[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26513-26514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10847]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC014
Marine Mammals; File No. 15777
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
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[[Page 26514]]
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science
Center, Woods Hole, MA (Responsible Party: Michael Simpkins), has
applied in due form for a permit to take marine mammals during
scientific research in coastal waters and adjacent waters off the
northeast U.S.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before June 4, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File
No. 15777 from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available upon written request or by
appointment in the following offices:
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;
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.
Written comments on this application should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the
subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Adams or Amy Sloan, (301) 427-
8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the
taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The applicant requests a five-year permit to take harbor seals
(Phoca vitulina concolor), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), harp seals
(Pagophilus groenlandicus), and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata)
during conduct of research to estimate distribution and abundance,
determine stock structure and habitat requirements, study foraging
ecology, assess health and determine the effects of natural and
anthropogenic factors on these seal species. Types of take include
harassment during shipboard, skiff, and aircraft transect and photo-
identification surveys, and scat collection; and capture with tissue
sampling and instrument or tag attachment. The applicant proposes to
capture up to 175 harbor seals and 225 gray seals annually for
measurement of body condition, collection of tissue samples (e.g.,
blood, blubber biopsy, skin, hair, swab samples, vibrissae), and
attachment of telemetry devices. Up to 200 harp seals, 50 hooded seals,
and an additional 18,000 harbor seals and 20,000 gray seals could be
harassed annually incidental to surveys, scat collections and capture
operations. The applicant requests unintentional mortality of up to 3
animals of each species annually. Permission is also sought to import
and export pinniped specimen material (including soft and hard tissue,
blood, extracted DNA, and whole dead animals or parts thereof) to/from
any country. The study area includes waters within or proximal to the
U.S. EEZ from North Carolina northward to Maine, and Canadian waters in
the Gulf of Maine.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Dated: May 1, 2012.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10847 Filed 5-3-12; 8:45 am]
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