Marine Mammals; File No. 24378, 80527 [2022-28443]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 250 / Friday, December 30, 2022 / Notices
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2971 prior to the meeting, along with
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 27, 2022.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–28463 Filed 12–29–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XC630]
Marine Mammals; File No. 24378
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
permit amendment.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
The University of Alaska Southeast,
1332 Seward Ave, Sitka, AK 99835
(Responsible Party: Jan Straley), has
applied for an amendment to scientific
research Permit No. 24378.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
January 30, 2023.
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. 24378 from the list of
available applications. These documents
are also available upon written request
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:08 Dec 29, 2022
Jkt 259001
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. 24378 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:
Courtney Smith, Ph.D., or Shasta
McClenahan, Ph.D., (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject amendment to Permit No. 24378
is requested 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), the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (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), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151
et seq.).
Permit No. 24378, issued on April 29,
2021, (86 FR 26013, May 12, 2021),
authorizes the permit holder to conduct
research on 18 species of cetaceans in
Alaska, focusing on humpback
(Megaptera novaeangliae), killer
(Orcinus orca), and sperm (Physeter
macrocephalus) whales. The objective
of the research is to further the
biological understanding of Alaskan
cetaceans by evaluating species
abundance, population and stock
structure, life history parameters,
foraging behavior and prey
specialization, social behavior, seasonal
movements and migrations, and
depredation interactions with longline
fishing vessels. Research methods
include close approach by vessels and
unmanned aircraft systems to conduct
activities that may result in Level B
harassment including photoidentification, behavioral observations,
underwater photography/video, active
acoustic sonar for prey mapping,
biological sampling (prey samples,
exhaled air, sloughed skin, feces), and
collection of eDNA. The research also
includes activities that may result in
Level A harassment including biopsy
sampling and tagging (suction-cup and
dart/barb). Some marine mammal parts
may be exported for analysis.
The permit holder is requesting the
permit be amended to increase annual
takes of gray whales (Eschrichtius
robustus) from 100 to 250 for activities
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
80527
that may cause Level B harassment; and
increase from 20 to 100 annual takes for
biopsy sampling. The purpose of the
requested amendment is to add a new
study and objectives that will allow
researchers to better understand the
increasing gray whale presence,
population dynamics, demographics,
and foraging strategies in Sitka Sound.
The permit will expire on April 30,
2026.
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 this
application to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
Dated: December 27, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–28443 Filed 12–29–22; 8:45 am]
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E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 250 (Friday, December 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 80527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28443]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC630]
Marine Mammals; File No. 24378
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that The University of Alaska
Southeast, 1332 Seward Ave, Sitka, AK 99835 (Responsible Party: Jan
Straley), has applied for an amendment to scientific research Permit
No. 24378.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before January 30, 2023.
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. 24378 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. 24378 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: Courtney Smith, Ph.D., or Shasta
McClenahan, Ph.D., (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 24378 is
requested 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), the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (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), and the Fur
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
Permit No. 24378, issued on April 29, 2021, (86 FR 26013, May 12,
2021), authorizes the permit holder to conduct research on 18 species
of cetaceans in Alaska, focusing on humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae),
killer (Orcinus orca), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus) whales. The
objective of the research is to further the biological understanding of
Alaskan cetaceans by evaluating species abundance, population and stock
structure, life history parameters, foraging behavior and prey
specialization, social behavior, seasonal movements and migrations, and
depredation interactions with longline fishing vessels. Research
methods include close approach by vessels and unmanned aircraft systems
to conduct activities that may result in Level B harassment including
photo-identification, behavioral observations, underwater photography/
video, active acoustic sonar for prey mapping, biological sampling
(prey samples, exhaled air, sloughed skin, feces), and collection of
eDNA. The research also includes activities that may result in Level A
harassment including biopsy sampling and tagging (suction-cup and dart/
barb). Some marine mammal parts may be exported for analysis.
The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to increase
annual takes of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) from 100 to 250 for
activities that may cause Level B harassment; and increase from 20 to
100 annual takes for biopsy sampling. The purpose of the requested
amendment is to add a new study and objectives that will allow
researchers to better understand the increasing gray whale presence,
population dynamics, demographics, and foraging strategies in Sitka
Sound. The permit will expire on April 30, 2026.
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 this application to the Marine
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: December 27, 2022.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-28443 Filed 12-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
