[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 25650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10037]



[[Page 25650]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE436


Marine Mammals; File No. 19309

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 
NMFS Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 
98115-6349 (Responsible Party: John Bengtson, Ph.D.), to conduct 
research on pinnipeds in Alaska.

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: Amy Sloan, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 23, 2016, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (89 FR 8942) that the above-named applicant 
requested a permit to conduct research on pinnipeds. 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.), and the 
regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 
CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 19309 authorizes takes of bearded (Erignathus barbatus), 
harbor (Phoca vitulina), ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata), ringed (Phoca 
hispida hispida), and spotted seals (Phoca largha) in the North Pacific 
Ocean, Bering Sea, Arctic Ocean, and coastal regions of Alaska. The 
purposes of the research are to investigate the foraging ecology, 
population abundance and trends, population structure, habitat 
requirements, health, vital rates, and effects of natural and 
anthropogenic factors on these species. Seals may be (1) captured and 
handled for sampling and deployment of telemetry devices, (2) 
incidentally harassed annually during capture activities or collection 
of feces and other samples from haul-out substrate, and (3) harassed 
during manned and unmanned aerial surveys. Steller sea lions 
(Eumetopias jubatus) of the Eastern Distinct Population Segment may be 
taken annually by incidental harassment during harbor seal aerial 
surveys. Authorization is provided for unintentional mortalities of 
each seal species. The permit expires on March 25, 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.

    Dated: April 21, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-10037 Filed 4-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P