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National Marine Fisheries Service/NOAA, Commerce § 218.230

without prior notification and an op- (Balaena mysticetus), Bryde’s portunity for public comment. Notifi- ( edeni), cation will be published in the FED- (Balaenoptera physalus), ERAL REGISTER within 30 days subse- (Eschrichtius robustus), quent to the action. (Megaptera novaeangliae), (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), North At- Subparts S–W [Reserved] lantic (Eubalaena glacialis), North Pacific right whale (Eubalena ja- Subpart X—Taking and Importing ponica), of Marine ; Navy (Caperamarginata), Operations of Surveillance (Balaenoptera borealis), southern right Towed Array Sensor System whale (Eubalaena australis), Low Frequency Active (2) Odontocetes–Andrew’s beaked (SURTASS LFA) Sonar whale (Mesoplodon bowdoini), Arnoux’s ( arnuxii), At- lantic spotted ( fron- SOURCE: 77 FR 50316, Aug. 20, 2012, unless otherwise noted. talis), Atlantic white-sided dolphin ( acutus), Baird’s EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: At 77 FR 50316, Aug. beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Beluga 20, 2012, subpart X was added, effective Aug. 15, 2012, through Aug. 15, 2017. whale (Dephinapterus leucas), Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon § 218.230 Specified activity, level of densirostris), taking, and species. ( eutropia), Clymene Regulations in this subpart apply dolphin (Stenella clymene), only to the incidental taking of those Commerson’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus marine species specified in commersonii), common bottlenose dol- paragraph (b) of this section by the phin (Tursiops truncatus), Cuvier’s U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, beaked whale (Ziphiuscavirostris), Dall’s while engaged in the operation of no (Phocoenoides dalli), Dusky more than four SURTASS LFA sonar dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), systems conducting active sonar oper- dwarf sperm and pygmy sperm ations in areas specified in paragraph ( simus and K. breviceps), false (a) of this section. The authorized ac- (Pseudorca crassidens), Fra- tivities, as specified in a Letter of Au- ser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei), thorization issued under §§ 216.106 and Gervais’ beaked whale (Mesoplodon 218.238, include the transmission of low europaeus), ginkgo-toothed beaked frequency sounds from the SURTASS whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), Gray’s LFA sonar system and the trans- beaked whale (Mesoplodon grayi), mission of high frequency sounds from Heaviside’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus the mitigation sonar described in heavisidii), Hector’s beaked whale § 218.234 during routine training and (Mesoplodon hectori), Hector’s dolphin testing as well as during military oper- (Cephalorhynchus hectori); Hourglass ations. dolphin (Lagenorhynchus cruciger), (a) The incidental take, by Level A Hubbs’ beaked whale (Mesoplodon and Level B harassment, of marine mammals from the activity identified carhubbsi), harbor porpoise ( in this section may be authorized in phocoena); Indo-Pacific bottlenose dol- certain areas of the Pacific, Atlantic, phin (Tursiops aduncus), killer whale and Indian Oceans and the Mediterra- (Orca orcinus), long-beaked common nean Sea, as specified in a Letter of dolphin (Delphinuscapensis), long-finned Authorization. (Globicephalamelas), (b) The incidental take, by Level A Longman’s beaked whale (Indopacetus and Level B harassment, of marine pacificus), melon-headed whale mammals from the activity identified (Peponocephala electra), northern in this section is limited to the fol- (Hyperodon lowing species and species groups: ampullatus), northern right whale dol- (1) Mysticetes– phin (Lissodelphis borealis), Pacific (Balaenoptera musculus), white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus

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obliquidens), pantropical spotted dol- § 218.231 Effective dates. phin (Stenella attenuata), Peale’s dol- Regulations are effective August 15, phin (Lagenorhynchus australis), 2012 through August 15, 2017. Perrin’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon perrini), § 218.232 Permissible methods of tak- (Mesoplodon peruvianus), pygmy killer ing. whale (Feresa attenuata), Risso’s dol- (a) Under Letters of Authorization phin (Grampus griseus), rough-toothed issued pursuant to §§ 216.106 and 218.238 dolphin (Steno bredanensis), Shepherd’s of this chapter, the Holder of the Let- beaked whale (Tasmacetus sheperdii), ter of Authorization may incidentally, short-beaked but not intentionally, take marine (Delphinus delphis), short-finned pilot mammals by Level A and Level B har- whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), assment within the areas described in southern bottlenose whale (Hyperodon § 218.230(a), provided that the activity planifrons), dol- is in compliance with all terms, condi- phin (Lissodelphis peronii), Sowerby’s tions, and requirements of these regu- beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens), lations and the appropriate Letter of spade-toothed beaked whale Authorization. (Mesoplodon traversii), spectacled por- (b) The Holder of the Letter of Au- poise (Phocoena dioptrica), thorization must conduct the activities (Physeter macrocephalus), spinner dol- identified in § 218.230 in a manner that phin (Stenella longirostris), Stejneger’s minimizes, to the greatest extent prac- beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), ticable, any adverse impacts on marine strap-toothed beaked whale mammals and their habitat. (Mesoplodon layardii), (c) The incidental take of marine mammals under the activities identi- (Stenella coeruleoalba), True’s beaked fied in § 218.230 is limited to the species whale (Mesoplodon mirus), white-beaked listed in § 218.230(b) by the method of dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), take indicated in paragraphs (c)(2) (3) –Australian sea through (5) of this section. ( cinerea), California (1) The Navy must maintain a run- ( californianus), Galapagos fur ning calculation/estimation of takes of seal ( galapagoensis), Gala- each species over the effective period of pagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki), these regulations. gray seal (Halichoerus grypus), Guada- (2) Level B harassment will not ex- lupe (Arctocephalus townsendi), ceed 12 percent of any marine mammal ( vitulina), stock listed in § 218.230(b)(1) through (3) (Pagophilus groenlandicus), Hawaiian annually over the course of the five- (Monachus schauinslandi), year regulations. This annual per-stock (Cystophora cristata), Juan cap of 12 percent applies regardless of Fernadez fur seal (Arctocephalus phi- the number of SURTASS LFA sonar lippi), vessels operating. (Monachus monachus), New Zealand fur (3) Level A harassment of no more seal (), New Zea- than six mysticetes (total), of any of land fur seal (Phocarctos hookeri), the species listed in § 218.230(b)(1) over northern (Mirounga the course of the five-year regulations. angustirostris), (4) Level A harassment of no more (Callorhinus ursinus), ribbon seal (Phoca than 25 odontocetes (total), of any of fasciata), South African and Australian the species listed in § 218.230(b)(2) over fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus), South the course of the five-year regulations. American fur seal (Arctocephalus (5) Level A harassment of no more than 25 pinnipeds (total), of any of the australis), species listed in § 218.230(b)(3) over the (Otaria flavescens), southern elephant course of the five-year regulations. seal (Mirounga leonina), (Phoca largha), § 218.233 Prohibitions. (Eumetopias jubatus), subantarctic fur No person in connection with the ac- seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis). tivities described in § 218.230 may:

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