Marine Mammals; File Nos. 27408, 27499, and 27503, 8171-8172 [2024-02278]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8171-8172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02278]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD710]


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 27408, 27499, and 27503

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Alaska Sea Life Center (ASLC), 
P.O. Box 1329, 301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664 (Responsible Party: 
Tara Reimer, Ph.D.); Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Marine Mammal 
Laboratory (MML), 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 
(Responsible Party: John Bengston); and the Alaska Department of Fish 
and Game (ADF&G), P.O. Box 25526, Juneau, AK 99802 (Responsible Party: 
Michael Rehberg), have applied in due form for permits to conduct 
research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 7, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The applications 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 
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting the File No. 
27408 (ASLC), 27499 (MML), or 27503 (ADF&G) 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 the File Nos. 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, Shasta McClenahan, Ph.D., 
or Jennifer Skidmore at (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits are 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.), 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.).
    For File No. 27408: ASLC proposes to conduct research to monitor 
population vital rates of the endangered western distinct population 
segment (wDPS) of Steller sea lions and determine what factors most 
affect vital rates and the potential for population recovery, focusing 
on population dynamics, health, diet, and behavior. Individuals may be 
taken in the Gulf of Alaska by the following means: disturbance 
associated with capture, observational studies, and material/scat/
carcass collection; capture, restraint, and sampling; and remote 
biopsy. Captured sea lions will undergo morphometrics, digital imaging, 
hot-branding, biological sampling, temporary marking, and ultrasound 
exams. ASLC requests four unintentional mortalities from the wDPS over 
the duration of the permit. California sea lions (Zalophus 
californianus) may be disturbed during the research. See the 
application for complete numbers of animals requested by species and 
procedure. The requested duration of this permit is 5 years.
    For File No. 27499: MML proposes to conduct research to measure 
population status, vital rates, foraging ecology, habitat requirements, 
and effects of natural and anthropogenic factors impacting Steller sea 
lion populations pursuant to fulfilling the NMFS legal requirements 
under the MMPA and ESA, and to test hypotheses of mechanisms underlying 
population trends in Alaska. Proposed activities include surveys 
(aerial, vessel, and land) including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), 
capture and handling, marking, hot branding, sampling (including but 
not limited to blood, blubber, swabs of all mucus membranes and 
lesions, skin samples, vibrissae, feces, urine, hair, and nail), 
tagging, and unintentional disturbance. Animals may be disturbed by 
surveys, captured, sampled and released for vital rates, foraging 
ecology and/or health studies multiple times per year. MML requests 
four unintentional mortalities from the wDPS annually, not to exceed 
eight over the duration of the permit. Non-target species that may be 
disturbed unintentionally to these studies include northern fur seals 
(Callorhinus ursinus), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), and California 
sea lions. Collected samples may be exported for analysis. See the 
application for complete numbers of animals requested by species and 
procedure. The requested duration of this permit is 5 years.
    For File No. 27503: ADF&G proposes to continue their long-term 
Steller sea lion research program, to investigate recovery trends, 
collecting survival and reproduction data, investigating movement 
between and within the populations, and monitoring threats. Proposed 
activities include: aerial (including UAS), vessel and ground-based 
surveys including counts, photography, and observations; remote biopsy 
sampling; captures including morphometrics, marking, external 
instrument attachment, biological sampling, ultrasound, and hot 
branding; and collection, import, export, and receipt of pinniped 
parts. ADF&G requests four unintentional mortalities annually from each 
the wDPS and eastern DPS, not to exceed eight per DPS over the duration 
of the permit. Non-target species that may be disturbed during these 
studies include northern fur seals, and harbor, spotted

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(Phoca largha), ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata), ringed (Pusa hispida), 
and bearded (Erignathus barbatus) seals. See the application for 
complete numbers of animals requested by species and procedure. The 
requested duration of this permit is 5 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 activities proposed are consistent with the Preferred Alternative 
in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Steller 
Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research (NMFS 2007) and a supplemental 
environmental assessment (NMFS 2014) prepared for the addition of 
unmanned aerial surveys to the suite of Steller sea lion research 
activities analyzed under the EIS that concluded that issuance of the 
permits would not have a significant adverse impact on the human 
environment. An environmental review memo is being prepared to 
summarize these findings.
    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: January 31, 2024.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-02278 Filed 2-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P