82 FR 16998 - Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15844-02, 18059, 20114, and 20443
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 16998-16998 | |
| FR Document | 2017-07001 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)] [Notices] [Page 16998] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-07001] [[Page 16998]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RINs 0648-XE743, 0648-XE614, 0648-XF085, and 0648-XB065 Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15844-02, 18059, 20114, and 20443 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and permit amendments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have been issued to the following entities: RIN 0648-XB065; Permit No. 15844-02: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Gustavus, AK, 99826 [Responsible Party: Philip N. Hooge]; RIN 0648-XF085; Permit No. 18059: David Wiley, Ph.D., Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, 175 Edward Foster Road, Scituate, MA 02066; RIN 0648-XE614; Permit No. 20114: Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Department of Lands & Natural Resources, Sea Turtle Program, Caller Box 10007 Saipan, MP 96950 Northern Mariana Islands [Responsible Party: Richard B. Seman]; RIN 0648-XE743; Permit No. 20443: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, PO Box 115526, Juneau, AK, 99811-5526 [Responsible Party: Robert Small, Ph.D.]. ADDRESSES: The permits 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: Courtney Smith (File No. 15844-02) Sara Young (File No. 18059, 20443), and Amy Hapeman (File No. 20114) at (301) 427-8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices were published in the Federal Register that requests for a permit or permit amendment had been submitted by the above-named applicants. The requested permits have been issued under 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), as applicable. Permit No. 15844-02: The original permit (77 FR 14352, March 9, 2012) authorizes Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve to conduct passive acoustics, videography, photo-identification surveys, biopsy sampling, and collect sloughed skin and/or feces to study humpback whales, killer whales and minke whales. Research would occur around southeastern Alaska especially in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The amended permit (No. 15844-02) extends the original permit for one year--through February 28, 2018, or until the permit holder has exhausted the total number of takes authorized for the fifth year of the permit, whichever occurs first. Permit No. 18059: The requested permit (82 FR 3727, January 12, 2017) authorizes research to investigate the foraging ecology, habitat use, physiology, and acoustic and social behavior of humpback (Megaptera noveaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), minke (B. acutorostrata), and sei (B. borealis) whales in the Gulf of Maine. Up to 130 adult and juvenile humpback, 90 fin, 60 minke, and 70 sei whales will be approached for suction cup tagging, prey mapping, obtaining biological samples including biopsies, and photo ID. Up to 10 humpback, 5 fin, and 3 sei whale calves will also be approached for tagging and blow sampling. Up to 690 humpback, 480 fin, 250 minke, and 370 sei whales will be incidentally harassed during research. The permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance. Permit No. 20114: The requested permit (81 FR 37576, June 10, 2016) authorizes researchers to study green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles in the waters of the CNMI to characterize their population structure, size class composition, foraging ecology, health, and migration patterns. Researchers may capture live sea turtles by hand and perform a suite of biological sampling, marking, and tagging procedures prior to release. Carcasses and parts of dead sea turtles may also be salvaged. The permit is valid through February 15, 2022. Permit No. 20443: The requested permit (81 FR 83202, November 21, 2016) authorizes research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) throughout their range in Alaska including Southeast Alaska, Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. The research activities include aerial, vessel and ground surveys, radio tracking, photo-identification, photograph/video, behavioral observations and monitoring, and capture of up to 350 animals by entanglement in a net in the water or by hoop net or dip net on land. Captured animals may be chemical restraint; physical restraint by hand, net, cage or stretcher. Researchers may collect biological samples (e.g., scat, blood, milk from lactating females, blubber, muscle, skin, hair, mucus membrane swabs, stomach content subsample, tooth and vibrissae); standard morphometrics and weight; measurements of blubber via ultrasound; and inject PIT tags and attach flipper tags. A subset of the captured animals may also be outfitted with external transmitters and dataloggers. The applicant also requests export (worldwide) and import of samples for analysis, incidental disturbance and unintentional mortality of harbor seals and porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and intentional mortality (euthanasia) of harbor seals. The permit is valid for five years from date of issuance. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permit was based on a finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Dated: April 4, 2017. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-07001 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![16998 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE endangered and threatened species (50 observations and monitoring, and
CFR parts 222–226), as applicable. capture of up to 350 animals by
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Permit No. 15844–02: The original entanglement in a net in the water or by
Administration permit (77 FR 14352, March 9, 2012) hoop net or dip net on land. Captured
authorizes Glacier Bay National Park animals may be chemical restraint;
RINs 0648–XE743, 0648–XE614, 0648–
XF085, and 0648–XB065 and Preserve to conduct passive physical restraint by hand, net, cage or
acoustics, videography, photo- stretcher. Researchers may collect
Marine Mammals and Endangered identification surveys, biopsy sampling, biological samples (e.g., scat, blood,
Species; File Nos. 15844–02, 18059, and collect sloughed skin and/or feces milk from lactating females, blubber,
20114, and 20443 to study humpback whales, killer muscle, skin, hair, mucus membrane
whales and minke whales. Research swabs, stomach content subsample,
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries would occur around southeastern tooth and vibrissae); standard
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Alaska especially in Glacier Bay morphometrics and weight;
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park and Preserve. The measurements of blubber via
Commerce. amended permit (No. 15844–02) extends ultrasound; and inject PIT tags and
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and the original permit for one year— attach flipper tags. A subset of the
permit amendments. through February 28, 2018, or until the captured animals may also be outfitted
permit holder has exhausted the total with external transmitters and
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that number of takes authorized for the fifth dataloggers. The applicant also requests
permits and permit amendments have year of the permit, whichever occurs export (worldwide) and import of
been issued to the following entities: first. samples for analysis, incidental
RIN 0648–XB065; Permit No. 15844– Permit No. 18059: The requested disturbance and unintentional mortality
02: Glacier Bay National Park and permit (82 FR 3727, January 12, 2017) of harbor seals and porpoises (Phocoena
Preserve, Gustavus, AK, 99826 authorizes research to investigate the phocoena), and intentional mortality
[Responsible Party: Philip N. Hooge]; foraging ecology, habitat use, (euthanasia) of harbor seals. The permit
RIN 0648–XF085; Permit No. 18059: physiology, and acoustic and social is valid for five years from date of
David Wiley, Ph.D., Stellwagen Bank behavior of humpback (Megaptera issuance.
