05-7409. 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 “Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities (68 FR 66744; November 28, 2003)” 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
Veritas DGC Land Inc	Exploration	2005 winter seismic	Dec 16, 2004.
Cruz Construction	Development	2005 winter transport	Dec 16, 2004.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Kokoda 3, 4, 5	Dec 16, 2004.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Defiance 1	Dec 16, 2004.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Bounty 1	Dec 16, 2004.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Noatak 1	Dec 16, 2004.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Trailblazer H-1	Dec 16, 2004.
Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corp	Exploration	Nikaitchuq #2, 3, 5	Dec 22, 2004.
Pioneer Natural Resources Ak	Development	Gwydyr Bay	Jan 10, 2005.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Exploration	Iapetus 2	Jan 24, 2005.
Brooks Range Petroleum Corp	Exploration	Sak River #1	Jan 28, 2005.
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc	Development	CD3, CD4	Feb 7, 2005.
Ecology and Environment, Inc	Development	JW Dalton	Feb 14, 2005.

Dated: March 16, 2005.

Gary Edwards,

Deputy Regional Director.