[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17721-17722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07493]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB157
Marine Mammals; File No. 14856
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 Bruce R. Mate, Ph.D., Hatfield
Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, has
applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 14856-02.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before May 4, 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. 14856 Mod
6 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: Amy Hapeman or Carrie Hubard, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 14856-02
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.),
and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
Permit No. 14856-02, first issued on December 18, 2013 (79 FR
3346), authorizes Dr. Mate to take 66 species of cetaceans and 12
species of pinnipeds in U.S. and international waters worldwide for
scientific research. The purposes of the research are to: (1) Identify
migration routes; (2) identify specific feeding and breeding grounds
for each species; (3) characterize local movements and dive habits in
both feeding and breeding grounds, and during migration; (4) examine
the relationships between movements/dive habits and prey distribution,
time of day, geographic location, or physical and biological
oceanographic conditions; (5) characterize whale vocalizations; (6)
characterize sound pressure levels to which whales are exposed; and (7)
gather photo-identification and behavioral information for species and
situations where little information has been documented. Researchers
are authorized to conduct aerial and vessel surveys to perform a suite
of research activities including: Observations, biopsy
[[Page 17722]]
sampling, implantable and suction-cup tagging, photo-identification,
behavioral observation, passive acoustic recording, post-tag
monitoring, and/or import, receive or export parts. The permit expires
December 31, 2018. Dr. Mate is requesting the permit be amended to
increase the number of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) that
may be taken by Level B harassment during surveys from 1,000 to 2,000
animals annually to account for all approaches within 100 yards. No
other changes to the permit or manner of research would occur.
A draft supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) has been
prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to examine whether significant
environmental impacts could result from issuance of the proposed
scientific research permit. The draft SEA is available for review and
comment simultaneous with the scientific research permit application.
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: March 27, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07493 Filed 4-1-15; 8:45 am]
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