National Marine Sanctuary, 175 Edward noveaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera In compliance with the National
Foster Road, Scituate, MA 02066; physalus), minke (B. acutorostrata), and Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
RIN 0648–XE614; Permit No. 20114: sei (B. borealis) whales in the Gulf of U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Maine. Up to 130 adult and juvenile determination has been made that the
Islands (CNMI) Department of Lands & humpback, 90 fin, 60 minke, and 70 sei activities proposed are categorically
Natural Resources, Sea Turtle Program, whales will be approached for suction excluded from the requirement to
Caller Box 10007 Saipan, MP 96950 cup tagging, prey mapping, obtaining prepare an environmental assessment or
Northern Mariana Islands [Responsible biological samples including biopsies, environmental impact statement.
Party: Richard B. Seman]; and photo ID. Up to 10 humpback, 5 fin, As required by the ESA, as applicable,
RIN 0648–XE743; Permit No. 20443: and 3 sei whale calves will also be issuance of these permit was based on
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, approached for tagging and blow a finding that such permits: (1) Were
PO Box 115526, Juneau, AK, 99811– sampling. Up to 690 humpback, 480 fin, applied for in good faith; (2) will not
5526 [Responsible Party: Robert Small, 250 minke, and 370 sei whales will be operate to the disadvantage of such
Ph.D.]. incidentally harassed during research. endangered species; and (3) are
ADDRESSES: The permits and related The permit is valid for five years from consistent with the purposes and
documents are available for review the date of issuance. policies set forth in section 2 of the
upon written request or by appointment Permit No. 20114: The requested ESA.
permit (81 FR 37576, June 10, 2016)
in the Permits and Conservation Dated: April 4, 2017.
authorizes researchers to study green
Division, Office of Protected Resources, Julia Harrison,
(Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
(Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles in
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone Office of Protected Resources, National
the waters of the CNMI to characterize
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. Marine Fisheries Service.
their population structure, size class
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: composition, foraging ecology, health, [FR Doc. 2017–07001 Filed 4–6–17; 8:45 am]
Courtney Smith (File No. 15844–02) and migration patterns. Researchers may BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Sara Young (File No. 18059, 20443), and capture live sea turtles by hand and
Amy Hapeman (File No. 20114) at (301) perform a suite of biological sampling,
427–8401. marking, and tagging procedures prior DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices to release. Carcasses and parts of dead National Oceanic and Atmospheric
were published in the Federal Register sea turtles may also be salvaged. The Administration
that requests for a permit or permit permit is valid through February 15,
amendment had been submitted by the 2022. RIN 0648–XF331
above-named applicants. The requested Permit No. 20443: The requested
permits have been issued under the permit (81 FR 83202, November 21, Marine Mammals; File No. 21280
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 2016) authorizes research on harbor AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the seals (Phoca vitulina) throughout their Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
regulations governing the taking and range in Alaska including Southeast Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Alaska, Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. Commerce.
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of The research activities include aerial, ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 vessel and ground surveys, radio
et seq.), and the regulations governing tracking, photo-identification, SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the taking, importing, and exporting of photograph/video, behavioral the Columbus Zoo Park Association,
VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:52 Apr 06, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_17064/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-04-06 23:49:46
Document Modified: 2017-04-06 23:49:46
| 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; issuance of permits and permit amendments. | |
| Contact | Courtney Smith (File No. 15844-02) Sara Young (File No. 18059, 20443), and Amy Hapeman (File No. 20114) at (301) 427-8401. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 16998 |
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