30918 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 98 / Friday, May 20, 2022 / Notices 

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

be the model-predicted abundance (Roberts et al., 2016). For those taxa where a density surface model predicting abundance by month was 

produced, the maximum mean seasonal abundance was used. For those taxa where abundance is not predicted by month, only mean annual 

abundance is available. For the killer whale, the larger estimated SAR abundance estimate is used. 3The final rule refers to the GOM Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni). These whales were subsequently described as a new species, Rice’s 

whale (Balaenoptera ricei) (Rosel et al., 2021). 4 Modeled take of 6 increased to account for potential encounter with group of average size (Maze-Foley and Mullin, 2006). 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of Echo’s proposed survey 

activity described in its LOA 

application and the anticipated take of 

marine mammals, NMFS finds that 

small numbers of marine mammals will 

be taken relative to the affected species 

or stock sizes (i.e., less than one-third of 

the best available abundance estimate) 

and therefore the taking is of no more 

than small numbers. 

Authorization 

NMFS has determined that the level 

of taking for this LOA request is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

incidental take regulations and that the 

amount of take authorized under the 

LOA is of no more than small numbers. 

Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to 

Echo authorizing the take of marine 

mammals incidental to its geophysical 

survey activity, as described above. 

Dated: May 17, 2022. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–10936 Filed 5–19–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XC042] 

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to 

Specified Activities; Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Lighthouse 

Repair and Tour Operations at 

Northwest Seal Rock, California 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; issuance of Letter of 

Authorization (LOA). 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as 

amended, and implementing 

regulations, NMFS issued an LOA to the 

St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation 

Society (Society) to take marine 

mammals incidental to conducting 

aircraft operations, lighthouse 

renovation, light maintenance activities, 

and tour operations on the St. George 

Reef Lighthouse Station (Station) on 

Northwest Seal Rock (NWSR). 

DATES: This authorization is effective 

from May 15, 2022 through May 14, 

2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Fowler, Office of Protected 

Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

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

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

the Secretary of Commerce (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 issued or, if the taking is 

limited to harassment, a notice of a 

proposed authorization is provided to 

the public for review. 

An incidental take authorization shall 

be granted if NMFS finds that the taking 

will have a negligible impact on the 

species or stock(s), will not have an 

unmitigable adverse impact on the 

availability of the species or stock(s) for 

subsistence uses (where relevant), and if 

the permissible methods of taking and 

requirements pertaining to the 

mitigation, monitoring and reporting of 

such takings are set forth. 

NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible 

impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact 

resulting from the specified activity that 

cannot be reasonably expected to, and is 

not reasonably likely to, adversely affect 

the species or stock through effects on 

annual rates of recruitment or survival. 

The MMPA states that the term ‘‘take’’ 

means to harass, hunt, capture, kill or 

attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill 

any marine mammal. 

Except with respect to certain 

activities not pertinent here, the MMPA 

defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: Any act of 

pursuit, torment, or annoyance, which 

(i) has the potential to injure a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

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

the potential to disturb a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild by causing disruption of behavioral 

patterns, including, but not limited to, 

migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, 

feeding, or sheltering (Level B 

harassment). 

Summary 

NMFS issued regulations governing 

the take of California sea lions 

(Zalophus californianus), harbor seals 

(Phoca vitulina), Steller sea lions 

(Eumetopias jubatus), and northern fur 

seals (Callorhinus ursinus), by Level B 

harassment only, incidental to 

lighthouse maintenance and 

preservation activities at NWSR, 

offshore of Crescent City, CA on April 

15, 2022 (87 FR 22484). These 

regulations include mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

for the incidental take of marine 

mammals during the specified activities. 

As further detailed in the regulations 

(50 CFR 217.57), adaptive management 

measures allow NMFS to modify or 

renew LOAs as necessary if doing so 

creates a reasonable likelihood of more 

effective mitigation and monitoring. 

This LOA for the first year of the 

Society’s activities is valid from May 15, 

2022 through May 14, 2023. The LOA 

includes the requirement for quarterly 

monitoring report submissions to ensure 

that implementation and compliance 

will be successful. NMFS will 

reevaluate the Society’s implementation 

and compliance in accordance with the 

terms of the regulations and the oneyear LOA before issuing any additional 

LOAs to the Society. 

Authorization 

NMFS has issued an LOA (available at 

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

incidental-take-authorizationlighthouse-repair-and-tour-operationsnorthwest-seal-rock) to the Society for 

the potential harassment of small 

numbers of four marine mammal 

species incidental to conducting aircraft 

operations, lighthouse renovation, light 

maintenance activities, and tour 

operations at NWSR, provided the 

mitigation, monitoring and reporting 

requirements of the rulemaking are 

incorporated. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–10937 Filed 5–19–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES