[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 136 (Monday, July 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42711-42714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15208]



[[Page 42711]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC161]


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Testing and Training Operations in the Eglin Gulf Test 
and Training Range

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for Letter of Authorization; 
request for comments and information.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the United States (U.S.) 
Department of the Air Force (USAF) for authorization to take marine 
mammals incidental to testing and training military operations proposed 
to be conducted in the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) from 
2023-2030 in the Gulf of Mexico. Pursuant to regulations implementing 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of 
the Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) request for the development and 
implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine 
mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, 
and comments on the Navy's application and request.

DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than August 
17, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the application should be addressed to Jolie 
Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service and should be sent to 
[email protected].
    Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any 
other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the 
end of the comment period. Comments received electronically, including 
all attachments, must not exceed a 25-megabyte file size. All comments 
received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted 
online at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-construction-activities without change. 
All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address) 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: Rob Pauline, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability

    Electronic copies of the Navy's application and separate monitoring 
plan may be obtained online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-military-readiness-activities.
    In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the 
contact listed above.

Background

    Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) 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.
    An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS 
finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the 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.
    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.''
    The MMPA states that the term ``take'' means to harass, hunt, 
capture, kill or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine 
mammal.
    Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the 
MMPA defines ``harassment'' as: any act of pursuit, torment, or 
annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or 
marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has the 
potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not 
limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering (Level B harassment).
    The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2004 
(Pub. L. 108-136) removed the ``small numbers'' and ``specified 
geographical region'' limitations indicated above and amended the 
definition of ``harassment'' as it applies to a ``military readiness 
activity'' to read as follows (Section 3(18)(B) of the MMPA): (i) Any 
act that injures or has the significant potential to injure a marine 
mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A Harassment); or (ii) 
Any act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine mammal or marine 
mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of natural behavioral 
patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, surfacing, nursing, 
breeding, feeding, or sheltering, to a point where such behavioral 
patterns are abandoned or significantly altered (Level B Harassment). 
On August 13, 2018, the 2019 NDAA (Pub. L. 115-232) amended the MMPA to 
allow incidental take regulations for military readiness activities to 
be issued for up to seven years. The proposed action may incidentally 
expose marine mammals occurring in the vicinity of testing and training 
operations to elevated levels of underwater sounds in the form of 
airborne, surface and subsurface detonations of various military 
munitions, thereby resulting in incidental take, by Level A and Level B 
harassment. Therefore, the DAF requests authorization to incidentally 
take marine mammals.

Summary of Request

    On June 17, 2022 NMFS received an adequate and complete application 
from the Eglin AFB requesting authorization for the take of marine 
mammals, by Level A and B harassment, incidental to testing and 
training operations (all categorized as military readiness activities). 
Proposed missions would include be air-to-surface operations that 
involve firing live or inert munitions, including missiles, bombs, and 
gun ammunition, from aircraft at targets on the water surface. The 
types of targets used vary by mission and primarily include stationary, 
remotely controlled, and towed boats, inflatable targets, and marker 
flares. Live munitions used in the EGTTR are set to detonate either in 
the air a few feet above the water surface (airburst detonation), 
instantaneously upon contact with the water or target (surface 
detonation), or approximately 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) below the 
water surface (subsurface detonation). Therefore, Eglin AFB requests 
authorization to take three species of marine mammals that may occur in 
this

[[Page 42712]]

area, Rice's whale (Balaenoptera ricei) Atlantic bottlenose dolphins 
(Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella 
frontalis).
    Eglin AFB is also proposing to create and use a new, separate area 
within the EGTTR that would be used for live missions in addition to 
the existing live impact area (LIA). Referred to as the East LIA, it is 
located approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of the existing LIA. 
The requested regulations will be valid for seven years, from 2023 
through 2030.
    NMFS issued incidental take regulations and a subsequent Letter of 
Authorization (LOA) to Eglin AFB for similar specified activities on 
February 8, 2018 (83 FR 5545). Prior to issuing the 5-year LOA in 2018, 
NMFS had issued multiple LOAs and 1 year incidental harassment 
authorizations (IHA) to Eglin AFB for take of marine mammals incidental 
to similar specified activities. Monitoring reports submitted to NMFS 
as a condition of the previously-issued LOAs and incidental take 
authorizations are available online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-military-readiness-activities.

