[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 63 (Friday, April 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 16747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7492]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XU93


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for a 
Proposed Rule to Revise Marine Mammal Special Exception Permit 
Requirements

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

ACTION:  Notice of Intent to prepare Environmental Assessment; 
extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY:  On March 10, 2010, NMFS announced its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the potential environmental 
impacts of a proposed rule to revise federal regulations implementing 
the Section 104 permit provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA) with written comments due by May 10, 2010. NMFS has decided to 
allow additional time for submission of public comments on this action.

DATES:  The public comment period for this action has been extended by 
30 days. Written comments must be received or postmarked by June 10, 
2010.

ADDRESSES:  Written comments should be mailed to: P. Michael Payne, 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226. Comments may also be 
submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376 and confirmed by hard copy, or 
by email to [email protected]. Please include ``Permit 
Regulations NOI'' in the subject line of the email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS has developed proposed revisions, 
additions, and restructuring of NMFS marine mammal permit application 
procedures and permit requirements to form the basis of one or more 
alternatives to be evaluated in an EA for a Proposed Rule. The internal 
scoping summary document for public review is available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/mmpa_regulations.htm.
    NMFS will consider all comments received during the comment period. 
All hardcopy submissions must be unbound, on paper no larger than 8\1/
2\ by 11 inches (216 by 279 mm), and suitable for copying and 
electronic scanning. NMFS requests that you include in your comments: 
(1) Your name and address; and (2) Any background documents to support 
your comments, as you feel necessary. A draft EA will be made available 
for public review concurrent with publication of a notice of proposed 
rulemaking.

    Dated: March 29, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7492 Filed 4-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S