[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 29 (Monday, February 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7536-7537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1975]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020206A]


Incidental Take of Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Missile Launch Operations from San Nicolas Island, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of issuance of a letter of authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as 
amended, notification is hereby given that a letter of authorization 
(LOA) to take 3 species of marine mammals incidental to missile launch 
operations from San Nicolas Island, CA (SNI) has been issued to the 
Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWC-WD), Point Mugu, CA.

DATES: This authorization is effective from February 3, 2006, through 
February 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The application and LOA are available for review in the 
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Hollingshead or Layne Bolen, 
NMFS, (301) 713-2289.



[[Page 7537]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs 
NMFS to allow, on 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 by NMFS and 
regulations are issued. Under the MMPA, the term ``taking'' means to 
harass, hunt, capture, or kill or to attempt to harass, hunt, capture 
or kill marine mammals.
    Authorization may be granted for periods up to 5 years if NMFS 
finds, after notification and opportunity for public comment, that the 
taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) of 
marine mammals and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses. In 
addition, NMFS must prescribe regulations that include permissible 
methods of taking and other means effecting the least practicable 
adverse impact on the species and its habitat and on the availability 
of the species for subsistence uses, paying particular attention to 
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance. The 
regulations must include requirements pertaining to the monitoring and 
reporting of such taking. Regulations governing the taking incidental 
to target missile operations on San Nicolas Island, CA, were published 
on September 2, 2003 (68 FR 52132), and remain in effect until October 
2, 2008.
    Pursuant to these regulations, NMFS has issued an LOA to the NAWC-
WD. Issuance of the LOA is based on findings made in the preamble to 
the final rule that the total takings by this project will result in 
only small numbers (as the term is defined in 50 CFR 216.103) of marine 
mammals being taken. In addition, given the implementation of the 
mitigation requirements contained in the LOA, the resultant incidental 
harassment will have no more than a negligible impact on the affected 
marine mammal stocks or habitats and will not have an unmitigable 
adverse impact on the availability of such species or stock for taking 
for subsistence uses. NMFS also finds that the applicant will meet the 
requirements contained in the implementing regulations and LOA, 
including monitoring and reporting requirements. This LOA will be 
renewed annually based on a review of the activity, completion of 
monitoring requirements and receipt of reports required by the LOA.

    Dated: February 3, 2006.
James H. Lecky,
Director Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-1975 Filed 2-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S