Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS, upon request from the U.S. Navy (Navy), hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to construction activities associated with the replacement of Pier 3 at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia over the course of 5 years (2023-2028). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, 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, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
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. 230508-0126] RIN 0648-BL81 ( printed page 31633) AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule; notification of issuance of Letter of Authorization. SUMMARY: NMFS, upon request from the U.S. Navy (Navy), hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to construction activities associated with the replacement of Pier 3 at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia over the course of 5 years (2023-2028). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, 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, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. DATES: This rule is effective from May 18, 2023, through May 18, 2028. ADDRESSES: A copy of the Navy's application and any supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in this document, may be obtained online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​action/​incidental-take-authorization-us-navy-replacement-pier-3-naval-station-norfolk-norfolk . In case of problems accessing these documents, plea…
Citation: 88 FR 31633
