[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4093-4094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1357]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA157
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities;
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Exploration Drilling Programs in
the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, AK
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; non-issuance of incidental harassment authorizations.
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SUMMARY: On April 19, 2010, and May 7, 2010, NMFS published notices of
proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for the take of
small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, by Shell Offshore Inc.
(Shell) incidental to offshore exploration drilling on Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas,
Alaska, during July through October, 2010. Notice is hereby given that
these IHAs were not issued, and Shell did not conduct the proposed
exploration drilling programs in 2010.
ADDRESSES: The applications related to this action are available by
writing to Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation, and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, by
telephoning the contact listed here, or online at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. Documents cited in this
notice may be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at
the aforementioned address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman, NMFS, 301-713-2289
ext. 156.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 18, 2010, and April 14, 2010, NMFS
received revised IHA applications from Shell requesting the take of
several species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to
conducting an exploration drilling program on OCS leases in Camden Bay,
Beaufort Sea, Alaska, and offshore OCS leases in the Chukchi Sea,
respectively, during the 2010 open-water season. NMFS published notices
of proposed IHA along with 30-day public comment periods in the Federal
Register on April 19, 2010 (74 FR 20482) for the Beaufort Sea request
and May 7, 2010 (74 FR 25730) for the Chukchi Sea request.
On May 27, 2010, following the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Department of the Interior (DOI)
announced a suspension of proposed exploration drilling in the U.S.
Arctic and that DOI would postpone consideration of Shell's exploration
drilling requests for the 2010 open-water season. Since no permits were
issued to Shell by DOI to conduct the exploration drilling programs
during the 2010 open-water season, NMFS did not issue IHAs to Shell for
these two proposed programs.
In November 2010, Shell sent two letters to NMFS regarding the 2010
IHA requests. Regarding the proposed Beaufort Sea program, Shell
indicated that they intend to move forward with the exploration
drilling program in Camden Bay during the 2011 open-water season.
Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS continue processing the pending
2010 IHA request. NMFS has requested additional information from Shell.
Until this information is received, NMFS cannot consider the 2011 IHA
request complete. Once a completeness determination is made for the
Beaufort Sea exploration drilling program, NMFS will proceed with
publication of a new notice of proposed IHA and request for public
comments.
Regarding the proposed Chukchi Sea program, Shell indicated that
because of ongoing litigation with the Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193
planning area, they have had to defer their Chukchi Sea Exploration
Plan. Therefore, Shell requested that NMFS suspend further
consideration and action of Shell's Chukchi Sea program. Shell will
inform NMFS at such time that they intend to move forward with their
Chukchi Sea exploration drilling program. If and when Shell informs
NMFS that their
[[Page 4094]]
Chukchi Sea program is moving forward, NMFS will ensure that it has a
complete application before publishing a new notice of proposed IHA.
Dated: January 18, 2011.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1357 Filed 1-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P