Marine Mammals; File No. 1039-1699, 6386-6387 [E9-2662]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 25 / Monday, February 9, 2009 / Notices
of the listed species that are the subject
of the permit; and (3) are consistent
with the purposes and policy of section
2 of the ESA. The authority to take
listed species is subject to conditions set
forth in the permits.
Anyone requesting a hearing on an
application listed in this notice should
set out the specific reasons why a
hearing on that application would be
appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such
hearings are held at the discretion of the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NMFS.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Application Received
Permit 1410 – Renewal
The Northwest Fisheries Science
Center (NWFSC) is seeking to renew
permit 1410 for a period of five years.
The original permit was in place for five
years with three modifications; it
expired on December 31, 2008. Under
the new permit, the NWFSC would
conduct research that would annually
take adult and juvenile UCR Chinook,
SR spr/sum Chinook, SR fall Chinook,
LCR Chinook, UWR Chinook, SR
sockeye, CR chum, LCR coho, OC coho,
SONCC coho, UCR steelhead, SR
steelhead, MCR steelhead, LCR
steelhead, and UWR steelhead in the
Columbia River plume and surrounding
ocean environment. The purpose of the
research is to: (a) determine the
abundance, distribution, growth and
condition of juvenile Columbia River
salmonids in the plume and nearby
ocean environment and characterize the
area’s physical and biological features as
they relate to salmonid survival; (b)
determine the impact that predators and
food supply have on survival among
juvenile Columbia River Chinook and
coho salmon as they migrate through the
Columbia River estuary and plume; and
(c) synthesize the early ocean ecology of
juvenile Columbia River salmonids, test
mechanisms that control salmonid
growth and survival, and produce
ecological indices that forecast salmonid
survival.
Ultimately the NWFSC would use
simulation models and statistical
analyses of climatic, oceanic, and other
biological data and indices to help
inform management decisions regarding
the Columbia river and its salmonid
populations. The research would benefit
listed species by providing data that
would help managers understand the
linkages between salmonid abundance,
distribution, growth, genetics, and
health, and the effects of disease,
parasites, diet, and predation in the
estuarine and ocean environment.
Ultimately, the data would help
researchers and managers quantify the
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16:35 Feb 06, 2009
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effects of habitat restoration efforts and
improve harvest and hatchery
guidelines. In any case, the research
would provide important information
on salmonid life histories in the study
area. The NWFSC proposes to capture
the fish (using surface trawling),
identify, sample, and release adult fish.
The juvenile fish would be sacrificed to
map disease presence and determine the
effects that diet, parasites, genetics, etc.
have on fish condition.
This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will
evaluate the application, associated
documents, and comments submitted to
determine whether the application
meets the requirements of section 10(a)
of the ESA and Federal regulations. The
final permit decision will not be made
until after the end of the 30–day
comment period. NMFS will publish
notice of its final action in the Federal
Register.
Dated: February 3, 2009.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–2659 Filed 2–6–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax
(808)973–2941.
Written comments or requests for a
public hearing on this request should be
submitted to the Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division,
F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those
individuals requesting a hearing should
set forth the specific reasons why a
hearing on this particular amendment
request would be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by
facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided
the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy
submitted by mail and postmarked no
later than the closing date of the
comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by
e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include
in the subject line of the e-mail
comment the following document
identifier: File No. 1039–1699.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carrie Hubard or Kristy Beard,
(301)713–2289.
The
subject amendment to Permit No. 10391699, issued on June 30, 2004, is
requested 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. 1039–1699–01 authorizes
the permit holder to conduct humpback
whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
research, including photo-identification,
behavioral observations, and passive
acoustics in the waters off Hawaii.
Several species of non-listed, small
whales and dolphins may also be
studied. The permit holder is requesting
an amendment to take up to 100 minke
whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in
the waters off Hawaii annually. Minke
whales would be approached for photoidentification. The purpose of the new
research is to investigate the abundance,
distribution, and behavior of this
species, which has not been thoroughly
studied in Hawaii. The amended permit
would expire on June 30, 2009.
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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XN13
Marine Mammals; File No. 1039–1699
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
amendment.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Ann Zoidis, Cetos Research
Organization, 11 Des Isle Avenue, Bar
Harbor, Maine 04609, has applied for an
amendment to Scientific Research
Permit No. 1039–1699–01.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail
comments must be received on or before
March 11, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The application and related
documents are available upon written
request or by appointment in the
following office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601
Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, Honolulu, HI
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 25 / Monday, February 9, 2009 / Notices
Dated: February 4, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–2662 Filed 2–6–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XM65
Incidental Takes of Marine Mammals
Incidental to Specified Activities;
Marine Geophysical Survey in the
Southwest Pacific Ocean, January —
February, 2009
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of incidental
take authorization.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) regulations, notification is
hereby given that NMFS has issued an
Incidental Harassment Authorization
(IHA) to Lamont–Doherty Earth
Observatory (L–DEO), a part of
Columbia University, to take small
numbers of marine mammals, by Level
B harassment only, incidental to
conducting a marine seismic survey in
the southwest Pacific Ocean.
DATES: Effective January 14, 2009,
through February 21, 2009.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the IHA and the
application are available by writing to P.
Michael Payne, Chief, Permits,
Conservation and Education Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East–
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910–3225 or by telephoning the
contact listed here. A copy of the
application containing a list of the
references used in this document may
be obtained by writing to the address
specified above, telephoning the contact
listed below (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT), or by visiting the
internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.
