Marine Mammals; File No. 18534, 35526 [2014-14552]
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35526
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 120 / Monday, June 23, 2014 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD180
Marine Mammals; File No. 18534
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that a
permit has been issued to the Alaska
SeaLife Center (Responsible Party, Tara
Reimer, Ph.D.) 301 Railway Avenue,
P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664 to
conduct research on captive Steller sea
lions (Eumetopias jubatus).
ADDRESSES: The permit and related
documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment
in the following office:
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 or Jennifer Skidmore, (301)
427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March
27, 2014, notice was published in the
Federal Register (79 FR 17135) that a
request for a permit to conduct research
on captive Steller sea lions had been
submitted by the above-named
applicant. 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. 18534–00 authorizes the
Alaska SeaLife Center to conduct
studies on captive Steller sea lions from
the Eastern Distinct Population Segment
to (1) investigate reproductive
physiology and survival, growth, and
physiology of captive-bred offspring;
and (2) deploy instruments to develop
and validate methods for monitoring
wild Steller sea lions. Research on up to
18 captive sea lions may include:
Anesthesia and sedation; administration
of Evan’s blue dye and deuterium oxide;
biological sampling; dietary
supplements; mass and morphometric
measurements; ultrasound and
radiographs; video and audio
recordings; and attachment and
proximity to instrumentation. Steller sea
lions may be transported to and from
approved facilities. The permit
authorizes four research-related
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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17:33 Jun 20, 2014
Jkt 232001
mortalities over the course of the
permit. No research will occur on wild
populations. The permit expires May
31, 2019.
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: June 17, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–14552 Filed 6–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC784
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Rockaway
Delivery Lateral Project Off New York,
June 2014 Through October 2014
National Marine Fisheries
Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of an Incidental
Harassment Authorization.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), notification is hereby given
that NMFS has issued an Incidental
Harassment Authorization (IHA) to
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC (Transco) to take marine
mammals, by harassment, incidental to
expanding a natural gas pipeline system
off the coast of New York.
DATES: Effective June 1, 2014, through
October 31, 2014.
ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the
application, authorization, and
associated documents may be obtained
by visiting the internet at: https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
incidental.htm#applications.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shane Guan, National Marine Fisheries
Service, Office of Protected Resources,
(301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as
amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et
seq.) directs the Secretary of Commerce
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to authorize, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of
small numbers of marine mammals of a
species or population stock, by United
States citizens who engage in a specified
activity (other than commercial fishing)
within a specified geographical region
if, after notice of a proposed
authorization to the public for review
and public comment: (1) We make
certain findings; and (2) the taking is
limited to harassment.
NMFS shall grant authorization for
the incidental taking of small numbers
of marine mammals if we find that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s), and will not have
an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
subsistence uses (where relevant). The
authorization must set forth the
permissible methods of taking; other
means of effecting the least practicable
adverse impact on the species or stock
and its habitat (i.e., mitigation); and
requirements pertaining to the
monitoring and reporting of such taking.
NMFS have 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.’’
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].
Summary of Request
On March 21, 2013, NMFS received
an application from Transco for the
taking of marine mammals incidental to
the Rockaway delivery lateral project
(Project) off the coast of New York over
a 1-year period beginning in April 2014.
We received a revised application from
Transco on May 13, 2013, which
reflected updates to the proposed
mitigation measures, proposed
monitoring measures, and incidental
take requests for marine mammals.
Further revisions were made to the
request in October 2013 due to a change
in the project schedule and the
application was considered complete
and adequate on November 9, 2013. On
April 14, Transco amended their take
E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM
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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 35526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14552]
[[Page 35526]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD180
Marine Mammals; File No. 18534
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to the
Alaska SeaLife Center (Responsible Party, Tara Reimer, Ph.D.) 301
Railway Avenue, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664 to conduct research on
captive Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).
ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment in the following office:
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 or Jennifer Skidmore, (301)
427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 27, 2014, notice was published in
the Federal Register (79 FR 17135) that a request for a permit to
conduct research on captive Steller sea lions had been submitted by the
above-named applicant. 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. 18534-00 authorizes the Alaska SeaLife Center to conduct
studies on captive Steller sea lions from the Eastern Distinct
Population Segment to (1) investigate reproductive physiology and
survival, growth, and physiology of captive-bred offspring; and (2)
deploy instruments to develop and validate methods for monitoring wild
Steller sea lions. Research on up to 18 captive sea lions may include:
Anesthesia and sedation; administration of Evan's blue dye and
deuterium oxide; biological sampling; dietary supplements; mass and
morphometric measurements; ultrasound and radiographs; video and audio
recordings; and attachment and proximity to instrumentation. Steller
sea lions may be transported to and from approved facilities. The
permit authorizes four research-related mortalities over the course of
the permit. No research will occur on wild populations. The permit
expires May 31, 2019.
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: June 17, 2014.
Tammy C. Adams,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-14552 Filed 6-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
