Committees will review and discuss the 

updated Red Grouper Interim Analysis 

and Research Track and Operational 

Assessment Process Guidance 

Document, including a presentations, 

report, and background material. 

The Committees will review Discuss 

the Research Track and Operational 

Assessment Process Guidance 

Document, followed by a Determination 

of Topical Working Groups for SEDAR 

75: Gulf of Mexico Gray Snapper 

Operational Assessment. The 

Committees will then review and 

discuss the Scope of Work for Red 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
38296 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 136 / Tuesday, July 20, 2021 / Notices 

Grouper Operational Assessment and 

the Scope of Work for the Vermilion 

Snapper Operational Assessment. 

Tuesday, August 10, 2021; 8:30 a.m.–5 

p.m., EDT 

The Committees will determine the 

Approach to Assess the Gulf of Mexico 

Tilefish Complex, and then review the 

Interim Analysis Schedule and the 

Revised SEDAR Stock Assessment 

Schedule. The Committees will then 

review the Draft Southeast Regional 

Framework for Establishing the Best 

Scientific Information Available, 

including presentations; and, hold a 

discussion for National Standard 1 

(NS1) Technical Guidance Subgroup 3 

Tech Memo: Managing with Acceptable 

Catch Limits (ACLs) for data-limited 

stocks in federal fishery management 

plans—Review and recommendations 

for implementing 50 CFR 600.310(h)(2) 

flexibilities for data limited stocks, 

including background. 

Following, the Committees will 

review King Mackerel Historical Harvest 

and Catch Limits, King Mackerel 

Historical Commercial Harvest 

Differences, and Greater Amberjack 

Historical Harvest and Catch Limits. 

Wednesday, August 11, 2021; 8:30 a.m.– 

5 p.m., EDT 

The Committees will review Updated 

Greater Amberjack Projections, discuss 

and receive a presentation on the Pilot 

Project on Allocation, and review Draft 

Options for Generic Essential Fish 

Habitat Amendment 5. 

The Committees will also review the 

Standardized Bycatch Reduction 

Methodology, and hold a discussion of 

Topic Leaders for Agenda Items. The 

Committees will then receive public 

comment, and then discuss any Other 

Business items. 

—Meeting Adjourns 

The meeting will be also be broadcast 

via webinar. You may register for the 

webinar by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org 

and clicking on the SSC meeting on the 

calendar. 

The Agenda is subject to change, and 

the latest version along with other 

meeting materials will be posted on 

www.gulfcouncil.org as they become 

available. 

Although other non-emergency issues 

not on the agenda may come before the 

Scientific and Statistical Committees for 

discussion, in accordance with the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, 

those issues may not be the subject of 

formal action during this meeting. 

Actions of the Scientific and Statistical 

Committee will be restricted to those 

issues specifically identified in the 

agenda and any issues arising after 

publication of this notice 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 Council’s intent to take-action to 

address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

These meetings are physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for sign language 

interpretation or other auxiliary aid 

should be directed to Kathy Pereira, 

(813) 348–1630, at least 5 days prior to 

the meeting date. 

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

Dated: July 15, 2021. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15363 Filed 7–19–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XB250] 

Endangered Species; File No. 25602 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Coonamessett Farm Foundation, Inc., 

277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, 

MA 02536 (Responsible Party: Ronald 

Smolowitz), has applied in due form for 

a permit to take leatherback sea turtles 

(Dermochelys coriacea) and 

unidentified sea turtles for purposes of 

scientific research. 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email 

comments must be received on or before 

August 19, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: The application and related 

documents are available for review by 

selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public 

Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on 

the Applications and Permits for 

Protected Species (APPS) home page, 

https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then 

selecting File No. 25602 from the list of 

available applications. These documents 

are also available upon written request 

via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@

noaa.gov. 

Written comments on this application 

should be submitted via email to 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please 

include File No. 25602 in the subject 

line of the email comment. 

Those individuals requesting a public 

hearing should submit a written request 

via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@

noaa.gov. The request should set forth 

the specific reasons why a hearing on 

this application would be appropriate. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Hapeman or Erin Markin, (301) 

427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject permit is requested under the 

authority of the Endangered Species Act 

of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 

1531 et seq.) and the regulations 

governing the taking, importing, and 

exporting of endangered and threatened 

species (50 CFR parts 222–226). 

The applicant proposes to determine 

the impacts of impulsive sounds on the 

behavior of leatherback sea turtles 

within Massachusetts waters and 

adjacent Federal waters. Researchers 

would (1) remotely deploy suction cup 

camera tags on 30 leatherbacks 

annually, (2) observe and film them 

from an aircraft, vessel, and underwater 

by polecam, (3) remotely scan them inwater for passive integrated transponder 

(PIT) tags, and (4) expose them to an 

underwater sound source. Up to 60 

leatherbacks annually could be harassed 

during unsuccessful tag deployments or 

incidental sound exposure. Another 60 

leatherbacks annually would be 

observed during aerial and vessel 

surveys, photographed, and remotely 

PIT tag scanned. Researchers also 

request to harass up to 30 unidentified 

sea turtles annually for incidental sound 

exposures. The permit would be valid 

for five years. 

Dated: July 13, 2021. 

Julia Marie Harrison, 

Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15353 Filed 7–19–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XB217] 

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to 

Specified Activities; Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Marine Site 

Characterization Surveys Offshore of 

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 

Connecticut, and New York 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES