[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1398-1399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00142]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XZ51
Marine Mammals; File No. 15543
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 Randall S. Wells, Ph.D. (Principal
Investigator), Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine
Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, has applied
for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No.15543-03.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before February 9, 2015.
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.15543 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 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: Courtney Smith or Brendan Hurley,
(301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 15543-03
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).
Permit No. 15543, issued on May 26, 2011 (76 FR 32144), authorizes
the permit holder to conduct photo-identification and behavioral
studies, remote biopsy sampling, and temporary capture and release
activities for health assessments of bottlenose dolphins. Research may
occur in shallow, inshore and coastal waters of west Florida out to 50
miles offshore. The permit was modified with several minor amendments
that further authorized the development of cell lines from blubber
tissue (Permit No. 15543-01, issued September 21, 2011); the
application of zinc oxide to mark animals to aid in their
identification during post-tagging behavioral observations (Permit No.
15543-02, issued January 22, 2014); and the use of an unmanned aerial
system (UAS) to aid in health assessment captures and field surveys
(Permit No. 15543-03; issued May 1, 2014).
The applicant has requested to amend the permit by expanding the
study area to include the bay, sound, estuary and associated coastal
waters of Mobile Bay, Alabama, and Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, and 160
annual takes in each location by remote biopsy sampling of bottlenose
dolphins. Additionally, 160 annual biopsy takes will be added to the
currently authorized allotment of Florida biopsy activities to include
a focused study in Pensacola Bay, FL. These research activities aim to
understand dolphin population dynamics, abundance, movement patterns,
feeding ecology, and specific metrics of biological and physiological
condition to understand acute and chronic effects of the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill. Biopsy samples will be distributed to authorized
recipients for processing.
The applicant has also requested to capture, satellite-tag, and
release up to 25 Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) for
health assessments by hoop-netting bow-riding individuals during
surveys on the West Florida Shelf. Up to 2 takes by unintentional
mortality are requested annually. These activities will help to
determine ranging patterns, dive behavior and habitat use of this
understudied species. These same activities are already authorized for
bottlenose dolphins under the current permit (No. 15543-03).
Finally, the applicant has requested a minor procedural
modification to allow the administration of doubly-labeled water
(deuterium oxide and oxygen-18) to bottlenose dolphins that are
temporarily captured during health assessments. This procedure is part
of a larger study to determine the metabolic rates of females with and
without calves, and of 2-3 year old calves. The
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doubly-labeled water will be administered via a stomach tube
(procedural variants of this, lavage and gastric sampling, is already
authorized under the current permit). Additional personnel with germane
experience to this project are requested to be Co-investigators.
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.
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: December 24, 2014.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-00142 Filed 1-8-15; 8:45 am]
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