[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60131-60132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25210]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XZ31


Issuance of Permit Amendment: Marine Mammals; File No. 14603

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Charles Mayo, Ph.D., Senior 
Scientist and Director, Right Whale Program--Center for Coastal 
Studies, 115 Bradford St., Provincetown, MA 02657 has been

[[Page 60132]]

issued a minor amendment to Scientific Permit No. 14603.

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related documents are available for review 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brendan Hurley or Amy Hapeman, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested amendment has been granted 
under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and 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.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and 
exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    The original permit (No. 14603), issued on September 9, 2010 (75 FR 
61135) authorizes Dr. Mayo to study North Atlantic right whales 
(Eubalaena glacialis) off Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The permitted activities 
include photo-identification, aerial and shipboard surveys, suction-cup 
tagging, photo-identification, sonar for prey mapping, passive acoustic 
recording, and behavioral observation (by vessel and aerial). Whales of 
all ages may be harassed during surveys. The permit also authorizes 
incidental harassment of unidentified baleen whales during research 
activities, and is authorized through September 30, 2015. The minor 
amendment (No. 14603-01) extends the duration of the permit through 
September 30, 2016 but does not change any other terms or conditions of 
the permit.

    Dated: September 29, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25210 Filed 10-2-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P