Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 136 / Monday, July 18, 2022 / Notices 42711 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XC161] 

Taking and Importing Marine 

Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 

Incidental to Testing and Training 

Operations in the Eglin Gulf Test and 

Training Range 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for 

Letter of Authorization; request for 

comments and information. 

SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request 

from the United States (U.S.) 

Department of the Air Force (USAF) for 

authorization to take marine mammals 

incidental to testing and training 

military operations proposed to be 

conducted in the Eglin Gulf Test and 

Training Range (EGTTR) from 2023– 

2030 in the Gulf of Mexico. Pursuant to 

regulations implementing the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS 

is announcing receipt of the Eglin Air 

Force Base (AFB) request for the 

development and implementation of 

regulations governing the incidental 

taking of marine mammals. NMFS 

invites the public to provide 

information, suggestions, and comments 

on the Navy’s application and request. 

DATES: Comments and information must 

be received no later than August 17, 

2022. 

ADDRESSES: Comments on the 

application should be addressed to Jolie 

Harrison, Chief, Permits and 

Conservation Division, Office of 

Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service and should be sent to 

ITP.Pauline@noaa.gov. 

Instructions: NMFS is not responsible 

for comments sent by any other method, 

to any other address or individual, or 

received after the end of the comment 

period. Comments received 

electronically, including all 

attachments, must not exceed a 25- 

megabyte file size. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted online at 

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-constructionactivities without change. All personal 

identifying information (e.g., name, 

address) voluntarily submitted by the 

commenter may be publicly accessible. 

Do not submit confidential business 

information or otherwise sensitive or 

protected information. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob 

Pauline, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability 

Electronic copies of the Navy’s 

application and separate monitoring 

plan may be obtained online at: https:// 

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-military-readinessactivities. 

In case of problems accessing these 

documents, please call the contact listed 

above. 

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 authorization for incidental 

takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 

that the taking will have a negligible 

impact on the species or stock(s), will 

not have an unmitigable adverse impact 

on the availability of the species or 

stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 

relevant), and if the permissible 

methods of taking and requirements 

pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring 

and reporting of such takings are set 

forth. 

NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible 

impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an 

impact resulting from the specified 

activity that cannot be reasonably 

expected to, and is not reasonably likely 

to, adversely affect the species or stock 

through effects on annual rates of 

recruitment or survival.’’ 

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). 

The National Defense Authorization 

Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub. 

L. 108–136) removed the ‘‘small 

numbers’’ and ‘‘specified geographical 

region’’ limitations indicated above and 

amended the definition of ‘‘harassment’’ 

as it applies to a ‘‘military readiness 

activity’’ to read as follows (Section 

3(18)(B) of the MMPA): (i) Any act that 

injures or has the significant potential to 

injure a marine mammal or marine 

mammal stock in the wild (Level A 

Harassment); or (ii) Any act that 

disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild by causing disruption of natural 

behavioral patterns, including, but not 

limited to, migration, surfacing, nursing, 

breeding, feeding, or sheltering, to a 

point where such behavioral patterns 

are abandoned or significantly altered 

(Level B Harassment). On August 13, 

2018, the 2019 NDAA (Pub. L. 115–232) 

amended the MMPA to allow incidental 

take regulations for military readiness 

activities to be issued for up to seven 

years. The proposed action may 

incidentally expose marine mammals 

occurring in the vicinity of testing and 

training operations to elevated levels of 

underwater sounds in the form of 

airborne, surface and subsurface 

detonations of various military 

munitions, thereby resulting in 

incidental take, by Level A and Level B 

harassment. Therefore, the DAF requests 

authorization to incidentally take 

marine mammals. 

Summary of Request 

On June 17, 2022 NMFS received an 

adequate and complete application from 

the Eglin AFB requesting authorization 

for the take of marine mammals, by 

Level A and B harassment, incidental to 

testing and training operations (all 

categorized as military readiness 

activities). Proposed missions would 

include be air-to-surface operations that 

involve firing live or inert munitions, 

including missiles, bombs, and gun 

ammunition, from aircraft at targets on 

the water surface. The types of targets 

used vary by mission and primarily 

include stationary, remotely controlled, 

and towed boats, inflatable targets, and 

marker flares. Live munitions used in 

the EGTTR are set to detonate either in 

the air a few feet above the water surface 

(airburst detonation), instantaneously 

upon contact with the water or target 

(surface detonation), or approximately 5 

to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) below the 

water surface (subsurface detonation). 

