[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26517-26518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10846]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV40


Marine Mammals; File No. 14118

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Becky 
Woodward, Ph.D., University of Maine, 9500 Old Retriever Trail, Charles 
City, Virginia 23030 to conduct research on Eastern gray (Eschrichtius 
robustus), minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and short- and long-
finned pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) and endangered humpback 
(Megaptera novaeangliae) whales. Fin (B. physalus) and sei (B. 
borealis) whales may be incidentally harassed.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Beard or Carrie Hubard, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 23, 2010, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (75 FR 13730) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on the species identified above had been submitted by 
the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been issued under 
the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The permit authorizes takes during research involving tagging using 
a peduncle belt type attachment mechanism, photo-identification, 
behavioral observations, tracking and monitoring, passive acoustics, 
photography and video both above and under water, and collection of 
sloughed skin. Research will occur in the North Atlantic from Maine to 
Texas, and in the North Pacific from Alaska to California, including 
Hawaii. Multiple research objectives would be addressed using data from 
the tags, including: (1) Long-term movement and habitat use studies 
using satellite/GPS/depth tags, (2) medium-term acoustic studies using 
an audio recording package to examine transmitted and received sound, 
and (3) extended fine-scale behavioral ecology studies using multi-
sensor data recording packages. The permit is valid for five years from 
the date of issuance.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared analyzing the effects 
of the permitted activities on the human environment in compliance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that issuance of the 
permit would not significantly impact the quality of the human 
environment and that preparation of an environmental impact statement 
was not required. That determination is documented in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on April 27, 2012.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
phone (301) 427-8401; fax (301) 713-0376;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018;
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 944-2200; fax (808) 973-2941;

[[Page 26518]]

    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.

     Dated: May 1, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10846 Filed 5-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P