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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-06-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0648-BC54</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201410</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0648</CODE>
            <NAME>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>NOAA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0600</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Commerce</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOC</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Sturgeon Research in the Gulf of Mexico</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The Gulf sturgeon was listed in 1991 as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is working with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Geological Survey, and other partners on several wide-ranging projects across inshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico in designated critical habitat areas for the Gulf sturgeon. Sturgeon research projects include an annual summer and fall census and fine-scale movement and habitat assessment within and nearby Choctawhatchee Bay, FL.  Sampling locations will occur in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  The research involves the use of gill nets to capture sturgeon to assess physical condition, implant telemetry transmitters, and collect census information, among other objectives. This proposed rulemaking sets up the regulatory environment for exempting takes of marine mammals caused by the sturgeon sampling program. The rule outlines mitigation measures to avoid impacts on affected species and their habitats, monitoring requirements, and reporting requirements.  The rule will remain in effect for five years.  Once the rule is in place, Letters of Authorization (LOAs) may be issued annually under the rule to authorize marine mammal takes incidental to sturgeon research. Gulf of Maine sturgeon research is an ongoing effort that has resulted in only one incident of interaction with marine mammals in 26 years of survey efforts, which caused the deaths of two bottlenose dolphins. Since then, USFWS has implemented avoidance measures designed in collaboration with NMFS. Although entanglement of marine mammals in gill nets for sturgeon research is extremely rare, and the likelihood is further reduced by the avoidance measures, incidental take of marine mammals from sturgeon research remains a possibility.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Routine and Frequent</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Completed Actions</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>50 CFR 217</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>16 USC 1371 et seq</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Withdrawn</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>09/05/2014</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Donna</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Wieting</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Director, Office of Protected Resources</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0648</CODE>
                    <NAME>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>NOAA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>301 427-8400</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Silver Spring</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20910</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
