Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15844-02, 18059, 20114, and 20443, 16998 [2017-07001]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 16998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07001]



[[Page 16998]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RINs 0648-XE743, 0648-XE614, 0648-XF085, and 0648-XB065


Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15844-02, 18059, 
20114, and 20443

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have 
been issued to the following entities:
    RIN 0648-XB065; Permit No. 15844-02: Glacier Bay National Park and 
Preserve, Gustavus, AK, 99826 [Responsible Party: Philip N. Hooge];
    RIN 0648-XF085; Permit No. 18059: David Wiley, Ph.D., Stellwagen 
Bank National Marine Sanctuary, 175 Edward Foster Road, Scituate, MA 
02066;
    RIN 0648-XE614; Permit No. 20114: Commonwealth of Northern Mariana 
Islands (CNMI) Department of Lands & Natural Resources, Sea Turtle 
Program, Caller Box 10007 Saipan, MP 96950 Northern Mariana Islands 
[Responsible Party: Richard B. Seman];
    RIN 0648-XE743; Permit No. 20443: Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game, PO Box 115526, Juneau, AK, 99811-5526 [Responsible Party: Robert 
Small, 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: Courtney Smith (File No. 15844-02) 
Sara Young (File No. 18059, 20443), and Amy Hapeman (File No. 20114) at 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices were published in the Federal 
Register that requests for a permit or permit amendment 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 taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), as 
applicable.
    Permit No. 15844-02: The original permit (77 FR 14352, March 9, 
2012) authorizes Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve to conduct 
passive acoustics, videography, photo-identification surveys, biopsy 
sampling, and collect sloughed skin and/or feces to study humpback 
whales, killer whales and minke whales. Research would occur around 
southeastern Alaska especially in Glacier Bay National Park and 
Preserve. The amended permit (No. 15844-02) extends the original permit 
for one year--through February 28, 2018, or until the permit holder has 
exhausted the total number of takes authorized for the fifth year of 
the permit, whichever occurs first.
    Permit No. 18059: The requested permit (82 FR 3727, January 12, 
2017) authorizes research to investigate the foraging ecology, habitat 
use, physiology, and acoustic and social behavior of humpback 
(Megaptera noveaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), minke (B. 
acutorostrata), and sei (B. borealis) whales in the Gulf of Maine. Up 
to 130 adult and juvenile humpback, 90 fin, 60 minke, and 70 sei whales 
will be approached for suction cup tagging, prey mapping, obtaining 
biological samples including biopsies, and photo ID. Up to 10 humpback, 
5 fin, and 3 sei whale calves will also be approached for tagging and 
blow sampling. Up to 690 humpback, 480 fin, 250 minke, and 370 sei 
whales will be incidentally harassed during research. The permit is 
valid for five years from the date of issuance.
    Permit No. 20114: The requested permit (81 FR 37576, June 10, 2016) 
authorizes researchers to study green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill 
(Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles in the waters of the CNMI to 
characterize their population structure, size class composition, 
foraging ecology, health, and migration patterns. Researchers may 
capture live sea turtles by hand and perform a suite of biological 
sampling, marking, and tagging procedures prior to release. Carcasses 
and parts of dead sea turtles may also be salvaged. The permit is valid 
through February 15, 2022.
    Permit No. 20443: The requested permit (81 FR 83202, November 21, 
2016) authorizes research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) throughout 
their range in Alaska including Southeast Alaska, Gulf of Alaska and 
Bering Sea. The research activities include aerial, vessel and ground 
surveys, radio tracking, photo-identification, photograph/video, 
behavioral observations and monitoring, and capture of up to 350 
animals by entanglement in a net in the water or by hoop net or dip net 
on land. Captured animals may be chemical restraint; physical restraint 
by hand, net, cage or stretcher. Researchers may collect biological 
samples (e.g., scat, blood, milk from lactating females, blubber, 
muscle, skin, hair, mucus membrane swabs, stomach content subsample, 
tooth and vibrissae); standard morphometrics and weight; measurements 
of blubber via ultrasound; and inject PIT tags and attach flipper tags. 
A subset of the captured animals may also be outfitted with external 
transmitters and dataloggers. The applicant also requests export 
(worldwide) and import of samples for analysis, incidental disturbance 
and unintentional mortality of harbor seals and porpoises (Phocoena 
phocoena), and intentional mortality (euthanasia) of harbor seals. The 
permit is valid for five years from 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: April 4, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-07001 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P