[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19580-19581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07974]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD141


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Offshore New 
Jersey, May to August 2014

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 March 17, 2014, NMFS announced notice of a proposed 
issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (Authorization) to 
the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory in collaboration with the National 
Science Foundation, to take marine mammals, by harassment incidental to 
conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in the northwest 
Atlantic Ocean May through August, 2014. The Federal Register notice 
indicated that written comments were due by April 16, 2014. However, in 
response to a request to extend the public comment period, NMFS has 
decided to extend the public comment period by an additional 30 
calendar days.

DATES: NMFS has extended the public comment period for this action from 
April 16 to May 16, 2014. NMFS must receive written comments and 
information on or before May 16, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Address comments on the application to Jolie Harrison, 
Supervisor, Incidental Take Program, 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]. Please include 0648-
XD141 in the subject line. Comments sent via email to 
[email protected], including all attachments, must not exceed a 25-
megabyte file size. NMFS is not responsible for email comments sent to 
addresses other than the one provided here.
    Instructions: All submitted comments are a part of the public 
record and NMFS will post them to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications 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: Jeannine Cody, NMFS, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (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 of a species or population stock, by U.S. citizens who engage 
in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a 
specified geographical region if, after NMFS provides a notice of a 
proposed authorization to the public for review and comment: (1) NMFS 
makes certain findings; and (2) the taking is limited to harassment.
    On March 17, 2014, NMFS published a Federal Register notice (79 FR 
14779, March 17, 2014) announcing proposed issuance of an Authorization 
to the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory to take marine mammals, by 
harassment incidental to conducting a seismic survey in the northwest 
Atlantic Ocean May through August, 2014. The 30-day public comment 
period for the Federal Register notice (79 FR 14779, March 17, 2014) 
ends on April 16, 2014.
    This is the first time that NMFS has proposed to issue an 
Authorization for harassment incidental to a scientific

[[Page 19581]]

seismic survey in federal waters approximately 25 to 85 kilometers (km) 
(15.5 to 52.8 miles (mi)) off the New Jersey coast. NMFS does not have 
the authority under Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA to permit, 
authorize, or prohibit the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory's seismic 
survey activities.
    On March 25, 2004, Clean Ocean Action, based in New Jersey, 
requested an extension of the public comment period to aid in their 
review of the proposed Authorization. NMFS has considered the request 
and will extend the comment period to May 16, 2014. This extension 
provides a total of 60 days for public input and continuing Federal 
agency reviews to inform NMFS' final decision to issue or deny the 
Authorization. NMFS does not anticipate that this 30-day extension will 
delay its decision on whether to issue or deny the Authorization.
    NMFS refers the reader to the March 17, 2014, notice of proposed 
Authorization (79 FR 14779, March 17, 2014) for background information 
concerning the proposed Authorization as this notice does not repeat 
the information here. For additional information about the Lamont 
Doherty Earth Observatory's request and the National Science 
Foundation's environmental analyses, please visit the Web site at: 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.

    Dated: April 4, 2014.
Perry F. Gayaldo,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07974 Filed 4-8-14; 8:45 am]
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