Marine Mammals; File No. 27911, 66068 [2024-17968]
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66068
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2024 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE175]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27911
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
Ari Friedlaender, Ph.D., 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 eight whale species.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before September 13,
2024.
SUMMARY:
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 home page, https://
apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting
File No. 27911 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. 27911 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:
Amy Hapeman or Shasta McClenahan,
Ph.D., (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
research on eight species of whales in
the Southern Ocean to understand their
population demography, health,
behavior, and ecology. Species targeted
for study are: Antarctic minke
(Balaenoptera bonaerensis), Arnoux’s
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:22 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
beaked (B. arnouxii), endangered blue
(B. musculus), endangered fin (B.
physalus), humpback (Megaptera
novaeangliae), killer (Orcinus orca),
endangered sei (B. borealis), endangered
Southern right (Eubalaena australis)
whales. Researchers would operate
vessels and unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) to count, observe, photograph,
biopsy sample, tag (suction-cup, dart, or
deep implant), and track whales.
Suction cup tags would be deployed by
pole or UAS. A small number of adult
humpback whales would receive two
tag types at a time. Prey mapping would
occur in the vicinity of some tagged
whales. Biopsy samples would be
imported into the United States for
analysis and curation. See the
application for take numbers by species.
The permit would be valid for 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
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: August 6, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–17968 Filed 8–13–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE173]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to the Office of
Naval Research’s Arctic Research
Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi
Seas (Year 7)
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
harassment authorization; request for
comments on proposed authorization
and possible renewal.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from the Office of Naval Research (ONR)
for authorization to take marine
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
mammals incidental to Arctic Research
Activities (ARA) in the Beaufort Sea and
eastern Chukchi Sea. Pursuant to the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments
on its proposal to issue an incidental
harassment authorization (IHA) to
incidentally take marine mammals
during the specified activities. NMFS is
also requesting comments on a possible
one-time, 1-year renewal that could be
issued under certain circumstances and
if all requirements are met, as described
in Request for Public Comments at the
end of this notice. NMFS will consider
public comments prior to making any
final decision on the issuance of the
requested MMPA authorization and
agency responses will be summarized in
the final notice of our decision. The
ONR’s activities are considered military
readiness activities pursuant to the
MMPA, as amended by the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004 (2004 NDAA).
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than September 13,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service and should be
submitted via email to ITP.clevenstine@
noaa.gov. Electronic copies of the
application and supporting documents,
as well as a list of the references cited
in this document, may be obtained
online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-military-readinessactivities. In case of problems accessing
these documents, please call the contact
listed below.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act without
change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alyssa Clevenstine, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM
14AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 66068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17968]
[[Page 66068]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE175]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27911
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Ari Friedlaender, Ph.D.,
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
eight whale species.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 13,
2024.
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
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No.
27911 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. 27911 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: Amy Hapeman or Shasta McClenahan,
Ph.D., (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 research on eight species of
whales in the Southern Ocean to understand their population demography,
health, behavior, and ecology. Species targeted for study are:
Antarctic minke (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), Arnoux's beaked (B.
arnouxii), endangered blue (B. musculus), endangered fin (B. physalus),
humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), killer (Orcinus orca), endangered
sei (B. borealis), endangered Southern right (Eubalaena australis)
whales. Researchers would operate vessels and unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) to count, observe, photograph, biopsy sample, tag (suction-cup,
dart, or deep implant), and track whales. Suction cup tags would be
deployed by pole or UAS. A small number of adult humpback whales would
receive two tag types at a time. Prey mapping would occur in the
vicinity of some tagged whales. Biopsy samples would be imported into
the United States for analysis and curation. See the application for
take numbers by species. The permit would be valid for 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 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: August 6, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-17968 Filed 8-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P