NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ISSUES PROPOSED RULE: TAKES OF MARINE MAMMALS INCIDENTAL TO SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES; TAKING MARINE MAMMALS INCIDENTAL TO U.S. NAVY OPERATIONS OF SURVEILLANCE TOWED ARRAY SENSOR SYSTEM LOW FREQUENCY ACTIVE SONAR IN THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN AND EASTERN INDIAN OCEAN

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a proposed rule called: Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean.

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on March 10 by Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.

Summary: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy) for Incidental Take Regulations (ITR) and an associated Letter of Authorization (LOA) pursuant to the Marine Mammal Pr...