[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 60 (Thursday, March 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 18965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07176]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC494


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to an Exploration Drilling Program in 
the Chukchi Sea, Alaska

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

ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; extension 
of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On February 22, 2013, NMFS announced notice of its proposed 
issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to 
ConocoPhillips Company (COP) to take small numbers of marine mammals, 
by harassment, incidental to conducting offshore exploration drilling 
on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska. 
Written comments were due by March 25, 2013. Under the unique 
circumstances of the timing of the publication of the Federal Register 
notice relative to several related meetings and other Federal review 
processes related to this action, NMFS has decided to extend the public 
comment period by 45 days, to May 9, 2013.

DATES: The public comment period for this action has been extended from 
March 25 to May 9, 2013. Written comments and information must be 
received no later than May 9, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the application should be addressed to Michael 
Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. The mailbox address for providing email 
comments is [email protected]. NMFS is not responsible for email 
comments sent to addresses other than the one provided here. Comments 
sent via email, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25-
megabyte file size.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm without change. All Personal Identifying Information 
(for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the 
commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 22, 2013, NMFS announced notice 
of its proposed issuance of an IHA to COP to take small numbers of 
marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting offshore 
exploration drilling on OCS leases in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska, during 
the 2014 open-water season (78 FR 12542). NMFS convened its annual Open 
Water Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, during the public comment period 
for this action, thus taking away from review time. Moreover, 
additional Federal agency reviews and documents are being released 
during this time. The request for additional time on the comment period 
noted having the ability to review these documents will aid in the 
review of this proposed IHA notice. Furthermore, this is the first time 
NMFS is proposing to issue an IHA in the U.S. Chukchi Sea for 
exploratory drilling with a jack-up rig. NMFS does not anticipate that 
the comment period extension will delay its decision of whether to 
issue an IHA.
    NMFS refers the reader to the February 22, 2013, Federal Register 
notice (78 FR 12542) for background information concerning the proposed 
IHA. The information in the Notice of Proposed IHA is not repeated 
here. For additional information about the IHA application and 
associated documents, please visit the Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm.

    Dated: March 25, 2013.
Helen M. Golde,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-07176 Filed 3-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P