[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3092-3095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1030]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA100


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals: Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Navy's Mission Activities at the Naval Surface Warfare 
Center Panama City Division

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of a Letter of Authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as 
amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given 
that NMFS has issued a one-year Letter of Authorization (LOA) to take 
marine mammals by harassment incidental to the U.S. Navy's Research, 
Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) mission activities at the 
Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) to the 
Commander, U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, 110 
Vernon Avenue, Panama City, FL 32407-7001 and persons operating under 
his authority.

DATES: Effective from January 21, 2011, through January 20, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Navy's September 2, 2010, LOA application, the 
LOA, the Navy's 2010 marine species monitoring report and the Navy's 
2010 annual mission activities report 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, by telephoning the contact 
listed here (See FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or online at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. Documents 
cited in this notice may be viewed, by appointment, during regular 
business hours, at the aforementioned address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Guan, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS (301) 713-2289 x137.

[[Page 3093]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs 
the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but 
not intentional taking of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in 
a military readiness activity if certain findings are made and 
regulations are issued.
    Authorization may be granted for periods of 5 years or less 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 subsistence uses. In 
addition, NMFS must prescribe regulations that include permissible 
methods of taking and other means of 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 also must include requirements pertaining to the monitoring 
and reporting of such taking.
    Regulations governing the taking of marine mammals incidental to 
the U.S. Navy's RDT&E activities at the NSWC PCD were published on 
January 21, 2010 (75 FR 3395), and remain in effect through January 21, 
2015. They are codified at 50 CFR part 218 subpart S. These regulations 
include mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements for the 
incidental taking of marine mammals by the Navy's RDT&E activities. For 
detailed information on these actions, please refer to the January 21, 
2010 Federal Register notice and 50 CFR part 218 subpart S.

Summary of LOA Request

    NMFS received an application from the U.S. Navy for an LOA covering 
the Navy's RDT&E activities at NSWC PCD off the U.S. Gulf of Mexico 
under the regulations issued on January 21, 2010 (75 FR 3395). The 
application requested authorization, for a period not to exceed one 
year, to take, by harassment, marine mammals incidental to proposed 
RDT&E activities that involve underwater explosive detonation, 
projectile firing, and sonar testing.

Summary of Activity Under the 2010 LOA

    As described in the Navy's exercise report, which covered the 
period between January and August 2010, the RDT&E activities conducted 
by the Navy were within the scope and amounts contemplated by the final 
rule. None of the testing events exceeded the average annual allotment 
except for the AN/AQS-20 in non-territorial waters, which exceeded the 
annual allotment by 9.3%, but was still within the five-year total 
allotment for this type of event. No test activities involving 
underwater explosive detonations and projectile firing were conducted 
between January and August 2010.
    As shown in Tables 1 and 2, most of the mid-frequency active sonar 
(MFAS) and high-frequency active sonar (HFAS) testing events were far 
below the levels authorized in the annual LOA.

 Table 1--Total Annual Number of Each Type of MFAS and HFAS Listed at 50
 CFR 218.180 Conducted in the NSWC PCD Study Area in Territorial Waters
                   (Number Authorized vs. Conducted).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Number      Number
                  Sonar system                    authorized   conducted
                                                     (hrs)       (hrs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN/SQS-53/56 Kingfisher.........................         3           0
Sub-bottom profiler (2-9 kHz)...................        21           0
REMUS SAS-LF....................................        12          12
REMUS Modem.....................................        25          25
Sub-bottom profiler (2-16 kHz)..................        24          24
AN/SQQ-32.......................................        30           0
REMUS-SAS-LF....................................        20          20
SAS-LF..........................................        35          35
AN/WLD-1RMS-ACL.................................        33.5        26.3
BPAUV Sidescan..................................        25           0
TVSS............................................        15           0
F84Y............................................        15           0
BPAUV Sidescan..................................        25           0
REMUS-SAS-HF....................................        10           0
SAS-HF..........................................        11.5         0
AN/AQS-20 *.....................................       545          27.3
AN/WLD-11 RMS Navigation........................        15           0
BPAUV Sidescan..................................        30           0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In the 2010 LOA, this system was incorrectly listed as the AN/SQS-20.


