Marine Mammals; File No. 23554, 71633-71634 [2020-24917]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 10, 2020 / Notices determined that there will not be an unmitigable adverse impact on subsistence uses from COK’s proposed activities. Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal agency insure that any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs, NMFS Office of Protected Resources consults internally whenever we propose to authorize take for endangered or threatened species, in this case with the NMFS Alaska Regional Office. NMFS is proposing to authorize take of the Mexico DPS of humpback whales, which are listed under the ESA. The NMFS Office of Protected Resources has requested initiation of Section 7 consultation with the NMFS Alaska Regional Office for the issuance of this IHA. NMFS will conclude the ESA consultation prior to reaching a determination regarding the proposed issuance of the authorization. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Proposed Authorization As a result of these preliminary determinations, NMFS proposes to issue an IHA to the City of Ketchikan for conducting in-water construction activities as part of the Berth III Expansion Project in Ketchikan between October 1, 2021 and May 1, 2022, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. A draft of the proposed IHA can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/ incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. Request for Public Comments We request comment on our analyses, the proposed authorization, and any other aspect of this notice of proposed IHA for the proposed Berth III New Mooring Dolphins Project. We also request at this time comment on the potential Renewal of this proposed IHA as described in the paragraph below. Please include with your comments any supporting data or literature citations to help inform decisions on the request for this IHA or a subsequent Renewal IHA. On a case-by-case basis, NMFS may issue a one-time, one-year Renewal IHA following notice to the public providing an additional 15 days for public comments when (1) up to another year VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:21 Nov 09, 2020 Jkt 253001 of identical or nearly identical, or nearly identical, activities as described in the Description of Proposed Activity section of this notice is planned or (2) the activities as described in the Description of Proposed Activity section of this notice would not be completed by the time the IHA expires and a Renewal would allow for completion of the activities beyond that described in the Dates and Duration section of this notice, provided all of the following conditions are met: • A request for renewal is received no later than 60 days prior to the needed Renewal IHA effective date (recognizing that the Renewal IHA expiration date cannot extend beyond one year from expiration of the initial IHA). • The request for renewal must include the following: (1) An explanation that the activities to be conducted under the requested Renewal IHA are identical to the activities analyzed under the initial IHA, are a subset of the activities, or include changes so minor (e.g., reduction in pile size) that the changes do not affect the previous analyses, mitigation and monitoring requirements, or take estimates (with the exception of reducing the type or amount of take). (2) A preliminary monitoring report showing the results of the required monitoring to date and an explanation showing that the monitoring results do not indicate impacts of a scale or nature not previously analyzed or authorized. Upon review of the request for Renewal, the status of the affected species or stocks, and any other pertinent information, NMFS determines that there are no more than minor changes in the activities, the mitigation and monitoring measures will remain the same and appropriate, and the findings in the initial IHA remain valid. Dated: November 4, 2020. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–24871 Filed 11–9–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XA606] Marine Mammals; File No. 23554 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ACTION: 71633 Notice; receipt of application. Notice is hereby given that Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., Long Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences Address at the University of California at Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on pinnipeds in captivity. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before December 10, 2020. 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. 23554 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include File No. 23554 in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Young or Jennifer Skidmore, (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 parts 222–226). The applicant proposes to conduct comparative psychological and physiological studies with captive California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), spotted seals (Phoca largha), ringed seals (Pusa hispida), bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus), and Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) at Long Marine Laboratory (Santa Cruz, CA) and the Alaska SeaLife Center (Seward, AK). Up to four individuals per species may be studied at both facilities at any given time over the duration of the permit, with the exception of the Hawaiian SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM 10NON1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 71634 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 10, 2020 / Notices monk seal, for which a max of one seal will be studied at a time. During psychological assessments, trained pinnipeds cooperate in behavioral stimulus detection and discrimination tasks conducted on land or in water. Stimuli are controlled sensory cues used to evaluate speciestypical sensory and cognitive performance. Stimuli may be from any sensory modality, though there is an emphasis on hearing so that conservation issues related to ocean noise can be addressed. Up to three times per day, depending on the procedure, animals may participate in voluntary psychological assessment procedures such as: active acoustic playbacks, passive acoustic recording, behavioral observations, cognitive studies, incidental harassment, signal detection and discrimination, associative learning, photography and videography on land and underwater. For physiological assessments, the same individuals, except the Hawaiian monk seal, participate in routine physical evaluations to improve understanding of their general biology, including growth and development, nutritional requirements, health status, and environmental tolerance. This research includes longitudinal measurements of growth, nutrition, health, metabolism, physiological capacities, and environmental tolerance. Data are collected from husbandry records, individuals trained to cooperate in physiological measurements, and sedated animals during routine veterinary examinations. Open-flow respirometry methods will be used to gather metabolic data from animals trained to rest and breathe under a plastic dome. Up to three times per day, depending on the procedure, animals may participate in voluntary physiological procedures such as: Passive acoustic recording, drug and sedative administration, collection of molt, scat, and urine, Evan’s blue dye and serial blood samples, external and internal instrumentation, flipper tagging, measuring, metabolic chamber or hood studies, behavioral observations, oral fecal markers, collecting of shed whiskers, photogrammetry, photography and videography, flyovers from unmanned aircraft systems, restraint, blood sampling, hair clipping, transport, ultrasound, underwater photography and videography, and weighing. The application also includes a request for the unintentional mortality of up to two pinnipeds total of any species over the duration of the permit associated with research or transport including humane euthanasia at VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:21 Nov 09, 2020 Jkt 253001 discretion of attending vet for medical purposes due to research, as well as necropsy and export of parts from the animals. The applicant requests a 5-year 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: November 5, 2020. Amy Sloan, Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–24917 Filed 11–9–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P COURT SERVICES AND OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Notice of Correction Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia. ACTION: Notice; correction. AGENCY: The Court Services and Offender Supervision Services for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) is correcting a notice published in the October 30, 2020 issue of the Federal Register (Notice) entitled SES Performance Review Board (PRB). This correction applies to the misspelling of the name of a PRB member. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Layne, Assistant Director, Human Capital Planning and Executive Resources, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, 800 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 701, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 220–5637. SUMMARY: Correction 1. In the Notice, the PRB member’s name is listed as Victor Valentino Davis. The correct name is Victor Valentine Davis. Dated: November 4, 2020. Rochelle Durant, Federal Register Liaison. [FR Doc. 2020–24891 Filed 11–9–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3129–04–P PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Performance Review Board Membership Department of the Army, DoD. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice is given of the names of members of a Performance Review Board for the Department of the Army. DATES: Applicable Date: November 13, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Smith, Civilian Senior Leader Management Office, 111 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310–0111. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4314(c)(1) through (5) of Title 5, U.S.C., requires each agency to establish, in accordance with regulations, one or more Senior Executive Service performance review boards. The boards shall review and evaluate the initial appraisal of senior executives’ performance by supervisors and make recommendations to the appointing authority or rating official relative to the performance of these executives. The Department of the Army Performance Review Board will be composed of a subset of the following individuals: SUMMARY: 1. Ms. Lisha Adams, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL 2. Ms. Christina Altendorf, Chief, Engineering and Construction Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC 3. Mr. Stephen Austin, Assistant Chief of the Army Reserve, Office of the Chief of Army Reserve, Washington, DC 4. Mr. Mark Averill, Deputy Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army & Director Resources and Program Agency, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC 5. Dr. David Bridges, Senior Research Scientist (Environmental Science), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS 6. Mr. William Brinkley, Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1/4 (Personnel And Logistics), U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Eustis, VA 7. LTG Gary Brito, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1, Washington, DC 8. Ms. Kimberly Buehler, Director, Army Office of Small Business Programs, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC 9. Ms. Carol Burton, Director, Civilian Human Resources Agency, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1, Washington, DC 10. GEN Christopher Cavoli, Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany 11. Dr. Juanita Christensen, Director, CCDC Aviation & Missile Center, Combat E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM 10NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71633-71634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24917]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA606]


