Marine Mammals; File No. 15261, 11132 [2010-5148]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 10, 2010 / Notices
behavior, and responses to sound of
marine mammals, including endangered
species. The results would be integrated
with related studies and directly
contribute to conservation management
for sound producers and regulatory
agencies by identifying characteristics of
target species that are critical for passive
monitoring, detection, and/or density
estimation and by demonstrating how
specific sounds, including simulated
military sonar, may evoke behavioral
responses in marine mammals. The
experimental design involves
temporarily attaching individual
recording tags to measure vocalization,
behavior, and physiological parameters
as well as sound exposure. Behavior
will be measured before, during, and
after carefully controlled exposures of
sound in conventional playback
experiments. Tagged subjects will be
exposed to received sound levels up to
180 dB re: 1μPa. This study will involve
various activities that could take
animals by harassment, including close
approaches, attachment of tags, and
sound exposure. Small fragments of
sloughed skin, which often remain
attached to retrieved tags, would be
used for genetic analyses. Target species
include beaked whales and other
odontocetes, key baleen whales, and
pinniped species for whom such data
have not been previously obtained;
other marine species may be
incidentally impacted. Please refer to
the tables in the application for the
numbers of marine mammals, by species
and stock, that are proposed for this
permit. The research will be focused in
the waters within the U.S. Navy’s
Southern California Range Complex,
and primarily near the vicinity of San
Clemente Island.
The applicant has revised the
application to (1) increase the number of
Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus),
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
truncatus), Pacific white-sided dolphins
(Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and
northern elephant seals (Mirounga
angustirostris) that may be harassed by
close approach, focal follow, tag
attachment, and sound exposure, to
include these species as focal animals in
the overall objectives; (2) increase the
number of requested ‘‘tagless’’ playbacks
for some cetacean species, such as blue
whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin
whales (B. physalus) and the social
pelagic delphinids, but not for the more
solitary and deep-diving beaked whale
species, to increase data obtained on
behavioral responses; (3) modify the
proposed action area slightly northward
to 35° 0’ N; the longitude boundaries
remain as before (from 116° 0’ to 127°
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:07 Mar 09, 2010
Jkt 220001
0’ W); and (4) clarify tagging and
playback protocols and mitigation for
when dependent calves are present.
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: March 3, 2010.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and
Education Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–5014 Filed 3–9–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XU85
Marine Mammals; File No. 15261
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., University of
California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA
92093, has applied in due form for a
permit to conduct research on leopard
seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) in Antarctica.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail
comments must be received on or before
April 9, 2010.
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. 15261 from the list of
available applications.
These documents are also 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) 713–0376; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach,
CA 90802–4213; phone (562) 980–4001;
fax (562) 980–4018.
Written comments on this application
should be submitted to the Chief,
Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, at the address listed above.
Comments may also be submitted by
facsimile to (301) 713–0376, or by email
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.
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, Conservation and
Education 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: Kate
Swails or Amy Sloan, (301) 713–2289.
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).
Dr. Ponganis proposes to study the
foraging behavior of leopard seals at
Cape Washington, Antarctica. Backpack
digital cameras and time depth
recorders would be deployed on up to
five leopard seals annually over five
years (no more than ten seals total) to
document diving and foraging behavior
near the emperor penguin colony, and,
for the first time, construct time-activity
budgets and prey intake rates of these
seals. The action could result in the
incidental harassment of one leopard
seal annually. The applicant requested
incidental mortality of up to one
leopard seal over a five-year period.
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: March 4, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010–5148 Filed 3–9–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XT21
Marine Mammals; File No. 555–1870
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM
10MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 11132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5148]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XU85
Marine Mammals; File No. 15261
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Paul Ponganis, Ph.D., University
of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, has applied in due form
for a permit to conduct research on leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx)
in Antarctica.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or
before April 9, 2010.
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. 15261 from the list of available applications.
These documents are also 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) 713-0376; and
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018.
Written comments on this application should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address
listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-
0376, or by email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. 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, Conservation and Education
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: Kate Swails or Amy Sloan, (301) 713-
2289.
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).
Dr. Ponganis proposes to study the foraging behavior of leopard
seals at Cape Washington, Antarctica. Backpack digital cameras and time
depth recorders would be deployed on up to five leopard seals annually
over five years (no more than ten seals total) to document diving and
foraging behavior near the emperor penguin colony, and, for the first
time, construct time-activity budgets and prey intake rates of these
seals. The action could result in the incidental harassment of one
leopard seal annually. The applicant requested incidental mortality of
up to one leopard seal over a five-year period.
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: March 4, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5148 Filed 3-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
