E6-22277. Letters of Authorization to Take Marine Mammals

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of issuance.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA) as amended, notice is hereby given that Letters of Authorization to take polar bears incidental to oil and gas industry exploration activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska have been issued.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Craig Perham at the Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, [phone] or [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A Letter of Authorization has been issued to the following companies in accordance with Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Rules and Regulations (see “Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities” at 71 FR 43926; August 2, 2006) under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and the Fish and Wildlife Service implementing regulations at 50 CFR 18.27(f)(3):

Company	Activity	Location	Date issued
Shell Offshore, Inc.	Exploration	Open water seismic	Aug 15, 2006
BP Exploration Alaska, Inc.	Production	Greater Prudhoe Bay, Milne Point, Badami, Endicott, and Northstar Oil Field Units	Aug 15, 2006
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Production	Kuparuk and Alpine Oil Field Units	Aug 15, 2006
FEX L.P.	Exploration	NPR-A	Sept 26, 2006
Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation	Development	Cape Simpson Industrial Port	Sept 22, 2006
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Pike Shallow Hazard Survey	Sept 26, 2006

Dated: October 19, 2006.

Thomas O. Melius,

Regional Director.