Therefore, Eglin AFB requests 

authorization to take three species of 

marine mammals that may occur in this 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
42712 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 136 / Monday, July 18, 2022 / Notices 

area, Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) 

Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops 

truncatus) and Atlantic spotted 

dolphins (Stenella frontalis). 

Eglin AFB is also proposing to create 

and use a new, separate area within the 

EGTTR that would be used for live 

missions in addition to the existing live 

impact area (LIA). Referred to as the 

East LIA, it is located approximately 40 

nautical miles southeast of the existing 

LIA. The requested regulations will be 

valid for seven years, from 2023 through 

2030. 

NMFS issued incidental take 

regulations and a subsequent Letter of 

Authorization (LOA) to Eglin AFB for 

similar specified activities on February 

8, 2018 (83 FR 5545). Prior to issuing 

the 5-year LOA in 2018, NMFS had 

issued multiple LOAs and 1 year 

incidental harassment authorizations 

(IHA) to Eglin AFB for take of marine 

mammals incidental to similar specified 

activities. Monitoring reports submitted 

to NMFS as a condition of the 

previously-issued LOAs and incidental 

take authorizations are available online 

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

national/marine-mammal-protection/ 

incidental-take-authorizations-militaryreadiness-activities. 

Specified Activities 

Eglin AFB proposes the following 

actions in the EGTTR which would be 

conducted in the existing LIA and 

potentially in the proposed East LIA, 

depending on the mission type and 

objectives: (1) 52rd Weapons Evaluation 

Group missions that involves air-toground Weapons System Evaluation 

Program (WSEP) known as Combat 

Hammer which tests various types of 

munitions against small target boats and 

air-to-air missile testing known as 

Combat Archer; (2) The Air Force 

Special Operations Command (AFSOC) 

proposes to continue training missions 

in the EGTTR primarily involving air-tosurface gunnery, bomb, and missile 

exercises including AC–130 gunnery 

training, CV–22 training, and bomb and 

missile training; (3) 96th Operations 

Group missions including AC–130 

gunnery testing against floating marker 

targets on the water surface and MQ–9 

air-to-surface testing; (3) 780th Test 

Squadron Precision Strike Weapons 

testing including air-launched cruise 

missile tests, Air-to-air missile tests, 

Longbow and Joint Air-to-Ground 

Missile (JAGM) testing; Spike Non-Lineof-Sight (NLOS) air-to-surface missile 

testing, Patriot missile testing, 

Hypersonic Weapon Testing, sink at-sea 

live-fire training exercises (SINKEX), 

and testing using live and inert 

munitions against targets on the water 

surface; and (4) Naval School Explosive 

Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) 

training missions that involve students 

diving and placing small explosive 

charges adjacent to inert mines. 

During these activities, ordnances 

may be delivered by multiple types of 

aircraft, including bombers and fighter 

aircraft. Net explosive weights (NEW) of 

the live munitions range from 0.1 to 945 

pounds (lb). A summary of munitions 

proposed for missions in the EGTTR is 

shown in Table 1. 

TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MUNITIONS FOR MISSIONS IN THE EGTTR 

User group Type Category Net explosive 

weight Destination scenario Annual quantity 

53 WEG .......................... AGR–20 ................................................................ Rocket ........................... 9.1 Surface .......................... 12 

AGM–158D JASSM XR ........................................ Missile ........................... 240.26 Surface .......................... 4 

AGM–158B JASSM ER ........................................ Missile ........................... 240.26 Surface .......................... 3 

AGM–158A JASSM .............................................. Missile ........................... 240.26 Surface .......................... 3 

AGM–65D ............................................................. Missile ........................... 150 Surface .......................... 5 

AGM–65G2 ........................................................... Missile ........................... 145 Surface .......................... 5 

AGM–65H2 ........................................................... Missile ........................... 150 Surface .......................... 5 

AGM–65K2 ........................................................... Missile ........................... 145 Surface .......................... 4 

AGM–65L ............................................................. Missile ........................... 150 Surface .......................... 5 

AGM–114 N–6D with TM ..................................... Missile ........................... 29.1 Surface .......................... 4 

AGM–114 N–4D with TM ..................................... Missile ........................... 29.94 Surface .......................... 4 

AGM–114 R2 with TM (R10) ................................ Missile ........................... 27.41 Surface .......................... 4 

AGM–114 R–9E with TM (R11) ........................... Missile ........................... 27.38 Surface .......................... 4

AGM–114Q with TM ............................................. Missile ........................... 20.16 Surface .......................... 4 

CBU–105D ............................................................ Bomb ............................. 108.6 HOB .............................. 8 