Marine Mammals; File No. 23554

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Colleen Reichmuth, Ph.D., Long 
Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences Address at the 
University of California at Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, 
CA 95060, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on 
pinnipeds in captivity.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before December 10, 2020.

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. 23554 from the list of available applications. These documents are 
also available upon written request via email to 
[email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include File No. 23554 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Young or Jennifer Skidmore, (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 parts 222-226).
    The applicant proposes to conduct comparative psychological and 
physiological studies with captive California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), spotted seals (Phoca 
largha), ringed seals (Pusa hispida), bearded seals (Erignathus 
barbatus), and Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) at Long 
Marine Laboratory (Santa Cruz, CA) and the Alaska SeaLife Center 
(Seward, AK). Up to four individuals per species may be studied at both 
facilities at any given time over the duration of the permit, with the 
exception of the Hawaiian

[[Page 71634]]

monk seal, for which a max of one seal will be studied at a time.
    During psychological assessments, trained pinnipeds cooperate in 
behavioral stimulus detection and discrimination tasks conducted on 
land or in water. Stimuli are controlled sensory cues used to evaluate 
species-typical sensory and cognitive performance. Stimuli may be from 
any sensory modality, though there is an emphasis on hearing so that 
conservation issues related to ocean noise can be addressed. Up to 
three times per day, depending on the procedure, animals may 
participate in voluntary psychological assessment procedures such as: 
active acoustic playbacks, passive acoustic recording, behavioral 
observations, cognitive studies, incidental harassment, signal 
detection and discrimination, associative learning, photography and 
videography on land and underwater.
    For physiological assessments, the same individuals, except the 
Hawaiian monk seal, participate in routine physical evaluations to 
improve understanding of their general biology, including growth and 
development, nutritional requirements, health status, and environmental 
tolerance. This research includes longitudinal measurements of growth, 
nutrition, health, metabolism, physiological capacities, and 
environmental tolerance. Data are collected from husbandry records, 
individuals trained to cooperate in physiological measurements, and 
sedated animals during routine veterinary examinations. Open-flow 
respirometry methods will be used to gather metabolic data from animals 
trained to rest and breathe under a plastic dome. Up to three times per 
day, depending on the procedure, animals may participate in voluntary 
physiological procedures such as: Passive acoustic recording, drug and 
sedative administration, collection of molt, scat, and urine, Evan's 
blue dye and serial blood samples, external and internal 
instrumentation, flipper tagging, measuring, metabolic chamber or hood 
studies, behavioral observations, oral fecal markers, collecting of 
shed whiskers, photogrammetry, photography and videography, flyovers 
from unmanned aircraft systems, restraint, blood sampling, hair 
clipping, transport, ultrasound, underwater photography and 
videography, and weighing.
    The application also includes a request for the unintentional 
mortality of up to two pinnipeds total of any species over the duration 
of the permit associated with research or transport including humane 
euthanasia at discretion of attending vet for medical purposes due to 
research, as well as necropsy and export of parts from the animals. The 
applicant requests a 5-year 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: November 5, 2020.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-24917 Filed 11-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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