[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90781-90782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30083]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF063
Marine Mammals; File No. 20455
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Randall Wells, Ph.D., Chicago
Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine
Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236 has applied
in due form for a permit to conduct research on bottlenose dolphins
(Tursiops truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis)
for scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before January 17, 2017.
[[Page 90782]]
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
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File
No. 20455 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: Shasta McClenahan or Amy Hapeman,
(301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
The applicant requests a five-year permit to take bottlenose and
spotted dolphins for scientific research to continue a long-term
program to evaluate the health, environmental contamination,
reproduction, population structure and dynamics, acoustics, trophic
patterns, life history, social structure, and anthropogenic effects on
dolphins off the west coast of Florida including bays, estuaries, and
offshore waters. Up to 3,000 bottlenose and 1,000 spotted dolphins
would be approached annually during vessel surveys for photography,
photo-identification, video recording, behavioral observation, acoustic
playbacks, and passive acoustic recording, with concurrent deployment
of an unmanned aircraft system for photogrammetry. Up to 250 bottlenose
and 100 spotted dolphins of the above animals may also be biopsy
sampled during vessel surveys annually. Up to 50 bottlenose and 25
spotted dolphins annually of the above animals may be captured for
health assessments which would include biological sampling, auditory
brainstem response tests, metabolic rate studies, ultrasound, x-rays,
marking, tagging, tracking, and release. Calves less than 8 months of
age and females with these calves would not be captured or remotely
biopsy sampled. Up to 25 adults or juveniles of each species annually
would be remotely satellite tagged to test the feasibility of a new
experimental dorsal fin attachment method. Two unintentional
mortalities of each species could occur due to capture over the life of
the permit. The following species could be incidentally harassed during
surveys: Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill sea turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys
kempii), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), olive ridley sea
turtle (L. olivacea), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea),
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and gulf sturgeon (Acipenser
oxyrinchus desotoi).
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 the application to the Marine
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: December 9, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30083 Filed 12-14-16; 8:45 am]
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