[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06342]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 217

RIN 0648-BE53


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Seismic Surveys in Cook Inlet, Alaska

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On February 23, 2015, the NMFS published its proposed 
rulemaking to govern the take of marine mammals, by harassment, 
incidental to conducting a marine geophysical (seismic) survey in Cook 
Inlet, Alaska from March 1, 2015 to February 29, 2020. The Federal 
Register document indicated that written comments are due by March 25, 
2015. However, in response to a request to extend the public comment 
period, NMFS has decided to extend the public comment period by an 
additional 15 calendar days.

DATES: NMFS has extended the public comment period published on 
February 23, 2015 (80 FR 9509) to April 9, 2015. NMFS must receive 
written comments and information on or before April 9, 2015.

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-
BE53 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: Sara Young, NMFS, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS (301) 427-8484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct 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 or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a 
proposed authorization is provided to the public for review.
    On February 23, 2015, NMFS published a Federal Register notice (80 
FR 9509, February 23, 2015) announcing proposed issuance of regulations 
to Apache Alaska Corporation (Apache) to take marine mammals, by 
harassment incidental to conducting a seismic survey in Cook Inlet, 
Alaska March 1, 2015 through February 29, 2020. The 30-day public 
comment period for the Federal Register notice (80 FR 9509, February 
23, 2015) ends on March 25, 2015.
    This is the first time that NMFS has proposed to issue regulations 
for harassment incidental to a seismic survey in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
    On March 2, 2015, the Natural Resource Defense Council requested an 
extension of the public comment period to aid in their review of the 
proposed rulemaking. NMFS has considered the request and will extend 
the comment period to April 9, 2015. This extension provides a total of 
45 days for public input and continuing Federal agency reviews to 
inform NMFS' final decision to issue or deny the regulations.
    NMFS refers the reader to the February 23, 2015, notice of proposed 
regulations (80 FR 9509, February 23, 2015) for background information 
concerning the proposed rulemaking as this notice does not repeat the 
information here. For additional information about Apache's request and 
the environmental analyses, please visit the Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.

    Dated: March 11, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06342 Filed 3-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P