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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 123 / Wednesday, June 28, 2023 / Notices
ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and
supporting documentation are available online at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ action/incidental-take-authorization-oiland-gas-industry-geophysical-surveyactivity-gulf-mexico. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed below (see FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Wachtendonk, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427– 8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct 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 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. 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). On January 19, 2021, we issued a final rule with regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activities conducted by oil and gas industry operators, and those
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persons authorized to conduct activities on their behalf (collectively ‘‘industry operators’’), in Federal waters of the U.S. GOM over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322, January 19, 2021). The rule was based on our findings that the total taking from the specified activities over the 5-year period will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stock(s) of marine mammals and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species or stocks for subsistence uses. The rule became effective on April 19, 2021. Our regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et seq. allow for the issuance of LOAs to industry operators for the incidental take of marine mammals during geophysical survey activities and prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of affecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat (often referred to as mitigation), as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Under 50 CFR 217.186(e), issuance of an LOA shall be based on a determination that the level of taking will be consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under these regulations and a determination that the amount of take authorized under the LOA is of no more than small numbers. NMFS issued an LOA to Echo on January 5, 2023, for the take of marine mammals incidental to a twodimensional (2D) high resolution seismic survey in Lease Block G14576 (Main Pass Area 91) effective through June 30, 2023. Please see the Federal Register notice of issuance (88 FR 4973, January 26, 2023) for additional detail regarding the LOA and the survey activity. Echo initially anticipated that the activity would occur at some point between January 5 and June 30, 2023. Echo subsequently conveyed to NMFS that the survey would occur later than previously expected. Echo has requested modification to the expiration date of the LOA (from June 30, 2023, to December 31, 2023) to account for any potential delays. There are no other changes to Echo’s planned activity. Since issuance of the LOA, no survey work has occurred. Authorization NMFS has changed the expiration date of the LOA from June 30, 2023 to December 31, 2023. There are no other changes to the LOA as described in the January 26, 2023, Federal Register notice of issuance (88 FR 4973): the specified survey activity; estimated take by incidental harassment; and small
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numbers analysis and determination remain unchanged and are herein incorporated by reference. Dated: June 22, 2023. Kimberly Damon-Randall, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–13717 Filed 6–27–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD103]
Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public hybrid meeting. SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery
Management Council’s (Council) Puerto Rico District Advisory Panel (PR–DAP) will hold a public hybrid meeting to discuss the items contained in the tentative agenda included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The PR–DAP public hybrid meeting will be held on July 18, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Atlantic Standard Time (AST). ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Resort, 7012 Boca de Cangrejos Avenue, Carolina, Puerto Rico 00979. You may join the PR–DAP public hybrid meeting (via Zoom) from a computer, tablet or smartphone by entering the following addresses: Join Zoom Meeting: DAP–PR https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/88004907357? pwd=ZnRPL0g4ekMzWHR JUzA1K1FoRnVOdz09 Meeting ID: 880 0490 7357 Passcode: 849982 One tap mobile +17879451488,, 88004907357#,,,,*849982# Puerto Rico +17879667727,, 88004907357#,,,,*849982# Puerto Rico Dial by your location: • +1 787 945 1488 Puerto Rico • +1 787 966 7727 Puerto Rico • +1 939 945 0244 Puerto Rico • +1 669 444 9171 US Meeting ID: 880 0490 7357 Passcode: 849982 Find your local number: https:// us02web.zoom.us/u/kbtRmz6s7w. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miguel Rolón, Executive Director,
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