Specified Activities

    Eglin AFB proposes the following actions in the EGTTR which would 
be conducted in the existing LIA and potentially in the proposed East 
LIA, depending on the mission type and objectives: (1) 52rd Weapons 
Evaluation Group missions that involves air-to-ground Weapons System 
Evaluation Program (WSEP) known as Combat Hammer which tests various 
types of munitions against small target boats and air-to-air missile 
testing known as Combat Archer; (2) The Air Force Special Operations 
Command (AFSOC) proposes to continue training missions in the EGTTR 
primarily involving air-to-surface gunnery, bomb, and missile exercises 
including AC-130 gunnery training, CV-22 training, and bomb and missile 
training; (3) 96th Operations Group missions including AC-130 gunnery 
testing against floating marker targets on the water surface and MQ-9 
air-to-surface testing; (3) 780th Test Squadron Precision Strike 
Weapons testing including air-launched cruise missile tests, Air-to-air 
missile tests, Longbow and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) testing; 
Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) air-to-surface missile testing, Patriot 
missile testing, Hypersonic Weapon Testing, sink at-sea live-fire 
training exercises (SINKEX), and testing using live and inert munitions 
against targets on the water surface; and (4) Naval School Explosive 
Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) training missions that involve students 
diving and placing small explosive charges adjacent to inert mines.
    During these activities, ordnances may be delivered by multiple 
types of aircraft, including bombers and fighter aircraft. Net 
explosive weights (NEW) of the live munitions range from 0.1 to 945 
pounds (lb). A summary of munitions proposed for missions in the EGTTR 
is shown in Table 1.

                                            Table 1--Summary of Proposed Munitions for Missions in the EGTTR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Net explosive                                Annual
              User group                            Type                      Category              weight        Destination scenario       quantity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
53 WEG...............................  AGR-20.......................  Rocket..................             9.1  Surface.................              12
                                       AGM-158D JASSM XR............  Missile.................          240.26  Surface.................               4
                                       AGM-158B JASSM ER............  Missile.................          240.26  Surface.................               3
                                       AGM-158A JASSM...............  Missile.................          240.26  Surface.................               3
                                       AGM-65D......................  Missile.................             150  Surface.................               5
                                       AGM-65G2.....................  Missile.................             145  Surface.................               5
                                       AGM-65H2.....................  Missile.................             150  Surface.................               5
                                       AGM-65K2.....................  Missile.................             145  Surface.................               4
                                       AGM-65L......................  Missile.................             150  Surface.................               5
                                       AGM-114 N-6D with TM.........  Missile.................            29.1  Surface.................               4
                                       AGM-114 N-4D with TM.........  Missile.................           29.94  Surface.................               4
                                       AGM-114 R2 with TM (R10).....  Missile.................           27.41  Surface.................               4
                                       AGM-114 R-9E with TM (R11)...  Missile.................           27.38  Surface.................               4
                                       AGM-114Q with TM.............  Missile.................           20.16  Surface.................               4
                                       CBU-105D.....................  Bomb....................           108.6  HOB.....................               8
                                       GBU-53/B (GTV)...............  Bomb....................        \a\ 0.34  HOB/Surface.............               8
                                       GBU-39 SDB (GTV).............  Bomb....................        \a\ 0.39  Surface.................               4
                                       AGM-88C w/FTS................  Missile.................        \a\ 0.70  Surface.................               2
                                       AGM-88B w/FTS................  Missile.................        \a\ 0.70  Surface.................               2
                                       AGM-88F w/FTS................  Missile.................        \a\ 0.70  Surface.................               2
                                       AGM-88G w/FTS................  Missile.................        \a\ 0.70  Surface.................               2
                                       AGM-179 JAGM.................  Missile.................           27.47  Surface.................               4
                                       GBU-69.......................  Bomb....................            6.88  Surface.................               2
                                       GBU-70.......................  Bomb....................            6.88  Surface.................               1
                                       AGM-176......................  Missile.................            8.14  Surface.................               4
                                       GBU-54 KMU-572C/B............  Bomb....................             193  Surface.................               1
                                       AIM-120C3....................  Missile.................          117.94  HOB/Surface.............               4
                                       AIM-120B.....................  Missile.................          102.65  HOB.....................              18
                                       AIM-9X Blk I.................  Missile.................           60.25  HOB.....................               7
                                       AIM-9X Blk I.................  Missile.................            67.9  HOB/Surface.............              10
                                       AIM-9X Blk II................  Missile.................           60.25  HOB.....................              24
                                       AIM-9M-9.....................  Missile.................           60.55  HOB.....................              90
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Inert Munitions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       ADM-160B MALD................  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       ADM-160C MALD-J..............  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       ADM-160C-1 MALD-J............  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       ADM-160D MALD-J..............  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       GBU-10.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               8
                                       GBU-12.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              32
                                       GBU-49.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              16
                                       GBU-24/B (84)................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              16
                                       GBU-24A/B (109)..............  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               2
                                       GBU-31B(v)1..................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              16

