[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24731-24732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09871]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC494


Taking 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; withdrawal of an incidental take authorization 
application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that ConocoPhillips Company (COP) has 
withdrawn its application for an Incidental Harassment Authorization 
(IHA). The following action is related to a proposed IHA to COP for the 
take of small numbers of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, 
incidental to conducting offshore exploration drilling on Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska, during the 
2014 open-water season.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the application, which contains several 
attachments, including COP's marine mammal mitigation and monitoring 
plan and Plan of Cooperation, can be viewed on the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 6, 2012, NMFS received a 
complete application from COP requesting an IHA. The requested IHA was 
for an authorization to take, by Level B harassment, small numbers of 
12 marine mammal species incidental to COP's offshore exploration 
drilling in the Chukchi Sea during the 2014 open-

[[Page 24732]]

water season. NMFS published a Notice of Proposed IHA, initiating a 30-
day public comment period, on February 22, 2013 (78 FR 12542). We then 
published a notice extending the comment period by 45 days on March 28, 
2013 (78 FR 18965). On April 22, 2013, NMFS accepted notice from COP 
withdrawing their IHA application for the proposed action. COP has 
deferred the plan to drill an exploratory well at the Devils Paw 
Prospect in the Chukchi Sea during the 2014 open-water season.

    Dated: April 23, 2013.
Helen M. Golde,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-09871 Filed 4-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P