Notice2024-11784
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 29, 2024
Effective
May 22, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to Echo Offshore LLC (Echo) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46370-46372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11784]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD938]
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in
the Gulf of Mexico
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of Letter of Authorization.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as
amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil
and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given
that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to Echo Offshore
LLC (Echo) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical
survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
DATES: The LOA is effective from May 22, 2024 through December 31,
2024.
ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and supporting documentation are
available online at: <a href="http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-oil-and-gas-industry-geophysical-survey-activity-gulf-mexico">www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-oil-and-gas-industry-geophysical-survey-activity-gulf-mexico</a>. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the
contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenna Harlacher, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
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.
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.
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).
[[Page 46371]]
On January 19, 2021, we issued a final rule with regulations to
govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to
geophysical survey activities conducted by oil and gas industry
operators, and those persons authorized to conduct activities on their
behalf (collectively ``industry operators''), in U.S. waters of the GOM
over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322, January 19, 2021). The rule was
based on our findings that the total taking from the specified
activities over the 5-year period will have a negligible impact on the
affected species or stock(s) of marine mammals and will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species or
stocks for subsistence uses. The rule became effective on April 19,
2021.
Our regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et seq. allow for the issuance of
LOAs to industry operators for the incidental take of marine mammals
during geophysical survey activities and prescribe the permissible
methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable
adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat
(often referred to as mitigation), as well as requirements pertaining
to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Under 50 CFR
217.186(e), issuance of an LOA shall be based on a determination that
the level of taking will be consistent with the findings made for the
total taking allowable under these regulations and a determination that
the amount of take authorized under the LOA is of no more than small
numbers.
Summary of Request and Analysis
Echo plans to conduct a 2D high-resolution seismic survey in Lease
Blocks 61 and 66 (South Marsh Island Area). Echo plans to use a single,
20-cubic inch airgun, in addition to three other high-resolution
geophysical (HRG) acoustic sources. Please see Echo's application for
additional detail.
Consistent with the preamble to the final rule, the survey effort
proposed by Echo in its LOA request was used to develop LOA-specific
take estimates based on the acoustic exposure modeling results
described in the preamble (86 FR 5322, 5398, January 19, 2021). In
order to generate the appropriate take numbers for authorization, the
following information was considered: (1) survey type; (2) location (by
modeling zone \1\); (3) number of days; and (4) season.\2\ The acoustic
exposure modeling performed in support of the rule provides 24-hour
exposure estimates for each species, specific to each modeled survey
type in each zone and season.
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\1\ For purposes of acoustic exposure modeling, the GOM was
divided into seven zones. Zone 1 is not included in the geographic
scope of the rule.
\2\ For purposes of acoustic exposure modeling, seasons include
Winter (December-March) and Summer (April-November).
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Exposure modeling results were generated using the single airgun
proxy. Because those results assume use of a 90-in\3\ airgun, the take
numbers authorized through this LOA are considered conservative (i.e.,
they likely overestimate take) due to differences in the sound source
planned for use by Echo, as compared to those modeled for the rule. The
survey is planned to occur for up to 2 days in Zone 2. The season is
not known in advance. Therefore, the take estimates for each species
are based on the season that has the greater value for the species
(i.e., winter or summer).
Based on the results of our analysis, NMFS has determined that the
level of taking expected for this survey and authorized through the LOA
is consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable
under the regulations. See table 1 in this notice and table 9 of the
rule (86 FR 5322, January 19, 2021).
Small Numbers Determination
Under the GOM rule, NMFS may not authorize incidental take of
marine mammals in an LOA if it will exceed ``small numbers.'' In short,
when an acceptable estimate of the individual marine mammals taken is
available, if the estimated number of individual animals taken is up
to, but not greater than, one-third of the best available abundance
estimate, NMFS will determine that the numbers of marine mammals taken
of a species or stock are small. For more information please see NMFS'
discussion of the MMPA's small numbers requirement provided in the
final rule (86 FR 5322, 5438, January 19, 2021).
