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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 175 / Wednesday, September 9, 2020 / Notices
assume that they are small relative to any reasonable assumption of likely population abundance for these stocks. For reference, current abundance estimates for other Pacific beaked whale stocks include 3,044 Mesoplodont beaked whales (California/Oregon/ Washington stock), 3,274 Cuvier’s beaked whales (CA/OR/WA stock), 2,105 Blainville’s beaked whales (Hawaii Pelagic stock), 7,619 Longman’s beaked whales (Hawaii stock), and 723 Cuvier’s beaked whales (HI Pelagic stock). For the offshore stock of killer whale, it would be unreasonable to assume that all takes would accrue to this stock (which would result in the take of 47 percent of the population). During surveys from the Kenai Fjords to Amchitka Pass in the central Aleutian Islands, 59 groups totaling 1,038 individual killer whales were seen, including 39 (66 percent) residents, 14 (24 percent) transients, 2 (3 percent) offshore, and 4 (7 percent) unknown (Wade et al., 2003). Based on this information, we assume it relatively unlikely that encountered killer whales will be of the offshore stock, and that take of offshore killer whales, if any, would be of small numbers. Based on the analysis contained herein of the activity (including the mitigation and monitoring measures) and the anticipated take of marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals will be taken relative to the population size of the affected species or stocks. Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis and Determination There is some sealing by indigenous groups in the survey area in the Aleutian Islands. However, given the temporary nature of the planned activities and the fact that all operations would occur more than 3 nmi from shore, the activity would not be expected to have any impact on the availability of the species or stocks for subsistence users. L–DEO conducted outreach to the Aleut Marine Mammal Commission and to the Alaska Sea Otter and Steller Sea Lion Commission to notify subsistence hunters of the planned survey, to identify the measures that would be taken to minimize any effects on the availability of marine mammals for subsistence uses, and to provide an opportunity for comment on these measures. L–DEO received confirmation from the Aleut Marine Mammal Commissioners that there were no concerns regarding the potential effects of the planned survey on the potential availability of marine mammals for subsistence uses. NMFS is
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unaware of any other subsistence uses of the affected marine mammal stocks or species that could be 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. National Environmental Policy Act In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as implemented by the regulations published by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), the National Science Foundation prepared an Environmental Analysis (EA) to consider the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects to the human environment from this marine geophysical survey in the Aleutian Islands. NSF’s EA was made available to the public for review and comment in relation to its suitability for adoption by NMFS in order to assess the impacts to the human environment of issuance of an IHA to L–DEO. In compliance with NEPA and the CEQ regulations, as well as NOAA Administrative Order 216–6, NMFS has reviewed the NSF’s EA, determined it to be sufficient, and adopted that EA and signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). NSF’s EA is available at www.nsf.gov/geo/oce/ envcomp/, and NMFS’ FONSI is available at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ action/incidental-take-authorizationlamont-doherty-earth-observatorymarine-geophysical-survey-2. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 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. The NMFS Office of Protected Resources (OPR) ESA Interagency Cooperation Division issued a Biological Opinion under section 7 of the ESA, on the issuance of an IHA to L–DEO under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA by the NMFS OPR Permits and Conservation Division. The Biological Opinion concluded that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the sei whale, fin whale, blue whale, sperm whale, humpback
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whale (Western North Pacific DPS and Mexico DPS), western North Pacific gray whale, and western DPS of Steller sea lion. Authorization As a result of these determinations, NMFS has issued an IHA to L–DEO for conducting a marine geophysical survey in the Aleutian Islands beginning in September 2020, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. Dated: September 2, 2020. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–19815 Filed 9–8–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XA426]
Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery
Management Council (CFMC) will hold its 171st public meeting (virtual) to address the items contained in the tentative agenda included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The CFMC 171st public meeting (virtual) will be held on September 25, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meeting will be at Eastern Day Time. ADDRESSES: You may join the CFMC 171st public meeting (virtual) via GoToMeeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by entering the following address: CFMC September 25, 2020, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https:// global.gotomeeting.com/join/971749317 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (408) 650–3123. Access Code: 971–749–317. New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when the first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/ 971749317 In case there are problems with GoToMeeting, and we cannot reconnect
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