 Table 2--Total Annual Number of Each Type of MFAS and HFAS Listed at 50
   CFR 218.180 Conducted in the NSWC PCD Study Area in Non-Territorial
                Waters (Number Authorized vs. Conducted).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Number      Number
                  Sonar system                    authorized   conducted
                                                     (hrs)       (hrs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN/SQS-53/56 Kingfisher.........................         1           0
Sub-bottom profiler (2-9 kHz)...................         1           0
REMUS Modem.....................................        12           1.3
Sub-bottom profiler (2-16 kHz)..................         1           0
AN/SQQ-32.......................................         1           0
SAS-LF..........................................         1           0
AN/WLD-1RMS-ACL.................................         5           0
BPAUV Sidescan..................................        38           0
TVSS............................................        16.5         0
F84Y............................................        15           0
REMUS-SAS-HF....................................        25           0
SAS-HF..........................................        15           0
AN/AQS-20 *.....................................        15          16.4
BPAUV Sidescan..................................        25           0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In the 2010 LOA, this system was incorrectly listed as the AN/SQS-20.

Planned Activities for 2010

    In 2010, the Navy expects to conduct the same type and amount of 
RDT&E activities identified in the final rules and 2010 LOA. No 
modification is proposed by the Navy for its planned 2010 activities.

Estimated Take for 2010

    The estimated takes for the Navy's proposed 2010 RDT&E activities 
are the same as those in authorized in 2010. No change has been made in 
the estimated takes from the 2010 LOA.

Summary of Monitoring, Reporting, and Other Requirements Under the 2009 
LOA

Annual Mission Activities Report

    The Navy submitted their 2010 annual mission activities report 
covering the period from January through August 2010 within the 
required timeframes and it is posted on NMFS Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. NMFS has 
reviewed the report and it contains the information required by the 
2010 LOA. The report lists the amount of hours sonar testing was 
conducted between January and August 2010. During this time period, 
NSWC PCD conducted 187.3 hours of sonar testing, 169.6 hours in 
territorial waters (Table 1) and 17.7 hours in non-territorial waters 
(Table 2). No RDT&E activities associated with underwater detonations 
were conducted during this period.

[[Page 3094]]

Monitoring and Annual Monitoring Reports

    In the 2010 LOA to the Navy, it states that the Navy ``shall 
visually survey a minimum of 2 HFAS/MFAS activities and 2 explosive 
events per year'' as monitoring activities for the Navy's NSWC PCD 
RDT&E activities. NMFS realized late that this was an error as this was 
inconsistent with what was agreed upon between NMFS and the Navy. The 
Navy stated, and NMFS agreed, that since the rule and the associated 
LOA was expected to be issued in late January 2010 (it was actually 
issued on January 21, 2010), it would not be feasible to conduct a 
monitoring activity within the remaining eight months of FY 2010 
(between February and September 2010). Therefore, NMFS agreed with the 
Navy that no monitoring would be required for FY 2010. Nevertheless, 
the Navy will be required to monitor a minimum of 2 HFAS/MFAS 
activities and 2 explosive events per year for the remaining four years 
of the rule, given that an adequate number of RDT&E activities will be 
conducted during the period.
    The Navy submitted a marine species monitoring report within the 
required timeframes and it is posted on NMFS Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. The 
monitoring report covers the period between January and August 2010. 
From January to August 2010, there have been no monitoring 
opportunities available for explosive or projectile firing events in 
the NSWC PCD study area as none of these activities were conducted. No 
monitoring was conducted for sonar activities during this period as the 
Navy was working on awarding a monitoring contract and developing 
standard operating procedures. The Navy states that the NSWC PCD 
Environmental Office and Test and Evaluation Branch has since 
identified the appropriate contracting vehicle and worked with the 
consulting firm to develop annual budgetary, scheduling, and monitoring 
support requirements.
    The Navy will conduct two monitoring activities for sonar 
activities and two for explosive events in FY2011.

Integrated Comprehensive Management Program (ICMP) Plan

    The ICMP will be used both as: (1) A planning tool to focus Navy 
monitoring priorities (pursuant to ESA/MMPA requirements) across Navy 
Range Complexes and Exercises; and (2) an adaptive management tool, 
through the consolidation and analysis of the Navy's monitoring and 
marine observer data, as well as new information from other Navy 
programs (e.g., research and development), and other appropriate newly 
published information. The Navy updated its 2010 ICMP Plan and will 
comply with the Plan. The ICMP may be viewed at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm.

