[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28488-28489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11370]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XP18
Marine Mammals; File No. 14327
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Marine Fisheries
Service's National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML), 7600 Sand Point
Way, Seattle, WA 98115 [Principal Investigator: Thomas Gelatt, Ph.D.],
has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 14327.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before June 16, 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. 14327-01
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
[[Page 28489]]
[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 Courtney Smith, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14327 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting
of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the
Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
Permit No. 14327, issued on August 17, 2009 (74 FR 44823),
authorizes NMML to investigate population status and trends,
demographic parameters, health and condition, and foraging ecology of
northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in U.S. waters, including
rookeries and haulouts in CA California and AK Alaska. Research on the
San Miguel Island stock involves: Capture, restraint, sampling, and
incidental disturbance. Research on the Eastern Pacific stock involves:
Capture, restraint, sampling, and incidental disturbance. The permit
also authorizes research-related mortality of fur seals from the San
Miguel Island Stock and the Eastern Pacific stock. Western DPS Steller
sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and California sea lions (Zalophus
californianus) may be harassed annually incidental to the research. See
tables in permit application for numbers of takes by species, stock and
activity.
A 5-year amendment is requested to continue the long term
monitoring and assessment of Northern fur seal population and
demographic parameters; health and disease trends; and foraging habits
and ecology. Specifically, the requested amendment will: Add new
methods (aerial surveys) and authorize associated incidental
disturbance; edit methods (tag resighting observations) and authorize
increased associated incidental disturbance; authorize existing
procedures (nasal, vaginal, and fecal swab sampling) for/at other
existing projects/locations; authorize new procedures (ocular swab and
vibrissae sampling); add new species (harbor seals; Phoca vitulina) and
authorize their disturbance incidental to northern fur seal research
activities; and, modify protocols (tooth extraction, pup production
estimates).
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 requested permit amendment 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: May 13, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11370 Filed 5-15-14; 8:45 am]
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