60-Day FRN

17422

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 48 / Monday, March 11, 2024 / Notices
TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS
Authorized
take

Species
Rice’s whale .....................................................................................................
Sperm whale ....................................................................................................
Kogia spp .........................................................................................................
Beaked whales ................................................................................................
Rough-toothed dolphin ....................................................................................
Bottlenose dolphin ...........................................................................................
Clymene dolphin ..............................................................................................
Atlantic spotted dolphin ...................................................................................
Pantropical spotted dolphin .............................................................................
Spinner dolphin ................................................................................................
Striped dolphin .................................................................................................
Fraser’s dolphin ...............................................................................................
Risso’s dolphin .................................................................................................
Melon-headed whale .......................................................................................
Pygmy killer whale ...........................................................................................
False killer whale .............................................................................................
Killer whale ......................................................................................................
Short-finned pilot whale ...................................................................................

2
1,657
3 626
7,314
1,258
5,959
3,539
2,380
16,058
4,303
1,382
397
1,040
2,325
547
870
7
673

Scaled take 1
n/a
700.9
190.4
738.7
360.9
1,710.1
1,015.6
683.1
4,608.7
1,234.9
396.7
114.0
306.7
685.9
161.4
256.8
n/a
198.4

Abundance 2
51
2,207
4,373
3,768
4,853
176,108
11,895
74,785
102,361
25,114
5,229
1,665
3,764
7,003
2,126
3,204
267
1,981

Percent
abundance
3.9
31.8
5.1
19.6
7.4
1.0
8.5
0.9
4.5
4.9
7.6
6.8
8.1
9.8
7.6
8.0
2.6
10.0

1 Scalar ratios were applied to ‘‘Authorized Take’’ values as described at 86 FR 5322 and 86 FR 5404 (January 19, 2021) to derive scaled take
numbers shown here.
2 Best 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 Rice’s whale and the killer whale, the larger estimated SAR abundance estimate is used.
3 Includes 33 takes by Level A harassment and 593 takes by Level B harassment. Scalar ratio is applied to takes by Level B harassment only;
small numbers determination made on basis of scaled Level B harassment take plus authorized Level A harassment take.

Based on the analysis contained
herein of Shell’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.

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
Shell authorizing the take of marine
mammals incidental to its geophysical
survey activity, as described above.

ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1

Dated: March 5, 2024.
Catherine Marzin,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–05082 Filed 3–8–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

18:24 Mar 08, 2024

National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species Vessel and Gear Marking
National Oceanic &
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection,
request for comment.
AGENCY:

Authorization

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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The Department of
Commerce, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), invites the general public and
other Federal agencies to comment on
proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. The purpose of this
notice is to allow for 60 days of public
comment preceding submission of the
collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received
on or before May 10, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer,
at [email protected]. Please
SUMMARY:

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reference OMB Control Number 0648–
0373 in the subject line of your
comments. Do not submit Confidential
Business Information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection
activities should be directed to Clifford
Hutt, Fishery Management Specialist,
NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory
Species Management Division, 1315
East-West Highway, SSMC3, Silver
Spring, MD 20910; 301–427–8542; or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a
current information collection. These
requirements apply to vessel owners in
the Atlantic highly migratory species
(HMS) Fishery. Under current
regulations at 50 CFR 635.6, fishing
vessels permitted for Atlantic HMS
fisheries must display their official
vessel numbers on their vessels.
Flotation devices and high-flyers
attached to certain fishing gears must
also be marked with the vessel’s official
number to identify the vessel to which
the gear belongs. These requirements are
necessary for identification, law
enforcement, and monitoring purposes.
Specifically, all vessel owners that
hold a valid Atlantic HMS permit under
50 CFR 635.4, other than an Atlantic
HMS Angling permit, are required to

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 48 / Monday, March 11, 2024 / Notices
display their official vessel
identification number. Numbers must be
permanently affixed to, or painted on,
the port and starboard sides of the
deckhouse or hull and on an
appropriate weather deck, so as to be
clearly visible from an enforcement
vessel or aircraft. In block Arabic
numerals permanently affixed to or
painted on the vessel in contrasting
color to the background. At least 18
inches (45.7 cm) in height for vessels
over 65 ft (19.8 m) in length; at least 10
inches (25.4 cm) in height for all other
vessels over 25 ft (7.6 m) in length; and
at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) in height for
vessels 25 ft (7.6 m) in length or less.
Furthermore, the owner or operator of
a vessel for which a permit has been
issued under § 635.4 and that uses
handline, buoy gear, harpoon, longline,
or gillnet, must display the vessel’s
name, registration number or Atlantic
Tunas, Atlantic HMS Angling, or
Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit
number on each float attached to a
handline, buoy gear, or harpoon, and on
the terminal floats and high-flyers (if
applicable) on a longline or gillnet used
by the vessel. The vessel’s name or
number must be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
in height in block letters or arabic
numerals in a color that contrasts with
the background color of the float or
high-flyer.

ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1

II. Method of Collection
There is no form or information
collected under this requirement.
Official vessel numbers issued to vessel
operators are marked on the vessel and
on flotation gear, if applicable.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0373.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a current information
collection).
Affected Public: Non-profit
institutions; State, local, or tribal
government; business or other for-profit
organizations (vessel owners).
Estimated Number of Respondents:
4,212.
Estimated Time per Response: 45
minutes to mark the vessel; 15 minutes
each to mark highflyers, buoys, and
floats.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 4,950 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $513,810.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975
(16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.)

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18:24 Mar 08, 2024

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IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department/Bureau to: (a)
Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
accuracy of our estimate of the time and
cost burden for this proposed collection,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
Evaluate ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) Minimize the
reporting burden on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs,
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024–05134 Filed 3–8–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD533]

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Eareckson Air
Station Fuel Pier Repair in Alcan
Harbor on Shemya Island, Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental
harassment authorization.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the
regulations implementing the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as
amended, notification is hereby given
that NMFS has issued an incidental

SUMMARY:

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17423

harassment authorization (IHA) to the
Pacific Air Forces Regional Support
Center (USAF) to incidentally harass
marine mammals during construction
activities associated with the Eareckson
Air Station (EAS) Fuel Pier Repair in
Alcan Harbor, Shemya Island, Alaska.
There are no changes from the proposed
authorization in this final authorization.
DATES: This authorization is effective
from April 1, 2024 through March 31,
2025.
Electronic copies of the
application and supporting documents,
as well as a list of the references cited
in this document cited in this
document, may be obtained online at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizationsconstruction-activities. In case of
problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate
Fleming, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:

Background
The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of
marine mammals, with certain
exceptions. 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
proposed or, if the taking is limited to
harassment, a notice of a proposed IHA
is provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings
shall be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s) and will not have
an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
taking for subsistence uses (where
relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe
the permissible methods of taking and
other ‘‘means of effecting the least
practicable adverse impact’’ on the
affected species or stocks and their
habitat, paying particular attention to
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of
similar significance, and on the
availability of the species or stocks for
taking for certain subsistence uses
(referred to in shorthand as
‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring
and reporting of the takings are set forth.
The definitions of all applicable MMPA

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