GBU–53/B (GTV) .................................................. Bomb ............................. a 0.34 HOB/Surface ................. 8 

GBU–39 SDB (GTV) ............................................ Bomb ............................. a 0.39 Surface .......................... 4 

AGM–88C w/FTS ................................................. Missile ........................... a 0.70 Surface .......................... 2 

AGM–88B w/FTS .................................................. Missile ........................... a 0.70 Surface .......................... 2 

AGM–88F w/FTS .................................................. Missile ........................... a 0.70 Surface .......................... 2 

AGM–88G w/FTS ................................................. Missile ........................... a 0.70 Surface .......................... 2 

AGM–179 JAGM .................................................. Missile ........................... 27.47 Surface .......................... 4 

GBU–69 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. 6.88 Surface .......................... 2 

GBU–70 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. 6.88 Surface .......................... 1 

AGM–176 ............................................................. Missile ........................... 8.14 Surface .......................... 4 

GBU–54 KMU–572C/B ......................................... Bomb ............................. 193 Surface .......................... 1

AIM–120C3 ........................................................... Missile ........................... 117.94 HOB/Surface ................. 4 

AIM–120B ............................................................. Missile ........................... 102.65 HOB .............................. 18 

AIM–9X Blk I ......................................................... Missile ........................... 60.25 HOB .............................. 7 

AIM–9X Blk I ......................................................... Missile ........................... 67.9 HOB/Surface ................. 10 

AIM–9X Blk II ........................................................ Missile ........................... 60.25 HOB .............................. 24 

AIM–9M–9 ............................................................ Missile ........................... 60.55 HOB .............................. 90 

Inert Munitions 

ADM–160B MALD ................................................ Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 4 

ADM–160C MALD–J ............................................ Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 4 

ADM–160C–1 MALD–J ........................................ Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 4 

ADM–160D MALD–J ............................................ Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–10 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 8 

GBU–12 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 32 

GBU–49 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 16 

GBU–24/B (84) ..................................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 16 

GBU–24A/B (109) ................................................. Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 2 

GBU–31B(v)1 ....................................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 16 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 136 / Monday, July 18, 2022 / Notices 42713 

TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MUNITIONS FOR MISSIONS IN THE EGTTR—Continued 

User group Type Category Net explosive 

weight Destination scenario Annual quantity 

GBU–31C(v)1 ....................................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 16 

GBU–31B(v)3 ....................................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 2 

GBU–31C(v)3 ....................................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 2 

GBU–32C ............................................................. Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 8 

GBU–38B ............................................................. Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–38C w/BDU–50 (No TM) ............................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–38C ............................................................. Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 10 

GBU–54 KMU–572C/B ......................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–54 KMU–572B/B ......................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–69 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 2 

BDU–56A/B .......................................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 4 

PGU–27 (20 mm) ................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... 0.09 N/A ................................ 16,000 

PGU–15 (30 mm) ................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... N/A N/A ................................ 16,000 

PGU–25 (25 mm) ................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... N/A N/A ................................ 16,000 

ALE–50 ................................................................. Decoy System ............... N/A N/A ................................ 6 

AIM–260A JATM .................................................. Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 4 

PGU–27 (20 mm) ................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... N/A N/A ................................ 80,000 

PGU–23 (25 mm) ................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... N/A N/A ................................ 6,000 

MJU–7A/B Flare ................................................... Flare .............................. N/A N/A ................................ 1,800 

R–188 Chaff ......................................................... Chaff .............................. N/A N/A ................................ 6,000 

R–196 (T–1) Chaff ................................................ Chaff .............................. N/A N/A ................................ 1,500 

Live Munitions 

AFSOC ............................ 105 mm HE (FU) .................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... 4.7 Surface .......................... 750 

105 mm HE (TR) .................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... 0.35 Surface .......................... 1,350 

30 mm HE ............................................................ Gun Ammunition ........... 0.1 Surface .......................... 35,000 

AGM–176 Griffin ................................................... Missile ........................... 4.58 HOB .............................. 100 

AGM–114R9E/R2 Hellfire ..................................... Missile ........................... 20.0 HOB .............................. 70 

2.75-inch Rocket (including APKWS) ................... Rocket ........................... 2.3 Surface .......................... 400 

GBU–12 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. 198.0/298.0 Surface .......................... 30 

Mk-81 (GP 250 lb) ................................................ Bomb ............................. 151.0 Surface .......................... 30 

GBU–39 (SDB I) ................................................... Bomb ............................. 37.0 HOB .............................. 30 

GBU–69 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. 36.0 HOB .............................. 40 

Inert Munitions 

.50 caliber ............................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... N/A N/A ................................ 30,000 

