96-4166. Small Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Delta II Vehicles at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 6975]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-4166]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    [I.D. 081195B]
    
    
    Small Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
    McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Delta II Vehicles at Vandenberg Air Force 
    Base, CA
    
    AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Notice of modification of an incidental harassment 
    authorization.
    
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    SUMMARY: In accordance with provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection 
    Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that an Incidental 
    Harassment Authorization (IHA), issued to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) on 
    September 19, 1995, to take small numbers of marine mammals by 
    harassment incidental to launches of McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA) 
    Delta II vehicles at Space Launch Complex 2W (SLC-2W), Vandenberg Air 
    Force Base, CA (Vandenberg), has been modified.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: The authorization is effective from September 19, 1995, 
    until September 19, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: The application, authorization and modification are 
    available for review in the following offices: Marine Mammal Division, 
    Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
    Spring, MD 20910 and the Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., 
    Long Beach, CA 90802.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Hollingshead, 301-713-2055, or 
    Irma Lagomarsino, 301-980-4016.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        On July 12, 1995, NMFS received an application from the USAF 
    requesting an authorization for the harassment of small numbers of 
    harbor seals and potentially for other pinniped species incidental to 
    launches of Delta II vehicles at SLC-2W, Vandenberg. These launches 
    would place Department of Defense, National Aeronautic and Space 
    Administration (NASA), and commercial, medium-weight payloads into 
    polar or near-polar orbits. MDA/NASA intends to launch four to five 
    Delta IIs during the period of this proposed 1-year authorization.
        Background information and rationale was provided with the notice 
    of receipt of the application and proposed authorization that was 
    published on August 18, 1995 (60 FR 43120) and are not repeated here. A 
    30-day public comment period was provided on the application and 
    proposed authorization. After review of the comments received on the 
    application, NMFS concluded that the taking will not result in more 
    than the harassment (as defined by the MMPA Amendments of 1994) of a 
    small number of harbor seals, California sea lions, and northern 
    elephant seals, would have only a negligible impact on the species, and 
    would result in the least practicable impact on the stock. Accordingly, 
    NMFS determined that the requirements of section 101(a)(5)(D) of the 
    MMPA had been met and the incidental harassment authorization was 
    issued on September 19, 1995 (60 FR 52653, October 10, 1995).
    
    Summary of Request
    
        Section 6(b) of the IHA requires the USAF to observe harbor seal 
    activity on haulouts in the vicinity of SLC-2W before and after each 
    Delta II launch and to record launch noise levels at nearby harbor seal 
    haulouts. On January 24, 1996, NMFS received a request from the USAF to 
    amend section 6(b) by removing the requirement for recording launch 
    noises at coastal harbor seal haulouts.
        The first launch of a Delta II vehicle under the IHA occurred on 
    November 4, 1995. NMFS and the USAF received a preliminary report on 
    noise measurements recorded at various distances from SLC-2W during 
    this launch. These results indicate that launch noise was similar to 
    noise recorded at the same distances during another Delta II launch at 
    the Kennedy Space Center, FL, in July 1992. Furthermore, the USAF 
    indicated that these noise levels correspond closely with a predictive 
    model that was run prior to the launch to calculate launch noise levels 
    at various distances from the launch pad.
        Based on this information, it appears that noise levels from 
    launches of Delta II space vehicles are predictable and consistent. The 
    USAF has indicated that the azimuth for subsequent Delta II launches 
    during the authorization period will be similar to the November 4, 
    1995, launch. The noise level measurements taken during the November 4, 
    1995, launch therefore appear to be applicable to the remaining Delta 
    II launches during the authorization period.
        Because the empirical data support the predictive model, additional 
    acoustic measurements are unnecessary for monitoring the impact of 
    Delta II launches on nearby harbor seal haulouts. Accordingly, on 
    January 31, 1996, NMFS amended section 6(b) of the IHA as follows:
        b. Observations on harbor seal activity at harbor seal haulouts in 
    the vicinity of SLC-2 and Purisima Point or in the absence of pinnipeds 
    at that location, at another nearby haulout, must commence at least 72 
    hours prior to any planned launch and continue for a period of time not 
    less than 48 hours subsequent to launching.
        As a result of this modification, the monitoring of noise levels 
    during the remaining launches of Delta II space vehicles from SLC-2W 
    will not be necessary through September 19, 1996. However, the USAF 
    will be required to comply with all of the other conditions of the IHA, 
    including observations of harbor seal activity, as required in the IHA.
    
        Dated: February 15, 1996.
    Ann D. Terbush,
    Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
    Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 96-4166 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/19/1995
Published:
02/23/1996
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of modification of an incidental harassment authorization.
Document Number:
96-4166
Dates:
The authorization is effective from September 19, 1995, until September 19, 1996.
Pages:
6975-6975 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
I.D. 081195B
PDF File:
96-4166.pdf