82 FR 16995 - Marine Mammals; File No. 20466

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)

Page Range		16995-16996
FR Document		2017-06943

Notice is hereby given that Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK (Responsible Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on ice seals in Alaska.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16995-16996]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06943]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF272


Marine Mammals; File No. 20466

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

[[Page 16996]]


ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADF&G), Division of Wildlife Conservation, Juneau, AK (Responsible 
Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to 
conduct research on ice seals in Alaska.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before May 8, 2017.

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. 20466 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available 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.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. 
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-0376, or by 
email to [email protected]. Please include the File No. in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the 
address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons 
why a hearing on this application would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Young or Amy Sloan, (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.) and the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216).
    The applicant requests a five-year permit to conduct scientific 
research on spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca hispida), bearded 
(Erignathus barbatus), and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) seals in the 
Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas of Alaska. The purpose of this 
research is to monitor the status and health of all four species by 
analyzing samples from the subsistence harvest and by documenting 
movements and habitat use by tracking animals with satellite 
transmitters. In addition to sampling harvested seals, the applicant 
would capture up to 200 individuals of each species per year. Captured 
seals would be measured, sampled (e.g., blood, blubber, skin, muscle, 
and whisker), and fitted with transmitters. The applicant also requests 
permission to harass non-target seals of each species as well as beluga 
whales, and authorization for a limited number of research-related 
mortalities. Results of these studies would be used to monitor the 
health and status of each of the four species' populations, improve 
population assessments, and develop mitigation measures to minimize 
disturbance to these species that are important to the indigenous 
people of Alaska for subsistence food, materials, and for cultural 
significance. Samples would be imported from Russia, Canada, Svalbard 
(Norway) and exported to Canada for analyses.
    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: April 3, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06943 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

16996 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. would capture up to 200 individuals of ADDRESSES: The permits and related
each species per year. Captured seals documents are available for review
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that would be measured, sampled (e.g., upon written request or by appointment
Alaska Department of Fish and Game blood, blubber, skin, muscle, and in the Permits and Conservation
(ADF&G), Division of Wildlife whisker), and fitted with transmitters. Division, Office of Protected Resources,
Conservation, Juneau, AK (Responsible The applicant also requests permission NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.), has applied to harass non-target seals of each species 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
in due form for a permit to conduct as well as beluga whales, and (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376.
research on ice seals in Alaska. authorization for a limited number of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email research-related mortalities. Results of Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, (301)
comments must be received on or before these studies would be used to monitor 427–8401.
May 8, 2017. the health and status of each of the four SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
ADDRESSES: The application and related species’ populations, improve January 18, 2017, a notice was
documents are available for review by population assessments, and develop published in the Federal Register [82
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public mitigation measures to minimize FR 5536] announcing nine requests for
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on disturbance to these species that are scientific research permits to take
the Applications and Permits for important to the indigenous people of Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
Protected Species (APPS) home page, Alaska for subsistence food, materials, sturgeon had been submitted. The
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then and for cultural significance. Samples requested permits have been issued
selecting File No. 20466 from the list of would be imported from Russia, under the authority of the Endangered
available applications. Canada, Svalbard (Norway) and Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA;
These documents are also available exported to Canada for analyses. 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the
upon written request or by appointment In compliance with the National regulations governing the taking,
in the Permits and Conservation Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 importing, and exporting of endangered
Division, Office of Protected Resources, U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial and threatened species (50 CFR parts
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room determination has been made that the 222–226). Each permit is issued to an
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone activity proposed is categorically individual permit holder or organization
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. excluded from the requirement to and its responsible party (RP), and is
Written comments on this application prepare an environmental assessment or summarized as follows:
should be submitted to the Chief, environmental impact statement. Permit No. 17861: Douglas Peterson
Permits and Conservation Division, at Concurrent with the publication of (Permit Holder), University of Georgia
the address listed above. Comments may this notice in the Federal Register, Warnell School of Forestry, Athens, GA
also be submitted by facsimile to (301) NMFS is forwarding copies of the 30602, was issued a 10-year scientific
713–0376, or by email to application to the Marine Mammal research permit to study the ecology,
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please Commission and its Committee of population dynamics, and status of
include the File No. in the subject line Scientific Advisors. Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
of the email comment. Dated: April 3, 2017. sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river
Those individuals requesting a public systems. Sturgeon of each species are
Julia Harrison,
hearing should submit a written request authorized to be captured with nets
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National during spring and fall and then tagged
Division at the address listed above. The Marine Fisheries Service. with passive integrated transponder
request should set forth the specific (PIT) tags, and Floy tags, genetic tissue
[FR Doc. 2017–06943 Filed 4–6–17; 8:45 am]
reasons why a hearing on this sampled, and measured and weighed
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
application would be appropriate. prior to release. Subsets of fish will be
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara acoustically tagged, gonadal sampled
Young or Amy Sloan, (301) 427–8401. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE through endoscopic sex determination,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The and have blood and fin-ray samples
subject permit is requested under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric taken. Early life stages of each species
authority of the Marine Mammal Administration are also authorized to be collected,
Protection Act of 1972, as amended documenting the occurrence and
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the RIN 0648–XF116 periodicity of spawning in Georgia and
regulations governing the taking and Endangered Species; Permit Nos. Florida river systems.
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Permit No. 19641: The Connecticut
17861, 19641, 20314, 20340, 20347,
part 216). Department of Energy and
20351, 20528, 20548, and 20651
The applicant requests a five-year Environmental Protection, Marine
permit to conduct scientific research on AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Fisheries, Tom Savoy (RP), P.O. Box
spotted (Phoca largha), ringed (Phoca Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 719, Old Lyme, CT 06371, was issued a
hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ten-year scientific research permit to
and ribbon (Histriophoca fasciata) seals Commerce. study Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits. sturgeon in Connecticut waters,
seas of Alaska. The purpose of this monitoring their presence, abundance,
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES

research is to monitor the status and SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that age and sex composition, habitat
health of all four species by analyzing nine individuals or organizations have utilization, and seasonal movement.
samples from the subsistence harvest been issued permits to take Atlantic Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose
and by documenting movements and sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus sturgeon are authorized to be captured
habitat use by tracking animals with oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon with nets and trawls, and then
satellite transmitters. In addition to (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of measured, weighed, tissue sampled, PIT
sampling harvested seals, the applicant scientific research. tagged, Floy tagged, and photographed,

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Document Created: 2017-04-06 23:49:44
Document Modified: 2017-04-06 23:49:44

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; receipt of application.
Dates		Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before May 8, 2017.
Contact		Sara Young or Amy Sloan, (301) 427- 8401.
FR Citation		82 FR 16995
RIN Number		0648-XF27

82 FR 16995 - Marine Mammals; File No. 20466

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration