Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on Issuance of Permits for Research on Northern Right Whales in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, 60285-60287 [05-20715]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60285-60287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20715]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101105C]


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on 
Issuance of Permits for Research on Northern Right Whales in the 
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze 
the environmental impacts of issuing permits facilitating research on 
endangered northern right whales.
    Publication of this notice begins the official scoping process that 
will help identify alternatives and determine the scope of 
environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. This notice requests 
public participation in the scoping process and provides information on 
how to participate.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates, times, and 
locations of public scoping meetings for this issue.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Written statements and questions regarding the scoping process must 
be postmarked by January 31, 2006, and should be mailed to: Steve 
Leathery, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office 
of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Fax: 301-427-
2582 or e-mail at rweis.comments@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS proposes to continue to issue permits 
to various individuals and institutions for conduct of research on 
northern right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, in the Atlantic and Pacific 
Oceans. Note that the International Whaling Commission recognizes two 
species of northern right whale: E. glacialis in the North Atlantic and 
E. japonica in the North Pacific. NMFS is currently conducting a status 
review to determine whether to list the population of northern right 
whales in the Pacific as a separate species (E. japonica) from the 
population in the Atlantic (E. glacialis). Permits would be issued 
pursuant to the provisions of section 104 of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and section 10(a)(1)(A) 
of the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and NMFS 
regulations implementing these statutes.
    NMFS is the Federal agency responsible under the MMPA and ESA for 
management of right whales. NMFS issues permits to qualified 
individuals and institutions so they can conduct research activities 
likely to result in collection of information needed by NMFS to 
conserve and recover northern right whales. NMFS has issued permits for 
research on right whales for several decades.
    The purpose of issuing permits is to allow an exemption to the 
prohibition on ``takes'' established under the ESA and MMPA. The ESA 
and the MMPA prohibit ``takes'' of threatened and endangered species, 
and of marine mammals, respectively. The ESA defines ``take'' as ``to 
harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or 
collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.'' Under the MMPA, 
``take'' is defined as to ``harass, hunt, capture, collect or kill, or 
attempt to harass, hunt, capture, collect or kill any marine mammal.'' 
The MMPA further defines harassment as ``any act of pursuit, torment, 
or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or 
marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the 
potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
by causing a disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not 
limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering but which does not have the potential to injure a marine 
mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level B harassment].''
    In addition to the general prohibitions of the MMPA and ESA, 
federal regulations (50 CFR 224.103) prohibit both boats and aircraft 
from approaching any right whale in the North Atlantic closer than 500 
yards, except by permit. Many research activities, including aerial and 
vessel-based surveys, photo-identification, attachment of scientific 
instruments, and collection of tissue samples (remote biopsy sampling), 
require approaching right whales closer than this and may result in 
harassment or other acts otherwise prohibited under the MMPA and ESA.
    While the status of the right whale population has remained 
critical, the interest in research that will identify or resolve 
conservation problems for the species has grown. The level of research 
effort relative to the population size has increased and researchers 
are

[[Page 60286]]

