Marine Mammals; File No. 19108, 39750 [2015-16914]

Download as PDF 39750 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 132 / Friday, July 10, 2015 / Notices The subject amendment to Permit No. 17670–02 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. 17670–00 issued on April 11, 2013 (77 FR 64959), authorized the permit holder to take gray (Halichoerus grypus), harbor (Phoca vitulina),, harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and hooded (Cystophora cristata) seals in waters within or proximal to the U.S. EEZ from North Carolina northward to Maine, 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 photoidentification surveys, and scat collection; and, capture with tissue sampling and instrument or tag attachment. A limited number of research-related mortality is also allowed, as well as world-wide import and export of pinniped samples. The permit was amended on two occasions via minor amendments: Permit No. 17670–01 authorized sampling of pinniped carcasses aboard commercial fishing vessels; and, Permit No. 17670– 02 authorized nail clipping and fecal loop sampling during permitted captures. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include authorization to (1) increase the number of gray and harbor seals harassed annually during research; (2) add use of unmanned aircraft systems to survey seals; (3) increase the number of gray and harbor seals captured and handled for sampling and instrumentation, and increase the frequency of sampling; (4) increase the number of biopsy samples (from one to two) taken during sampling; (5) add harassment from photo-identification of gray seals to study pup molting; (6) increase the number of gray and harbor seal samples imported/exported annually; (7) increase unintentional mortality including via euthanasia in the event sick or injured seals are inadvertently captured. Take numbers are enumerated in the amendment request take tables. 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 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:51 Jul 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. 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. Dated: July 7, 2015. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–16911 Filed 7–9–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD953 Marine Mammals; File No. 19108 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 Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., University of California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, to conduct research on northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) throughout their range in the U.S. ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the 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, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 27, 2015, notice was published in the Federal Register (80 FR 30212) that a request for a permit to conduct research on the species identified above 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.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). Permit No. 19108 authorizes continued research on northern elephant seal population status, reproduction, diving and fasting, physiology, and metabolism. Research methods include behavioral SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 observations, marking, capture and sampling, instrumentation, translocation, short-term captive holding, physiology studies, and acoustic studies. Research is permitted from California to Washington, but ˜ occurs primarily at Ano Nuevo. Incidental harassment and mortalities of northern elephant seals, and incidental harassment of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) of the Eastern Distinct Population Segment is authorized. The permit expires June 30, 2020. 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: July 7, 2015. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–16914 Filed 7–9–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD939 Marine Mammals; File No. 19526 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 Adam White, BBC Natural History Unit, The Limes, Lea, Malmesbury Wiltshire, SN16 9PG United Kingdom, to conduct commercial or educational photography on four species of cetaceans and five species of pinnipeds. ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the 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: Carrie Hubard or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 15, 2015, notice was published in the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM 10JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 39750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16914]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD953


Marine Mammals; File No. 19108

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Daniel 
P. Costa, Ph.D., University of California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine 
Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, to conduct research 
on northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) throughout their 
range in the U.S.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the 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, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 27, 2015, notice was published in the 
Federal Register (80 FR 30212) that a request for a permit to conduct 
research on the species identified above 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.), the regulations governing the taking and 
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    Permit No. 19108 authorizes continued research on northern elephant 
seal population status, reproduction, diving and fasting, physiology, 
and metabolism. Research methods include behavioral observations, 
marking, capture and sampling, instrumentation, translocation, short-
term captive holding, physiology studies, and acoustic studies. 
Research is permitted from California to Washington, but occurs 
primarily at A[ntilde]o Nuevo. Incidental harassment and mortalities of 
northern elephant seals, and incidental harassment of California sea 
lions (Zalophus californianus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus 
ursinus), and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) of the Eastern 
Distinct Population Segment is authorized. The permit expires June 30, 
2020.
    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: July 7, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16914 Filed 7-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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