[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 8497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02587]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC072


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Marine Geophysical Survey Off the Central Coast of California, November 
to December, 2012

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

ACTION: Notice, withdrawal of an incidental take authorization 
application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 
of Columbia University (L-DEO), in cooperation with the Pacific Gas and 
Electric Company (PG&E) has withdrawn its application for an Incidental 
Harassment Authorization (IHA). The following action relates to a 
proposed IHA to L-DEO and PG&E for the take of small numbers of marine 
mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to conducting a marine 
geophysical (seismic) survey off the central coast of California, 
November to December, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The documents and the application related to this action are 
available by writing to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and 
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or 
by telephoning the contact listed here.
    A copy of the application containing a list of the references used 
in this document may be obtained by writing to the above address, 
telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT), or visiting the Internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Goldstein or Jolie Harrison, 
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 301-427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 17, 2012, NMFS received an 
application from L-DEO and PG&E requesting that NMFS issue an IHA for 
the take, by Level B harassment only, of small numbers of marine 
mammals incidental to conducting a marine seismic survey within the 
U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone of the central coast of California during 
November to December, 2012. NMFS received a revised application on 
August 31, 2012 and October 10, 2012. L-DEO and PG&E planned to use one 
source vessel, the R/V Marcus G. Langseth (Langseth) and a seismic 
airgun array to collect seismic data as part of the Offshore Central 
California Seismic Imaging Project located in the central area of San 
Luis Obispo County, California. On September 19, 2012, NMFS published a 
notice in the Federal Register (77 FR 58256) disclosing the effects on 
marine mammals, making preliminary determinations, and proposed issuing 
an IHA. The notice initiated a 30-day public comment period. On 
December 5, 2012, NMFS received a letter from PG&E withdrawing their 
IHA application for the proposed action. PG&E explained that on 
November 14, 2012, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) voted to 
deny issuance of a Coastal Development Permit/Federal Consistency 
Certification for the Offshore Central Coastal California Imaging 
Project. Based upon this decision by L-DEO and PG&E, NMFS hereby 
withdraws its proposal to issue an IHA for this activity.

Helen M. Golde,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02587 Filed 2-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P