81_FR_1628 81 FR 1620 - Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14856 and 14809

81 FR 1620 - Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14856 and 14809

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 8 (January 13, 2016)

Page Range1620-1621
FR Document2016-00455

Notice is hereby given that major amendments to Permit No. 14809-01 and Permit No. 14856-03 have been issued to Douglas Nowacek, Ph.D., Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort, NC 28516 and Bruce R. Mate, Ph.D., Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, respectively.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1620-1621]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00455]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB157


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14856 and 14809

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit amendments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that major amendments to Permit No. 
14809-01 and Permit No. 14856-03 have been issued to Douglas Nowacek, 
Ph.D., Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., 
Beaufort, NC 28516 and Bruce R. Mate, Ph.D., Hatfield Marine Science 
Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, respectively.

ADDRESSES: The permit amendments and related documents are available 
for review upon written request or by appointment in the Permits and 
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427-
8401; fax (301) 713-0376.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Carrie Hubard, (301) 
427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 29, 2015 and April 2, 2015, notices 
were published in the Federal Register (80 FR 36975 and 80 FR 17721, 
respectively) that a request for amendments to Permit Nos. 14809-01 and 
14856-03 to conduct research on marine mammals had been submitted by 
the above-named applicants. The requested permit amendments have been 
issued 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 (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).
    Permit No. 14809-01 authorizes Dr. Nowacek to conduct comparative 
research on 34 species/stocks of cetaceans in the North Atlantic, North 
Pacific and Southern Oceans. Authorized activities include suction cup 
tagging, acoustic playbacks, passive acoustics, biopsy sampling, photo-
identification, behavioral observations, and incidental harassment 
during vessel surveys. The research objectives are to: (1) Document 
baseline foraging and social behavior of cetacean species under 
different ecological conditions; (2) place these behaviors in a 
population-level context; and (3) determine how these species respond 
to various natural sound sources. The permit has been amended (No. 02) 
to authorize the use of dart/barb tags during tagging efforts on 
Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), short-finned pilot whales 
(Globicephala macrorhynchus), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus), 
Arnoux's beaked whales (Berardius arnuxii), Antarctic minke whales 
(Balaenoptera bonaerensis) and endangered humpback whales (Megaptera 
novaeangliae) during vessel surveys. The permit is valid through March 
31, 2019.
    Permit No. 14856-03 authorizes Dr. Mate to take 66 species of 
cetaceans and 12 species of pinnipeds in U.S. and international waters 
worldwide for scientific research. The purposes of the research are to: 
(1) Identify migration routes; (2) identify specific feeding and 
breeding grounds; (3) characterize local movements and dive habits in 
both feeding and breeding grounds, and during migration; (4) examine 
the relationships between movements/dive habits and prey distribution, 
time of day, geographic location, or physical and biological 
oceanographic conditions; (5) characterize whale vocalizations; (6) 
characterize sound pressure levels to which whales are exposed; and (7) 
gather photo-identification and behavioral information. Researchers are 
authorized to conduct aerial and vessel surveys and a suite of research 
activities including: Observations, biopsy sampling, tagging,

[[Page 1621]]

and import, receive or export parts. The permit has been amended (No. 
04) to increase the number of humpback whales that may be taken by 
Level B harassment during surveys from 1,000 to 2,000 animals annually. 
The permit expires December 31, 2018.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (NEPA), a final determination has been made 
that the activity proposed for Permit No. 14809-02 is categorically 
excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment 
(EA) or environmental impact statement.
    A supplemental EA analyzing the effects of the permitted activities 
on the human environment was prepared for Permit No. 14856-04 in 
compliance with NEPA. Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined 
that issuance of the permit would not significantly impact the quality 
of the human environment and that preparation of an environmental 
impact statement was not required. That determination is documented in 
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on October 27, 2015.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of the permits was based on a 
finding that each permit: (1) Was applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) is 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.

    Dated: January 6, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00455 Filed 1-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

