[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19413-19414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9265]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 216

[Docket No. 990927266-0240-02; I.D. 072699A]
RIN 0648-AM62


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System 
Low Frequency Active Sonar

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

[[Page 19414]]


ACTION: Notice of public hearings and extension of comment deadline.

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SUMMARY: By this document, NMFS announces the times, dates, and 
locations for public hearings in order to receive comments from the 
general public on the U.S. Navy's application for a Letter of 
Authorization for the take of small numbers of marine mammals by 
harassment incidental to Navy operations of the Surveillance Towed 
Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar. NMFS also 
announces an extension of the comment deadline in order to allow the 
public sufficient time following the close of the public hearings to 
submit written comments.

DATES: Public hearings on the proposed rule are scheduled as follows:
    1. April 26, 2001, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Los Angeles, CA.
    2. April 28, 2001, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Honolulu, HI.
    3. May 3, 2001 9 a.m. - 12 noon, Silver Spring, MD.
    Comments must be postmarked no later than May 18, 2001. Comments 
will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at the following locations:
    1. Los Angeles: Renaissance Hotel,9620 Airport Boulevard, Los 
Angeles, CA.
    2. Honolulu: Marriott Waikiki Beach Hotel, 2552 Kalakaua Avenue, 
Honolulu, HI.
    3. Silver Spring: Silver Spring Metro Center Building 4, 
Auditorium, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD.
    Comments should be addressed to Donna Wieting, Chief, Marine Mammal 
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3226.
    A copy of the Navy's application is available and may be obtained 
by writing to this address or by telephoning one of the contact listed 
here.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead, NMFS (301) 
713-2055, ext 128 or Christina Fahy, (562) 980-4023.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 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. Permission may be granted for periods of 5 
years or less if the Secretary finds that the taking will be small, 
have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) of affected marine 
mammals, and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses, and if 
regulations are prescribed setting forth the permissible methods of 
taking and the requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting 
of such taking.
    Under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, on March 19, 2001, NMFS 
published a proposed rule (66 FR 15375) to authorize the taking of 
marine mammals incidental to the world-wide deployment of the U.S. 
Navy's SURTASS LFA sonar. That document noted that public hearings 
would be held, if requested. On March 26, 2001, NMFS received the first 
of numerous requests for a hearing and has determined that public 
hearings are warranted. In addition, to allow the public sufficient 
time after the public hearing to submit written comments, NMFS has 
extended the deadline for public comment from May 3, 2001, to May 18, 
2001.
    At the public hearings, a brief presentation will precede a request 
for public information and comments. Those who intend to speak will be 
asked to submit a speaker card (available at the door). Although oral 
comments will be heard, all statements, including graphics, should be 
submitted in writing to assure an accurate public record. All 
statements and documents submitted will become part of the public 
record on this rulemaking. Questions limited to NMFS' responsibilities 
under the MMPA regarding the subject action must be made during the 
speaker's comment time.
    Speakers will have the option to submit additional, supplemental, 
or replacement comments prior to the deadline for the public comment. 
If 20 or more speaker cards are received at either hearing, NMFS may 
request all speakers to limit their presentations to 3 to 5 minutes, in 
order to allow all potential speakers the opportunity to present their 
statements.
    These hearings will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other aids 
should be directed to one of the contacts listed (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 10 days prior to the hearing date.

    Dated: April 4, 2001.
Donald R. Knowles,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-9265 Filed 4-12-01; 10:53 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S