Marine Mammals; File Nos. 15777 and 17670, 64959 [2012-26233]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 64959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26233]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC014


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 15777 and 17670

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

ACTION: Notice; withdrawal of application and receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Northeast Fisheries 
Science Center, Woods Hole, MA (Responsible Party: Michael Simpkins), 
has withdrawn application File No. 15777 and submitted a new 
application (File No. 17670) for a permit to take marine mammals during 
scientific research in coastal waters and adjacent waters off the 
northeast U.S.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before November 23, 2012.

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. 15777 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following offices:
    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;
    Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930; phone (978) 281-9328; fax (978) 281-9394; and
    Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 
33701; phone (727) 824-5312; fax (727) 824-5309.
    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 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 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: Tammy Adams or Amy Sloan, (301) 427-
8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    File No. 15777. The application, submitted 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) was made available for public 
comment on May 4, 2012 (77 FR 26513). In response to public comments, 
the applicant proposed substantial changes to the numbers of and manner 
in which marine mammals may be taken. The changes, which are equivalent 
to a major permit amendment as defined in the regulations, require 
additional public review and comment. The application is hereby 
withdrawn and replaced with a revised version, referred to as File No. 
17670.
    File No. 17670. The subject permit is requested under the authority 
of the MMPA, and the regulations governing the taking and importing of 
marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). The applicant requests a five-year 
permit to take harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor), gray seals 
(Halichoerus grypus), harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and hooded 
seals (Cystophora cristata) during conduct of stock assessment 
research, including estimation of distribution and abundance, 
determination of stock structure, habitat requirements, foraging 
ecology, health assessment and effects of natural and anthropogenic 
factors. Types of take include harassment during shipboard, skiff, and 
aircraft transect and photo-identification surveys, and scat 
collection; and capture with tissue sampling and instrument or tag 
attachment. The applicant proposes to capture up to 175 harbor seals 
and 225 gray seals annually for measurement of body condition, 
collection of tissue samples (e.g., blood, blubber biopsy, skin, hair, 
swab samples, vibrissae), and attachment of telemetry devices. Up to 
200 harp seals, 50 hooded seals, 59,000 harbor seals, and 67,000 gray 
seals could be harassed annually incidental to surveys, scat 
collections and capture operations. The applicant also requests 
research-related mortality of up to 8 gray seals, 8 harbor seals, 2 
harp seals, and 2 hooded seals per year. Permission is also sought to 
import and export pinniped specimen material (including soft and hard 
tissue, blood, extracted DNA, and whole dead animals or parts thereof) 
to/from any country. The study area includes waters within or proximal 
to the U.S. EEZ from North Carolina northward to Maine, and Canadian 
waters in the Gulf of Maine.
    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.

    Dated: October 18, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26233 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am]
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