Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 19225, 19257, 19315, 19674, and 20599, 91920-91921 [2016-30414]
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ACTION:
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices
Notice; receipt of application.
Notice is hereby given that
Ann Pabst, Ph.D., University of North
Carolina Wilmington, Biology and
Marine Biology, 601 S. College Road,
Wilmington, NC 28403, has applied in
due form for a permit to conduct
research on marine mammals.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
January 18, 2017.
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. 20527 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 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:
Shasta McClenahan or Carrie Hubard,
(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 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).
The applicant proposes to take marine
mammals to: (1) Document the presence
of North Atlantic right (Eubalaena
glacialis) and humpback (Megaptera
novaeangliae) whales in the midAtlantic, and (2) describe the
distribution and abundance of cetaceans
within specific regions used for U.S.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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20:55 Dec 16, 2016
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Navy training or other activities.
Research activities may occur yearround in the Atlantic Ocean from
Delaware Bay to Cape Canaveral, FL,
and will include aerial and vessel
surveys to conduct counts, photoidentification, photogrammetry, and
behavioral observations. ESA-listed
species include up to 40 blue
(Balaenoptera musculus), 100 fin (B.
physalus), 200 North Atlantic right, 40
sei (B. borealis), and 150 sperm
(Physeter macrocephalus) whales. Nonlisted species include 100 Cuvier’s
beaked (Ziphius cavirostris), 100 false
killer (Pseudorca crassidens), 100
Gervais’ beaked (Mesoplodon
europaeus), 200 humpback, 50 killer
(Orcinus orca), 100 melon-headed
(Peponocephala electra), 100 minke (B.
acutorostrata), 5,000 pilot (Globicephala
spp.), 100 pygmy and dwarf sperm
(Kogia spp.), 100 pygmy killer (Feresa
attenuata), 100 True’s beaked (M.
mirus), and 100 unidentified beaked
whales; 5,000 Atlantic spotted (Stenella
frontalis), 8,000 bottlenose (Tursiops
truncatus), 1,000 Clymene (S. clymene),
1,000 common (Delphinus delphis), 100
Fraser’s (Lagenodelphis hosei), 100
pantropical spotted (S. attenuata), 2,500
Risso’s (Grampus griseus), 500 roughtoothed (Steno bredanensis), 200
spinner (S. longirostris), and 1,000
striped (S. coeruleoalba) dolphins; and
100 harbor porpoise (Phocoena
phocoena). The permit would be valid
for 5 years from the date of issuance.
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 13, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–30415 Filed 12–16–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE417, 0648–XE061, 0648–XE815,
and 0648–XE908
Marine Mammals and Endangered
Species; File Nos. 19225, 19257, 19315,
19674, and 20599
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
permits have been issued to the
following entities:
Permit No. 19225: James D. Darling,
Ph.D., Whale Trust, P.O. Box 384,
Tofino, BC V0R2Z0 Canada;
Permit No. 19257: Ann M. Zoidis,
Director, Cetos Research Organization,
11 Des Isle Avenue, Bar Harbor, ME
04609;
Permit No. 19315: Center for Coastal
Studies, Right Whale Ecology Program,
5 Holway Avenue, P.O. Box 1036,
Provincetown, MA 02657 [Responsible
Party: Richard Delaney];
Permit No. 19674: Scott Kraus, Ph.D.,
New England Aquarium, Edgerton
Research Lab, Central Wharf, Boston
MA 02110; and
Permit No. 20599: NMFS Southwest
Fisheries Science Center, Antarctic
Ecosystem Research Division, La Jolla,
California [Responsible Party: George
Watters, Ph.D.].
ADDRESSES: The permits 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: Rosa
´
Gonzalez (File Nos. 19225 and 19257),
Carrie Hubard (File Nos. 19225 and
19257), Amy Hapeman (File Nos. 19315
and 19674), and Sara Young (File Nos.
19315, 19674, 20599).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices
were published in the Federal Register
that requests for a permit had been
submitted by the above-named
applicants. The requested permits have
been issued under 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.),
and the regulations governing the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
19DEN1
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2016 / Notices
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR parts 222–226), as applicable.
Permit No. 19225: The requested
permit (81 FR 5990, November 1, 2016)
authorizes Dr. Darling to use passive
acoustic monitoring, active playbacks,
suction cup and dart tagging, biopsy
sampling, underwater photography/
videography, photo ID and
photogrammetry during aerial and
vessel surveys to address a variety of
questions regarding social organization,
behavior, and communication of
humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae). Research may occur off
Hawaii (primarily off west Maui), and
Alaska. Incidental harassment is
authorized for the following non-target
species: North Pacific right whales
(Eubalaena japonica); false killer whales
(Pseudorca crassidens); Dall’s porpoises
(Phocoenoides dalli); spinner (Stenella
longirostris), pantropical spotted (S.
attenuata), and bottlenose dolphins
(Turisiops truncatus); killer whales
(Orcinus orca); Hawaiian monk seals
(Neomonachus schauinslandi); harbor
seals (Phoca vitulina); and Steller sea
lions (Eumetopias jubatus). The permit
is valid until October 31, 2021.
