[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42505-42506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17187]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD213


Marine Mammals; File No. 18694

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Mervi 
Kunnasranta, Ph.D., University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 
Joensuu Finland, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct 
commercial/educational photography on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

[[Page 42506]]


DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before August 21, 2014.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Smith or Amy Sloan, (301)427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 3, 2014, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (79 FR 18669) that a request for a permit to 
conduct commercial or educational photography 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 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). Section 104(c)(6) 
provides for photography for educational or commercial purposes 
involving non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals in the wild.
    Permit No. 18694 authorizes commercial/educational underwater and 
vessel-based filming and photography of the freshwater harbor seal 
population at Lake Iliamna, Alaska. Filming will take place for 
approximately one week between spring and fall annually, most likely 
during the seals' molt period in summer, after pupping; up to 280 seals 
may be approached and filmed annually. Obtained footage will be part of 
an international documentary film presenting the world's other 
freshwater seal species, to be published in Europe.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

    Dated: July 17, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-17187 Filed 7-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P