Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Site Characterization Surveys Offshore From Massachusetts to New Jersey for Vineyard Northeast, LLC

Résumé

NMFS received a request from Vineyard Northeast, LLC (Vineyard Northeast) for the renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) (hereafter, the "Project") to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore from Massachusetts to New Jersey in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas OCS-A 0522 and OCS-A 0544 (Lease Areas) and associated offshore export cable corridor (OECC) routes. The proposed action is a subset of the survey efforts that were previously authorized but were not yet completed under the currently active IHA, which will soon expire. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, prior to issuing the currently active IHA, NMFS requested comments on both the proposed IHA and the potential for renewing the initial authorization if certain requirements were satisfied. The renewal requirements have been satisfied, and NMFS is now providing an additional 15-day public comment period to allow for any additional comments on the proposed renewal not previously provided during the initial 30-day comment