§ 216.135 - Monitoring and reporting.

(a) The holder of the Letter of Authorization is required to cooperate with NMFS and any other Federal, state, or local agency monitoring the impacts of the activity on harbor, gray, harp, or hooded seals.

(b) The holder of the Letter of Authorization must designate a qualified individual or individuals capable of identifying any seal or seal parts or marine mammal or marine mammal parts, that occur in the intake circulating system, including the intake transition structure, both forebays, and any marine mammal or marine mammal parts observed as a result of screen washings conducted.

(c) The holder of the Letter of Authorization must conduct at least two daily visual inspections of the circulating water and service water forebays during the period specified in the Letter of Authorization.

(d) The holder of the Letter of Authorization must conduct at least daily inspections of the intake transition structure from April 1 through December, unless weather conditions prevent safe access to the structure.

(e) The holder of the Letter of Authorization must conduct screen washings at least daily during the months of higher incidents of observed takes and this period will be specified in the Letter of Authorization. During the months not specified in the LOA, screen washings will be conducted twice a week. Examination of the debris must be conducted to determine if any seal remains are present.

(f) The holder of the Letter of Authorization must report orally to the Northeast Regional Administrator, NMFS, by telephone or other acceptable means, any marine mammals or marine mammal parts found in the locations specified in § 216.135(b) through (e). Such oral reports must be made by the close of the next business day following the finding of any marine mammal or marine mammal parts.

(g) The holder of the Letter of Authorization must arrange to have a necropsy examination performed by qualified individuals on any marine mammal or marine mammal parts recovered through monitoring as specified under § 216.135(b) through (e).

(h) The holder of the Letter of Authorization must also provide written notification to the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS, of such marine mammal or marine mammal parts found within 30 days from the time of the discovery. This report must contain the results of any examinations or necropsies of the marine mammals in addition to any other information relating to the circumstances of the take.