[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43270-43271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17970]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC111


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Coastal Commercial Fireworks Displays at Monterey Bay 
National Marine Sanctuary, 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) and 
implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a 5-year 
Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the Monterey Bay 
National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) to incidentally take, by Level B 
harassment only, California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and 
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) incidental to professional fireworks 
displays within the MBNMS.

DATES: This authorization is effective from July 4, 2012, through July 
3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting documentation are available for 
review in the Permits, and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, by 
contacting the individual listed below (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: Ben Laws, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs 
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) upon request, to allow, during 
periods of not more than five consecutive years each, the incidental, 
but not intentional, taking of marine mammals by United States 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.
    The Secretary shall grant the authorization for incidental taking 
if NMFS finds, after notice and opportunity for public comment, that 
the total of such taking during each five-year (or less) period 
concerned, will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), 
will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the 
species or stock(s) for subsistence uses, and if the permissible 
methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, 
monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth.
    NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``* * * 
an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be 
reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely 
affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of 
recruitment or survival.''
    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, paying 
particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar 
significance, and on the availability of the species for subsistence 
uses. The regulations must include requirements for monitoring and 
reporting of such taking.
    Regulations governing the taking of California sea lions and harbor 
seals, by Level B harassment, incidental to commercial fireworks 
displays within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) 
became effective on July 4, 2012, and remain in effect until July 3, 
2017. For detailed information on this action, please refer to the 
original Federal Register notice (77 FR 31537, May 29, 2012). These 
regulations include mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements 
for the incidental taking of marine mammals during the fireworks 
displays within the Sanctuary boundaries.

Summary of Request

    On July 7, 2011, we received a request for new regulations and a 
subsequent 5-year LOA that would authorize take of marine mammals 
incidental to fireworks displays at the MBNMS. We first issued an 
incidental harassment authorization (IHA) under section 101(a)(5)(D) of 
the MMPA to MBNMS on July 4, 2005 (70 FR 39235; July 7, 2005), and 
subsequently issued 5-year regulations governing the annual issuance of 
LOAs under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (71 FR 40928; July 19, 
2006). Upon expiration of those regulations, NMFS issued MBNMS an IHA 
(76 FR 29196; May 20, 2011), which expired on July 3, 2012. A full 
description of fireworks displays within the MBNMS can be found in the 
proposed rule (77 FR 19976; April 3, 2012).
    Under all previous authorizations, MBNMS conducted activities as 
described, implemented the required mitigation measures, and conducted 
the required monitoring. The total number of potentially harassed 
pinnipeds for all fireworks displays has been well below the authorized 
limits as stated in the authorizations.
    No injuries or fatalities to marine mammals have been reported as 
resulting from any of the events. Hence, monitoring results have 
supported our findings that fireworks displays will result in no more 
than Level B behavioral harassment of small numbers of California sea 
lions and harbor seals and that the effects will be limited to short-
term behavioral changes, including temporary abandonment of haul-out 
areas to avoid the sights and sounds of commercial fireworks.

Authorization

    NMFS has issued an LOA to MBNMS authorizing the Level B harassment 
of marine mammals incidental to coastal commercial fireworks displays 
within the Sanctuary. Issuance of this LOA is based on the results of 
past monitoring reports which verify that the total number of 
potentially harassed sea lions and harbor seals was well below the 
authorized limits. Based on these findings and the information 
discussed in the preamble to the final rule, the activities described 
under this LOA will have a negligible impact on marine mammal stocks 
and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the

[[Page 43271]]

availability of the affected marine mammal stock for subsistence uses. 
No injury, serious injury, or mortality of affected species is 
anticipated.

    Dated: July 17, 2012.
Wanda Cain,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17970 Filed 7-23-12; 8:45 am]
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