Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/560

 108 STAT. 534 PUBLIC LAW 103-238—APR. 30, 1994 Federal Register, publication. Newspapers. Electronic m edia. authorize, for periods of not more than 1 year, subject to such conditions as the Secretary may specify, the incidental, but not intentional, taking by harassment of small numbers of marine mammals of a species or population stock by such citizens while engaging in that activity within that region if the Secretary finds that such harassment during each period concerned— "(I) will have a negligible impact on such species or stock, and "(II) will not have an immitigable adverse impact on the availability of such species or stock for taking for subsistence uses pursuant to subsection (b), or section 109(f) or pursuant to a cooperative agreement under section 119. "(ii) The authorization for such activity shall prescribe, where applicable— (I) permissible methods of taking by harassment pursuant to such activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable impact on such species or stock and its habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on the availability of such species or stock for taking for subsistence uses pursuant to subsection (b) or section 109(f) or pursuant to a cooperative agreement under section 119, "(II) the measures that the Secretary determines Eire necessary to ensure no unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock for taking for subsistence uses pursuant to subsection (b) or section 109(f) or pursuant to a cooperative agreement under section 119, and "(III) requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking by harassment, including requirements for the independent peer review of proposed monitoring plans or other research proposals where the proposed activity may affect the availability of a species or stock for taking for subsistence uses pursuant to subsection (b) or section 109(f) or pursuant to a cooperative agreement under section 119. "(iii) The Secretary shall publish a proposed authorization not later than 45 days after receiving an application under this subparagraph and request public comment through notice in the Federal Register, newspapers of general circulation, and appropriate electronic media and to all locally affected communities for a period of 30 days after publication. Not later than 45 days after the close of the public comment period, if the Secretary makes the findings set forth in clause (i), the Secretary shall issue an authorization with appropriate conditions to meet the requirements of clause (ii). "(iv) The Secretan^ shall modify, suspend, or revoke an authorization if the Secretary finds that the provisions of clauses (i) or (ii) are not being met. "(v) A person conducting an activity for which an authorization has been granted under this subparagraph shall not be subject to the penalties of this Act for taking by harassment that occurs in compliance with such authorization. "(E)(i) During any period of up to 3 consecutive years, the Secretary shall allow the incidental, but not the intentional, taking by persons using vessels of the United States or vessels

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