GBU–12 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 30 

MkK–81 (GP 250 lb) ............................................. Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 30 

BDU–50 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 30 

BDU–33 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 50 

Live Munitions 

96 OG ............................. AGM–176 Griffin ................................................... Missile ........................... 4.58 Surface .......................... 10 

AGM–114 Hellfire ................................................. Missile ........................... 20.0 Surface .......................... 10 

GBU–39 (SDB I) ................................................... Bomb ............................. 37.0 Surface .......................... 6 

GBU–39 (LSDB) ................................................... Bomb ............................. 37.0 Surface .......................... 10 

105 mm HE (FU) .................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... 4.7 Surface .......................... 60 

105 mm HE (TR) .................................................. Gun Ammunition ........... 0.35 Surface .......................... 60 

30 mm HE ............................................................ Gun Ammunition ........... 0.1 Surface .......................... 99 

AGM–114R Hellfire ............................................... Missile ........................... 20.0 Surface .......................... 36 

AIM–9X ................................................................. Missile ........................... 7.9 HOB .............................. 1 

GBU–39B/B LSDB ................................................ Bomb ............................. 37.0 Surface .......................... 2 

AGM–158 (JASSM) .............................................. Missile ........................... 240.26 Surface .......................... 2 

GBU–39 (SDB I) ................................................... Bomb ............................. 37.0 HOB/Surface ................. 2 

GBU–39 (SDB I) Simultaneous Launch b ............. Bomb ............................. 74.0 HOB/Surface ................. 2 

GBU–53 (SDB II) .................................................. Bomb ............................. 22.84 HOB/Surface ................. 2 

AGM–114L Longbow ............................................ Missile ........................... 35.95 HOB .............................. 6 

AGM–179A JAGM ................................................ Missile ........................... 27.47 HOB .............................. 8 

Spike NLOS .......................................................... Missile ........................... 34.08 Surface .......................... 3 

PAC–2 .................................................................. Missile ........................... c 145.0 N/A (drone target) ......... 2 

PAC–3 .................................................................. Missile ........................... c 145.0 N/A (drone target) ......... 2 

HACM ................................................................... Hypersonic Weapon ...... e 350 Surface .......................... 1 

PrSM ..................................................................... Hypersonic Weapon ...... e 46 HOB .............................. 2 

SINKEX ................................................................ Vessel Sinking Exercise Not Available Not Available ................. 2 

GBU–10, 24, or 31 (QUICKSINK) ........................ Bomb ............................. 945 Subsurface .................... 4 to 8 

2,000 lb bomb with JDAM kit ............................... Bomb ............................. 945 or less HOB .............................. 2 

Inert GBU–39 (LSDB) with live fuze .................... Bomb ............................. 0.4 HOB/Surface ................. 4 

Inert GBU–53 (SDB II) with live fuze ................... Bomb ............................. 0.4 HOB/Surface ................. 4 

Inert Munitions 

GBU–39B/B LSDB ................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 2 

GBU–49 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 10 

GBU–48 ................................................................ Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 1 

AGM–158 (JASSM) .............................................. Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–39 (SDB I) ................................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–39 (SDB I) Simultaneous Launch ............... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 4 

GBU–53 (SDB II) .................................................. Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 1 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES

I I I 
42714 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 136 / Monday, July 18, 2022 / Notices 

TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MUNITIONS FOR MISSIONS IN THE EGTTR—Continued 

User group Type Category Net explosive 

weight Destination scenario Annual quantity 

AIM–260 JATM—Inert .......................................... Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 6 

AIM–9X—Inert ...................................................... Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 10 

AIM–120 AMRAAM—Inert .................................... Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 15 

PrSM—Inert .......................................................... Hypersonic Weapon ...... N/A N/A ................................ 2 

SiAW AARGM–ER ............................................... Missile ........................... N/A N/A ................................ 7 

Multipurpose Booster ............................................ Booster .......................... N/A N/A ................................ 1 

JDAM ER .............................................................. Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 3 

Navy HAAWC ....................................................... Torpedo ......................... N/A N/A ................................ 2 

Mk-84 (GP 2,000 lb) c ........................................... Bomb ............................. N/A N/A ................................ 9 

NAVSCOLEOD ............... Underwater Mine Charge ..................................... Charge .......................... d 20 Subsurface .................... 32 

Floating Mine Charge ........................................... Charge .......................... d 5 Surface .......................... 80 

aWarhead replaced by FTS/TM. Identified 1 NEW is for the FTS. 

b NEW is doubled for simultaneous launch. 

cAssumed for impact analysis. 

