[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52034-52035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21215]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC268
Marine Mammals; File No. 16239
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 Dan Engelhaupt, Ph.D., HDR EOC,
5700 Lake Wright Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502-1859, has applied for an
amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 16239.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before September 28, 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.
16239 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: Carrie Hubard or Courtney Smith, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 16239 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. 16239, issued on September 11, 2013 (78 FR 60852),
authorizes the permit holder to harass cetacean and pinniped species
during vessel and aerial survey activities, including behavioral
observations and photo-identification. Cetacean species may also be
harassed during underwater photography and collection of sloughed skin
and fecal samples. Surveys may be conducted year-round in all U.S. and
international waters in the Pacific Ocean (including Alaska,
Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Guam, Marianas Islands, and
other U.S. territories) and Atlantic Ocean (including the Gulf of
Mexico, western North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Sargasso Seas). The
permit expires September 30, 2018.
The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include
authorization for: (1) Increasing takes for some species during aerial
and vessel visual surveys to document presence/absence, behavior, and
movement of marine mammals before, during, and after Naval training
exercise operations, offshore energy installations, oil and gas
exploration and production, and pier refurbishment/replacement; (2)
collecting biopsy samples to document genetic variation within
populations, gender, foraging patterns, and stress levels; and (3)
using multiple tag types, including satellite and digital acoustic
tags, to document movement and dive patterns, social and population
structure, and habitat use. See tables in the permit amendment
application for numbers of takes by species, stock and activity. The
research would be conducted to collect data on population and genetic
variations and habitat use, and to monitor behavioral changes during
activities associated with U.S. Navy, renewable energy, oil and gas
exploration and production, and pier-based construction.
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.
[[Page 52035]]
Dated: August 18, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21215 Filed 8-26-15; 8:45 am]
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