Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2017/08/29/2017-18260.html
Timestamp: 2019-12-11 19:45:31
Document Index: 593104645

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 218', 'art 218', 'art 218', 'art 218', 'art 218', 'art 218']

Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron Conducting Long Range Strike Weapons System Evaluation Program, 40998-40999 [2017-18260] :: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration :: Department Of Commerce :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Commerce National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron Conducting Long Range Strike Weapons System Evaluation Program, 40998-40999 [2017-18260]
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron Conducting Long Range Strike Weapons System Evaluation Program, 40998-40999 [2017-18260]
Download as PDF 40998 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 29, 2017 / Notices Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Sacramento River Winter Chinook Workgroup 8 a.m. Salmon Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants 3 p.m. Day 4—Thursday, September 14, 2017 California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Ecosystem Workgroup 8 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Management Team 8 a.m. Scientific and Statistical Committee Ecosystem Subcommittee 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad Hoc Groundfish Stock Assessment Presentation/Q & A 7:30 p.m. California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad Hoc Day 6—Saturday, September 16, 2017 California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad Hoc Day 7—Sunday, September 17, 2017 California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad Hoc sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Day 8—Monday, September 18, 2017 California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before the Pacific Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be 18:45 Aug 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at (503) 820–2280, ext. 411 at least 10 business days prior to the meeting date. Dated: August 24, 2017. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–18277 Filed 8–24–17; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Day 5—Friday, September 15, 2017 VerDate Sep<11>2014 restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice 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 Pacific Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF608 Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron Conducting Long Range Strike Weapons System Evaluation Program National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of issuance of Letter of Authorization. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and implementing regulations, notice is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) 86 Fighter Weapon Squadron (86 FWS) to take marine mammals incidental to Long Range Strike (LRS) Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) exercises on the Barking Sands Underwater Range Expansion (BSURE) area of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kauai, Hawaii. These activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 (NDAA). This LOA is valid from August 21, 2017, through August 20, 2022. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The LOA and supporting documents may be obtained online at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental/military.htm. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jaclyn Daly, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 301–427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Background Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA directs the Secretary of Commerce 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 regulations are issued. Under the MMPA, the term ‘‘take’’ means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill marine mammals. NMFS has been delegated the authority to issue regulations and Letters of Authorizations allowing the take of marine mammals incidental to specified activities. The NDAA (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).’’ An authorization for incidental taking 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 E:\FR\FM\29AUN1.SGM 29AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 29, 2017 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ Regulations governing the taking of individuals of 16 species of marine mammals, representing 16 stocks, by Level B harassment, and 4 of those same species by Level A harassment, incidental to 86 FWS LRS WSEP training activities are valid from August 21, 2017, through August 20, 2022 and are codified at 50 CFR part 218, subpart F. The regulations include mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements. Pursuant to those regulations, NMFS issued a five-year LOA for the incidental take of marine mammals during training activities on BSURE area of the PMRF on April 21, 2017. For detailed information on this action, please refer to the August 22, 2017 Federal Register notice (82 FR 39684) and 50 CFR part 218, subpart F. Summary of Request On December 21, 2016, NMFS received an adequate and complete application from the 86 FWS for regulations governing the taking of 16 species of marine mammals representing 16 stocks incidental to LRS WSEP activities in the BSURE of the PMRF off Kauai, Hawaii. On January 6, 2017, we published a notice of receipt of the 86 FWS’s application in the Federal Register (82 FR 1702) requesting public comment on the application and subsequently published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register on May 5, 2017 (82 FR 21156) requesting public comment on the proposed rule. Since publishing the proposed rule, the 86 FWS clarified training would only occur four days per year, not five as presented in the application and proposed rule. Moreover, the 