[[Page 42713]]

 
                                       GBU-31C(v)1..................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              16
                                       GBU-31B(v)3..................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               2
                                       GBU-31C(v)3..................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               2
                                       GBU-32C......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               8
                                       GBU-38B......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       GBU-38C w/BDU-50 (No TM).....  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       GBU-38C......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              10
                                       GBU-54 KMU-572C/B............  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       GBU-54 KMU-572B/B............  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       GBU-69.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               2
                                       BDU-56A/B....................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       PGU-27 (20 mm)...............  Gun Ammunition..........            0.09  N/A.....................          16,000
                                       PGU-15 (30 mm)...............  Gun Ammunition..........             N/A  N/A.....................          16,000
                                       PGU-25 (25 mm)...............  Gun Ammunition..........             N/A  N/A.....................          16,000
                                       ALE-50.......................  Decoy System............             N/A  N/A.....................               6
                                       AIM-260A JATM................  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       PGU-27 (20 mm)...............  Gun Ammunition..........             N/A  N/A.....................          80,000
                                       PGU-23 (25 mm)...............  Gun Ammunition..........             N/A  N/A.....................           6,000
                                       MJU-7A/B Flare...............  Flare...................             N/A  N/A.....................           1,800
                                       R-188 Chaff..................  Chaff...................             N/A  N/A.....................           6,000
                                       R-196 (T-1) Chaff............  Chaff...................             N/A  N/A.....................           1,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Live Munitions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFSOC................................  105 mm HE (FU)...............  Gun Ammunition..........             4.7  Surface.................             750
                                       105 mm HE (TR)...............  Gun Ammunition..........            0.35  Surface.................           1,350
                                       30 mm HE.....................  Gun Ammunition..........             0.1  Surface.................          35,000
                                       AGM-176 Griffin..............  Missile.................            4.58  HOB.....................             100
                                       AGM-114R9E/R2 Hellfire.......  Missile.................            20.0  HOB.....................              70
                                       2.75-inch Rocket (including    Rocket..................             2.3  Surface.................             400
                                        APKWS).
                                       GBU-12.......................  Bomb....................     198.0/298.0  Surface.................              30
                                       Mk-81 (GP 250 lb)............  Bomb....................           151.0  Surface.................              30
                                       GBU-39 (SDB I)...............  Bomb....................            37.0  HOB.....................              30
                                       GBU-69.......................  Bomb....................            36.0  HOB.....................              40
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                                                                     Inert Munitions
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                                       .50 caliber..................  Gun Ammunition..........             N/A  N/A.....................          30,000
                                       GBU-12.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              30
                                       MkK-81 (GP 250 lb)...........  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              30
                                       BDU-50.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              30
                                       BDU-33.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Live Munitions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
96 OG................................  AGM-176 Griffin..............  Missile.................            4.58  Surface.................              10
                                       AGM-114 Hellfire.............  Missile.................            20.0  Surface.................              10
                                       GBU-39 (SDB I)...............  Bomb....................            37.0  Surface.................               6
                                       GBU-39 (LSDB)................  Bomb....................            37.0  Surface.................              10
                                       105 mm HE (FU)...............  Gun Ammunition..........             4.7  Surface.................              60
                                       105 mm HE (TR)...............  Gun Ammunition..........            0.35  Surface.................              60
                                       30 mm HE.....................  Gun Ammunition..........             0.1  Surface.................              99
                                       AGM-114R Hellfire............  Missile.................            20.0  Surface.................              36
                                       AIM-9X.......................  Missile.................             7.9  HOB.....................               1
                                       GBU-39B/B LSDB...............  Bomb....................            37.0  Surface.................               2
                                       AGM-158 (JASSM)..............  Missile.................          240.26  Surface.................               2
                                       GBU-39 (SDB I)...............  Bomb....................            37.0  HOB/Surface.............               2
                                       GBU-39 (SDB I) Simultaneous    Bomb....................            74.0  HOB/Surface.............               2
                                        Launch \b\.
                                       GBU-53 (SDB II)..............  Bomb....................           22.84  HOB/Surface.............               2
                                       AGM-114L Longbow.............  Missile.................           35.95  HOB.....................               6
                                       AGM-179A JAGM................  Missile.................           27.47  HOB.....................               8
                                       Spike NLOS...................  Missile.................           34.08  Surface.................               3
                                       PAC-2........................  Missile.................       \c\ 145.0  N/A (drone target)......               2
                                       PAC-3........................  Missile.................       \c\ 145.0  N/A (drone target)......               2
                                       HACM.........................  Hypersonic Weapon.......         \e\ 350  Surface.................               1
                                       PrSM.........................  Hypersonic Weapon.......          \e\ 46  HOB.....................               2
                                       SINKEX.......................  Vessel Sinking Exercise.   Not Available  Not Available...........               2
                                       GBU-10, 24, or 31 (QUICKSINK)  Bomb....................             945  Subsurface..............          4 to 8
                                       2,000 lb bomb with JDAM kit..  Bomb....................     945 or less  HOB.....................               2
                                       Inert GBU-39 (LSDB) with live  Bomb....................             0.4  HOB/Surface.............               4
                                        fuze.
                                       Inert GBU-53 (SDB II) with     Bomb....................             0.4  HOB/Surface.............               4
                                        live fuze.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Inert Munitions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       GBU-39B/B LSDB...............  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               2
                                       GBU-49.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................              10
                                       GBU-48.......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               1
                                       AGM-158 (JASSM)..............  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       GBU-39 (SDB I)...............  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                       GBU-39 (SDB I) Simultaneous    Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               4
                                        Launch.
                                       GBU-53 (SDB II)..............  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               1

