Marine Mammals; File No. 19439, 52255-52256 [2015-21393]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Notices
develop recommendations regarding the
selection of a preferred alternative. They
will also discuss other business as
necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during the meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
listed in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the Council’s intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 25, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21350 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE138
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
AGENCY:
The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a public meeting of its
Herring Committee to consider actions
affecting New England fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Recommendations from this group will
be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 9:30
a.m.
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SUMMARY:
The meeting will be held at
the Hilton Garden Inn, 100 Boardman
Street, Boston, MA 02128; phone: (617)
567–6789; fax: (617) 561–0798.
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
52255
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management
Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492.
RIN 0648–XE129
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Agenda
The committee will receive a report
from the September 14, 2015 Herring
Advisory Panel (AP) meeting and
consider the Herring AP
recommendations. They also plan to
review the Draft 2016–18 Atlantic
Herring Fishery Specifications Package
and develop committee
recommendations regarding the
selection of final 2016–18 Atlantic
herring fishery specifications
(anticipated at the September 2015
Council meeting). The committee will
also review/discuss the Draft
Environmental Assessment for the
NMFS-led omnibus Industry-Funded
Monitoring (IFM) Amendment and
develop recommendations regarding the
selection of a Preferred Alternative for
the options to establish IFM in the
Atlantic herring fishery. Additionally,
the committee will provide an
opportunity for the public to submit
scoping comments on Amendment 8 to
the Atlantic Herring Fishery
Management Plan. They will also
discuss other business as necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during the meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
listed in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the Council’s intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 25, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21351 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am]
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Marine Mammals; File No. 19439
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
Notice is hereby given that
Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., University of
California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine
Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa
Cruz, CA 95064, has applied in due
form for a permit to conduct research on
pinnipeds in Antarctica.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
September 28, 2015.
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. 19439 from the list of
available applications.
These documents are also available
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.
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 File No. 19439 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:
Amy Sloan or Brendan Hurley, (301)
427–8401.
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).
The purpose of this research is to
understand the foraging ecology,
SUMMARY:
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52256
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Notices
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
physiology, habitat use, and diving
behavior of Southern Ocean pinnipeds
and the factors that affect and constrain
their foraging and at-sea behaviors and
how these ecological and physiological
factors (1) vary in space and time, (2)
influence and constrain the behavior of
these species, (3) are impacted by
environmental change, and (4) compare
with other marine mammal species. To
accomplish these objectives, the
applicant proposes to capture and
sample leopard (Hydrurga leptonyx),
crabeater (Lobodon carcinophaga),
southern elephant (Mirounga leonina),
Ross (Ommatophoca rossii), Weddell
(Leptonychotes weddellii), and Antarctic
fur (Arctocephalus gazella) seals
throughout their range for five years.
Researchers may capture up to 40
animals per species per year at sites
throughout their range to collect tissue
samples, morphometrics, and metabolic
and physiological measurements, apply
identifying marks, and attach
instruments; as well as an additional 50
pups of each species for marking,
morphometrics, and minimal sample
collection. An additional 100 each of
crabeater seals, leopard seals, and Ross
seals, 500 southern elephant seals, and
1000 each of Weddell seals and
Antarctic fur seals may be taken
annually via Level B harassment by
incidental disturbance during captures,
opportunistic sample collection, and
resights. Unintentional mortality or
serious injury of up to four animals per
species annually not to exceed ten
animals per species over five years is
requested. Blood and tissue samples
would be imported from the Southern
Ocean and Antarctica to the United
States and exported world-wide for
analyses.
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: August 25, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21393 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE103
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to Fisheries Research
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
letter of authorization; request for
comments and information.
AGENCY:
NMFS’ Office of Protected
Resources has received a request from
the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science
Center (NWFSC) for authorization to
take small numbers of marine mammals
incidental to conducting fisheries
research, over the course of five years
from the date of issuance. Pursuant to
regulations implementing the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS
is announcing receipt of the NWFSC’s
request for the development and
implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals. NMFS invites the
public to provide information,
suggestions, and comments on the
NWFSC’s application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than September 28,
2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the
applications should be addressed to
Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and
Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service. Physical comments
should be sent to 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
electronic comments should be sent to
ITP.Laws@noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments received
electronically, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
file formats only. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted to the
Internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
permits/incidental/research.htm
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
SUMMARY:
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submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben
Laws, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability
An electronic copy of the NWFSC’s
application may be obtained by visiting
the Internet at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
permits/incidental/research.htm. The
NWFSC is concurrently releasing a draft
Environmental Assessment, prepared
pursuant to requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act, for
the conduct of their fisheries research.
A copy of the draft EA, which would
also support our proposed rulemaking
under the MMPA, is available at the
same Web site.
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary
of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon
request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
engage in a specified activity (other than
commercial fishing) if certain findings
are made and regulations are issued.
Incidental taking shall be allowed if
NMFS finds that the taking will have a
negligible impact on the species or
stock(s) affected and will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
taking for subsistence uses, and if the
permissible methods of taking and
requirements pertaining to the
mitigation, monitoring and reporting of
such taking 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.’’ 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 August 10, 2015, NMFS received
an application from the NWFSC
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52255-52256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21393]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE129
Marine Mammals; File No. 19439
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Daniel P. Costa, Ph.D., University
of California at Santa Cruz, Long Marine Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Road,
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct
research on pinnipeds in Antarctica.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before September 28, 2015.
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. 19439 from the list of available applications.
These documents are also available 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.
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 File No. 19439 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: Amy Sloan or Brendan Hurley, (301)
427-8401.
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).
The purpose of this research is to understand the foraging ecology,
[[Page 52256]]
physiology, habitat use, and diving behavior of Southern Ocean
pinnipeds and the factors that affect and constrain their foraging and
at-sea behaviors and how these ecological and physiological factors (1)
vary in space and time, (2) influence and constrain the behavior of
these species, (3) are impacted by environmental change, and (4)
compare with other marine mammal species. To accomplish these
objectives, the applicant proposes to capture and sample leopard
(Hydrurga leptonyx), crabeater (Lobodon carcinophaga), southern
elephant (Mirounga leonina), Ross (Ommatophoca rossii), Weddell
(Leptonychotes weddellii), and Antarctic fur (Arctocephalus gazella)
seals throughout their range for five years. Researchers may capture up
to 40 animals per species per year at sites throughout their range to
collect tissue samples, morphometrics, and metabolic and physiological
measurements, apply identifying marks, and attach instruments; as well
as an additional 50 pups of each species for marking, morphometrics,
and minimal sample collection. An additional 100 each of crabeater
seals, leopard seals, and Ross seals, 500 southern elephant seals, and
1000 each of Weddell seals and Antarctic fur seals may be taken
annually via Level B harassment by incidental disturbance during
captures, opportunistic sample collection, and resights. Unintentional
mortality or serious injury of up to four animals per species annually
not to exceed ten animals per species over five years is requested.
Blood and tissue samples would be imported from the Southern Ocean and
Antarctica to the United States and exported world-wide for analyses.
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: August 25, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21393 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
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