[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 26828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12082]


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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.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment deadline.

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SUMMARY: Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 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. Please refer to this document for additional 
information on this proposed action. By this document, NMFS announces 
an extension of the comment deadline.

DATES: Comments must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2001. Comments 
will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or the Internet.

ADDRESSES: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead, NMFS (301) 
713-2055, ext 128.
    A copy of the Navy's application is available and may be obtained 
by writing to this address or by telephoning the contact listed here 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 
1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) 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 section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 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. Please refer to this 
document for additional information on this proposed action.
    On April 16, 2001 (66 FR 19413), NMFS announced an extension of the 
comment period until May 18, 2001, and the dates and locations for 
public hearings on this matter. By this document, the comment period 
for this proposed action is hereby extended until May 31, 2001.

    Dated: May 9, 2001.
Wanda Cain,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12082 Filed 5-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S