dEstimated. 

e NEW at impact/detonation 53 WEG = 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group; 780 TS = 780th Test Squadron; 96 OG = 96th Operations Group; AARGMER = Advanced 

Anti-Radiation Guided Missile—Extended Range; ABMS = Advanced Battle Management System; ADM = American Decoy Missile; AFSOC = Air Force Special Operations Command; AGM = Air-to-Ground Missile; AIM = Air Intercept Missile; ALE = Ammunition Loading Equipment; AMRAAM = Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air 

Missile; APKWS = Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System; BDU = Bomb Dummy Unit; C–RAM = Counter, Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar; CBU = Cluster Bomb Unit; 

EGTTR = Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range; ER = Extended Range; FTS = Flight Termination System; FU = Full Up; GBU = Guided Bomb Unit; GP = General Purpose; GTV = Guided Test Vehicle; HAAWC = High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability; HACM = Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile; HE = High Explosive; HOB = height of burst; JDAM = Joint Direct Attack Munition; JAGM = Joint Air-to-Ground Missile; JASSM = Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile; JATM = Joint 

Advanced Tactical Missile; LAICRM = Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measure; lb = pound(s); LSDB = Laser Small-Diameter Bomb; MALD = Miniature Air-Launched 

Decoy; MJU = Mobile Jettison Unit; Mk = Mark; mm = millimeter(s); N/A = not applicable; NLOS = Non-Line-of-Sight; NAVSCOLEOD = Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal; PAC = Patriot Advanced Capability; PGU = Projectile Gun Unit; SDB = Small-Diameter Bomb; SiAW = Stand-in Attack Weapon; SRI = Santa Rosa 

Island; TA = Test Area; TBD = to be determined; TM = telemetry; TR = Training Round. 

Information Solicited 

Interested persons may submit 

information, suggestions, and comments 

concerning the USAF’s request (see 

ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all 

information, suggestions, and comments 

related to the request during the 

development of proposed regulations 

governing the incidental taking of 

marine mammals by the USAF, if 

appropriate. 

Dated: July 12, 2022. 

Catherine Marzin, 

Deputy Director, Office of Protected 

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–15208 Filed 7–15–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID: 0648–XC152] 

Research Track Assessment for 

American Plaice 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: NMFS will convene the 

Research Track Assessment Peer Review 

Meeting for the purpose of reviewing 

American plaice. The Research Track 

Assessment Peer Review is a formal 

scientific peer-review process for 

evaluating and presenting stock 

assessment results to managers for fish 

stocks in the offshore U.S. waters of the 

northwest Atlantic. Assessments are 

prepared by the research track working 

group and reviewed by an independent 

panel of stock assessment experts from 

the Center of Independent Experts (CIE). 

The public is invited to attend the 

presentations and discussions between 

the review panel and the scientists who 

have participated in the stock 

assessment process. 

DATES: The public portion of the 

Research Track Assessment Peer Review 

Meeting will be held from July 18, 

2022–July 21, 2022. The meeting will 

conclude on July 21, 2022 at 12 p.m. 

Eastern Standard Time. Please see 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the 

daily meeting agenda. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via WebEx. 

Link: https://noaanmfs-meets.

webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/ 

j.php?MTID=mf97d5121d96d26f3

6e88243f0dd9e013. 

Meeting number (access code): 2763 

669 5649. 

Meeting password: mP4vVXESd74. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michele Traver, phone: 508–257–1642; 

email: michele.traver@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For 

further information, please visit the 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

(NEFSC) website at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-englandmid-atlantic/population-assessments/ 

fishery-stock-assessments-new-englandand-mid-atlantic. For additional 

information about research track stock 

assessments, please visit the NEFSC 

web page at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-englandmid-atlantic/population-assessments/ 

research-track-stock-assessments. 

Daily Meeting Agenda—Research Track 

Peer Review Meeting 

The agenda is subject to change; all 

times are approximate and may be 

changed at the discretion of the Peer 

Review Chair. 

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022 

Time Topic Presenter(s) Notes 

7 a.m.–7:15 a.m ............................. Welcome/Logistics ........................

Introductions/Agenda/Conduct of 

Meeting.

Michele Traver, Assessment 

Process Lead.

Russ Brown, PopDy Branch Chief 

Yong Chen, Panel Chair.

7:15 a.m.–7:45 a.m ........................ Introduction and Overview ............ Steve Cadrin.

7:45 a.m.–8:45 a.m ........................ Term of Reference (TOR) #1 ....... Lisa Kerr and Jamie Behan .......... Environmental Effects. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES