[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19578-19579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07844]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD224


Marine Mammals; File No. 18537

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

[[Page 19579]]


ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game (ADF&G), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK, (Principal 
Investigator: Michael Rehberg), has applied in due form for a permit to 
take marine mammals for purposes of scientific research in Alaska.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 9, 2014.

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 File No. 18537 
from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the 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.
    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, Conservation and Education 
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 Courtney Smith, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested 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 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and 
threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    This application supports continuation of ADF&G's long-term Steller 
sea lion (SSL) research program. The applicant requests takes during 
research activities that incorporate improved methodology based on 
previous work authorized under permit No. 14325 and subsequent 
modifications, including: incidental disturbance during aerial, skiff- 
and ground-based count and brand resight surveys; captures supporting 
marking, external instrument attachment, and physiology, toxicology, 
feeding ecology and health sampling; and permanent marking of pups and 
older age classes for describing vital rates and intra-/inter-Discrete 
Population Segment (DPS) movement. The applicant also requests takes by 
incidental disturbance of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), 
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and harbor (Phoca 
vitulina), spotted (Phoca largha), ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata), 
ringed (Pusa hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) are also 
requested due to proximity of isolated individuals to the study area. 
See tables in permit application for numbers of takes by species, stock 
and activity. Authorization for annual unintentional mortality of 5 SSL 
from the Western DPS and 10 SSL from the Eastern DPS is requested.
    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 effects of the activities proposed are consistent with the 
Preferred Alternative in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS 
2007) and that issuance of the permit would not have a significant 
adverse impact on the human environment.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: April 3, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07844 Filed 4-8-14; 8:45 am]
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