Marine Mammals; File No. 15510, 76276-76277 [2015-30842]

Download as PDF 76276 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 235 / Tuesday, December 8, 2015 / Notices will, upon request, be allowed travel expenses in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5701 et seq., while attending meetings of the Committee or of its subcommittees, or while otherwise performing duties at the request of the chairperson, while away from their homes or a regular place of business. 2. Members of the Committee shall serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) and will be subject to the ethics standards applicable to SGEs. As SGEs, the members are required to file an annual Executive Branch Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. 3. Meetings of the VCAT usually take place at the NIST headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Meetings are usually two days in duration and are held at least twice each year. 4. Generally, Committee meetings are open to the public. Nomination Information Lhorne on DSK9F6TC42PROD with NOTICES 1. Nominations are sought from all fields described above. 2. Nominees should have established records of distinguished service and shall be eminent in fields such as business, research, new product development, engineering, labor, education, management consulting, environment and international relations. The category (field of eminence) for which the candidate is qualified should be specified in the nomination letter. Nominations for a particular category should come from organizations or individuals within that category. A summary of the candidate’s qualifications should be included with the nomination, including (where applicable) current or former service on federal advisory boards and federal employment. In addition, each nomination letter should state that the candidate agrees to the nomination, acknowledges the responsibilities of serving on the VCAT, and will actively participate in good faith in the tasks of the VCAT. 3. The Department of Commerce is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and seeks a broad-based and diverse VCAT membership. Richard Cavanagh, Acting Associate Director for Laboratory Programs. [FR Doc. 2015–30886 Filed 12–7–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Dec 07, 2015 Jkt 238001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XB160 Marine Mammals; File No. 16193 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Todd Robeck, D.V.M, Ph.D., Sea World Parks and Entertainment Corp, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA 92109, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 16193. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before January 7, 2016. ADDRESSES: These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 EastWest 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 the File No. 16193 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: Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 16193 is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222–226). Permit No. 16193, issued on August 28, 2012, authorizes the permit holder to receive, import, and export cetacean SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and pinniped specimens to study reproductive physiology, including endocrinology, gamete biology, and cryophysiology. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include unlimited samples from up to 300 wild Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) annually under the permit. 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: December 2, 2015. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–30840 Filed 12–7–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA165 Marine Mammals; File No. 15510 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Jennifer Burns, Ph.D., University of Alaska Anchorage, Biology Department, 3101 Science Circle, Anchorage, AK, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 15510. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before January 7, 2016. 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 home page, https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 15510 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, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM 08DEN1 Lhorne on DSK9F6TC42PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 235 / Tuesday, December 8, 2015 / Notices 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 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: Rosa ´ L. Gonzalez or Amy Sloan, (301) 427– 8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 15510 is requested 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), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222–226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.). Permit No. 15510, issued on April 25, 2011 (76 FR 25308), authorizes Dr. Burns to conduct physiology studies on development, thermoregulation, muscle performance, oxygen stores, and hormonal and other regulatory processes using marine mammal parts. Annually, Dr. Burns can obtain samples from up to 50 animals of each of the following species: harp (Pagophilus groenlandica), hooded (Cystophora cristata), gray (Halichoerus grypus), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ringed (Phoca hispida), harbor (Phoca vitulina), spotted (Phoca largha), and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) seals; and to obtain samples annually from up to 6 captive Northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus; and 6 captive Steller Sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus. Samples may be from subsistence-harvested animals in Alaska, and other scientific and/or subsistence collections including but not limited to the national waters of Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, and in international waters. Samples may be collected, received nationally, and imported and exported worldwide over a five-year period for laboratory analysis to support the research objectives. The permit holder is VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:17 Dec 07, 2015 Jkt 238001 requesting the permit be amended to increase the number of harbor seals from which samples may be collected, received, imported, and exported from 50 to 100 annually; and, to extend the permit for 1 year. The permit would expire April 30, 2017. 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 this application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: December 2, 2015. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–30842 Filed 12–7–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Title: Greater Atlantic Region Surfclam and Ocean Quahog ITQ Administration. OMB Control Number: 0648–0240. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved information collection). Number of Respondents: 189. Average Hours per Response: ITQ permit application form, review of a pre-filled ITQ ownership form for renewing entities, ITQ transfer form, 5 minutes each; 1 hour to complete the ITQ ownership form for new applicants; and 30 minutes for the application to shuck surfclams and ocean quahogs at sea. The requirements under the PSP protocol are based on the number of vessels that land surfclams or ocean quahogs and the number of trips taken into the area, with a total estimated annual burden of 2,400 hours. PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 76277 Burden Hours: 2,538. Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a currently approved collection associated with the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Greater Atlantic Region manages these fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Northeastern United States through the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared the FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at §§ 648.74, 648.75, and 648.76 form the basis for this collection of information. We request information from surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ) permit holders to issue ITQ permits and to process and track requests from permit holders to transfer quota share or cage tags. We also request information from surfclam and ocean quahog ITQ permit holders to track and properly account for surfclam and ocean quahog harvest shucked at sea. Because there is not a standard conversion factor for estimating unshucked product from shucked product, NMFS requires vessels that shuck product at sea to carry on board the vessel a NMFSapproved observer to certify the amount of these clams harvested. This information, upon receipt, results in an efficient and accurate database for management and monitoring of fisheries of the Northeastern U.S. EEZ. Georges Bank has been closed to the harvest of surfclams and ocean quahogs since 1990 due to red tide blooms that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). In 2013, a portion of Georges Bank was reopened with certain restrictions. We request information from surfclam and ocean quahog ITQ permit holders who fish in the reopened portion of the Georges Bank Closed Area to ensure compliance with the Protocol for Onboard Screening and Dockside Testing in Molluscan Shellfish. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the commercial fishing industry, and NMFS developed the PSP protocol to test and verify that clams harvested from Georges Bank continue to be safe for human consumption. The National Shellfish Sanitation Program adopted the PSP protocol at the October 2011 Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Frequency: Annually and on occasion. Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM 08DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76276-76277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30842]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA165


