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Rule2020-263462020-12-22

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Ice Roads and Ice Trails Construction and Maintenance Activities on Alaska's North Slope

Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Abstract

Upon application from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) and Eni US Operating Co. Inc. (Eni), NMFS is issuing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) for the taking of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to ice road and ice trail construction, maintenance, and operation in Alaska's North Slope, over the course of 5 years (2020-2025). These regulations allow NMFS to issue Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the specified construction and maintenance activities carried out during the rule's period of effectiveness, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.

Action & Dates

Action
Final rule; notification of issuance of Letters of Authorization.
Dates
Effective December 22, 2020 through November 30, 2025.
Effective Date
2020-12-22

CFR References

Topics

Administrative practice and procedureAlaskaEndangered and threatened speciesIndiansMarine mammalsOil and gas explorationReporting and recordkeeping requirementsWildlife

Document Excerpt

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 217 [Docket No. 20119-0307] RIN 0648-BJ24 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule; notification of issuance of Letters of Authorization. SUMMARY: Upon application from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) and Eni US Operating Co. Inc. (Eni), NMFS is issuing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) for the taking of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to ice road and ice trail construction, maintenance, and operation in Alaska's North Slope, over the course of 5 years (2020-2025). These regulations allow NMFS to issue Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the specified construction and maintenance activities carried out during the rule's period of effectiveness, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take. DATES: Effective December 22, 2020 through November 30, 2025. ADDRESSES: To obtain an electronic copy of the Hilcorp-Eni's LOA application or other referenced documents, visit the internet at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​permit/​incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act . In case of prob

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Full Document

Citation: 85 FR 83451