[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54049-54050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19296]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE481


Marine Mammals; File No. 19706

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to the 
California State University, Bakersfield [Responsible Party: Antje 
Lauer, Ph.D.], 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, to 
conduct research on pinnipeds.

ADDRESSES: The permit 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: Rosa Gonz[aacute]lez or Jennifer 
Skidmore, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 22, 2016, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (55 FR 15248) that a request for a permit to 
conduct research on pinnipeds had been submitted by the above-named 
applicant. The requested permit has been issued 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the regulations governing the 
taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species 
(50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    The permit authorizes the Permit Holder to (1) receive, import, and 
export

[[Page 54050]]

blood sera from up to 500 California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), 25 threatened Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus 
townsendi), and 25 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in 
rehabilitation annually to perform immunodiffusion assays; and (2) to 
perform the Spherusol skin test on up to 500 California sea lions in 
rehabilitation annually. The objective of the permitted activities, as 
described in the application, is to research Coccidioidomycosis (Valley 
fever) on stranded marine mammals along California's coast. The goal is 
to successfully detect animals' exposure to Coccidioides spp. and 
compare the effectiveness of each test at detecting the fungus. The 
permit is valid until July 31, 2021.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the 
activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of this permit was based on a 
finding that such permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: August 9, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-19296 Filed 8-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P