developing ever more innovative techniques to study right whales. In 
addition, Congress continues to appropriate funds to facilitate 
research on right whales, which in turn drives requests for research 
permits. Thus, NMFS has decided to prepare an EIS to evaluate the 
cumulative impacts of research on right whales and to assess the likely 
environmental effects of issuing permits under a range of alternatives 
characterized by different research methods, mitigation measures, and 
level of effort, including a range of sample sizes and temporal and 
geographic scopes of research.
    The Proposed Action Alternative would result in issuance of permits 
to qualified individuals and institutions to conduct those research 
activities determined critical or essential to NMFS' conservation and 
recovery of right whales. To minimize the cumulative impacts of 
research on right whales, no permits would be issued for lower priority 
research activities until the highest priority tasks were completed or 
unless there was sufficient information to determine that the 
cumulative impacts of allowing additional takes for research would not 
disadvantage or jeopardize the continued existence of the species. The 
Proposed Action could thus be viewed as a minimum take alternative, 
allowing the least amount of research practicable to meet NMFS' needs 
for recovery of the species.
    In addition to the Proposed Action, NMFS will consider other 
alternatives for issuing permits for research on right whales. One 
alternative to the Proposed Action is to issue all permits requested 
regardless of their relative potential contribution to recovery of the 
species, provided they meet all permit issuance criteria and would not 
jeopardize the continued existence of the species. In contrast to the 
Proposed Action, this could be viewed as the maximum allowable take 
alternative.
    Another alternative to the Proposed Action is the No Action 
Alternative, which CEQ regulations require be included for 
consideration. The No Action Alternative would only allow conduct of 
that research on right whales already allowed under existing permits, 
which are valid through 2010. No new permits would be issued to replace 
the expiring permits, nor would existing permits be amended to allow 
modifications in research activities, sample sizes, or objectives.
    A fourth alternative considered is the Status Quo. As with the No 
Action Alternative, the Status Quo Alternative would allow conduct of 
research on right whales already identified under existing permits, and 
no permits would be amended to change research activities, sample 
sizes, or objectives. However, under the Status Quo Alternative, new 
permits would be issued to replace existing permits as they expire such 
that the current level of research and types of research activities 
would continue. Since the Status Quo would not allow issuance of 
permits for any research activities, objectives, or sample sizes not 
currently permitted, it would preclude adaptive changes in the research 
program that may be responsive to changes in the population status or 
threats to the recovery of the population.
    The Status Quo and two other alternatives considered by NMFS may be 
eliminated from detailed study because they would not allow conduct of 
research identified by NMFS as necessary for conservation of the 
species. The other two alternatives that may be eliminated from further 
study are: (1) imposing a research permit moratorium (i.e., suspending 
or revoking existing permits and not issuing new ones) and (2) 
suspending all intrusive research activities (i.e., stopping biopsy 
sampling, instrument attachment, and other activities that could result 
in physical injury). In addition to preventing collection of 
information about right whales needed for NMFS conservation and 
recovery efforts for the species, a research permit moratorium would 
seriously hinder conduct of the aerial surveys vital to operation of 
networks established to minimize shipstrikes with right whales. 
Suspending permits for intrusive research would impede collection of 
information on right whale habitat use and population structure which 
is needed for NMFS conservation and recovery efforts for the species.
    Major environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS 
include: NMFS' information needs for conservation of the species; the 
types of research activities to be permitted, including temporal and 
geographic extent of activities, level of effort (sample sizes and 
frequency of sampling), and standardized protocols; mitigation 
measures; and the cumulative impacts of research activities on right 
whales and the environment. To be consistent with the purposes and 
policies of the MMPA and ESA and with NMFS' implementing regulations, 
research permitted under any alternative should contribute to 
fulfilling a research need or objective identified in the Right Whale 
Recovery Plan; understanding the basic biology or ecology of marine 
mammals; or identifying, evaluating, or resolving conservation problems 
for the species. NMFS is therefore seeking public comments especially 
in the following five areas related to permits for research on right 
whales:
    (1) Types of research. For example, are there critical research 
needs for this species other than those identified in the Recovery 
Plan? If so, what are they and how are they likely to benefit the 
species? Of the research, information, and monitoring needs identified 
in the Recovery Plan, what are the most appropriate methods to conduct 
the study or obtain the information?
    (2) Level of research effort. For example, how much of a specific 
research activity (e.g., aerial survey, tagging, biopsy sampling, etc.) 
is enough for management and conservation needs? Can there be too much? 
If so, how should NMFS set limits? Should there be different standards 
or more restrictions placed on research conducted on certain age, sex, 
or reproductive classes or life-history stages? If so, what are those 
classes/stages and what should those limitations be?
    (3) Coordination of research. For example, assuming permits are 
issued to multiple individuals, what are the most appropriate 
mechanisms for ensuring research is coordinated to maximize information 
and reduce adverse impacts? Alternatively, should NMFS consider 
limiting the number of permits to increase coordination and 
cooperation? If so, how should this be accomplished? Should researchers 
operating under different permits (but studying the same or related 
questions - such as aerial survey for population census or biopsy for 
population genetics) be required to use the same or similar methods to 
ensure the information collected is comparable and useful in NMFS 
conservation of the species? If so, what methods are most appropriate 
(for aerial surveys; vessel surveys; photo-identification; biopsy for 
genetic analyses, contaminants analyses; etc.)? If not, how should NMFS 
compare or use the data from various permit holders in its management 
decisions?
    (4) Qualifications of researchers. For example, to ensure the study 
is conducted successfully and with the minimum of adverse impacts, how 
much prior experience should a permit applicant, principal 
investigator, or anyone else operating under a permit, have with the 
specific methods for which they seek a permit?
    (5) Effects of research. NMFS will be assessing possible effects of 
the various research methods using all appropriate available 
information. Anyone having relevant information they believe NMFS 
should consider in its analysis should

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provide a complete citation or reference for retrieving the 
information. In addition, NMFS is seeking recommendations for study 
designs that could detect or predict the effects of research on right 
whales.
    For additional information about right whales, the permit process, 
and related information, please visit our website at https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/rightwhale/.

Scoping Meetings Agenda

    Public scoping meetings will be held at the following dates, times, 
and locations:
    1. Thursday, November 3, 2005, 3 - 6 p.m., New Bedford Whaling 
Museum, Auditorium, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA;
    2. Saturday, December 10, 2005, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Manchester Grand 
Hyatt, Elizabeth A Room, One Market Place, San Diego, CA; and
    3. Thursday, January 19, 2006, 1 - 4 p.m., Silver Spring Metro 
Center, Building 4, Science Center, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD.
    Comments will be accepted at these meetings as well as during the 
scoping period, and can be mailed to NMFS by January 31, 2006 (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    We will consider all comments received during the comment period. 
All hardcopy submissions must be unbound, on paper no larger than 8\1/
2\ by 11 inches (216 by 279 mm), and suitable for copying and 
electronic scanning. We request that you include in your comments:
    (1) Your name and address;
    (2) Whether or not you would like to receive a copy of the Draft 
EIS; and
    (3) Any background documents to support your comments as you feel 
necessary.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Carrie Hubard or Tammy Adams, 301-713-2289 (voice) or 301-
427-2582 (fax), at least 5 days before the scheduled meeting date.

    Dated: October 12, 2005.
Patrick Opay,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-20715 Filed 10-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S