NOAA Workshops

    In a January 19, 2010, letter to the Council on Environmental 
Quality, NOAA identified the need for two interrelated workshops on 
marine mammals and sound in the ocean. To address this commitment, NOAA 
is convening two parallel, focused, relatively small, and product-
driven working groups. One will identify and map cetacean ``hot 
spots'', defined as areas of known, or reasonably predictable, 
biological importance (i.e., for reproduction, feeding, migration) and/
or high densities. The second working group will be directed toward 
developing a comprehensive data collection and analysis plan for 
describing and predicting underwater sound fields in different areas. 
The outcomes of these working groups will be integrated and analyzed in 
a broader follow-on symposium to include a larger audience of 
scientists, industries, federal agencies, conservation managers, and 
environmental NGOs. The final products and analyses will provide a more 
robust, comprehensive, and context-specific biological and acoustic 
basis by which to inform subsequent management decisions regarding 
human noise in our oceans. The steering committee has been convened and 
met for the first time in October 2010. The working group efforts 
should take about a year to complete, and we expect the final symposium 
to be held in early 2012. The results of these working groups will be 
analyzed by NMFS in an adaptive management context, as related to the 
Panama City final rule, and mitigation or monitoring measures may be 
modified, as appropriate.

Adaptive Management and 2010 Monitoring Plan

    NMFS and the Navy conducted an adaptive management meeting in 
October 2010 wherein we reviewed the Navy monitoring results through 
August 1, 2010, discussed other Navy research and development efforts, 
and discussed other new information that could potentially inform 
decisions regarding Navy mitigation and monitoring. Since there was no 
monitoring conducted at PCD during the first seven months of 2010 (from 
January 21 to August 1, 2010) as discussed above, no modifications were 
made concerning the monitoring plan for the NSWC PCD RDT&E activities.
    Additionally, the monitoring conducted under the Atlantic Fleet 
Active Sonar Training (AFAST) regulations (which also cover the Gulf of 
Mexico), as well as under the Hawaii Range Complex and Southern 
California (SOCAL) Range Complex regulations, was also considered at 
the October adaptive management meeting. The Navy's implementation of 
the monitoring plans under these other regulations successfully 
contributed to the following larger bodies of data: (1) A greater 
knowledge and understanding of the density and distribution of species 
within the AFAST study area; (2) the vocalizations of different 
species, which advances the development of automated classification 
software; (3) the movement patterns of individual (both vertically in 
the water column as well as horizontally for the duration of a DTAG 
deployment); and (4) observable behavioral patterns of marine mammals, 
before, during, and after exposure to Navy training activities. 
However, while the data collected by the Navy through monitoring and 
reporting builds upon the existing body of information in a valuable 
way, none of the new data contradict, or amend, the assumptions that 
underlie the findings in the 2010 PCD rule in a manner that would 
suggest changing the current mitigation or monitoring.

Authorization

    The Navy complied with the requirements of the 2010 LOA. Based on 
our review of the Navy's annual mission activities report, which shows 
that the amount of sonar testing hours was far below the annual 
authorized levels and that no underwater detonation and projectile 
firing were conducted during FY 2010, NMFS has determined that the 
effects to marine mammals that resulted from the 2010 NWSC PCD RDT&E 
activities were likely lower than analyzed. Although no monitoring 
activities were conducted during the Navy's first seven months' of 
activity for FY 2010, the low level of activity supports a conclusion 
that the total number of marine mammals taken by the RDT&E activities 
at the NSWC PCD will have no more than a negligible impact on the 
affected species or stock of marine mammals. (There is no subsistence 
use of marine mammals that could potentially be impacted by the Navy's 
activities at NSWC PCD.) Accordingly, NMFS has issued a one-year LOA 
for Navy RDT&E activities at the NSWC PCD from January 21, 2011, 
through January 20, 2012.


[[Page 3095]]


    Dated: January 13, 2011.
Helen Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1030 Filed 1-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P