[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2955-2956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00612]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648- XX69
Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14451, 14353, and 13846
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permit amendments.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Joseph Mobley, Jr., University of
Hawaii at Manoa, 2528 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, HI 96816; Ann Zoidis,
Cetos Research Organization, 33 Echo Ave., Suite 5, Oakland, CA 94611;
and Jim Darling, Ph.D., Whale Trust, P.O. Box 384, Tofino, BC V0R2Z0,
Canada, have applied for amendments to Scientific Research Permit Nos.
14451, 14353, and 13846, respectively.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before February 14, 2013.
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 home
page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting the appropriate
File No. 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; and
Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110,
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 944-2200; fax (808) 973-2941.
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: Kristy Beard or Carrie Hubard, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendments are requested under
the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 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 222-226).
Permit No. 14451, issued on July 14, 2010 (75 FR 43151), authorizes
the permit holder, Joseph Mobley, Jr., to study cetaceans off the east
and west coast of the United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and the
Mariana Islands. Researchers target numerous cetacean species including
endangered blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), fin whales (B.
physalus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), sei whales
[[Page 2956]]
(B. borealis), and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), during aerial
and vessel surveys for photo-identification, videography, and
behavioral observations. The permit includes authorization under the
MMPA to take 205 false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in Pacific
waters off of Hawaii. Insular Hawaiian false killer whales were listed
as endangered under the ESA in November 2012; therefore, the permit
holder now requires authorization under the ESA to take Insular
Hawaiian false killer whales. The permit holder is requesting the
permit be amended to allocate 180 of the false killer whale takes
currently authorized under the MMPA to Insular Hawaiian false killer
whales.
Permit No. 14353, issued on July 14, 2010 (75 FR 43151), authorizes
the permit holder, Ann Zoidis, Cetos Research Organization, 33 Echo
Ave., Suite 5, Oakland, CA 94611, to conduct scientific research on
humpback and minke (B. acutorostrata) whales in Hawaiian waters.
Research occurs annually from January through March. Humpback whale
research is focused in the Au'au Channel near Maui. Research activities
include photo-identification, behavioral observations, passive acoustic
recording, and underwater photo/videography. Suction cup tags are
deployed on humpback whales. Minke whales are approached for photo-
identification anywhere within the main Hawaiian islands. The permit
includes authorization under the MMPA for the incidental harassment of
up to 1,000 false killer whales during activities in Pacific waters off
of Hawaii. Insular Hawaiian false killer whales were listed as
endangered under the ESA in November 2012; therefore, the permit holder
now requires authorization under the ESA to take Insular Hawaiian false
killer whales. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to
include ESA authorization for the incidental harassment of Insular
Hawaiian false killer whales and to expand the geographic area
throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including the Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands (NWHI) chain.
Permit No. 13846, issued on July 14, 2010 (75 FR 43151), authorizes
the permit holder, Jim Darling, Ph.D., Whale Trust, P.O. Box 384,
Tofino, BC V0R2Z0, Canada, to study humpback whales in Hawaii
(primarily off west Maui) and humpback and Eastern gray (Eschrichtius
robustus) whales along the coastlines of Washington and Alaska.
Researchers may conduct photo-identification, passive acoustic
recording, behavioral observation (by vessel, underwater and aerial),
videorecording, collection of sloughed skin, photogrammetry, biopsy
sampling, playback experiments, and/or suction cup and implant tagging
of target whales. The permit includes authorization under the MMPA for
the incidental harassment of up to 150 false killer whales during
playback experiments in Pacific waters off Hawaii. Insular Hawaiian
false killer whales were listed as endangered under the ESA in November
2012; therefore, the permit holder now requires authorization under the
ESA to take Insular Hawaiian false killer whales. The permit holder is
requesting the permit be amended to include ESA authorization for the
incidental harassment of Insular Hawaiian false killer whales.
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 activities proposed are consistent with the Proposed Action
Alternative in the Environmental Assessment for the Issuance of
Scientific Research Permits for Research on Humpback Whales and Other
Cetaceans (NMFS 2010). Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined
that issuance of the permits 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 July 14, 2010.
The EA and FONSI are available upon request.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00612 Filed 1-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P