Marine Mammals; File No. 27552, 88736-88737 [2024-25998]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 217 / Friday, November 8, 2024 / Notices
northern-fur-seal#conservationmanagement.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Michael Williams, NMFS Alaska
Region, 907–271–5117,
michael.williams@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Eastern Pacific (formerly Pribilof)
stock of northern fur seals was
designated as depleted under the
MMPA on June 17, 1988, because the
population had declined by over 50
percent from the highest population
levels estimated in the 1950s (53 FR
17888, May 18, 1988). Consistent with
the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1383b(b)), NMFS
developed a Conservation Plan to
conserve and restore the stock to its
optimum sustainable population, which
is defined as a population size within a
range of population sizes from the
largest supportable within the
ecosystem (i.e., carrying capacity) to a
level that results in maximum net
productivity (50 CFR 216.3). NMFS first
published a Conservation Plan in 1993,
followed by a revised version in 2007.
In 2023, NMFS published a revised draft
Conservation Plan and invited public
comment (88 FR 38010, June 12, 2023).
The 2024 revised Conservation Plan
includes updated knowledge of threats,
trends, and ecology of the Eastern
Pacific stock of northern fur seals.
Specifically, it summarizes advances in
our understanding of pup production,
pup mortality, pup mass, diet
estimation, diving characterization, and
use of Bering Sea marine foraging areas
and foraging trip duration by the five
rookery complexes on the Pribilof
Islands. The Plan discusses critical
information gaps, conservation actions
and initiatives completed since the 2007
Conservation Plan as well as those that
are ongoing or should be prioritized in
future, and research and management
actions intended to promote the
conservation and restoration of the
stock. The shared resources and
cooperative involvement of Federal,
State, and Tribal governments, Alaska
Native people and Alaska Native
Organizations, industry, academia, and
non-governmental organizations will be
needed throughout the period necessary
to restore the stock.
Overall, the stock has continued to
decline about 2 percent per year since
the depleted designation, and
differences exist in trends in abundance
and habitat use for St. Paul, St. George,
and Bogoslof islands and their
associated rookery complexes.
Preliminary estimates of age class
survival rates since 2010 are similar for
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both St. Paul and St. George islands;
however, since trends in abundance are
significantly different (i.e., declining on
St. Paul and increasing on St. George)
our assumptions regarding site fidelity,
emigration, and detection appear biased,
and we are investigating whether rates
of emigration are higher than previously
assumed. Improved estimates of fur seal
consumption of commercially important
prey like pollock, and age-specific
growth and bioenergetics of northern fur
seals have increased the ability of
ecosystem models to improve our
understanding of fur seal population
dynamics and how changes in prey
abundance and distribution may be
affecting population trends. Based on
these recent model results, it is
estimated that the northern fur seal
population is one of the top four natural
predators of pollock biomass and
consumes both 0–2 year old and 3+ year
old pollock. The new information
presented regarding the separation of
marine foraging habitat in the Bering
Sea by fur seals and the differential
consumption of pollock, squid, and
other species based on this separation
suggests there are opportunities to
further investigate the indirect effects of
fisheries on northern fur seals from the
five rookery complexes identified on the
Pribilof Islands. The extent of
competition with the pollock fisheries is
uncertain due to the spatial segregation
of foraging fur seals among the five
rookery complexes and in-season
changes in the distribution of various
segments of the commercial pollock
fleet. NMFS intends to work with other
interested parties to evaluate existing
northern fur seal foraging and life
history data as well as existing
information on fisheries to assess
observed variation in population trends
among foraging complexes and guide
decisions about new research related to
the indirect effects of fishing. New
ecosystem models are being developed
to advance ecosystem-based fisheries
management and are expected to
include consumption of important
commercial fish species by northern fur
seals.
Another notable revision to this Plan
is the reflection of recent subsistence
use regulation changes and the
evolution of co-management
relationships between NMFS and Tribes
in the Pribilofs. The Plan revision
includes valuable input and
contributions from the Aleut
Community of St. Paul Island, and
recognizes Unanga contributions to
management and research. As fur seal
subsistence use is paramount to
Pribilovian Unanga cultural identity,
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Unangam tunuu (i.e., Aleut language)
words have been incorporated into the
Plan.
The Notice of Availability of the draft
revised Plan was published on June 12,
2023, and the public comment period
closed on August 11, 2023 (88 FR
38010). Six public comment letters
containing 28 unique substantive
comments were received during the
comment period, on the topics of direct
fishery effects, indirect fishery effects,
ecology and life history, Indigenous
Knowledge, co-management, optimum
sustainable population, disturbance,
funding, threats, and effectiveness of the
Conservation Plan. In response to these
comments, the final version of the Plan
contains many clarifications, and
significant revisions were made to the
indirect fishery effects and optimum
sustainable population sections. Also in
response to these comments, additional
information has been incorporated
regarding migration patterns, pup
mortality, vital rates, pup health, and
foraging trip duration. Finally, a new
appendix containing migration and
performance measure analyses has been
added. A summary of substantive
comments and responses to those
comments, including whether and how
the draft Conservation Plan was revised
in response, has been created and is on
file with the NMFS Alaska Region,
Protected Resources Division.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–25969 Filed 11–7–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE454]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27552
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
NMFS’ Pacific Islands Fisheries Science
Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building
176, Honolulu, HI 96818 (Responsible
Party: Charles Littnan, Ph.D.), has
applied in due form for a permit to
conduct research and enhancement
activities on Hawaiian monk seals
(Neomonachus schauinslandi).
