National Marine Fisheries Service/NOAA, Commerce § 218.230 without prior notification and an op- (Balaena mysticetus), Bryde’s whale portunity for public comment. Notifi- (Balaenoptera edeni), fin whale cation will be published in the FED- (Balaenoptera physalus), gray whale ERAL REGISTER within 30 days subse- (Eschrichtius robustus), humpback whale quent to the action. (Megaptera novaeangliae), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), North At- Subparts S–W [Reserved] lantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), North Pacific right whale (Eubalena ja- Subpart X—Taking and Importing ponica), pygmy right whale of Marine Mammals; Navy (Caperamarginata), sei whale 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 beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii), At- lantic spotted dolphin (Stenella fron- SOURCE: 77 FR 50316, Aug. 20, 2012, unless otherwise noted. talis), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus 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), Chilean dolphin taking, and species. (Cephalorhynchus eutropia), Clymene Regulations in this subpart apply dolphin (Stenella clymene), only to the incidental taking of those Commerson’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus marine mammal 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 porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), Dusky more than four SURTASS LFA sonar dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), systems conducting active sonar oper- dwarf sperm and pygmy sperm whales ations in areas specified in paragraph (Kogia simus and K. breviceps), false (a) of this section. The authorized ac- killer whale (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 (Phocoena 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. pilot whale (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- bottlenose whale (Hyperodon lowing species and species groups: ampullatus), northern right whale dol- (1) Mysticetes–blue whale phin (Lissodelphis borealis), Pacific (Balaenoptera musculus), bowhead whale white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus 203 VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:38 Jan 27, 2015 Jkt 232237 PO 00000 Frm 00213 Fmt 8010 Sfmt 8010 Y:\SGML\232237.XXX 232237 dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with CFRLOC § 218.231 50 CFR Ch. II (10–1–14 Edition) 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), pygmy beaked whale § 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 common dolphin 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), southern right whale 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), sperm whale 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), striped dolphin (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) Pinnipeds–Australian sea lion through (5) of this section. (Neophoca cinerea), California sea lion (1) The Navy must maintain a run- (Zalophus californianus), Galapagos fur ning calculation/estimation of takes of seal (Arctocephalus 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 fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), ceed 12 percent of any marine mammal harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), harp seal stock listed in § 218.230(b)(1) through (3) (Pagophilus groenlandicus), Hawaiian annually over the course of the five- monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi), year regulations. This annual per-stock hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), Juan cap of 12 percent applies regardless of Fernadez fur seal (Arctocephalus phi- the number of SURTASS LFA sonar lippi), Mediterranean monk seal vessels operating. (Monachus monachus), New Zealand fur (3) Level A harassment of no more seal (Arctocephalus forsteri), New Zea- than six mysticetes (total), of any of land fur seal (Phocarctos hookeri), the species listed in § 218.230(b)(1) over northern elephant seal (Mirounga the course of the five-year regulations. angustirostris), northern fur seal (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), South American sea lion species listed in § 218.230(b)(3) over the (Otaria flavescens), southern elephant course of the five-year regulations. seal (Mirounga leonina), spotted seal (Phoca largha), Steller sea lion § 218.233 Prohibitions. (Eumetopias jubatus), subantarctic fur No person in connection with the ac- seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis). tivities described in § 218.230 may: 204 VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:38 Jan 27, 2015 Jkt 232237 PO 00000 Frm 00214 Fmt 8010 Sfmt 8010 Y:\SGML\232237.XXX 232237 dkrause on DSKHT7XVN1PROD with CFRLOC.