Marine Mammals; File No. 18879, 51189-51190 [2016-18298]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301) 427–8401. On November 27, 2015, notice was published in the Federal Register (80 FR 74085) that requests for scientific research permits to take shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon had been submitted by the above-named individuals. The requested permits have been issued under the authority of 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 parts 222–226). File No. 19331: The applicant’s objectives are to characterize Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon habitat use in the lower Delaware River (between rkm 0 to rkm 245), studying their relative abundance, recruitment, temporalspatial distributions, and reproduction. The permit would be valid for five years from the date of issuance. File No. 19642: The applicant will be authorized to determine and quantify new populations of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the York, Rappahannock, Potomac, and Susquehanna Rivers, and other Chesapeake Bay tributaries of Virginia and Maryland. Additionally, researchers will monitor sturgeon spawning activity, movement, and habitat use through telemetry and side-scan sonar technology. Additionally, researchers will sample Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon captured under other ESA incidental take permits or incidental take statements of other actions to track their coastal wide movements of these species. The permit would be valid for five years from the date of issuance. Issuance of these permits, as required by the ESA, is based on a finding that such permits (1) are applied for in good faith, (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered or threatened species, and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: July 28, 2016. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–18348 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:21 Aug 02, 2016 Jkt 238001 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE776 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Habitat 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: This meeting will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2016, at 9 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048; Phone: (508) 339–2200; Fax: (508) 339–1040. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Agenda The committee will discuss two ongoing habitat-related management actions. Related to the Omnibus DeepSea Coral Amendment, the committee will review preliminary economic and biological impacts of deep-sea coral zone designations, and discuss whether the amendment should include alternatives to restrict lobster trap gear within these zones. Related to the Clam Dredge Framework, the committee will review habitat characterization data for two habitat management areas (HMAs) and develop guidance for the Plan Development Team related to the design of clam dredge exemption area alternatives within these HMAs. The committee may discuss other business as needed. 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 these meetings. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51189 under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens 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: July 29, 2016. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–18374 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE763 Marine Mammals; File No. 18879 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Heather E. Liwanag, Ph.D. (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407–0401), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) near McMurdo Station, Antarctica. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before September 2, 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 (APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 18879 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 51190 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 3, 2016 / Notices 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: Sara Young or Amy Sloan, (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.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). The applicant proposes to study the thermoregulatory strategies (insulation, thermogenic mechanisms) by which Weddell seal pups maintain euthermia in air and in water and examine the development of diving capability (oxygen stores) as the animals prepare for independent foraging. This study will take place near McMurdo Station in Antarctica. In each field season (two field seasons total), nine pups (18 total) will be handled at five time points between two days and eight weeks of age. Protocols not requiring sedation (mass, morphometrics, core and surface temperatures, metabolic rates) will be conducted on all nine individuals at all five time points under manual restraint. Protocols requiring anesthesia (body composition, biopsies, and blood volume analysis) will be sampled twice for each animal: Once between two days and four weeks of age, and again at six weeks; one additional anesthesia procedure will be conducted for a single blood draw at seven or eight weeks. An additional 12 pups will be handled for vibrissae sampling annually, and a second cohort of nursing pups may be handled annually if study animals are not relocated at any of the 5 time points for resampling. The applicant is also proposing to take up to 700 animals for flipper tag reading, thermal imaging, and incidental harassment due to work with conspecifics. Up to six pup mortalities are requested annually, not to exceed ten over the two field seasons. The permit would be valid for three years. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:21 Aug 02, 2016 Jkt 238001 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: July 28, 2016. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–18298 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE777 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a Post Council Meeting Briefing for the public via Webinar. DATES: The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24, 2016. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place via Webinar at: https:// attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 7233203590071678980. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Muehlstein, Fisheries Outreach Specialist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; emily.muehlstein@gulfcouncil.org, telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Agenda I. Welcome and Introductions II. Review of Council actions taken during the August, 2016 Council Meeting III. Questions and Answers IV. Adjourn You may register for the Post August Council Meeting Briefing Webinar at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/7233203590071678980. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: July 29, 2016. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–18373 Filed 8–2–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Determination Under the Textile and Apparel Commercial Availability Provision of the Dominican RepublicCentral America-United States Free Trade Agreement (‘‘CAFTA–DR Agreement’’) The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. ACTION: Determination to add a product in unrestricted quantities to Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA–DR Agreement. AGENCY: EFFECTIVE DATE: August 3, 2016. SUMMARY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (‘‘CITA’’) has determined that certain two-ply polyester yarn, as specified below, is not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA–DR countries. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA–DR Agreement in unrestricted quantities. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Stetson, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482–3400. For Further Information On-Line: https://web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/ CaftaReqTrack.nsf under ‘‘Approved Requests,’’ Reference number: 202.2016.06.01.Yarn.ST&RforPolartec. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: The CAFTA–DR Agreement; Section 203(o)(4) of the Dominican Republic-Central AmericaUnited States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (‘‘CAFTA–DR Implementation Act’’), Public Law 109– 53; and Presidential Proclamations 7987 (February 28, 2006) and 7996 (March 31, 2006). Background: Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA–DR Agreement contains a list of fabrics, yarns, and fibers that the Parties to the CAFTA–DR Agreement have determined are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the territory of any Party. Articles 3.25.4 and 3.25.5 of the CAFTA–DR Agreement provide that this list may be modified if the United States determines that a fabric, yarn, or fiber is not available in commercial quantities E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51189-51190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18298]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE763


Marine Mammals; File No. 18879

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Heather E. Liwanag, Ph.D. 
(California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-
0401), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 
Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) near McMurdo Station, 
Antarctica.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 2, 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 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 18879 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

[[Page 51190]]

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: Sara Young or Amy Sloan, (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.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant proposes to study the thermoregulatory strategies 
(insulation, thermogenic mechanisms) by which Weddell seal pups 
maintain euthermia in air and in water and examine the development of 
diving capability (oxygen stores) as the animals prepare for 
independent foraging. This study will take place near McMurdo Station 
in Antarctica. In each field season (two field seasons total), nine 
pups (18 total) will be handled at five time points between two days 
and eight weeks of age. Protocols not requiring sedation (mass, 
morphometrics, core and surface temperatures, metabolic rates) will be 
conducted on all nine individuals at all five time points under manual 
restraint. Protocols requiring anesthesia (body composition, biopsies, 
and blood volume analysis) will be sampled twice for each animal: Once 
between two days and four weeks of age, and again at six weeks; one 
additional anesthesia procedure will be conducted for a single blood 
draw at seven or eight weeks. An additional 12 pups will be handled for 
vibrissae sampling annually, and a second cohort of nursing pups may be 
handled annually if study animals are not relocated at any of the 5 
time points for resampling. The applicant is also proposing to take up 
to 700 animals for flipper tag reading, thermal imaging, and incidental 
harassment due to work with conspecifics. Up to six pup mortalities are 
requested annually, not to exceed ten over the two field seasons. The 
permit would be valid for three years.
    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: July 28, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-18298 Filed 8-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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