Marine Mammals; File No. 15510

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Jennifer Burns, Ph.D., University 
of Alaska Anchorage, Biology Department, 3101 Science Circle, 
Anchorage, AK, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research 
Permit No. 15510.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before January 7, 2016.

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 
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 
15510 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,

[[Page 76277]]

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 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: Rosa L. Gonz[aacute]lez or Amy Sloan, 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 15510 is 
requested 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), the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Permit No. 15510, issued on April 25, 2011 (76 FR 25308), 
authorizes Dr. Burns to conduct physiology studies on development, 
thermoregulation, muscle performance, oxygen stores, and hormonal and 
other regulatory processes using marine mammal parts. Annually, Dr. 
Burns can obtain samples from up to 50 animals of each of the following 
species: harp (Pagophilus groenlandica), hooded (Cystophora cristata), 
gray (Halichoerus grypus), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), ringed (Phoca 
hispida), harbor (Phoca vitulina), spotted (Phoca largha), and ribbon 
(Histriophoca fasciata) seals; and to obtain samples annually from up 
to 6 captive Northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus; and 6 captive 
Steller Sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus. Samples may be from subsistence-
harvested animals in Alaska, and other scientific and/or subsistence 
collections including but not limited to the national waters of Canada, 
Norway, the United Kingdom, and in international waters. Samples may be 
collected, received nationally, and imported and exported worldwide 
over a five-year period for laboratory analysis to support the research 
objectives. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to 
increase the number of harbor seals from which samples may be 
collected, received, imported, and exported from 50 to 100 annually; 
and, to extend the permit for 1 year. The permit would expire April 30, 
2017.
    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 this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

    Dated: December 2, 2015.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30842 Filed 12-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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