Marine Mammals; File No. 15537, 33217 [2016-12287]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Notices East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, phone (240) 533– 0813, email ocm.czara@noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the proposed Findings Document and Programmatic Environmental Assessment may be found on the NOAA Web site at https:// coast.noaa.gov/czm/pollutioncontrol/ or may be obtained upon request from: Allison Castellan, Stewardship Division (N/OCM6), Office for Coastal Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, phone (240) 533–0799, email allison.castellan@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requirements of 40 CFR parts 1500–1508 (Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations to implement the National Environmental Policy Act) apply to the preparation of Environmental Assessments. Specifically, 40 CFR 1506.6 requires agencies to provide public notice of the availability of environmental documents. This notice is part of NOAA’s action to comply with this requirement. (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone Management Program Administration) Dated: May 18, 2016. W. Russell Callender, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Joel Beauvais, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency. [FR Doc. 2016–12328 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am] 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 30, 2015, notice was published in the Federal Register (80 FR 37235) that NMFS was considering an amendment to Permit No. 15337 in response to a court decision to remand this permit to NMFS for reconsideration. The requested permit amendment 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. 15537 was issued on October 5, 2011 authorizing the acquisition of up to eight stranded, releasable California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) from the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program for the purposes of public display. After NMFS issued the permit, IMMS challenged the provisions of the permit in U.S. District Court. As described in the Court’s opinion, the Court remanded the permit to NMFS for reconsideration. IMMS v. NMFS, No. 1:11CV318–LG–JMR (S.D.Miss. 2014). NMFS has amended the permit to remove Permit Condition B.3 and change Permit Condition B.2 to state the following: AGENCY: Condition B.2.: This permit does not guarantee that the Permit Holder will be able to obtain any releasable sea lions from rehabilitation facilities, and does not require NMFS to direct or make arrangements for any rehabilitation facilities to provide the Permit Holder with releasable sea lions. Final decisions with respect to the use of rehabilitated marine mammals for public display purposes in lieu of take from the wild are at the ultimate discretion of the Office Director in accordance with 50 CFR 216.27(b)(4). Notice is hereby given that an amendment to Permit No. 15537 has been issued to Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS), P.O. Box 207, Gulfport, MS 39502 (Dr. Moby Solangi, Responsible Party). ADDRESSES: The permit amendment and related documents are available for review upon written request or by In addition, NMFS has extended the permit for one additional year, to expire on October 5, 2017. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NMFS has determined that the activities proposed are consistent with those analyzed in the environmental assessment (EA) for issuance of Permit No. 15537, and no additional NEPA analysis is necessary as the minor changes in the proposed amendment will not change the effects to the human environment in a manner not previously BILLING CODE 3510–08–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA756 Marine Mammals; File No. 15537 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:19 May 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 33217 considered. Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that the activities proposed would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment and that preparation of an environmental impact statement was not required. That determination is documented in a Finding of No Significant Impact. Dated: May 19, 2016. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–12287 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE490 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the San Francisco Ferry Terminal Expansion Project, South Basin Improvements Project National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS has received a request from the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction activities as part of a ferry terminal expansion and improvements project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting public comment on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to WETA to incidentally take marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, during the specified activity. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than June 24, 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposal 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.mccue@noaa.gov. Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM 25MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 33217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12287]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA756


Marine Mammals; File No. 15537

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that an amendment to Permit No. 15537 
has been issued to Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS), P.O. Box 
207, Gulfport, MS 39502 (Dr. Moby Solangi, Responsible Party).

ADDRESSES: The permit amendment 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: Jennifer Skidmore or Amy Sloan, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 30, 2015, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (80 FR 37235) that NMFS was considering an 
amendment to Permit No. 15337 in response to a court decision to remand 
this permit to NMFS for reconsideration. The requested permit amendment 
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. 15537 was issued on October 5, 2011 authorizing the 
acquisition of up to eight stranded, releasable California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus) from the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and 
Stranding Response Program for the purposes of public display. After 
NMFS issued the permit, IMMS challenged the provisions of the permit in 
U.S. District Court. As described in the Court's opinion, the Court 
remanded the permit to NMFS for reconsideration. IMMS v. NMFS, No. 
1:11CV318-LG-JMR (S.D.Miss. 2014). NMFS has amended the permit to 
remove Permit Condition B.3 and change Permit Condition B.2 to state 
the following:

    Condition B.2.: This permit does not guarantee that the Permit 
Holder will be able to obtain any releasable sea lions from 
rehabilitation facilities, and does not require NMFS to direct or 
make arrangements for any rehabilitation facilities to provide the 
Permit Holder with releasable sea lions. Final decisions with 
respect to the use of rehabilitated marine mammals for public 
display purposes in lieu of take from the wild are at the ultimate 
discretion of the Office Director in accordance with 50 CFR 
216.27(b)(4).

    In addition, NMFS has extended the permit for one additional year, 
to expire on October 5, 2017.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NMFS has determined that the activities 
proposed are consistent with those analyzed in the environmental 
assessment (EA) for issuance of Permit No. 15537, and no additional 
NEPA analysis is necessary as the minor changes in the proposed 
amendment will not change the effects to the human environment in a 
manner not previously considered. Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS 
determined that the activities proposed would not significantly impact 
the quality of the human environment and that preparation of an 
environmental impact statement was not required. That determination is 
documented in a Finding of No Significant Impact.

    Dated: May 19, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12287 Filed 5-24-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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