[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76276-76277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30842]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA165
Marine Mammals; File No. 15510
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 Jennifer Burns, Ph.D., University
of Alaska Anchorage, Biology Department, 3101 Science Circle,
Anchorage, AK, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research
Permit No. 15510.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before January 7, 2016.
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.
15510 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,
[[Page 76277]]
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: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Amy Sloan,
(301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 15510 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 222-226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
Permit No. 15510, issued on April 25, 2011 (76 FR 25308),
authorizes Dr. Burns to conduct physiology studies on development,
thermoregulation, muscle performance, oxygen stores, and hormonal and
other regulatory processes using marine mammal parts. Annually, Dr.
Burns can obtain samples from up to 50 animals of each of the following
species: harp (Pagophilus groenlandica), hooded (Cystophora cristata),
gray (Halichoerus grypus), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ringed (Phoca
hispida), harbor (Phoca vitulina), spotted (Phoca largha), and ribbon
(Histriophoca fasciata) seals; and to obtain samples annually from up
to 6 captive Northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus; and 6 captive
Steller Sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus. Samples may be from subsistence-
harvested animals in Alaska, and other scientific and/or subsistence
collections including but not limited to the national waters of Canada,
Norway, the United Kingdom, and in international waters. Samples may be
collected, received nationally, and imported and exported worldwide
over a five-year period for laboratory analysis to support the research
objectives. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to
increase the number of harbor seals from which samples may be
collected, received, imported, and exported from 50 to 100 annually;
and, to extend the permit for 1 year. The permit would expire April 30,
2017.
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 2, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30842 Filed 12-7-15; 8:45 am]
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