Permit No. 19257: The requested
permit (80 FR 59736, November 1, 2016)
authorizes Ms. Zoidis to use passive
acoustic monitoring, suction cup
tagging, biopsy sampling, underwater
photography/videography, and photo ID
during vessel surveys in Hawaii and the
Mariana Islands (Guam and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands) to address a variety of questions
regarding population size, habitat use,
and behavior of baleen and odontocete
species. The research would target
humpback whales and 25 other species
of whales and dolphins. Species may
undergo all methodologies (except right
whales, which will not be tagged).
Incidental harassment for all species is
also authorized. Research would take
place throughout the year. The permit is
valid until October 31, 2021.
Permit No. 19315: The requested
permit (81 FR 59192, August 29, 2016)
authorizes researchers to conduct vessel
and aerial surveys of North Atlantic
right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and
bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus)
opportunistically in Atlantic waters
from Maine to New Jersey to gain a
better understanding of right whale
population status, relationship to
habitat conditions, distribution and
abundance, movement patterns, and
interactions with human activities.
Surveys may involve approach for
observation, photo-identification, and
prey mapping. Up to 16 other species of
cetaceans and four species of pinnipeds
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20:55 Dec 16, 2016
Jkt 241001
may be incidentally harassed during
surveys. The request to suction cup tag
a subset of right whales was denied. The
permit is valid for five years from the
date of issuance.
Permit No. 19674: The requested
permit (81 FR 59192, August 29, 2016)
authorizes Dr. Kraus to conduct vessel
and aerial surveys of North Atlantic
right whales in U.S. and international
waters of the North Atlantic from
Florida to Iceland to assess, quantify,
and track trends in the demographic
characteristics of right whales; and to
identify, quantify and monitor the long
term trends in anthropogenic impacts
on the species. Surveys may involve
approach for observation, photoidentification, and biopsy and blow
sampling, thermal imaging, passive
acoustic recording, collection of
sloughed skin and feces,
photogrammetry, and/or incidental
harassment of right whales. Right whale
parts may be received, imported or
exported. Humpback whales, harbor
porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and
Atlantic white-sided dolphins
(Lagenorhynchus acutus) may be
incidentally harassed during vessel
surveys. The permit is valid for five
years from the date of issuance.
Permit No. 20599: The requested
permit (81 FR 66928, September 29,
2016) authorizes researchers to take
Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus
gazella), southern elephant seals
(Mirounga leonina), crabeater seals
(Lobodon carcinophagus), leopard seals
(Hydrurga leptonyx), Ross seals
(Ommatophoca rossii), and Weddell
seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) for life
history studies and census surveys for
abundance and distribution of
pinnipeds in the South Shetland
Islands, Antarctica, as part of a longterm ecosystem monitoring program
established in 1986. The applicant also
requests permission to import tissue
samples collected from any animals
captured and from salvaged carcasses of
any species of pinniped or cetacean
found in the study area. The permit is
valid for five years from the date of
issuance.
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
activities proposed are categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
As required by the ESA, as applicable,
issuance of these permit was based on
a finding that such permits: (1) Were
applied for in good faith; (2) will not
operate to the disadvantage of such
endangered species; and (3) are
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91921
consistent with the purposes and
policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA.
Dated: December 13, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–30414 Filed 12–16–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Programmatic Environmental
Assessment
National Ocean Service (NOS),
NOAA, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a
programmatic environmental
assessment; request for Comments.
AGENCY:
NOAA is issuing this notice
to advise the public that NOS is
preparing a programmatic
environmental assessment (PEA) in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to
evaluate the environmental impacts of
NOS hydroacoustic surveys, mapping,
and other related data gathering
activities. NOS offices that conduct
hydroacoustic surveys, mapping, and
other related data-gathering activities
which may be covered under this PEA
include: Center for Operational
Oceanographic Products and Services,
National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science, Office of Coast Survey, Office
for Coastal Management, Office of
National Marine Sanctuaries, Office of
Response and Restoration, Office of
National Geodetic Survey, and the U.S.
Integrated Ocean Observing System
Program Office. The PEA will
encompass the environment of all
geographic areas where NOS conducts
these activities, to include terrestrial
areas, but primarily focusing on U.S.
waters from the coastline to the limits
of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone,
which extends no more than 200
nautical miles from the territorial sea
baseline.
NOAA provides this notice to advise
other Federal and State agencies,
Territories, Tribal Governments, local
governments, private parties, and the
public of our intent to prepare a PEA,
to provide information on the nature of
the analysis, and to invite input.