Documents cited in this notice may be
viewed, by appointment, during regular
business hours, at the aforementioned
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeannine Cody, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
the Secretary of Commerce to allow,
upon request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of marine mammals
by United States citizens who engage in
a specified activity (other than
commercial fishing) within a specified
geographical region if certain findings
are made and either regulations are
issued or, if the taking is limited to
harassment, a notice of a proposed
authorization is provided to the public
for review.
Authorization for incidental taking
shall be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s), will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
subsistence uses (where relevant), and if
the permissible methods of taking and
requirements pertaining to the
mitigation, monitoring and reporting of
such takings are set forth. NMFS has
defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR
216.103 as ’’...an impact resulting from
the specified activity that cannot be
reasonably expected to, and is not
reasonably likely to, adversely affect the
species or stock through effects on
annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’
Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA
established an expedited process by
which citizens of the United States can
apply for an authorization to
incidentally take small numbers of
marine mammals by harassment. Except
with respect to certain activities not
pertinent here, the MMPA 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
disruption of behavioral patterns, including,
but not limited to, migration, breathing,
nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering
[Level B harassment].
Section 101(a)(5)(D) establishes a 45day time limit for NMFS’ review of an
application followed by a 30-day public
notice and comment period on any
proposed authorization for the
incidental harassment of marine
mammals. Within 45 days of the close
of the comment period, NMFS must
either approve or deny the
authorization.
Summary of Request
On August 18, 2008, NMFS received
an application from L–DEO for the
taking by Level B harassment only, of
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6387
small numbers of 29 species of marine
mammals incidental to conducting, with
research funding from the National
Science Foundation (NSF), a marine
seismic survey within the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) of Tonga in the
southwest Pacific Ocean during January
through February 2009. NMFS outlined
the purpose of the research program in
a previous notice for the proposed IHA
(73 FR 71606, November 25, 2008).
Description of the Activity
The planned survey will involve one
source vessel, the R/V Marcus G.
Langseth (Langseth), a seismic vessel
owned by the NSF. NSF expects the
Langseth to depart Nuku’alofa, Tonga on
January 14, 2009 for a one-day transit to
the study area in the Lau Basin in the
southwest Pacific Ocean (between 19–
21° S. and 175–176° W.).
To obtain high–resolution three–
dimensional (3D) structures of the Lau
Basin’s magmatic systems and thermal
structures, the Langseth will deploy a
towed array of 36 airguns with a total
discharge volume of approximately
6,600 cubic inches (in3). The array
configuration consists of four identical
linear arrays or strings, with 10 airguns
on each string. L–DEO will distribute
the four airgun strings across an
approximate area of 24 x 16 meters (m)
(79 x 52 feet (ft)) behind the Langseth
which will tow the array approximately
50–100 m (164–328 ft) behind the vessel
at a tow–depth of 9–12 m (29.5–39.4 ft).
The airgun array will fire for a brief (0.1
second (s)) pulse every 180 s. The array
will remain silent at all other times.
The Langseth will also deploy 55 to
64 Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS)
for the survey. As the airgun array is
towed along the survey lines, the OBS
will receive the returning acoustic
signals and record them internally for
later analysis. In addition to the
operations of the airgun array, the
Langseth will operate a multibeam
echosounder (MBES) and a sub–bottom
profiler (SBP) continuously throughout
the Eastern Lau Spreading Center cruise.
The survey area is approximately 42
kilometers (km) (26 miles (mi)) offshore
from Tonga in water depths ranging
from 1000 – 2600 m (3280 — 9186 ft).
The seismic survey effort (e.g.,
equipment testing, startup, line changes,
repeat coverage of any areas, and
equipment recovery) will require
approximately 19 days to complete 42
transects of variable lengths, totaling
3650 km (2268 mi) and will include
approximately 456 hours of airgun
operation. Please see L–DEO’s
application for more detailed
information. The exact dates of the
activities will depend on logistics,
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 25 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6386-6387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2662]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XN13
Marine Mammals; File No. 1039-1699
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for amendment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Ann Zoidis, Cetos Research
Organization, 11 Des Isle Avenue, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, has applied
for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 1039-1699-01.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before March 11, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available upon
written request or by appointment in the following office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD
20910; phone (301)713-2289; fax (301)427-2521; and
Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110,
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808)944-2200; fax (808)973-2941.
Written comments or requests for a public hearing on this request
should be submitted to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals
requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a
hearing on this particular amendment request would be appropriate.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427-2521,
provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and
postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period.
Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier:
File No. 1039-1699.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Hubard or Kristy Beard,
(301)713-2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 1039-
1699, issued on June 30, 2004, is requested 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. 1039-1699-01 authorizes the permit holder to conduct
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) research, including photo-
identification, behavioral observations, and passive acoustics in the
waters off Hawaii. Several species of non-listed, small whales and
dolphins may also be studied. The permit holder is requesting an
amendment to take up to 100 minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
in the waters off Hawaii annually. Minke whales would be approached for
photo-identification. The purpose of the new research is to investigate
the abundance, distribution, and behavior of this species, which has
not been thoroughly studied in Hawaii. The amended permit would expire
on June 30, 2009.
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.
[[Page 6387]]
Dated: February 4, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2662 Filed 2-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S