Federal Register #2026-14777

NOAA Regulatory Notice: North Atlantic Right Whale Critical Habitat Petition and Marine Mammal Authorization

This notice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), addresses regulatory actions related to the North Atlantic right whale and marine mammal protection: - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, Protected Resources Division - Petition Review: - NMFS reviewed a petition to revise the critical habitat for the endangered North Atlantic right whale - The petition sought to include migratory habitat connecting existing critical habitats - NMFS determined the petition did not provide sufficient scientific information to warrant a revision - Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA): - NMFS proposes an IHA for marine mammals related to the Office of Naval Research's Arctic research activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas - The IHA would authorize incidental take of marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act - A one-time, 1-year renewal of the IHA may be possible under certain conditions - No products, OEMs, or commercial vendors are referenced in this notice - The notice is informational and regulatory in nature, not a procurement opportunity

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a 90-day finding on a petition to revise the critical habitat designation for the endangered North Atlantic right whale under the Endangered Species Act. The existing critical habitat covers approximately 29,763 square nautical miles in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and off the Southeast U.S. Coast. The petition requests inclusion of migratory habitat in the designation. NMFS finds that the petition does not present substantial scientific information indicating that the revision may be warranted at this time.

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