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 Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2021-0002; FF07CAMM00-FX-ES111607MRG01]
 AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
 ACTION: Notice of issuance.
 SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued Letters of Authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska as well as northern sea otters in Cook Inlet, Alaska, in 2019 and 2020. This notice announces a list of the Letters of Authorizations that were issued in calendar years 2019 and 2020. The Letters of Authorization stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters from these activities.
 ADDRESSES: *Document availability:*
                         You may view this notice as well as the Letters of Authorization at 
                        *http://www.regulations.gov*
                         under Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2021-0002, or these documents may be requested as described under 
                        **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT**
                        .
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Hamilton, Marine Mammal Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 341, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, by email at 
                        *R7mmmRegulatory@fws.gov*
                         or by telephone at 1-800-362-5148. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     a final rule (81 FR 52276) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears (
                    *Ursus maritimus*) and Pacific walruses (
                    *Odobenus rosmarus divergens*) during year-round oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The rule established subpart J in part 18 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and is effective through August 5, 2021. The rule prescribed a process under which we issue Letters of Authorization (LOA) to applicants conducting activities as described under the provisions of the regulations. Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the activity and location. Holders of the LOAs must use methods and conduct activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent practicable adverse impacts on Pacific walruses and polar bears and their habitat, and on the availability of these marine mammals for subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take are prohibited under these regulations. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 
                    *et seq.*) and our regulations at 50 CFR part 18, subpart J, in 2019 and 2020 we issued LOAs to each of the companies in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska shown below in table 1.
                    ( print page 48752) Table 1—Beaufort Sea Letters of Authorization
Year
Company
Activity
Project
LOA #2019
Caelus Natural Resources Alaska, LLC
Close-out and amendment
Transferring ownership of Oooguruk to Eni U.S. Operation Company, Inc., and Nuna to ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
16-11 [amended].2019
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
Acquisition
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc., acquired Nuna from Caelus
16-13 [amended].2019
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
Exploration and development
Geotechnical surveys and installation at the proposed Willow airstrip; in support of development in the Bear Tooth Unit
18-14 [amended].2019
Oil Search Alaska
Exploration and support services
Pikka field exploratory drilling, environmental surveys, and transportation activities
19-01 [amended].2019
Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC
Support services
Transportation activities on the North Slope
19-02.2019
SAExploration
Exploration
Seismic activities in the Prudhoe Bay Unit
19-03.2019
TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company
Exploration
3D seismic activities in the Beaufort Sea; north of the Colville River Delta
19-04.2019
BEM Systems, Incorporated
Remediation
Former United States Air Force Bullen Point Short Range Radar Station
19-05.2019
BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc
Demobilization
Liberty oil rig demobilization and removal
19-06.2019
Chevron Environmental Management Company
Support services
Debris removal at the former Kalubik Creek No. 1 wellsite on the North Slope
19-07.2019
Eni U.S. Operation Company, Inc
Exploration, development, and production
Nakaitchuq and Oooguruk oilfields
19-08.2019
Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC
Support services
Transportation activities on the North Slope
19-09.2019
SAExploration
Support services
Summer cleanup and flyovers on the North Slope
19-10.2019
PRA Petrotechnical Resources of Alaska
Production and research
Monitoring the Hydrate 01 well in Kuparuk
19-11a.2019
Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation
Development
Mustang on the North Slope of Alaska
19-11b.2019
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
Support services
Arctic cod monitoring associated with the Liberty Project
19-12.2019
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
Development
Greater Mooses Tooth Two (MT7; GMT2)
19-14.2019
SAExploration
Exploration and support services
Seismic surveys and cleanup activities on the North Slope
19-15.2019
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
Exploration
Appraisal well drilling at Willow
19-16.2019
SAExploration
Exploration and support services
Winter seismic and cleanup activities associated with Willow, Narwhal, and Kuukpik
19-17.2019
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
Exploration, development, and support services
Geotechnical surveys; installation of equipment and gravel/ice road development; sampling at Willow
19-18.2019
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
Exploration and development
Fiord West Kuparuk Pilot Program
19-19.2020
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
Acquisition
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, acquired all of BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc.'s interests and assets
16-14 [amended].2020
Olgoonik Construction Services
Production
Plug and abandonment, surface remediation with the Simpson Wells Remediation Project
20-01.2020
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Production
Operation and maintenance of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
20-02.2020
Oil Search Alaska
Exploration, development, support services
Geotechnical boring, surveys, cleanup, installation of facilities and pipelines, and gravel farming at the Pikka Development
20-03 [corrected].2020
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc
Development
Greater Mooses Tooth Two (MT7; GMT2)
20-04.2020
Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC
Support services
Transportation activities on the North Slope
20-05 [corrected].2020
Jade Energy, LLC
Development and support services
Maritime barging and tundra ice road construction in the Point Thomson Unit
20-06 [corrected]2020
Olgoonik Construction Services
Remediation
Permanent plugging, abandonment, and surface remediation for the Fish Creek and Inigok Legacy Wells Remediation Project
20-07.2020
ConocoPhillips P&A Program
Development, support services
Construction of an ice road, transportation, and cleanup activities in the National Petroleum Reserve—Alaska
20-09.2020
Emerald House, LLC
Support services
Transportation activities to the Peregrine Lease Block within the National Petroleum Reserve—Alaska
20-10.2020
ConocoPhillips Willow
Development
Construction for Willow
20-11.( print page 48753)2020
Northern Energy Services
Acquisition, close out, and support services
Northern Energy Services acquired Peak Oilfield Service Company, LLC; transportation activities on the North Slope
20-14.
 On August 1, 2019, the Service published in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     a final rule (84 FR 37716) establishing regulations that allow us to authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of northern sea otters (
                    *Enhydra lutris kenyoni*) during year-round oil and gas industry exploration, development, production, and transportation activities in the Cook Inlet of Alaska. The rule established subpart K in part 18 of title 50 of the CFR and is effective through August 1, 2024. The rule prescribed a process under which we issue LOAs to applicants conducting activities as described under the provisions of the regulations. Each LOA stipulates conditions or methods that are specific to the activity and location. Holders of the LOAs must use methods and conduct activities in a manner that minimizes to the greatest extent practicable adverse impacts on northern sea otters and their habitat, and on the availability of northern sea otters for subsistence purposes. Intentional take and lethal incidental take are prohibited under these regulations. In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 
                    *et seq.*) and our regulations at 50 CFR part 18, subpart K, in 2019 and 2020 we issued LOAs to each of the following companies in the Cook Inlet of Alaska shown below in table 2. Table 2—Cook Inlet Letters of Authorization
Year
Company
Activity
Project
LOA #2019
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
Exploration
3D seismic surveys in the Cook Inlet
19-CI-012019
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
Production
Routine maintenance activities on platforms and pipelines in the Cook Inlet
19-CI-022020
Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
Exploration
Geotechnical surveys in the Lower Cook Inlet
20-CI-01
 *Authority:*
                     We issue this notice under the authority of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 
                    *et seq.*). Karen Cogswell, Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region.


[FR Doc. 2021-18770 Filed 8-30-21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P