The take numbers for authorization, which are determined as
described above, are used by NMFS in making the necessary small numbers
determinations, through comparison with the best available abundance
estimates (see discussion at 86 FR 5322, 5391, January 19, 2021). For
this comparison, NMFS' approach is to use the maximum theoretical
population, determined through review of current stock assessment
reports (SAR; <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-stock-assessments">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-stock-assessments</a>) and model-predicted
abundance information (<a href="https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/Duke/GOM/">https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/Duke/GOM/</a>).
For the latter, for taxa where a density surface model could be
produced, we use the maximum mean seasonal (i.e., 3-month) abundance
prediction for purposes of comparison as a precautionary smoothing of
month-to-month fluctuations and in consideration of a corresponding
lack of data in the literature regarding seasonal distribution of
marine mammals in the GOM. Information supporting the small numbers
determinations is provided in table 1.
Table 1--Take Analysis
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Authorized Percent
Species take \1\ Abundance \2\ abundance
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Rice's whale \3\.............. 0 51 n/a
Sperm whale................... 0 2,207 n/a
Kogia spp..................... 0 4,373 n/a
Beaked whales................. 0 3,768 n/a
Rough-toothed dolphin......... \4\ 0 4,853 n/a
Bottlenose dolphin............ 62 176,108 0.0
Clymene dolphin............... 0 11,895 n/a
Atlantic spotted dolphin...... \5\ 26 74,785 0.0
Pantropical spotted dolphin... 0 102,361 n/a
Spinner dolphin............... 0 25,114 n/a
Striped dolphin............... 0 5,229 n/a
Fraser's dolphin.............. 0 1,665 n/a
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Risso's dolphin............... 0 3,764 n/a
Melon-headed whale............ 0 7,003 n/a
Pygmy killer whale............ 0 2,126 n/a
False killer whale............ 0 3,204 n/a
Killer whale.................. 0 267 n/a
Short-finned pilot whale...... 0 1,981 n/a
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\1\ Scalar ratios were not applied in this case due to brief survey
duration.
\2\ Best abundance estimate. For most taxa, the best abundance estimate
for purposes of comparison with take estimates is considered here to
be the model-predicted abundance (Roberts et al., 2016). For those
taxa where a density surface model predicting abundance by month was
produced, the maximum mean seasonal abundance was used. For those taxa
where abundance is not predicted by month, only mean annual abundance
is available. For Rice's whale and the killer whale, the larger
estimated SAR abundance estimate is used.
\3\ The final rule refers to the GOM Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni).
These whales were subsequently described as a new species, Rice's
whale (Balaenoptera ricei) (Rosel et al., 2021).
\4\ Modeled take of one decreased to zero. For rough-toothed dolphin,
use of the exposure modeling produces results that are smaller than
the average GOM group size (i.e., estimated exposure value of 1,
relative to assumed average group size of 14) (Maze-Foley and Mullin,
2006). NMFS' typical practice is to increase exposure estimates to the
assumed average group size for a species in order to ensure that, if
the species is encountered, exposures will not exceed the authorized
take number. However, given the very short survey duration and small
estimated exposure value NMFS has determined that it is unlikely the
species would be encountered at all. As a result, in this case NMFS
has not authorized take for this species.
\5\ Modeled take of 13 increased to account for potential encounter with
a group of average size (Maze-Foley and Mullin, 2006).
Based on the analysis contained herein of Echo's proposed survey
activity described in its LOA application and the anticipated take of
marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals will be
taken relative to the affected species or stock sizes (i.e., less than
one-third of the best available abundance estimate) and therefore the
taking is of no more than small numbers.
Authorization
NMFS has determined that the level of taking for this LOA request
is consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable
under the incidental take regulations and that the amount of take
authorized under the LOA is of no more than small numbers. Accordingly,
we have issued an LOA to Echo authorizing the take of marine mammals
incidental to its geophysical survey activity, as described above.
Dated: May 23, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-11784 Filed 5-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 29, 2024.
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