1620 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 2016 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: marine mammals had been submitted by Jennifer Koss, NOAA USCRTF Steering the above-named applicants. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Committee Point of Contact, NOAA requested permit amendments have Administration Coral Reef Conservation Program, 1305 been issued under the authority of the East-West Highway, N/OCRM, Silver Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, Coral Reef Conservation Program Spring, MD 20910 at 301–533–0777 or as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the AGENCY: Coral Reef Conservation Cheryl Fossani, USCRTF Executive regulations governing the taking and Program, Office for Coastal Secretary, U.S. Department of Interior, importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Management, National Ocean Service, MS–3530–MIB, 1849 C Street NW., part 216), the Endangered Species Act of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Washington, DC 20240 at (202) 208– 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 Administration, U.S. Department of 5004 or visit the USCRTF Web site at et seq.), and the regulations governing Commerce. http://www.coralreef.gov the taking, importing, and exporting of ACTION: Notice of public meeting, notice Dated: December 30, 2015. endangered and threatened species (50 of public comment. CFR parts 222–226). Donna Rivelli, Permit No. 14809–01 authorizes Dr. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a Deputy Associate Assistant Administrator for Nowacek to conduct comparative Management and Deputy CFO/CAO, Ocean research on 34 species/stocks of public meeting of the U.S. Coral Reef Services and Coastal Zone Management, Task Force (USCRTF). The meeting will National Oceanic and Atmospheric cetaceans in the North Atlantic, North be held in Washington, DC, at the U.S. Administration. Pacific and Southern Oceans. Department of Interior South Building, Authorized activities include suction [FR Doc. 2016–00017 Filed 1–12–16; 8:45 am] 1925 Constitution Avenue NW. The cup tagging, acoustic playbacks, passive BILLING CODE P meeting provides a forum for acoustics, biopsy sampling, photo- coordinated planning and action among identification, behavioral observations, federal agencies, state and territorial DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE and incidental harassment during vessel governments, and nongovernmental surveys. The research objectives are to: partners. The meeting will be held National Oceanic and Atmospheric (1) Document baseline foraging and Thursday, February 18, 2016. Administration social behavior of cetacean species Additional workshops will be on under different ecological conditions; Tuesday February 16; Wednesday, RIN 0648–XB157 (2) place these behaviors in a February 17; and Friday, February 19. population-level context; and (3) Marine Mammals; File Nos. 14856 and Registration is requested for all events determine how these species respond to 14809 various natural sound sources. The associated with the meeting. This meeting has time allotted for AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries permit has been amended (No. 02) to public comment. All public comments Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and authorize the use of dart/barb tags must be submitted in written format. A Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), during tagging efforts on Cuvier’s written summary of the meeting will be Commerce. beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), posted on the USCRTF Web site within ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala two months of occurrence. For amendments. macrorhynchus), Risso’s dolphins information about the meeting, (Grampus griseus), Arnoux’s beaked registering and submitting public SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that whales (Berardius arnuxii), Antarctic comments, go to http:// major amendments to Permit No. minke whales (Balaenoptera www.coralreef.gov. 14809–01 and Permit No. 14856–03 bonaerensis) and endangered humpback Commenters may address the have been issued to Douglas Nowacek, whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) meeting, the role of the USCRTF, or Ph.D., Duke University Marine during vessel surveys. The permit is general coral reef conservation issues. Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., valid through March 31, 2019. Before including your address, phone Beaufort, NC 28516 and Bruce R. Mate, Permit No. 14856–03 authorizes Dr. number, email address, or other Ph.D., Hatfield Marine Science Center, Mate to take 66 species of cetaceans and personal identifying information in your Oregon State University, Newport, OR 12 species of pinnipeds in U.S. and comments, you should be aware that 97365, respectively. international waters worldwide for your entire comment, including scientific research. The purposes of the ADDRESSES: The permit amendments personal identifying information may be research are to: (1) Identify migration and related documents are available for made publicly available at any time. routes; (2) identify specific feeding and review upon written request or by While you can ask us in your comment breeding grounds; (3) characterize local appointment in the Permits and to withhold your personal identifying movements and dive habits in both Conservation Division, Office of information from public review, we feeding and breeding grounds, and Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East- cannot guarantee that we will be able to during migration; (4) examine the West Highway, Room 13705, Silver do so. relationships between movements/dive Established by Presidential Executive Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427– habits and prey distribution, time of Order 13089 in 1998, the U.S. Coral Reef 8401; fax (301) 713–0376. day, geographic location, or physical Task Force mission is to lead, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and biological oceanographic coordinate and strengthen U.S. Amy Hapeman or Carrie Hubard, (301) conditions; (5) characterize whale asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES government actions to better preserve 427–8401. vocalizations; (6) characterize sound and protect coral reef ecosystems. Co- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June pressure levels to which whales are chaired by the Departments of 29, 2015 and April 2, 2015, notices were exposed; and (7) gather photo- Commerce and Interior, Task Force published in the Federal Register (80 identification and behavioral members include leaders of 12 federal FR 36975 and 80 FR 17721, information. Researchers are authorized agencies, seven U.S. states and respectively) that a request for to conduct aerial and vessel surveys and territories and three freely associated amendments to Permit Nos. 14809–01 a suite of research activities including: states. and 14856–03 to conduct research on Observations, biopsy sampling, tagging, VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:59 Jan 12, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 8 / Wednesday, January 13, 2016 / Notices 1621 and import, receive or export parts. The turtles for purposes of scientific tagging and/or