Data / Federal rules / 2024-07559

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Space Force Launches and Supporting Activities at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Vandenberg, California

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published this final rule in the Federal Register on April 10, 2024. It took effect on April 10, 2024.

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What the agency says

NMFS, in response to the request of the U.S. Space Force (USSF), hereby issues regulations and a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to launches and supporting activities at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in Vandenberg, California, from April 2024 to April 2029. Missile launches conducted at VSFB, which comprise a portion of the activities, are considered military readiness activities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of LOAs for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

Key facts

Document number: 2024-07559
Type: Final rule
Action: Final rule; notice of issuance of Letter of Authorization
Agency: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Published: April 10, 2024
Takes effect: April 10, 2024
Dates: Effective from April 10, 2024, through April 9, 2029.
Docket: Docket No. 240404-0097
Regulation ID (RIN): 0648-BM48
Code of Federal Regulations: 50 CFR 217
Topics: Exports; Fish; Imports; Marine mammals; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Transportation
Pages: 23

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

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