Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Transco Lower New York Bay Lateral (LNYBL) Natural Gas Pipeline Maintenance in Sandy Hook Channel, NJ

Résumé

NMFS has received a request from Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC (Transco), a subsidiary of Williams Partners L.P., for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to pile driving associated with the LNYBL Natural Gas Pipeline Maintenance in Sandy Hook Channel, New Jersey (NJ). Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1 year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.