photography/ permit has been amended (No. 04) to research. videography. increase the number of humpback DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email Dated: January 7, 2016. whales that may be taken by Level B comments must be received on or before Julia Harrison, harassment during surveys from 1,000 February 12, 2016. to 2,000 animals annually. The permit Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, ADDRESSES: The application and related Office of Protected Resources, National expires December 31, 2018. documents are available for review by Marine Fisheries Service. In compliance with the National selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public [FR Doc. 2016–00454 Filed 1–12–16; 8:45 am] Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (NEPA), a final BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the Applications and Permits for determination has been made that the Protected Species (APPS) home page, activity proposed for Permit No. 14809– https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then 02 is categorically excluded from the selecting File No. 19496 from the list of DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE requirement to prepare an available applications. environmental assessment (EA) or These documents are also available environmental impact statement. Department of the Air Force upon written request or by appointment A supplemental EA analyzing the in the Permits and Conservation Notice of Intent To Grant an Exclusive effects of the permitted activities on the Division, Office of Protected Resources, human environment was prepared for Patent License NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room Permit No. 14856–04 in compliance 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone with NEPA. Based on the analyses in AGENCY:Department of the Air Force, (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. Department of Defense. the EA, NMFS determined that issuance Written comments on this application of the permit would not significantly should be submitted to the Chief, ACTION: Notice of intent. impact the quality of the human Permits and Conservation Division, at environment and that preparation of an the address listed above. Comments may SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of environmental impact statement was also be submitted by facsimile to (301) part 404 of title 37, Code of Federal not required. That determination is 713–0376, or by email to Regulations, which implements Public documented in a Finding of No NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please Law 96–517, as amended; the Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on include the File No. in the subject line Department of the Air Force announces October 27, 2015. of the email comment. its intention to grant The Regents of the As required by the ESA, issuance of Those individuals requesting a public University of Michigan, a land-grant the permits was based on a finding that hearing should submit a written request educational institution of the State of each permit: (1) Was applied for in good to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Michigan, having a place of business at faith; (2) will not operate to the Division at the address listed above. The 503 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109. disadvantage of such endangered request should set forth the specific species; and (3) is consistent with the DATES: The Air Force intends to grant a reasons why a hearing on this purposes and policies set forth in license for the patent and pending application would be appropriate. section 2 of the ESA. applications unless a written objection FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dated: January 6, 2016. is received within fifteen (15) calendar Arturo Herrera or Amy Hapeman, (301) days from the date of publication of this Julia Harrison, 427–8401. Notice. Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Protected Resources, National subject permit is requested under the ADDRESSES: Written objection should be Marine Fisheries Service. authority of the Endangered Species Act sent to: Air Force Materiel Command [FR Doc. 2016–00455 Filed 1–12–16; 8:45 am] of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. Law Office, AFMCLO/JAZ, 2240 B BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 1531 et seq.) and the regulations Street, Rm. 101, Wright-Patterson AFB, governing the taking, importing, and OH 45433–7109; Facsimile: (937) 255– exporting of endangered and threatened 3733. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE species (50 CFR parts 222–226). The applicant requests a five-year FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Air National Oceanic and Atmospheric Force Materiel Command Law Office, permit to conduct year-round field Administration AFMCLO/JAZ, 2240 B Street, Rm. 101, activities in the Florida Big Bend Region RIN 0648–XE384 to take, by capture or disturbance during Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433–7109; vessel surveys, sea turtles to identify Facsimile: (937) 255–3733. Endangered Species; File No. 19496 important foraging and developmental SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries habitats. Vessel transect surveys would exclusive license in any right, title, and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and occur separately from capture efforts. interest of the Air Force in: International Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Up to 1,225 sea turtles would be Application No. PCT/US2014/059727, Commerce. disturbed annually during vessel entitled, ‘‘APPARATUS AND ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. surveys for counts and observation to METHODS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT identify relative presence, abundance, asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SEPARATIONS INCLUDING REFINING SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that and habitat use of turtles. Up to 480 sea OF FUEL PRODUCTS,’’ by Reams et al., Mariana Fuentes, Florida State turtles annually captured by hand, dip and filed on October 8, 2014. University, 532 Hart Street, Tallahassee, net or strike net would have the FL 32301, has applied in due form for following procedures performed before Henry Williams, a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta release: Measure; weigh; blood, scute, Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison caretta), Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys and biopsy sampling; temporary Officer, Civ, DAF. kempii), green (Chelonia mydas), and carapace marking; satellite tagging; [FR Doc. 2016–00492 Filed 1–12–16; 8:45 am] hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea flipper passive integrated transponder BILLING CODE 5001–10–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:59 Jan 12, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1


Document Created: 2016-01-13 01:00:42
Document Modified: 2016-01-13 01:00:42
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; issuance of permit amendments.
ContactAmy Hapeman or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427-8401.
FR Citation81 FR 1620 
RIN Number0648-XB15
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