[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 7589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3419]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL67


Incidental Takes of Marine Mammals During Specified Activities; 
On-ice Marine Geophysical and Seismic Operations in State/OCS Waters of 
the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska

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

ACTION: Notice, withdrawal of an incidental take authorization 
application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that CGGVeritas Land, Inc. (Veritas) 
has withdrawn its application for an Incidental Harassment 
Authorization (IHA). The following action is related to a proposed IHA 
to Veritas for the take of small numbers of marine mammals, by Level B 
harassment only, incidental to conducting an on-ice marine geophysical 
research and seismic survey in the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska from 
February to May, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The documents and the application related to this action are 
available by writing to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation, 
and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3225, or by telephoning the contact listed here.
    A copy of the application containing a list of the references used 
in this document may be obtained by writing to the address specified 
above, telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT), or online at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. Documents cited in this notice may be viewed, 
by appointment, during regular business hours, at the aforementioned 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Goldstein or Ken Hollingshead, 
NMFS, 301-713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 6, 2008, NMFS received an 
application from Veritas requesting an IHA. The requested IHA was for 
an authorization to take, by Level B harassment, small numbers of 
ringed seals (Phoca hispida) incidental to conducting on-ice seismic 
surveys, north and northwest of Thetis Island in State/OCS waters in 
the Beaufort Sea. On February 9, 2008, NMFS accepted notice from 
Veritas withdrawing their IHA application for the proposed action. 
During a recent aerial survey, Veritas found that unsafe ice conditions 
were present and concluded that such conditions are unsuitable for the 
on-ice seismic survey operations presented in the IHA application 
package. The energy source for the proposed activity was Vibroseis. 
Data acquisition would have begun mid-February and continued until the 
end of May.

    Dated: February 11, 2009.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3419 Filed 2-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S