86 FWS decreased the number of munitions it would deploy annually, by 40 to 92 percent depending on year. This decreases the number of anticipated and authorized takes for this activity compared to what was presented in the proposed rule. In addition, NMFS worked with the 86 FWS to develop a comprehensive marine mammal mitigation and monitoring plan designed to decrease potential impacts to marine mammals. To support issuance of the LOA, NMFS adopted the 86 FWS’ Final Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment (EA/OEA) for the Long Range Strike Weapon Systems Evaluation Program at Kauai, Hawaii, and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on August 11, 2017. The final rule (82 FR 39684, August 22, 2017) and 86 FWS EA/OEA include a complete description of the 86 FWS’s VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:45 Aug 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 specified training activities incidental to which NMFS is authorizing take of marine mammals. Air-to-surface exercises involving surface and slightly subsurface live munition detonations are the stressors most likely to result in impacts on marine mammals that could rise to the level of harassment. Authorization We have issued a LOA to the 86 FWS authorizing the take of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to LRS WSEP training activities on the BSURE area of the PMRF as described above. The level and type of take authorized by the LOA is the same as the level and type of take analyzed in the final rule (82 FR 39864, August 22, 2017). Take by mortality or serious injury is not anticipated or authorized. Take of marine mammals will be minimized through implementation of mitigation and monitoring measures, including: Aerial surveys using sensor pods and range camera monitoring before, during, and after training; delaying exercises if a marine mammal is observed within an exclusion zone to avoid exposing marine mammals to levels of explosives likely to result in injury or death; delaying exercises if marine mammals are observed within a designated harassment zone if take is exceeded or not authorized, and shifting target coordinates as far from an observed marine mammal as possible. The 86 FWS is required to also comply with monitoring and reporting measures under 50 CFR 218.55 which includes collecting data from the PMRF hydrophones to better understand impacts, if any, of LRS WSEP training activities on marine mammals. Additionally, the rule and LOA include an adaptive management component that allows for timely modification of mitigation or monitoring measures based on new information, when appropriate. For full details on the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements, please refer to the final rule (82 FR 39684; August 22 2017). Issuance of the LOA is based on findings, described in the preamble to the final rule, that the total taking of marine mammals incidental to the 86 FWS’s training activities on the PMRF will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species or stocks and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for subsistence purposes. The LOA will remain valid through August 20, 2022, provided the 86 FWS remains in conformance with the conditions of the regulations and the LOA, including the mitigation, PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40999 monitoring, and reporting requirements described in 50 CFR part 218, subpart F and the LOA. Dated: August 24, 2017. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–18260 Filed 8–28–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF644 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a 3-day meeting of its Standing, Reef Fish, and Socioeconomics Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC). DATES: The meeting will convene on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, September 13, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, September 14, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Gulf Council’s Conference Room. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Senior Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; steven.atran@gulfcouncil.org, telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Day 1—Tuesday, September 12, 2017; 9 a.m.–5 p.m. I. Introductions and Adoption of Agenda II. Approval of Minutes a. March 27–29, 2017 SSC meeting b. May 10, 2017 SSC webinar III. Selection of SSC representative at October 2–5, 2017 Council meeting in Biloxi, MS Standing and Socioeconomic SSC Session IV. Grouper and Tilefish 5-year IFQ Review a. Safety at sea b. Stakeholders survey E:\FR\FM\29AUN1.SGM 29AUN1
[FR Doc No: 2017-18260]
RIN 0648-XF608
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter
Weapons Squadron Conducting Long Range Strike Weapons System Evaluation
implementing regulations, notice is hereby given that a Letter of
Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) 86
Fighter Weapon Squadron (86 FWS) to take marine mammals incidental to
Long Range Strike (LRS) Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP)
exercises on the Barking Sands Underwater Range Expansion (BSURE) area
of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kauai, Hawaii. These
MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004
DATES: This LOA is valid from August 21, 2017, through August 20, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting documents may be obtained online at:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. In case of
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA directs the Secretary of Commerce
to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of
mammals. NMFS has been delegated the authority to issue regulations and
Letters of Authorizations allowing the take of marine mammals
incidental to specified activities.
``(i) Any act that injures or has the significant potential to injure a
B Harassment).''