[[Page 42714]]

 
                                       AIM-260 JATM--Inert..........  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               6
                                       AIM-9X--Inert................  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................              10
                                       AIM-120 AMRAAM--Inert........  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................              15
                                       PrSM--Inert..................  Hypersonic Weapon.......             N/A  N/A.....................               2
                                       SiAW AARGM-ER................  Missile.................             N/A  N/A.....................               7
                                       Multipurpose Booster.........  Booster.................             N/A  N/A.....................               1
                                       JDAM ER......................  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               3
                                       Navy HAAWC...................  Torpedo.................             N/A  N/A.....................               2
                                       Mk-84 (GP 2,000 lb) \c\......  Bomb....................             N/A  N/A.....................               9
NAVSCOLEOD...........................  Underwater Mine Charge.......  Charge..................          \d\ 20  Subsurface..............              32
                                       Floating Mine Charge.........  Charge..................           \d\ 5  Surface.................              80
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Warhead replaced by FTS/TM. Identified 1 NEW is for the FTS.
\b\ NEW is doubled for simultaneous launch.
\c\ Assumed for impact analysis.
\d\ Estimated.
\e\ NEW at impact/detonation 53 WEG = 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group; 780 TS = 780th Test Squadron; 96 OG = 96th Operations Group; AARGMER = Advanced
  Anti-Radiation Guided Missile--Extended Range; ABMS = Advanced Battle Management System; ADM = American Decoy Missile; AFSOC = Air Force Special
  Operations Command; AGM = Air-to-Ground Missile; AIM = Air Intercept Missile; ALE = Ammunition Loading Equipment; AMRAAM = Advanced Medium-Range Air-
  to-Air Missile; APKWS = Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System; BDU = Bomb Dummy Unit; C-RAM = Counter, Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar; CBU = Cluster
  Bomb Unit; EGTTR = Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range; ER = Extended Range; FTS = Flight Termination System; FU = Full Up; GBU = Guided Bomb Unit; GP
  = General Purpose; GTV = Guided Test Vehicle; HAAWC = High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability; HACM = Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile;
  HE = High Explosive; HOB = height of burst; JDAM = Joint Direct Attack Munition; JAGM = Joint Air-to-Ground Missile; JASSM = Joint Air-to-Surface
  Standoff Missile; JATM = Joint Advanced Tactical Missile; LAICRM = Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measure; lb = pound(s); LSDB = Laser Small-Diameter
  Bomb; MALD = Miniature Air-Launched Decoy; MJU = Mobile Jettison Unit; Mk = Mark; mm = millimeter(s); N/A = not applicable; NLOS = Non-Line-of-Sight;
  NAVSCOLEOD = Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal; PAC = Patriot Advanced Capability; PGU = Projectile Gun Unit; SDB = Small-Diameter Bomb; SiAW =
  Stand-in Attack Weapon; SRI = Santa Rosa Island; TA = Test Area; TBD = to be determined; TM = telemetry; TR = Training Round.

Information Solicited

    Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and 
comments concerning the USAF's request (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will 
consider all information, suggestions, and comments related to the 
request during the development of proposed regulations governing the 
incidental taking of marine mammals by the USAF, if appropriate.

    Dated: July 12, 2022.
Catherine Marzin,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15208 Filed 7-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P