Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Installation of Meteorological Data Collection Facilities in the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf

摘要

NMFS has received two applications from Bluewater Wind (Bluewater) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to pile driving associated with installation of two meteorological data collection facilities (MCDFs); one each off the coast of Delaware and New Jersey. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to Bluewater to incidentally harass, by Level B Harassment only, eight species of marine mammals during the installation of both MDCFs. The IHA would be effective from October 1- November 15, 2010.