[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4093-4094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1357]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA157


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Exploration Drilling Programs in 
the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, AK

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

ACTION: Notice; non-issuance of incidental harassment authorizations.

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SUMMARY: On April 19, 2010, and May 7, 2010, NMFS published notices of 
proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for the take of 
small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, by Shell Offshore Inc. 
(Shell) incidental to offshore exploration drilling on Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 
Alaska, during July through October, 2010. Notice is hereby given that 
these IHAs were not issued, and Shell did not conduct the proposed 
exploration drilling programs in 2010.

ADDRESSES: The applications related to this action are available by 
writing to 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, 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: Candace Nachman, NMFS, 301-713-2289 
ext. 156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 18, 2010, and April 14, 2010, NMFS 
received revised IHA applications from Shell requesting the take of 
several species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to 
conducting an exploration drilling program on OCS leases in Camden Bay, 
Beaufort Sea, Alaska, and offshore OCS leases in the Chukchi Sea, 
respectively, during the 2010 open-water season. NMFS published notices 
of proposed IHA along with 30-day public comment periods in the Federal 
Register on April 19, 2010 (74 FR 20482) for the Beaufort Sea request 
and May 7, 2010 (74 FR 25730) for the Chukchi Sea request.
    On May 27, 2010, following the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon 
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Department of the Interior (DOI) 
announced a suspension of proposed exploration drilling in the U.S. 
Arctic and that DOI would postpone consideration of Shell's exploration 
drilling requests for the 2010 open-water season. Since no permits were 
issued to Shell by DOI to conduct the exploration drilling programs 
during the 2010 open-water season, NMFS did not issue IHAs to Shell for 
these two proposed programs.
    In November 2010, Shell sent two letters to NMFS regarding the 2010 
IHA requests. Regarding the proposed Beaufort Sea program, Shell 
indicated that they intend to move forward with the exploration 
drilling program in Camden Bay during the 2011 open-water season. 
Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS continue processing the pending 
2010 IHA request. NMFS has requested additional information from Shell. 
Until this information is received, NMFS cannot consider the 2011 IHA 
request complete. Once a completeness determination is made for the 
Beaufort Sea exploration drilling program, NMFS will proceed with 
publication of a new notice of proposed IHA and request for public 
comments.
    Regarding the proposed Chukchi Sea program, Shell indicated that 
because of ongoing litigation with the Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193 
planning area, they have had to defer their Chukchi Sea Exploration 
Plan. Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS suspend further 
consideration and action of Shell's Chukchi Sea program. Shell will 
inform NMFS at such time that they intend to move forward with their 
Chukchi Sea exploration drilling program. If and when Shell informs 
NMFS that their

[[Page 4094]]

Chukchi Sea program is moving forward, NMFS will ensure that it has a 
complete application before publishing a new notice of proposed IHA.

    Dated: January 18, 2011.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1357 Filed 1-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P