03-5832. Letters of Authorization to Take Marine Mammals

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of issuance of letters of authorization to take marine mammals incidental to oil and gas industry activities.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implementing regulations [50 CFR 18.27(f)(3)], notice is hereby given that the following 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 to the following companies:

Company	Activity	Location	Date issued
Exxon Mobil Prod. Co	Exploration	Pt. Thomas field studies	Apr. 19, 2002.
EnCana Oil and Gas (USA)	Exploration	McCovey	Aug. 13, 2002.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Puviaq #1 and #2	Nov. 15, 2002.
Western GeCo	Exploration	NPR-A	Dec. 23, 2002.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Titania #1	Dec. 16, 2002.
Fairweather Geophysical	Exploration	NPR-A and Colville Rvr	Dec. 13, 2002.
Anadarko Petroleum Corp.	Exploration	Hot Ice #1, #2, #3	Dec. 23, 2002.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Oberon #1-3, Placer #1-3	Dec. 26, 2002.
PGS Onshore, Inc.	Exploration	NPR-A	Feb. 14, 2002.
TotalFinaElf E&P USA, Inc	Exploration	NPR-A	Feb. 19, 2002.
Pioneer Natural Resources USA	Exploration	Kuparuk/Thetis Island	Feb. 21, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Letter of Authorization is issued in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Rules and Regulations “Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities (65 FR 16828; March 30, 2000).”

Dated: March 4, 2003.

David B. Allen,

Regional Director.