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• Background
• Need for Correction

• Table 20—Summary Information Related to Proposed Annual Take Authorization in the Atlantic Coast Region, 2015-2020

The comment period for the proposed rule published July 9, 2015, at 80 FR 39542, extended August 6, 2015, at 80 FR 46939, has been further extended. NMFS must receive written comments and information no later than September 16, 2015.

You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0078, by any of the following methods:

• Electronic submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov, enter 0648-BF02 in the “Search” box, click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
• Mail: Comments should be addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF file formats only. To help NMFS process and review comments more efficiently, please use only one method to submit comments. All comments received are a part of the public record. NMFS will generally post the comments on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

Jeannine Cody, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

NMFS published a proposed rule on July 9, 2015 (80 FR 39542) to establish a framework for authorizing the take of marine mammals incidental to the NEFSC’s fisheries research activities in the Atlantic coast region for a five-year period, 2015-2020. NMFS refers the reader to the July 9, 2015, Federal Register notice (80 FR 39542) for background information concerning the proposed regulations. The information presented in the notice of proposed rulemaking is not repeated here. NMFS also published a correction to the proposed rule on August 6, 2015 (80 FR 46939). This correction revises the description contained in the preamble of the estimates of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus) to be taken by Level B harassment from 10 to 12. This correction presents the total annual estimate of level B harassment for this species in both inshore (10) and offshore waters (2) in the Atlantic coast region. The correction does not affect NMFS’ preliminary determinations presented in the proposed rule (80 FR 39542, July 9, 2015).

As published, the preamble to the proposed regulations contains errors or typographical mistakes which need to be clarified. These errors and omissions were also incorrectly recorded within the proposed regulatory text and should be clarified there as well.

1. On page 46941, in Table 20, the entries for northern bottlenose whales are corrected to read as follows:

2 . On page 46941, in the center column, in the amendatory text for § 219.33, remove “(Z) Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)—10;” and add “(Z) Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)—12;” in its place.

[FR Doc. 2015-20302 Filed 8-14-15; 8:45 am]

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