[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69072-69073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27465]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-BC69


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to the Elliott Bay Seawall Project in Seattle, Washington

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), as 
amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given 
that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the City of 
Seattle's Department of Transportation (SDOT) for the take of nine 
species of marine mammals incidental to pile driving activities 
associated with the Elliott Bay Seawall Project (EBSP).

DATES: Effective from October 22, 2013, through October 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting documentation are available for 
review on the Internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications. Documents cited in this notice may also be 
viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours at the Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225, by telephoning the contact 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Magliocca, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, 301-427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Sections 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 small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. 
citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial 
fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are 
made and either regulations are issued. Under the MMPA, the term 
``take'' means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, 
hunt, capture, or kill marine mammals.
    Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the identified species 
or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 
relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements 
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings 
are set forth in the regulations. 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.''
    Regulations governing the taking of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), 
California sea lions, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), harbor 
porpoise, Dall's porpoise, southern resident and transient killer 
whales, gray whales, and humpback whales, by harassment, incidental to 
pile driving activities in Elliott Bay, were issued on October 21, 2013 
(78 FR 63396, October 24, 2013), and remain in effect until October 21, 
2018. For detailed information on this action, please refer to that 
document. The regulations include mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
requirements for the incidental take of marine mammals during pile 
driving activities associated with the Elliott Bay Seawall.
    Pursuant to those regulations, NMFS issued an LOA, effective from 
October 22, 2013, through October 21, 2014, which authorizes the 
incidental take of the nine marine mammal species listed above that may 
result from construction associated with the Elliott Bay Seawall 
project. Take of marine mammals will be minimized through 
implementation of the following mitigation measures: (1) Limited impact 
pile driving; (2) containment of impact pile driving; (3) additional 
sound attenuation measures; (4) ramp-up of pile-related activities; (5) 
marine mammal exclusion zones; and (6) shutdown and delay procedures.

[[Page 69073]]

SDOT will also conduct visual monitoring and underwater acoustic 
monitoring for mitigation and research purposes.
    Reports will be submitted to NMFS at the time of request for a 
renewal of the LOA, and a final comprehensive report, which will 
summarize all previous reports and assess cumulative impacts, will be 
submitted before the rule expires. This LOA will be renewed based on 
review of the annual monitoring report and provided that NMFS makes the 
required findings.

    Dated: November 12, 2013.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27465 Filed 11-15-13; 8:45 am]
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