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before December 9, 2024.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 217 / Friday, November 8, 2024 / Notices
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. 27552 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. 27552 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 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 requests a 5-year permit
to carry out research and enhancement
activities to recover the endangered
Hawaiian monk seal along beaches and
nearshore waters throughout the
Hawaiian Archipelago (Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands and main Hawaiian
Islands) and Johnston Atoll.
Research will identify impediments to
recovery, inform the design of
conservation interventions, and evaluate
those measures. Research activities
include visual and photographic
monitoring, capture, tagging, pelage
marking, health screening, foraging
studies, deworming, necropsies, tissue
sampling, behavioral modification,
vocalization studies, and vaccination.
Enhancement activities are designed to
improve survival, reproductive success,
and overall species’ status.
Enhancement activities include
deworming, capture, translocation,
hazing and removal of aggressive adult
male seals, disentangling, dehooking,
medical treatment, behavioral
modification, vaccination, and
supplemental feeding of post-release
rehabilitated seals. Unintentional
mortalities during research and
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:38 Nov 07, 2024
Jkt 265001
enhancement activities are requested.
Unintentional disturbance of spinner
dolphins (Stenella longirostris) and
bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops
truncatus) during research and
enhancement activities is also
requested. See the application for
complete numbers of animals requested
by species, age-class, and procedure.
Pinniped parts may be collected,
received, exported, and imported for
analysis.
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, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–25998 Filed 11–7–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No.: PTO–P–2024–0052]
Manual of Patent Examining
Procedure, Ninth Edition, Revision
January 2024
United States Patent and
Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
To provide updates to patent
examination policy and procedures in a
single source, which will improve
access to essential guidance for all
stakeholders and help to ensure
issuance of robust and reliable patents
that promote and protect innovation, the
United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO or Office) issued a
revision of the Ninth Edition of the
Manual of Patent Examining Procedure
(MPEP), published in November 2024
(January 2024 revision). The MPEP
provides patent examiners and the
public with a reference work on the
practices and procedures relative to the
prosecution of patent applications and
other proceedings before the USPTO.
The MPEP contains instructions to
examiners, as well as other material in
SUMMARY:
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88737
the nature of information and
interpretation, and outlines the current
procedures that examiners are required
or authorized to follow in appropriate
cases in the normal examination of
patent applications and during other
Office proceedings.
ADDRESSES: The USPTO prefers that any
suggestions for improving the form and
content of the MPEP be submitted via
email to mpepfeedback@uspto.gov or
via the IdeaScale® tool accessed from
www.uspto.gov/MPEP. Written
comments may also be submitted by
mail addressed to: Commissioner for
Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
22313–1450, marked to the attention of
Editor, Manual of Patent Examining
Procedure.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeanne Clark, Editor of the MPEP, by
email at Jeanne.Clark@uspto.gov, or
telephone at 571–272–7714; Monique
Cole, Senior Patent Examination Policy
Advisor, by email at Monique.Cole@
uspto.gov, or telephone at 571–272–
1463; or Kathy Mosser, Senior Patent
Examination Policy Advisor, by email at
Kathleen.Mosser@uspto.gov, or
telephone at 571–272–4435.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
USPTO issued a revision to the Ninth
Edition of the MPEP (January 2024
revision), published in November 2024,
which provides USPTO patent
examiners, applicants, attorneys, agents,
representatives of applicants, and other
members of the public with a reference
work on the practices and procedures
relative to the prosecution of patent
applications and other proceedings
before the USPTO. The MPEP contains
instructions to examiners, as well as
other material in the nature of
information and interpretation, and
outlines the current procedures that
examiners are required or authorized to
follow in the normal examination of
patent applications and during other
Office proceedings. Although the MPEP
does not have the force of law or the
force of the rules in 37 CFR, it ‘‘is well
known to those registered to practice in
the [US]PTO and reflects the
presumptions under which the [US]PTO
operates.’’ Critikon, Inc. v. Becton
Dickinson Vascular Access, Inc., 120
F.3d 1253, 1257, 43 USPQ2d 1666, 1669
(Fed. Cir. 1997).
In the November 2024 publication of
the January 2024 revision to the MPEP,
sections of chapters 200–700, 900–1600,
1800, and 2100–2900 have been
updated. The updated sections have a
revision indicator of [R–01.2024],
meaning these sections have been
updated to include changes based on
published guidance documents (e.g.,
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88736-88737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25998]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE454]
Marine Mammals; File No. 27552
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS' Pacific Islands Fisheries
Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818
(Responsible Party: Charles Littnan, Ph.D.), has applied in due form
for a permit to conduct research and enhancement activities on Hawaiian
monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi).
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 9, 2024.
[[Page 88737]]
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.
27552 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. 27552 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 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 requests a 5-year permit to carry out research and
enhancement activities to recover the endangered Hawaiian monk seal
along beaches and nearshore waters throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago
(Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and main Hawaiian Islands) and Johnston
Atoll.
Research will identify impediments to recovery, inform the design
of conservation interventions, and evaluate those measures. Research
activities include visual and photographic monitoring, capture,
tagging, pelage marking, health screening, foraging studies, deworming,
necropsies, tissue sampling, behavioral modification, vocalization
studies, and vaccination. Enhancement activities are designed to
improve survival, reproductive success, and overall species' status.
Enhancement activities include deworming, capture, translocation,
hazing and removal of aggressive adult male seals, disentangling,
dehooking, medical treatment, behavioral modification, vaccination, and
supplemental feeding of post-release rehabilitated seals. Unintentional
mortalities during research and enhancement activities are requested.
Unintentional disturbance of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris)
and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during research and
enhancement activities is also requested. See the application for
complete numbers of animals requested by species, age-class, and
procedure. Pinniped parts may be collected, received, exported, and
imported for analysis.
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, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25998 Filed 11-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