An authorization for incidental taking shall be granted if NMFS
stock(s); will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
relevant); and, if the permissible methods of taking and requirements
Regulations governing the taking of individuals of 16 species of
marine mammals, representing 16 stocks, by Level B harassment, and 4 of
those same species by Level A harassment, incidental to 86 FWS LRS WSEP
training activities are valid from August 21, 2017, through August 20,
2022 and are codified at 50 CFR part 218, subpart F. The regulations
include mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements. Pursuant to
those regulations, NMFS issued a five-year LOA for the incidental take
of marine mammals during training activities on BSURE area of the PMRF
on April 21, 2017. For detailed information on this action, please
refer to the August 22, 2017 Federal Register notice (82 FR 39684) and
50 CFR part 218, subpart F.
On December 21, 2016, NMFS received an adequate and complete
application from the 86 FWS for regulations governing the taking of 16
species of marine mammals representing 16 stocks incidental to LRS WSEP
activities in the BSURE of the PMRF off Kauai, Hawaii. On January 6,
2017, we published a notice of receipt of the 86 FWS's application in
the Federal Register (82 FR 1702) requesting public comment on the
application and subsequently published a notice of proposed rulemaking
in the Federal Register on May 5, 2017 (82 FR 21156) requesting public
comment on the proposed rule. Since publishing the proposed rule, the
86 FWS clarified training would only occur four days per year, not five
as presented in the application and proposed rule. Moreover, the 86 FWS
decreased the number of munitions it would deploy annually, by 40 to 92
percent depending on year. This decreases the number of anticipated and
authorized takes for this activity compared to what was presented in
the proposed rule. In addition, NMFS worked with the 86 FWS to develop
a comprehensive marine mammal mitigation and monitoring plan designed
to decrease potential impacts to marine mammals. To support issuance of
the LOA, NMFS adopted the 86 FWS' Final Environmental Assessment/
Overseas Environmental Assessment (EA/OEA) for the Long Range Strike
Weapon Systems Evaluation Program at Kauai, Hawaii, and issued a
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on August 11, 2017.
The final rule (82 FR 39684, August 22, 2017) and 86 FWS EA/OEA
include a complete description of the 86 FWS's specified training
activities incidental to which NMFS is authorizing take of marine
mammals. Air-to-surface exercises involving surface and slightly
subsurface live munition detonations are the stressors most likely to
result in impacts on marine mammals that could rise to the level of
We have issued a LOA to the 86 FWS authorizing the take of marine
mammals, by harassment, incidental to LRS WSEP training activities on
the BSURE area of the PMRF as described above. The level and type of
take authorized by the LOA is the same as the level and type of take
analyzed in the final rule (82 FR 39864, August 22, 2017). Take by
mortality or serious injury is not anticipated or authorized. Take of
marine mammals will be minimized through implementation of mitigation
and monitoring measures, including: Aerial surveys using sensor pods
and range camera monitoring before, during, and after training;
delaying exercises if a marine mammal is observed within an exclusion
zone to avoid exposing marine mammals to levels of explosives likely to
result in injury or death; delaying exercises if marine mammals are
observed within a designated harassment zone if take is exceeded or not
authorized, and shifting target coordinates as far from an observed
marine mammal as possible. The 86 FWS is required to also comply with
monitoring and reporting measures under 50 CFR 218.55 which includes
collecting data from the PMRF hydrophones to better understand impacts,
if any, of LRS WSEP training activities on marine mammals.
Additionally, the rule and LOA include an adaptive management component
that allows for timely modification of mitigation or monitoring
measures based on new information, when appropriate. For full details
on the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements, please refer
to the final rule (82 FR 39684; August 22 2017).
Issuance of the LOA is based on findings, described in the preamble
to the final rule, that the total taking of marine mammals incidental
to the 86 FWS's training activities on the PMRF will have a negligible
impact on the affected marine mammal species or stocks and will not
have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of such species
or stocks for taking for subsistence purposes.
The LOA will remain valid through August 20, 2022, provided the 86
FWS remains in conformance with the conditions of the regulations and
the LOA, including the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements described in 50 CFR part 218, subpart F and the LOA.
[FR Doc. 2017-18260 Filed 8-28-17; 8:45 am]