216.257—Letters of Authorization.
(a)
A Letter of Authorization, unless suspended or revoked, will be valid for a period of time specified in the Letter of Authorization, but may not to exceed the period of validity of this subpart, and must be renewed annually subject to annual renewal conditions in § 216.258.
(b)
A Letter of Authorization with a period of validity less than the period of this subpart may be renewed subject to renewal conditions in § 216.258.
(c)
Each Letter of Authorization will set forth:
(1)
Permissible methods of incidental taking;
(2)
Means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the species, its habitat, and on the availability of the species for subsistence uses; and
(3)
Requirements for monitoring and reporting incidental takes.
(d)
Issuance and renewal of the Letter of Authorization will be based on a determination that the total number of marine mammals taken by the activity as a whole will have no more than a negligible impact on the species or stock of affected marine mammals.
(e)
Except for the initial Letter of Authorization, notice of issuance or denial of subsequent Letters of Authorization will be published in the Federal Register within 30 days of a determination.