DATES: Comments must be received by
January 18, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by mail, email, or FAX. Mail:
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91920-91921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30414]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE417, 0648-XE061, 0648-XE815, and 0648-XE908
Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 19225, 19257,
19315, 19674, and 20599
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits have been issued to the
following entities:
Permit No. 19225: James D. Darling, Ph.D., Whale Trust, P.O. Box
384, Tofino, BC V0R2Z0 Canada;
Permit No. 19257: Ann M. Zoidis, Director, Cetos Research
Organization, 11 Des Isle Avenue, Bar Harbor, ME 04609;
Permit No. 19315: Center for Coastal Studies, Right Whale Ecology
Program, 5 Holway Avenue, P.O. Box 1036, Provincetown, MA 02657
[Responsible Party: Richard Delaney];
Permit No. 19674: Scott Kraus, Ph.D., New England Aquarium,
Edgerton Research Lab, Central Wharf, Boston MA 02110; and
Permit No. 20599: NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division, La Jolla, California
[Responsible Party: George Watters, Ph.D.].
ADDRESSES: The permits 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: Rosa Gonz[aacute]lez (File Nos. 19225
and 19257), Carrie Hubard (File Nos. 19225 and 19257), Amy Hapeman
(File Nos. 19315 and 19674), and Sara Young (File Nos. 19315, 19674,
20599).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices were published in the Federal
Register that requests for a permit had been submitted by the above-
named applicants. The requested permits have been issued under 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing
the
[[Page 91921]]
taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species
(50 CFR parts 222-226), as applicable.
Permit No. 19225: The requested permit (81 FR 5990, November 1,
2016) authorizes Dr. Darling to use passive acoustic monitoring, active
playbacks, suction cup and dart tagging, biopsy sampling, underwater
photography/videography, photo ID and photogrammetry during aerial and
vessel surveys to address a variety of questions regarding social
organization, behavior, and communication of humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliae). Research may occur off Hawaii (primarily off west Maui),
and Alaska. Incidental harassment is authorized for the following non-
target species: North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica); false
killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens); Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides
dalli); spinner (Stenella longirostris), pantropical spotted (S.
attenuata), and bottlenose dolphins (Turisiops truncatus); killer
whales (Orcinus orca); Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi);
harbor seals (Phoca vitulina); and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias
jubatus). The permit is valid until October 31, 2021.
Permit No. 19257: The requested permit (80 FR 59736, November 1,
2016) authorizes Ms. Zoidis to use passive acoustic monitoring, suction
cup tagging, biopsy sampling, underwater photography/videography, and
photo ID during vessel surveys in Hawaii and the Mariana Islands (Guam
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) to address a
variety of questions regarding population size, habitat use, and
behavior of baleen and odontocete species. The research would target
humpback whales and 25 other species of whales and dolphins. Species
may undergo all methodologies (except right whales, which will not be
tagged). Incidental harassment for all species is also authorized.
Research would take place throughout the year. The permit is valid
until October 31, 2021.
Permit No. 19315: The requested permit (81 FR 59192, August 29,
2016) authorizes researchers to conduct vessel and aerial surveys of
North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and bowhead whales
(Balaena mysticetus) opportunistically in Atlantic waters from Maine to
New Jersey to gain a better understanding of right whale population
status, relationship to habitat conditions, distribution and abundance,
movement patterns, and interactions with human activities. Surveys may
involve approach for observation, photo-identification, and prey
mapping. Up to 16 other species of cetaceans and four species of
pinnipeds may be incidentally harassed during surveys. The request to
suction cup tag a subset of right whales was denied. The permit is
valid for five years from the date of issuance.
Permit No. 19674: The requested permit (81 FR 59192, August 29,
2016) authorizes Dr. Kraus to conduct vessel and aerial surveys of
North Atlantic right whales in U.S. and international waters of the
North Atlantic from Florida to Iceland to assess, quantify, and track
trends in the demographic characteristics of right whales; and to
identify, quantify and monitor the long term trends in anthropogenic
impacts on the species. Surveys may involve approach for observation,
photo-identification, and biopsy and blow sampling, thermal imaging,
passive acoustic recording, collection of sloughed skin and feces,
photogrammetry, and/or incidental harassment of right whales. Right
whale parts may be received, imported or exported. Humpback whales,
harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and Atlantic white-sided dolphins
(Lagenorhynchus acutus) may be incidentally harassed during vessel
surveys. The permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance.
Permit No. 20599: The requested permit (81 FR 66928, September 29,
2016) authorizes researchers to take Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus
gazella), southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), crabeater seals
(Lobodon carcinophagus), leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx), Ross seals
(Ommatophoca rossii), and Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) for
life history studies and census surveys for abundance and distribution
of pinnipeds in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, as part of a
long-term ecosystem monitoring program established in 1986. The
applicant also requests permission to import tissue samples collected
from any animals captured and from salvaged carcasses of any species of
pinniped or cetacean found in the study area. The permit is valid for
five years from the date of issuance.
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
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permit was
based on a finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good
faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered
species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set
forth in section 2 of the ESA.
Dated: December 13, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30414 Filed 12-16-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
