82 FR 37574 - Marine Mammals; File No. 21158

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 154 (August 11, 2017)

Page Range		37574-37574
FR Document		2017-16985

Notice is hereby given that Robert Garrott, Ph.D., Montana State University, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptoncychotes weddellii).

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 154 (Friday, August 11, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 154 (Friday, August 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 37574]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16985]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF592


Marine Mammals; File No. 21158

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Robert Garrott, Ph.D., Montana 
State University, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, has applied in due 
form for a permit to conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptoncychotes 
weddellii).

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or 
before September 11, 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. 21158 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 Carrie Hubard, (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 proposes to continue long-term studies of the Erebus 
Bay, Antarctica, Weddell seal population to evaluate how temporal 
variation in the marine environment affects individual life histories 
and the population dynamics of long-lived mammal. Research involves the 
annual capture of up to 675 Weddell seal pups at 1-4 days after birth, 
flipper tagging, and release. A maximum of 150 of these pups would also 
receive a temperature recording flipper tag, be physically weighed, and 
have a skin biopsy taken for genetics when initially tagged. These pups 
would be re-captured again at 20 days of age to be weighed, and again 
at weaning for weighing and to remove the temperature tags. The 
applicant also proposes to capture up to 285 adults Weddell seals using 
the head-bagging technique to flipper tag previously untagged seals or 
replace lost or damaged tags of previously tagged individuals. An 
additional 100 previously tagged adult Weddell seals would be captured 
to obtain a skin biopsy for genetics. Up to 75 adult female Weddell 
seals would be photographed on the 3 occasions when their pup is 
weighed to obtained an estimate of the mother's mass through 
photogrammetry. An additional 15 females would be physically weighed 
when their pups were initially tagged and weighed. The applicant 
proposes to conduct up to eight mark-resight surveys, approaching 
animals to read their flipper tags. The applicant also requests 
incidental take of crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) and leopard 
seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) that may be unintentionally harassed. This 
permit would be valid for five 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 8, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-16985 Filed 8-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

37574 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices

• Sets inside and outside of the two 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone requests incidental take of crabeater
sub-areas of the EFC PLL Closed Area (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. seals (Lobodon carcinophagus) and
would be equipped with hook timers, in Written comments on this application leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) that
accordance with protocols established should be submitted to the Chief, may be unintentionally harassed. This
by NMFS, to determine when animals Permits and Conservation Division, at permit would be valid for five years.
were captured and when mortality the address listed above. Comments may In compliance with the National
occurs. This will help determine also be submitted by facsimile to (301) Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
appropriate PLL soak time to minimize 713–0376, or by email to U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
dusky and other shark mortality. NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please determination has been made that the
• To assist in current research efforts include the File No. in the subject line activity proposed is categorically
on shortfin mako sharks, observers are of the email comment. excluded from the requirement to
requested to place a specified number of Those individuals requesting a public prepare an environmental assessment or
pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATS) hearing should submit a written request environmental impact statement.
on shortfin mako sharks that are to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Concurrent with the publication of
released alive. Division at the address listed above. The this notice in the Federal Register,
• NMFS will closely monitor the request should set forth the specific NMFS is forwarding copies of the
catches during the project duration and reasons why a hearing on this application to the Marine Mammal
has the ability to modify the conditions application would be appropriate. Commission and its Committee of
of the EFP, and end the research project, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Scientific Advisors.
to address bycatch as warranted. Young or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427– Dated: August 8, 2017.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16 8401. Julia Harrison,
U.S.C. 1801 et seq. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Dated: August 4, 2017. subject permit is requested under the Office of Protected Resources, National
Emily H. Menashes, authority of the Marine Mammal Marine Fisheries Service.
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Protection Act of 1972, as amended [FR Doc. 2017–16985 Filed 8–10–17; 8:45 am]
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
[FR Doc. 2017–16990 Filed 8–10–17; 8:45 am] regulations governing the taking and
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216). DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
The applicant proposes to continue
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE long-term studies of the Erebus Bay, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Antarctica, Weddell seal population to Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric evaluate how temporal variation in the RIN 0648–XF596
Administration marine environment affects individual
life histories and the population Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico;
RIN 0648–XF592
dynamics of long-lived mammal. Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Marine Mammals; File No. 21158 Research involves the annual capture of Review (SEDAR); Post Data-Workshop
up to 675 Weddell seal pups at 1–4 days Webinar Gulf of Mexico Gray Snapper;
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries after birth, flipper tagging, and release. Public Meetings
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and A maximum of 150 of these pups would
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), also receive a temperature recording AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Commerce. flipper tag, be physically weighed, and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. have a skin biopsy taken for genetics Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
when initially tagged. These pups Commerce.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that would be re-captured again at 20 days ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 51 assessment
Robert Garrott, Ph.D., Montana State of age to be weighed, and again at webinar II for Gulf of Mexico gray
University, 310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, weaning for weighing and to remove the snapper.
MT 59717, has applied in due form for temperature tags. The applicant also
a permit to conduct research on SUMMARY: The SEDAR 51 assessment
proposes to capture up to 285 adults
Weddell seals (Leptoncychotes process of Gulf of Mexico gray snapper
Weddell seals using the head-bagging
weddellii). will consist of a Data Workshop, a series
technique to flipper tag previously
of assessment webinars, and a Review
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email untagged seals or replace lost or
Workshop.
comments must be received on or before damaged tags of previously tagged
September 11, 2017. individuals. An additional 100 DATES: The SEDAR 51 assessment
ADDRESSES: The application and related previously tagged adult Weddell seals webinar II will be held August 21, 2017
documents are available for review by would be captured to obtain a skin from 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Eastern Time.
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public biopsy for genetics. Up to 75 adult ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on female Weddell seals would be via webinar. The webinar is open to
the Applications and Permits for photographed on the 3 occasions when members of the public. Those interested
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

Protected Species (APPS) home page, their pup is weighed to obtained an in participating should contact Julie A.
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then estimate of the mother’s mass through Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER
selecting File No. 21158 from the list of photogrammetry. An additional 15 INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an
available applications. females would be physically weighed invitation providing webinar access
These documents are also available when their pups were initially tagged information. Please request webinar
upon written request or by appointment and weighed. The applicant proposes to invitations at least 24 hours in advance
in the Permits and Conservation conduct up to eight mark-resight of each webinar. SEDAR address: 4055
Division, Office of Protected Resources, surveys, approaching animals to read Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room their flipper tags. The applicant also Charleston, SC 29405.

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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:47:24
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:47:24

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 September 11, 2017.
Contact		Sara Young or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427-8401.
FR Citation		82 FR 37574
RIN Number		0648-XF59

82 FR 37574 - Marine Mammals; File No. 21158

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 154 (August 11, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration